In Too Deep (Agent Severide Book 3)

Chapter 6

The drive back into the windy city only took Zoey an hour and a half especially since she was speeding the entire way back. It didn't take long for Zoey's bright red Ferarri to pull into the back parking lot of the 21st district and backed her car in next to Jay's grey pickup truck. 

21st District Police Department, Chicago 

Zoey switched the engine off before climbing out of the vehicle with her duffle bag over her shoulder. The blonde locked her car and started walking through the open garage door of the old red building. She walked through a door heading upstairs and let her into the main entrance to the police department. 

Zoey started walking over to the older sergeant's desk, "They're waiting for you," was all she said not looking up as she buzzed the gated door unlocked for her. "Thanks, Serg" Zoey said with a small smile as her small frame disappeared through the metal door heading up the flight of stairs and into the intelligence office. The blonde scanned the room noticing detective Dawson, Halstead, Olinski, Burgess and Atwater and no one from her team. "Agent, nice to see you again," Hank said walking out of his office and extending his hand to her. "Ditto, sorry it's under the circumstance," she said. "Is the rest of the team coming?" Voight asked. "Yea they're flying in from Virginia I was halfway back when I got the call to come back," Zoey explained noticing Jay give her a strange look. 

"I'm sorry but I haven't been briefed on a thing yet, so could someone fill me in?" Zoey asked awkwardly as Voight nodded walking over to a wipe board. "So we've been working a case with a string of fires," Voight started as the blonde agent went over the crime scene photos noticing 8 dead bodies burned to a crisp. "A serial arsonist?" Zoey asked the room, "We think so but some of the autopsies reveal sexual assault," detective Burgess says from her desk. "I mean from what was left of the remains it took the coroner a week to make that discovery," Jay added. 

"Have any of the victims been identified?" Zoey asked turning to look at them. "We're running dental records now," Voight said. "Judging from the bone fragments I'd say the victims are women in their late teens to early 20s," Reid said emerging up the stairs. "How'd you- Trust me don't ask," Zoey said cutting Jay off as Reid began rambling about calcium levels and what damage was from the fire versus before the time of death. 

Zoey turned her focus to the photos when something stood out to her. On each of the victims, there was a small circular burn at the top of each victim's neck behind their ear. The blonde froze for a second, looking over the victims once again noticing each and everyone had the same marks. "What's that face for superwoman?" Morgan asked walking over to his partner. "Tell me do these look identical?" she asked him pointing out each mark causing Morgan to look closer. "Maybe it was caused by the fire?" he asked as Zoey shook her head. "It's a pattern, same mark on each victim, all with signs of sexual assault. That sounds like a signature," Zoey said catching the room's attention. 

"A signature?" Jay asked from his desk just as confused as the rest of his team. "Yea it's what the unsub leaves behind on their victims. Like a calling card" Zoey replied trying to explain. "He signed his work? why?" Antonio asked. "He wants everyone to know his work I guess" Zoey replied looking at the crime scene photos again as something wasn't sitting right with her. "Angel of death maybe?" Severide said thinking out loud, "I doubt it, usually angels of death will set up the danger in order to save their victims. This unsub doesn't wanna save them" Prentiss said joining the conversation. "I mean if you're looking to subdue your victims without struggling smoke inhalation would be a fast way to ensure they don't get away," Zoey said. "But how would the unsub not get overwhelmed?" Rossi asked. 

"If the unsub had the right equipment he could easily get in and out of a burning building," Zoey said. "Are you implying that our suspect could be a firefighter?" Atwater asked in disbelief. "A firefighter would know the ins and outs of the equipment, it wouldn't be strange to find another firefighter at the scene of a fire they'd blend in," Morgan said. "Okay Morgan & Severide I want you to go meet CFD at the last crime scene, "Reid and Rossi go to the coroner's to see what the autopsy says about our latest victim, Prentiss and I will go speak to the victim's families,"Hotch said. 

"Hey Hotch, do you think I could go with Reid, I have a few questions about the signature," Zoey said earning a silent nod from the man. Zoey and Reid walked down the stairs and outside to the back lot where they both climbed into her red Ferarri before heading towards the coroner's office. 

Chicago Med

Reid and Severide drove over to the coroner's office in the basement of Med, it didn't take the agents long to drive over to the large hospital. The two agents made their way through the hospital and she knew Reid could tell something was off with Severide as they walked down the long hallways and into the coroner's office. "Hey I'm Dr. Zee," the older woman says smiling at them. "Hey, I'm Dr. Spencer Reid and this is my college Special Agent Severide, from the behavioural Analysis Unit in the FBI. " Reid said as Dr. Zee led them over to one of the metal slabs that were covered. 

The doctor pulled the sheet back to reveal a corpse that was burnt to a crisp. The coroner began explaining the cause of death which was smoke inhalation, but the marks or what's left of the marks were caused by sexual assault before they died. "What about this?" Zoey asked pointing out the circular burn on the back of the neck. "Was this caused by the fire?" she asked as the doctor said no. "That burn was there before all the others," the coroner said. "Burn?" Reid asked as the coroner nodded. "It's similar to a cigarette but the size isn't consistent," Dr. Zee said. "could a cigar cause this?" Zoey asked already knowing the answer as the coroner paused and nodded. "Almost exactly like it was from a cigar," the coroner replied. 

Anger started to fill her as the pieces were slowly together, part of her knew who was doing this but a part of her didn't think they were capable of something like this. However, she wouldn't underestimate them again.