IDF 2008, The Barbie Murders - Part I, fic + graphic
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Title: The Barbie Murders - Part I
Author: Steppenwolf_20
Fandom: CSI:Miami/Criminal Minds
Pairing: Calleigh Duquesne/Jennifer Jareau (with some Cal/Nat, JJ/Em, JJ/Nat along the way)
Disclaimer: None of the beautiful ladies is mine. No infringement intended.
The song is “Isolated” from Chiasm; the drug I borrowed from the Movie “Anatomy”
Rating: NC-17 (I mean it)
Warnings: chose one, there's plenty... angst, smut, mentioning of violence, abuse, rape (but nothing graphic), it's a BAU case after all, what did you expect. No smut in this part. But I gotta warn you! There's plot!!
Setting: uhm, screw timelines. I guess somewhere end of season six CSI:M and end of season two CM
Spoiler: I don't think so
A/N: written for the “Cliché Challenge 2008”. Sadly I wasn't able to finish it on time. Real life in form of work (buuuh) and my niece (yay) got in the way. But I am pretty far so updates should be quick.
Cliché used: trapped together in a cave/shack/turbolift
A/N 2: This story kinda developed a mind of its own. I guess it will be the first story in a loose series.
Thanks to my awesome beta
sofia_lindsay . And not just for beta-ing!
Prologue:
The club was packed. There were people everywhere, there was barely enough room to move, let alone dance. All the people were having a good time, at least that's what they wanted to believe. They were drinking and watching, lingering and flirting, searching and displaying; and of course dancing.
The music was pounding with its heavy bass, setting the rhythm for everyone to move. Bodies were moving in unison like they were connected through the bond of the music; moving against each other, sliding, pushing, grinding. Men, women all were following the lure of the stomping bass, moving in sync with the hypnotic lights.
The air was heavy with laughter and smoke from the fog machine, hormones raging, amplified due to the heavy scent of booze and sweat mixed with endorphins.
One of the stressed bartenders left from behind the bar to take a break, get some air in the small, shadowy street behind the club. She slipped out the back door and leaned against the wall beside it; the noise from inside reduced to the mere vibration of the bass through the soundproof walls. Clouds were rushing over the sky, harbinger of a heavy storm to come. A car passed the side street and its headlights illuminated the night for a fraction of a second, revealing a battered and bruised body from its protecting sheet of darkness.
The scream from the bartender drowned out the sounds of the club and in the distance the first lightning raced across the portentous sky.
Quantico, 0700, June 02 - Conference room
Agent Jennifer Jareau stood motionless at the head of the table in the conference room, leaning heavily on her hands, her shoulders slumped, her head hanging down kinda defeated, and looked down on the two files in front of her. The files were closed now but she could still see the pictures that were inside. She felt a little nauseous, remembering the photos, the details of the killings, thinking about the fate of the victims. She was somewhat glad that she was still able to feel disgusted by the pictures; that she had to persuade herself every time she opened a new file to look at them. To really look at the photos, the victims, the lost ones in order to catch every detail that could be important to save the next victim. Partially she was glad that it didn't get any easier, that she had to struggle every time. She knew that when the day came and she wouldn't be opposed to open the next file she would be lost.
Some cases were harder than others, and this particular case promised to be one of the worst.
The other team members filed into the room, pretty much in the same order they always did. Emily was the first to enter, heading straight to her usual seat exactly opposite from JJ. She sat down, looked up and their eyes met. At once the blonde agent felt a lot calmer and until everyone would be seated she would have regained her composure totally. The fact that just one glance from Emily could stop her world from spinning out of axis and ground her again amazed her every time and she felt grateful for the deep friendship they had developed.
Next to enter was the hacker-extraordinaire Penelope Garcia. She took the seat directly to JJ's right, so her view onto the screen would be partially obscured by JJ's form. Usually Garcia would make some funny comment about JJ's stiff posture, probably something inappropriate about sore places due to fun activities. But seeing the two rather voluminous files in front of her younger friend she kept quiet and just winked lightly at her.
JJ couldn't help but smile reassuringly back at her. 'It'll be okay, don't worry.' She was saying with this smile. 'I'll be fine. Together we can make it, like we always do.'
Between her two friends, as different as they were, she felt strong again. Strong enough to reopen the files and present the cases to the team. Her team. The knowledge that she was surrounded by her friends and what she considered family helped her deal.
