Copycat//Criminal Minds FanFic

Frank

The BAU carefully entered the house. JJ had opted to stay at the station. She didn't want to see.

Inside, everything looked normal. Nothing was disturbed.

There wouldn't have been a struggle if the killer had used ketamine, Reid thought to himself as he followed Hotch and Morgan further into the house.

Police officers were taking pictures. A picture of birds hung on the walls. Reid paused when he saw it. He clenched his jaw at the memory of another house with pictures of birds, at another time, with another victim. But with the same type of killing.

They had reached the door. One officer hurried out of the room, hand over his mouth. Reid's pulse quickened. He could hear Prentiss take a deep breath as Hotch opened the door all the way.

Only two officers seemed to have been able to stomach the scene before them. Blood spray covered the walls, the headboard, the ceiling, and everything else in the room. The victim, Shelley Riis, was lying on the bed. No restraints were apparent. Her body was ripped open in the abdomen and chest cavities.

"Oh my..." Rossi said.

He wasn't here. He came after Gideon left... Reid though sadly. He wished that Gideon was here now.

"What happened to her?" Rossi continued.

"Vivisection," Hotch stated. His face was as stoic as ever. No emotion was betrayed.

Prentiss's eyes were shut and she breathed deep in an attempt to keep her composure.

Morgan was looking everywhere but at the bed.

Reid shivered. "Frank used ketamine to paralyze his victims so he could vivisect them."

"Is that what happened to..." Rossi asked, not wanting to say names.

"Yes, that's what happened to Sarah," Hotch may have grimaced a little, but it was hard to tell.

"Let's get this over with," Morgan said suddenly. "I know none of us want to live or relive this." He started to look around.

There was no way they could ask a family member to come into this room, no matter how much easier it would be. We've already learned what seeing this can do to someone close to the victim, Reid thought to himself. He watched the rest of the team as they looked for something pointing to another killer. Morgan and Prentiss were obviously avoiding the end of the room with the bed. Rossi kept glancing at it, probably wondering who could do such a thing and not believing that it had actually happened. Hotch was the only one who was strong enough to go close to the body. He was looking at the bedside table. He ignored the body, even though it was in close proximity.

Reid swallowed hard as he tried to find the courage to help Hotch. Everywhere else in the room was covered. Reid felt that he should help. No, Reid corrected himself. I need to help him, to help myself. Reid squared his shoulders and walked over to the other side of the bed. He examined the bloodstained side table for anything that might stand out. A picture frame on the stand showed a happy Shelley Riis with a young man in a wedding photo. The couple smiled happily as they stared out of the frame at him.

A streak of blood cut through the middle of the photo.

Reid shook himself and continued looking. He glanced in the trashcan. A bloody towel was at the bottom. Reid didn't need to open it to know what was wrapped inside. He swallowed and quickly turned away. His eye was caught by a glint of something in the victim's hand. His mind flashed back to the last murder Frank ever committed. It had also been a young woman and she had also been clutching something in her hand.

Reid moved closer to the hand holding the shiny object. He squinted and bent closer. It was gold and bejeweled. Reid slipped on his purple gloves. He hesitated before he carefully pulled open the girl's hand. The object was a cross. Its chain clinked as Reid held it up. He looked at it perplexed as he tried to place it.

"What did you find?" Hotch asked walking over. This immediately got the rest of the team's attention.

"It's some kind of cross," Reid said as he held it up. His brow was still furrowed as he considered the object. He turned it over.

"What does a cross have to do with anything?" Morgan asked.

"Made in Georgetown, Washington," Reid read the back.

"Georgetown?" Prentiss repeated.

"Yes," Reid nodded.

"Prentiss, isn't that where Johnny lives."

"Yeah," Prentiss whispered. "He's going to copy Paul Silvano next, isn't he?"

"It seems like it," Rossi said as he shook his head. "How does this guy know?"

"Come on, guys, let's talk about this someplace more private." Hotch turned to leave and the other's followed.

____________________________________

I will be prepared.

Good... only a few more and it will be over.

____________________________________

"If this guy is going to perform an exorcism, then he needs to be a priest," Morgan pointed out.

"Garcia?"

"Garcia," Morgan agreed as he dialed.

"Garcia here," she answered, obviously subdued.

"What, no witty comment?" Morgan asked.

"Why didn't you tell me that this guy was copying killers like Frank?"

"It didn't come up."

"Right," Garcia sighed through the phone. "You still could have told me."

"Do you forgive me enough to do me a favor?"

"Yes, my dove, give it to me."

"We need to know of all the people in this town that are or have been priests," Reid jumped in.

"I'll send it to you as soon as I can. Are you going to tell me who he's copying now?"

There was silence for a little while.

"Guys?" Garcia's voice questioned.

"It's Paul Silvano," Prentiss finally answered.

"Oh..." Garcia faltered. "I'll have the info to you in a few minutes."

"Alright, it's been a long day. Let's get some sleep," Hotch dismissed everyone.

As they all filed out of the room, Prentiss held back. Reid stalled until everyone else had left.

"Emily, are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Prentiss half-smiled.

Reid gave her a comforting look and nodded as he left.

It was dark outside. Reid was glad the hotel was only across the street. He was already falling asleep as he walked. He managed to get into his room before he collapsed on the bed. He was asleep before he could turn out the light.

I just wanted to say I plan to write a chapter a day if I can, but we'll see. I have a few other books to write.