Ready Or Not

Chapter 3: Sequential Circumstances

Unease filled the station as Spencer and the team stood in the investigation room with Detective Russ. Things hadn't gone the way they planned, especially with the series of events that had just happened not leaning in their favour. First when they found Ferell 'accomplice' Marcus Manning, who Ferell had manipulated into taking the fall, had not only confessed to the latest murders but the ones from ten years ago. The worst of it was after his confession he killed himself slitting his throat before they could get to him. Secondly, now Ferell was going up before the defence council at Hazelwood for his release and considering he had complied with everything he was going to get away; his lawyer was going to use it to get him out.

"We know, behaviourally, that Marcus was lying," Tara snaps, angrily ripping Ferell's picture of the glass display board.

"Regardless, we have to turn over his dying declaration to Ferell's defence council," Rossi shrugs knowing that was what was required by law. As much as he hated it.

"She'll use it to get him out," Luke finishes off. The whole team was angry and frustrated that Ferell was going to be set free, all because he has completed his voluntary regiment and excelled in the therapeutic process. That may have been true, but that didn't mean he was sane or not going to kill again, it was that fact that made this so frustrating.

"It's what Ferell wanted all along," Matt reminded them.

"He manipulated the mental health system to get out again, by coercing Marcus into taking credit for his crimes.

"And I'm left with a cannibal about to be released back into my community, how do I protect them?" Russ asks hoping for any piece of advice to help with the situation.

"None of us wants to risk waiting until Ferell kills again," Emily confirms what the team is all thinking, "and we all think he will, but there's simply nothing left legally at this time.

"Well I can't leave here doing nothing," immense anger leaked into Rossi's voice, Spencer could tell he wouldn't want to leave without trying everything. "I'll try and get the hospital board to understand Ferell's part in this."

With a quick thanks and appreciation by detective Russ, he leaves the team to finish packing up.

Spencer hoped that back in Quantico JJ and Garcia were having more luck. The two agents and friends were trying tirelessly to find something anything that could help the team. After an impromptu visit from her chocolate thunder Derek Morgan, organised by JJ, Garcia was pretty much back to her usual. Which was good, they needed everything they could find to stop Ferell being released back into the community.

Both she and JJ were working tirelessly, looking through every file they could.

"Ohh, I come bearing something totally irrelevant," Garcia groans entering the conference room where JJ was sitting. "Marcus Manning's M.E. report."

"Thanks, Penelope," JJ sighs gratefully taking the file, "There has to be something in all of these files that prove Floyd committed those murders."

"If he did do it, he hid it so well," Garcia snaps bitterly, the idea of that creep being free gave her the shivers.

"Yeah he did," JJ replies as Garcia's eyes scanned over the report. "Turns out he was a hell of a lot smarter than what we thought, and there's no way that this was just all dumb luck."

"Wait a minute," confusion fill's Garcia as she noticed something weird in the report. "The M.E. says that there were five of Rebecca's fingers in Marcus's stomach.

"Yeah. And it's gross." JJ cringes in disgust.

"Rebecca was missing all of her fingers," both agents meet each other's eye, registering what Garcia had just said meant.

They could take Ferell down.

"Rossi's testifying at the state hospital board right now. Call Prentis," a wide-eyed Garcia tells JJ who quickly pulls out her phone. Hopefully, it wasn't too late.

Meanwhile also in Quantico Darcy Reid headed out for her much needed lunch break. Like always she headed to her usual lunch spot a small café a couple of blocks away from the children's centre where she worked as a counsellor. Unbeknown to her a figure followed her amongst the crowd, far enough way to see her, but not enough for her to notice them. Timing was everything they had waited too long to mess this up, to let her get away. All they needed was the right moment. Finally, that moment had come as Darcy turned into side street a smirk growing on her stalkers face. It was all too easy.

Darcy barely had time to register what was happening, she was only a few hundred feet from the café when a hand gripped her should. Within seconds she was dragged into the alley, feeling a small prick on the side of her neck; whatever it was almost instantly made her feel drowsy. The last words she heard before the world faded into black.

"It good to see you again sweetheart."