The Truth Behind The Lies {1}

Won't Get Fooled Again {3}

"Look at this. This is their nephew in Texas. And according to Mrs. Clurman, he was staying with them for a month and left last week." Elle tells us, handing me the picture.

"Mercury switches are a little sophisticated for a twelve-year-old kid." Hotch says confused after I hand him the picture.

I giggle and state, "He might not be the unsub but little boys like blowing up things."

He nods, "I'll call Morrison. He'll contact local PD in Texas. He'll pick up the kid and talk to him." He assures and opens his phone to make the call.

-

"Morgan emailed these over. The three on the left are the bombs from yesterday. The one on the right's form the evidence room at Quantico." Hotch says and I squint.

"They're all exactly the same. Steel reinforcement rods, everything." I explain.

Gideon states, "Adrian Bale."

I freeze and we all look at him when Agent Morrison asks, "Who?"

We look at Hotch when he explains, "He held our agents at a standoff in Boston last year. He took out six agents and a hostage with one of his bombs."

"So you're thinking he's behind this?" Elle questions.

I add, "That's not possible. He's serving a life sentence in prison."

"He's got kind of a cult following, like Charles Manson. It could just be a copycat." Reid explains and I keep getting paler, not again.

"There's one way to find out. Let's put the screws to this guy." I hear Morrison say but it's like everyone is speaking through a tunnel, far away.

"No, no, no. Bale's too smart. If we want information from him, we have to handle him carefully, and even then you have to assume that road will lead nowhere." I hear Gideon replies as my vision starts to narrow like I'm in a tunnel, I try to blink it away but I can't, the voices around me start to blur, so does my vision.

I can vaguely hear Spencer call my name before I black out.

-

"Don't you want to learn?"

"Good job."

"You are weak."

"Just kill her, I don't want her."

"Cut the red wire." No, cut the blue!

"Die in a hole."

"You did your best." I should have done more.
-

I open my eyes and cringe at the bright light, I take in my surroundings and see I am in the police station laying on a couch, the police officers gathered around as I hear, "When we're dealing with a bomber, we're talking about someone who's non-confrontational. If you bumped into him in a cafe, he'd apologize. Even if it wasn't his fault." Gideon explains as I sit up.

Hotch continues, "We would classify this bomber as highly organized based on the meticulous design of his bombs. It means above average intelligence. He probably has a skilled job, a trade, one that allows him to work alone. That's how he was able to make a sophisticated device without raising suspicion." As Hotch continues I walk over and sit by Spencer, who looks at me worriedly, I ignore it and lean my head on his shoulder.

"Furniture maker, jeweler, etc." Hotch finishes.

Morrison asks, "Background in explosives?"

"No, not necessarily. You're thinking about a type that likes to blow things up. Gives them an emotional or sexual release. Death? Secondary." Gideon explains as Spence hands me advil and a water bottle, I smile and open the bottle, downing the advil and washing it down with water.

"Then what's this guy doing?" A cop asks and there is a pause.

Gideon says, "Murdering. Bombs? Just weapons. And these attacks, they are not random."

"Well, how do you know that?" Another cop asks.

Hotch answers, "By process of elimination. We know bombers fall into a discreet number of categories according to motive. There the terrorist whose aim is to spread fear. We expect him to strike in a populous area like a subway. There's the politically motivated bomber. He makes a statement by choosing a symbolic target like an abortion clinic. Then there's our unsub. He made bombs designed to kill and he chose his victims specifically by placing the bombast their stoops. That tells us he has a direct motive. Statistically, he bombs for profit or to conceal a crime. And it tells us how we're going to find him--through the people he killed."

"Somewhere among the three victims, there is a direct motive. Keep digging." Gideon remarks.

Hotch thanks them and says, "If you have any questions, we'll be around."

My head shoots off Spence's shoulder when I hear Gideon state, "You'll be around. I'll be in prison. Somebody's got to talk to Bale."