My First Love [Spencer Reid Fanfic - 1]

Chapter 47 - Doubt

"We're going to Flagstaff, Arizona." JJ informed us.

"Amy Deckerman was the latest victim of The Campus Killer." Hotch stated.

"When did the murders start?" I asked, trying to figure out what kind of unsub we're dealing with.

"Three days ago." JJ replied.

I went through the files and frowned. "He's been killing every single day. There's no cooling-off period."

"Something must have happened in the unsub's life that triggered the spree." Gideon suggested.

JJ sat on a chair. "The campus is shutting down until we catch the killer, which may not be easy for us."

"Right cause if the unsub is a male student, then he will be living as well." I commented.

Hotch stood up. "We're on a schedule. Strauss is pressuring us to solve this case as fast as we can." He left, just like the rest of the team. Only Spencer and I  were left behind.

"Cassie, hold on!" Spencer grabbed my wrist.

I turned to him with a weird look. "We have to go. Didn't you hear Hotch?"

Spencer kissed my cheek gently. "Happy birthday!"

I caressed his cheek with a huge smile on my face. "Thank you, Spence." He let go of my wrist and we left the room. I had no idea he was going to remember my birthday.

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Our arrival at campus caused a major commotion among the students. The curfew didn't work, nor did the doubling on patrol.

"Reid and Porter, I want you two to go to the M.E's office." Hotch demanded.

"Yes, boss." I smiled and left with Reid.

We arrived at the M.E's office and asked the doctor to let us see the body. "Amy Deckerman was stabbed repeatedly post mortem."

"How was she subdued? Were there any drugs in the system?" I asked.

"Tox screen came out clean."

Spencer examined the body. "There were no ligature marks or signs of a blitz attack." He noted.

The doctor shook his head. "No evidence of blunt force trauma. The only wounds in her body were from a knife."

I glanced at Amy's abdomen and noticed some bruising. "I think I know how the victims are being subdued."

We returned to the station and I went straight to Gideon. "Any news?" He asked.

"Yes." I handed him the autopsy report. "I think the victims are being tasered before their death."

"Everyone carries a taser nowadays." Gideon stated.

"True, but the voltage would be different." I replied with a smirk. "According to the report, the electrical discharge was quite substantial. We need to search the campus security." Gideon looked at me and smiled.

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A girl named Helen was reported missing after she missed her curfew and we were on high alert. Morgan and Hotch brought Nathan Tubbs, the unsub, to the police station.

"Ready to interrogate the unsub, Cassie?" Gideon asked and I nodded. "Good. Happy birthday, by the way."

I smiled at my mentor. "Thank you, Gideon." He tapped my shoulder and smiled as well.

We entered the interrogation room and Tubbs stared at us. "Nathan Tubbs..." Gideon ran his finger through the files and smirked. "You were denied entry to the Police Academy."

"So?" He asked nonchalantly.

"It says here that you failed the psychological exams." Gideon taunted him. "But you didn't give up and got a job as a campus security guard. Close enough, right?"

Tubs furrowed his brows. "Look, I was just giving that girl a ride. There's nothing wrong with that."

"There is once you threaten her with a knife." I stated.

"It was all a misunderstanding." He claimed.

Gideon glared at Tubbs. "The assault on your ex-wife was also a misunderstanding?"

"Yes." He replied arrogantly.

I leaned into Gideon. "He did it but there's no physical evidence." I whispered.

"Then he needs to confess." Gideon whispered back.

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News of an identical murder disturbed our investigation. We had to let Tubbs go since there was no physical evidence and a girl was murdered the same way while he was in custody.

Spencer and I examined her body. "Blunt force trauma." I noted. "Spence, there's no trace of a taser being used."

"Perhaps Tubbs killed the other girls and someone else killed this one." Spencer suggested.

"Copycat or partner?" I asked as we left the M.E's office.

"We never considered a partner because Tubbs is a loner." He stated.

I frowned, no liking the second option. "So a copycat. But why?"

"We need to go to Gideon. He'll know what to do." Spencer said as he placed his hand on my back.

When we arrived at the station, Tubbs was being released and he gave me a smug look. I hated arrogant unsubs. "You were right, Gideon. This is a copycat."

Gideon nodded. "There was no bruising from the taser, right?"

"Precisely. And the stab wounds were shallow and showed signs of hesitation." I commented. "Whoever did this, never killed anyone."

"But why copycat Tubbs?" Spencer asked.

"Perhaps this copycat needs Tubbs for something." Gideon suggested.

"Then he's planning a meeting with Tubbs." I narrowed my eyes and sighed. "We have to tail him."

Gideon left the room and turned to the team. "Morgan and Prentiss, follow Tubbs and see who he's meeting." They nodded. "We believe the copycat will try to communicate with him." I was hoping Gideon was right.

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Anna Begley was the copycat. She wanted Tubbs out so he would kill her. Anna was suicidal but couldn't do it herself. Everyone knew about her mutilation and no one did anything to help her, instead they would humiliate her.

Gideon was feeling guilty about Tubbs' murder and Anna's suicide. Strauss called Hotch and requested a hearing. He's in trouble. And Gideon is not even reacting at all. I have a feeling a lot is going to change.

Spencer sat across from me. "Sorry it wasn't much of a birthday."

"It's okay, Spence."  I smiled. "Last year's was so perfect that I won't be needing a party anytime soon." I chuckled.

"I still wanted to give you something." Spencer grabbed a bag and handed it to me. "I noticed there was something missing in your collection and got it for you."

I opened the bag and pulled out a classic Please Please Me Beatles vinyl from 1963. "Spence..."

"You don't have to thank me." Spencer held my hand and smiled. "Your smile is enough." I got up and wrapped my arms around his neck. This boy spoiled me too much.