Lead the Way - Chapter 013 - Leverage
So far I've been telling you that Cooper's MO is unusual and what it is, but I haven't begun to tell you why he used to kill this way. We're getting there :) Can't wait to hear your speculations on this one ;)
Lead the Way - 013 - Leverage
Thursday morning JJ woke up to the most endearing view she had ever laid eyes on. Emily Prentiss had fallen asleep in her arms the night before and hadn’t moved since. In the quiet moments before dawn the blonde had time to fantasize that she was right now holding her lover in her arms.
She imagined travelling the world with her, raising Henry together, falling asleep next to Emily every night. Could there be anything more appeasing than the prospect of waking up to this beautiful face for the rest of her life? Slowly, the body next to her shifted and eyes fluttered open. A broad smile welcomed brown eyes to a new day.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you.” Agent Prentiss looked into her eyes and it was now undeniable that there was more to this relationship than platonic friendliness. But then JJ blinked and it was like this moment of intimacy never happened as the brunette got up and hid behind the bathroom door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the second day of their interview, Emily was calmer and managed to gain back the upper hand in the conversation. Cooper realized that whatever pull he had had on her, he had lost over night. His eyes travelled down her cleavage and once more he wished that they could be alone on his farm right now.
“Have you started any fires after you were released from the juvenile correction facility?” Emily asked.
“Have you called her?”
“Who?”
“Your girlfriend. Did you call her last night? Is that why you look so fresh this morning?”
“I have already told you, Agent Jareau and I have no intimate relationship whatsoever. Now please answer the question.”
“You answer mine first.”
“Mr. Cooper…” Emily sighed. This guy was pissing her off more and more and she had no ace up her sleeve to keep him in check. She needed him more than he needed her. A position she had fought all her life to avoid.
“Did you call her last night?”
“No.” She looked straight at him. “Have you started…”
Suddenly Cooper laughed. It was a resonating, sharp laugh and it was over as suddenly as it had started. The air seemed unusually quiet and discomfort arose in Emily.
“She’s here! Tell me Agent Prentissss, did you fuck her last night?” A million images flashed before her inner eye and it took all her experience not to let Cooper see how much she longed for his words to be true.
“Enough!” She yelled more to herself than to him. She looked straight at him and knew that he had uncovered her most precious secret. He had profiled her before she could profile him.
“I will be back after lunch. Hopefully you will be able to keep your hormones in check this afternoon.” She stormed out, his laughter haunting her until she was outside, breathing fresh air again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The profilers decided not to waste time driving back to the hotel and had lunch with the prison staff. Emily was grateful that Reid hadn’t commented on her recent outburst. She needed leverage or she would keep playing right into his hands.
“I never thought it possible, but there is worse than hospital food,” Emily said, pushing her tray away.
“Did you know that there are studies on the quality of hospital food?”
”There are?”
“Incidentally, better nutrition is supposed to ameliorate the effects of certain treatments. Though there is much discussion in the medical community concerning whether this is not really due to overall quality of life. It is considered accepted although not explained that patients with an above-average quality of life have a significantly better chance at recovery. If you’re interested I could get you the case files.”
“No thanks.” Emily smiled.
“Suit yourself.” Spencer leaned back and picked up the file he had brought with him.
“I’ve noticed something interesting. About Cooper.”
Emily leaned forward, her curiosity peaked.
“According to his birth certificate, he was born to Brian and Sophie Cooper. But Brian and Sophie are also the parents of Rose Cooper.”
“So he had a sister.” Emily sighed. This was hardly the kind of information that would rattle a serial killer’s cage.
“Yes, but there is no mention of her after 1985. She got her high school diploma and as far as Garcia knows she never even went to her prom.”
“I still don’t see why this is so interesting, Reid.”
“She graduated from High School in 1985.” He paused, leaving Emily to figure out the magnitude of his discovery.
“She was born in 1969.” Emily whistled. Finally she felt the prickling sensation in her fingertips she always got when close to catching an Unsub. Finally they had something to go on.
“Do we have a picture of her?” The woman tried hard not to get her hopes up too quickly.
