MINDCHANGER

seven days in sunny june (1)

[PARK CITY, KANSAS]

Dennis is slowly turning the pages of one of the books his wife gave him. Ever since the day she came home, and found him preforming such unsettling acts in their bathroom, he has been doing whatever he can to appear changed. 

He's skimming through the sentences. In his mind, he's thinking. It's stressful to have to hide these fantasies he's having. Driving around late at night, finding these homes with unlocked doors, or women in their yard having trouble with something outside. It starts off innocent, the young woman is just trying to start up her lawn mower. He approaches, and says, "Ma'am, do you need help with that?" and before he knows it, hes over top of her lifeless body, pressing his fingers around her neck to feel for the slightest pulse. He learned to always double check. 

He slams the book cover to close it.

[QUANTICO, VIRGINIA]

Holden Ford takes a careful sip of the coffee he just poured. He's facing a wall, covered in images of people who's lives were taken in different ways. However, each image is connected by one similar factor. "BTK?"

He quickly turns around. "Yes, BTK."

Wendy Carr slowly walks up, reaching for the coffee pot. As she pours coffee into her empty cup, she responds. "We haven't even been asked to look into him."

"Yes," Ford begins. "I know." He turns back around, to gaze at the images with her. "However, a new victim has been discovered in the same area as the rest. It's got to be him."

"I couldn't agree more that it was him," Carr says with slight irritation in her voice. "However, you know it's part of my job to keep you on track. Especially since Tench took his leave."

"Speaking of, how is he?"

"I don't know." her head slowly turns away. In a soft exhale, she says, "I don't believe he's heard from her still."

"Well, I have yet to hear from him." Ford sips his coffee. "We have to go to Indiana soon. Crown Point has had a victim who's assaulter peaked the interest of the boss." 

"Howso?"

"Well he was found unconscious and naked. He was heavily beaten. It sounds like a sexually motivated crime." Carr scoffs, interrupting Ford's train of thought. "When he wakes up-"

"Wakes up?" she quickly turns his way. "He's still alive?" 

"Yes, he is. And then, I hope, we'll find our answers. We have to find the answers."

Carr begins to walk away towards her office. She's holding onto those last words. 'We have to find the answers.' It just sticks in her brain. Is Ford's anxiety becoming more manageable? How is he even doing? And where the hell is Tench?

As the day is going by, Holden is finishing up the last of his paperwork. He's starting to think about Tench's situation, and then his own. He was just recently broken up with, and though there were no children involved, the pain was still just as real. Equally valid to Tench's pain. Holden grabs onto his chest, he feels his heart begin racing. His hearing becomes fuzzy and he has tunnel vision. His hands shakily reach into his pocket, and he doesn't feel his pill bottle. Is it at home? In his desk? 'God, how stupid can I be?'

He collapses.

"Holden, Holden!" says a voice. "Somebody call for help, now!"

[Take it to the Limit by Eagle's begins to play]

Holden is limp, as his body is being pushed on a stretcher. He's in and out of consciousness. The doctor removes him from the stretcher, onto the more stably placed hospital bed. They are pumping him with fluids, and the doctor yells, "Does anyone have his previous records?"

"Sir," a nurse begins. "The only records indicating a history of passing out are in Sacramento!" 

"Well fuck," the doctor stresses. "Somebody call them now!"

"I'm on it!" The nurse turns away, running to the desk. She quickly lifts the phone and begins to dial a number.

After speaking with a nurse from that hospital, they begin creating a prescription of Valium for Holden. "Who's his emergency contact?" the doctor asks. "When he wakes up, he shouldn't be alone. Clearly he can't manage his anxiety."

"It says a 'Detective Tench'? Who on earth could that be?" The nurse questions.

"Well call the Quantico office and request for him."

The nurse dials the number to Quantico. "Tedd Gunn speaking."

"Yes, this is a nurse at the Mary Washington Healthcare." she begins. "There is a person here who was brought by ambulance from your office, and a Detective Tench is listed as their emergency contact."

"Well," Gunn sighs. "Tench is on a leave. We haven't heard from him since he's taken it."

"Is there a way you can give us his phone number, or you can call him?"

"Here let me put you on hold, I'll call him." Gunn puts the nurse on hold. He dials for Tench. "Bill?"

"I'm sorry, I just can't-"

"It's about Holden."