"There are three kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to become a murderer: psychopaths, profilers and mystery writers.
I'm the kind that pays better"
Back at the BAU, the team noticed the tension. Morgan, always one to lighten the mood, joked that Castle and Reid were "on a break," referencing their ongoing banter. Which was pretty accurate, Castle left for a whirlwind press tour across the country, and they hadn't spoken since. The once-easy rapport between them had turned into a strained silence.
Penelope, Emily, and JJ, in particular, were concerned, wondering if Castle's involvement with the team might be coming to an end. Spencer, though, kept his thoughts to himself, refusing to engage in the speculation, even as the others exchanged knowing looks.
Out of the blue, Strauss called the team to the bullpen for an urgent meeting. The air was thick with anticipation as she laid out the details of their new case. "We've been requested to investigate a series of murders at a wedding venue," Strauss began, her tone serious. "The victims are two family friends, both found strangled and hidden in their respective room closets. The family is well-connected, and they've asked for this to be handled with discretion."
The team quickly agreed to take the case, packing up and heading to The Greenbrier in West Virginia, a sprawling and elegant resort that catered to the elite. From Quantico's tech haven, Garcia decided to break that silence and secretly made a quick call.
——
Once at the venue, the team split up to cover more ground. Hotch and Emily went to inspect the crime scenes, while the rest of the team focused on interviewing the 300 guests, who were kept in a grand hall near the ballroom. The venue buzzed with an undercurrent of fear and tension; the extravagant decor of the wedding now felt like a macabre backdrop to the grim reality unfolding within its walls.
Summoned by Garcia, Adrienne arrived, showed her FBI consultant credentials to security and headed to the grand hall where she found Reid and Morgan. They were reviewing the guest list, deciding who to interview next.
"If you ask me this is bad omen for this marriage" she added her usual sense of humor to caught their attention.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Shakespeare Superstar, we missed you crazy," Morgan gave her a side hug before adding, "Right Pretty Boy?"
He simply nodded and quietly greeted her with a short "Castle", which she replied with "Dr. Reid." Apparently, the situation was still cold.
She tried to break the tension and asked "So who is the lovely couple?" Reid, ever efficient, responded to her question. "Marcus Vanderwall and Valerie Getty," he said, his tone flat as he concentrated on the task at hand.
Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of the names. "Vanderwall?" she repeated, her mind racing. Morgan, catching her reaction, added, "Yeah, we're about to talk to some very hungover groomsmen ... oh and best man.