“Let me call Garcia and check.”
Seconds later the profilers were staring at a 17 year old brunette.
Lead the Way - 013 - Leverage
Thursday morning JJ woke up to the most endearing view she had ever laid eyes on. Emily Prentiss had fallen asleep in her arms the night before and hadn’t moved since. In the quiet moments before dawn the blonde had time to fantasize that she was right now holding her lover in her arms.
She imagined travelling the world with her, raising Henry together, falling asleep next to Emily every night. Could there be anything more appeasing than the prospect of waking up to this beautiful face for the rest of her life? Slowly, the body next to her shifted and eyes fluttered open. A broad smile welcomed brown eyes to a new day.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you.” Agent Prentiss looked into her eyes and it was now undeniable that there was more to this relationship than platonic friendliness. But then JJ blinked and it was like this moment of intimacy never happened as the brunette got up and hid behind the bathroom door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the second day of their interview, Emily was calmer and managed to gain back the upper hand in the conversation. Cooper realized that whatever pull he had had on her, he had lost over night. His eyes travelled down her cleavage and once more he wished that they could be alone on his farm right now.
“Have you started any fires after you were released from the juvenile correction facility?” Emily asked.
“Have you called her?”
“Who?”
“Your girlfriend. Did you call her last night? Is that why you look so fresh this morning?”
“I have already told you, Agent Jareau and I have no intimate relationship whatsoever. Now please answer the question.”
“You answer mine first.”
“Mr. Cooper…” Emily sighed. This guy was pissing her off more and more and she had no ace up her sleeve to keep him in check. She needed him more than he needed her. A position she had fought all her life to avoid.
“Did you call her last night?”
“No.” She looked straight at him. “Have you started…”
Suddenly Cooper laughed. It was a resonating, sharp laugh and it was over as suddenly as it had started. The air seemed unusually quiet and discomfort arose in Emily.
“She’s here! Tell me Agent Prentissss, did you fuck her last night?” A million images flashed before her inner eye and it took all her experience not to let Cooper see how much she longed for his words to be true.
“Enough!” She yelled more to herself than to him. She looked straight at him and knew that he had uncovered her most precious secret. He had profiled her before she could profile him.
“I will be back after lunch. Hopefully you will be able to keep your hormones in check this afternoon.” She stormed out, his laughter haunting her until she was outside, breathing fresh air again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The profilers decided not to waste time driving back to the hotel and had lunch with the prison staff. Emily was grateful that Reid hadn’t commented on her recent outburst. She needed leverage or she would keep playing right into his hands.
“I never thought it possible, but there is worse than hospital food,” Emily said, pushing her tray away.
“Did you know that there are studies on the quality of hospital food?”
”There are?”
“Incidentally, better nutrition is supposed to ameliorate the effects of certain treatments. Though there is much discussion in the medical community concerning whether this is not really due to overall quality of life. It is considered accepted although not explained that patients with an above-average quality of life have a significantly better chance at recovery. If you’re interested I could get you the case files.”
“No thanks.” Emily smiled.
“Suit yourself.” Spencer leaned back and picked up the file he had brought with him.
“I’ve noticed something interesting. About Cooper.”
Emily leaned forward, her curiosity peaked.
“According to his birth certificate, he was born to Brian and Sophie Cooper. But Brian and Sophie are also the parents of Rose Cooper.”
“So he had a sister.” Emily sighed. This was hardly the kind of information that would rattle a serial killer’s cage.
“Yes, but there is no mention of her after 1985. She got her high school diploma and as far as Garcia knows she never even went to her prom.”
“I still don’t see why this is so interesting, Reid.”
“She graduated from High School in 1985.” He paused, leaving Emily to figure out the magnitude of his discovery.
“She was born in 1969.” Emily whistled. Finally she felt the prickling sensation in her fingertips she always got when close to catching an Unsub. Finally they had something to go on.
“Do we have a picture of her?” The woman tried hard not to get her hopes up too quickly.
“Let me call Garcia and check.”
Seconds later the profilers were staring at a 17 year old brunette.