Special Agent Angel (Criminal Minds fanfiction) [Season 1]

Won't Get Fooled Again [3]

"You know, a watched bomb never assembles." Samarra said as she watched Morgan work.

"I'm down to the last few pieces, and for the life of me, I can't figure out how they fit together." Morgan dropped the piece he was looking at "They might not even be part of the bomb at all,"

"What's the big deal?" Sam asked she looked at the part herself "You got most of it,"

Morgan laughed "The big deal is it could be part of his signature. I mean, I don't know...I mean, these guys, they think they're artists or something, so they sign their work,"

"And you think by putting these last pieces together, you might find the signature?"

"Yeah, and...see, sometimes the design itself is unique, so once we do put it all together, we can compare it to other exemplars in our evidence database and see if the bomb was built by somebody we may have already come across,"

"What if there was another piece like this..."

"No, I tried that. It doesn't fit,"

"No, it could have been part of a longer rod that fits through the top and went all the way through." Samarra moved the piece as Morgan looked at her in shock.

"I live with Reid, Morgan. You learn a thing or two about puzzles,"

"Damn it,"

"What? Did I mess something up?"

"No. No, no, Sam. You nailed it. I know who built this bomb." Morgan shook his head "The guy's doing life in federal prison." he stood up and headed for the phone and dialed.

***

"Morgan emailed these over," Hotchner told the team. "The three on the left are the bombs from yesterday. The one on the right's from the evidence room at Quantico,"

"They're all identical. Made with steel reinforcement rods," Reid noted

"Adrian Bale," Gideon said

"Who?" Detective Morrison asked

"He held our agents in a standoff in Boston last year." Hotchner explained "He took out 6 agents and a hostage with one of his bombs,"

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

"Possibly, but he's in prison." Reid said "He's got kind of a cult following, like Charles Manson. It could just be a copycat,"

"There's one way to find out," Detective Morrison said "Let's put the screws to this guy.

"No, no, no." Gideon negated "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,"

"You're saying the connection to Bale doesn't help us at all?"

"No. I'm just saying let us handle Bale,"

"Look, we just heard from local Texas PD." Detective Morrison looked towards Elle "You were right about Clurman's nephew. He admitted the bomb stuff was his, which is great for the Clurman's, but it leaves us with zero suspects. So what do you suggest my men do now?"

"Proceed from the profile,"

"I didn't know we had a profile,"

"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,"

"We would classify this bomber as highly organized based on the meticulous design of his bombs." Hotchner explained "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. Furniture maker, jeweler, etcetera,"

"Background in explosives?" Detective Morrison asked

"No, not necessarily." Gideon said "You're thinking about a type who likes to blow things up. Gives them an emotional or sexual release. Death? Secondary,"

"Then what's this guy doing?" An officer questioned

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

"Well, how do you know that?"

"By the process of elimination." Hotchner replied "We know bombers fall into a discreet number of categories according to motive. There's 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 bombs at 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." Gideon reasoned "Keep digging,"

"Thanks." Hotchner told the officers present "If you have any questions, we'll be around,"

"You'll be around. I'll be in prison." Gideon said as he walked off "Somebody's got to talk to Bale,"

JJ entered the office "Detective Morrison, how's it going?"

"We're combing through all the investors in the land deal, got a couple of suspects who fit the profile. We're gonna talk to them,"

"Ok. Well, if you need anything, just let us know,"

"Right," JJ joined Elle and Hotchner in their office "How we doing?"

"Frustrated," Elle said "I can't see why anyone would want to kill a little old lady who collects cats and coins,"

"Unless somebody wanted the coins," Hotchner said, "I spent a good chunk of my childhood looking for a 1944 penny, worth thousands." He noticed Elle's glance "Yes, I was a little bit of a nerd. Is that so surprising?"

"Not to me,"

The Telephone rang and Hotchner answered it "Morgan?"

"Yeah. I just got the lab results from the powder residues on the bomb" Morgan said "Ammonia Nitrate, Potassium Chloride, and Aluminum Powder. Nobody uses that mixture, Hotch,"

"Nobody but Bale,"

"That's right. And the closer I look at these things, the more they're the same. Same weld pattern, same switch assembly, same thread sizing. It's weird, man. This guy's not building bombs, he's forging them. That's the other reason I'm calling you. Bale wrote addresses on his packages in block letters with blue ink. I'm thinking our guy's doing the same,"

"Ok." JJ said "I'll set up a press conference, make sure the public knows,"

"Thanks, Morgan," Hotchner said as he hung up, seconds after his cell phone rang "Excuse me." Hotchner stood up to answer "Hotchner,"

"Look, obviously Bale burned us pretty bad. We just want to make sure if we're in a position to make a deal with him that you guys are willing to do it,"

"Well, I think that's premature. We're not even sure if Bale's involved yet,"

"What if he is?"

"Are you sure you'd want to deal with a guy who took out 6 of our agents?"

"Half of Florida is in a panic. There might not be another choice,"

"Well, there has to be," Hotchner hung up

***

U.S. Penitentiary

Atlanta, Georgia

"You know why I'm here?" Gideon asked Bale

"This guy in Palm Beach, right?" Bale questioned "The Palm Beach Bomber. Somebody's got to give him a better name,"

"He uses your bombs, your designs,"

"Well, he should be careful. Those things are dangerous,"

"Adrian...you can't fool me. If you're involved in this in any way and you do not help me, I will make your life even worse than it is now,"

"Oh, but no, actually," Bale turned back towards Gideon "I can fool you because I fooled you before. And now there's another me out there, watching, waiting,"