"Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble." ~Samuel Johnson
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"Bombings occurred within three miles of each other. First victim was a seventy-four-year-old widow, Barbara Keller. Two hours after that, Clurman got hit in his driveway, and fourty-five minutes later... well, we all saw that. Jill Swenson, thirty-four-year-old housewife who lived across the street from Clurman. Of the three, only Clurman survived." Hotch finishes.
Spencer asks, jostling my head that's on his chest, "Is there any connection between the victims?"
"One. Clurman was a partner in a ten-million dollar condo development deal in which Keller was an investor, and a few weeks ago, the whole deal went bust." Hotch explains.
"Went bust how?" Elle asks.
Hotch answers, "Geologists discovered that the land was on methane, the condos never got built, the land became worthless, and Clurman lost a lot of people a lot of money."
My head jostles again when Spencer says, "So maybe one of them was mad enough to take aim at Clurman."
"Reid, move one more time. I dare you." I warn and he freezes.
I snuggle into him more and hear Gideon say, "Oh, let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's a little too early to theorize about motive."
"'Never theorize before you have data. Invariably, you end up twisting facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts.' Sherlock Holmes." I mumble.
Elle asks, "So where do we start?"
"From the beginning. What do we know about bombers?" Gideon asks her.
"Mostly male, loners, history of criminal activity. About fifty percent of all bombings are actually the product of vandalism." Reid says, very careful not to move me.
"It's more often to see bombers accidentally blowing themselves up, the first person you look for is a victim." I say and fix myself to lay my head on Spencer's shoulder.
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"Clurman was the only male. Losing a large business deal like that it could be a powerful stressor." Elle says.
Gideon says, "Well, then there's the crime scene. Clurman was the only victim who didn't get hit at his door. Why? What was different about this one?"
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"Before Clurman passed out, what he told the cops at the time was that he saw the package sitting on the stoop outside his kitchen door." Hotch tells us.
Elle asks, "Why didn't he take it in?"
"Why didn't it go off until he got to his car? That's like fifty feet away." Reid adds.
Hotch says, "Joe Reese, one of Clurman's investigators, was here before the bomb went off. The cops have ruled him out as a suspect, but he said he saw Clurman get in the car with the package."
"Maybe Clurman wasn't getting the bomb but delivering it." I say.
Spencer continues, "But he drops it or tilts it, and it goes off by accident."
"I'd like to talk to Clurman. In the meantime, let's get a warrant to search his house." Gideon says and walks off.
I take out my phone and text Derek.
Me:You making it??
Crime Solving Miracle Worker: Yeah, it's just not fitting. Like a puzzle with a piece missing.
Me: Send me pictures and Reid and I will take a look for you.
Crime Solving Miracle Worker: Thanks, Kit Kat, but I got this.
Me: Oaky. Call if you need anything.
Crime Solving Miracle Worker: Will do.
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"Where's your team right now?" Hotch asks.
The man says, "Down in the garage."
"After they finish the garage, make sure they check the attic." Hotch tells him and the police sergeant comes up to us.
"Agent Hotchner?" He asks.
Hotch responds, "Yes, sir."
They shake hands as he introduces himself, "Detective Morrison, Palm Beach PD. I'm lead on the case."
Hotch nods and says, "Nice to meet you. This is Agent Greenaway and Doctor Audie. Agents Reid and Gideon are at the hospital. I think you met Agent Jareau at the station house."
Agent Morrison nods, "Oh, yeah, she's taken over the place." He says.
I reassure, "She always does that."
"ATF hasn't found any hard evidence yet, just some kitchen timers, tape recorders, and electrical switches." Hotch says as we go inside and Agent Morrison nods.
"Yeah. It is amazing how many household items count as potential bomb-making materials." He says just before a woman walks through the door.
"Hello?" She asks as we turn to her.
"Excuse me!" She snaps.
Agent Morrison whispers, "Mrs. Clurman."
"What's going on here?" She asks.
Hotch tries to calm her down, "Mrs. Clurman, my name is Special Agent Aaron Hotchner with the FBI." He says and shows his badge.
"What are you doing in my house?" She asks us.
I tell her, "On the table is the copy of the search warrant."
"I know that this is hard to believe, but we just need to cover all of our bases. We need to make sure that your husband was not involved in any way." Hotch says making me close my eyes and sigh through my nose.
"Involved? My husband's in the hospital with his leg blown off. What are you talking about?!" She cries.
Elle makes it better by saying, "Mrs. Clurman, there are some questions that your husband needs to answer, and the sooner that we talk to him and clear him, then the sooner we can find whoever's responsible."
"Agent Hotchner?" A man says behind us, when we look at him he says, "We've got something." We follow him down to the basement. "We found this buried in the back of that shelf." The man explains while opening a toolbox full of bomb-making equipment, Mrs. Clurman walks over.
Hotch speaks to her, "Mrs. Clurman... do you know anything about this?" He asks and she just looks at him.