The blonde agent waited until everyone was seated and then addressed the team.
“We have two cases that need our immediate attention. The first case is a child molester in Cleveland. Three boys in the age between eight and ten have been abducted out of their beds in the last three weeks. The latest case was yesterday. No apparent connection between the victims.”
With the remote control she conjured pictures of the victims onto the big, flat screen covering nearly one wall of the room completely. She explained all the details on this particular case. How the first two kids had been found tortured and murdered six days after their abduction and now, after the third case the police of Cleveland had asked for their assistance.
“This case has a very high priority because the third victim is the son of a congressman. It is still not clear how the unsub managed to get to the child. The whole building is under surveillance 24/7, high security.”
JJ was back to her professional self, she already have had some time to process the case's facts and now she waited a few moments, taking some deep breaths, giving her colleagues the time to digest the information.
Another click onto the remote and another set of pictures appeared on the screen.
“The second case is a rather unusual request from Miami DADE. There seems to be a serial killer, who is after blonde, Caucasian women. Until now he has probably killed at least ten, in the age between 25 and 35, athletic type, small to medium build, long hair, attractive. Without leaving any trace behind. But only four victims have been found so far. Miami PD started an undercover mission with one of their own detectives, but the unsub seems to know her, and any other cop for that matter. Because he always chooses another victim from the exact location where the undercover agent was stationed at that time. It's like the unsub is mocking the police of Miami. It's highly possible, that the unsub is a police officer or at least very familiar with procedures and staff. In the four bodies that were discovered traces of GHB were found. No surprise here. But there were also traces of another drug. Called Promidal.”
“Never heard of it. What is it?” Morgan asked the question that was written in everyone’s face.
Except Reid's, who at once started to recite.
“Promidal is a drug that was mainly used to plasticize animals. But since it has to be injected into the living animal it is prohibited for some years now. Promidal plasticizes the tissue by depriving the body of all its salt. Due to injecting it into the living body the bloodstream transports the drug into the very last cell. The further the drug takes effect the more viscous the blood becomes. Moving becomes more difficult until the body isn't able to transport the blood at all. Promidal has a very simple chemical structure and one can counteract it with applying a common salt solution. Dependant on where the drug is injected and on the dosage death can be quick, but it can also be very slow and painful. And the animal is fully conscious until the very end.”
Nobody dared to mention that although Reid had spoken of the use on animals this drug had been used on human beings. But JJ could see the realization dawn in everybody's eyes.
After some seconds of silence JJ continued in her usual, calm voice.
“The dosage and point of injection differs in the first four cases, there are also signs of penetration…” The blonde agent had to take a breath before she was able to continue. “Perimortem.”
“What a son of a bitch! I’d really like to get my hands on that bastard!” Morgan burst out into the silence filling the room.
“What makes Miami PD think that there are in fact at least six more victims? And where are the bodies?” Emily asked in her calm, official voice, seemingly unaffected by the facts provided.
“Several missing persons reports that fit the profile, they were all last seen in a club or bar. But Miami PD has no idea where the other victims are, they should have surfaced somewhere by now.” JJ answered calmly, knowing full well that Emily’s cold attitude was merely a facade.
“He keeps them.” Jason’s voice was toneless, betraying the emotions that stormed behind his eyes. “The first victims were failures, while he was still trying to perfect his MO, the right dosage, best point of injection. He preserves the bodies and keeps them. Other serials keep souvenirs, he keeps the victims themselves! And obviously he has no intention to stop any time soon.”
Again silence fell upon the team, until JJ cleared her throat and tried to wrap up the case.
“I’ve been contacted by Lieutenant Horatio Caine. He asks for our assistance, but doesn’t want anyone to know. Only he and one other detective will be aware that we are investigating. We’re going undercover.”
Some minutes of silence followed JJ’s presentation of the two cases before Hotch addressed the team.
“Okay, we’ll take both cases and split up. Since the Miami case is undercover we don’t need a liaison there. JJ, Morgan, Prentiss and I go to Cleveland. Reid and Jason will take the Miami case. We leave in …”
“I want to take the Miami case!” JJ's voice was determined and left no room for objection.
“No!” Emily, Hotch and Garcia shouted as one.
“It's way too dangerous!” - “Do you want me to get wrinkles?” - “I won't let you go alone!”
Their voices jumbled together, opposing JJ's decision.
“Stop it!” JJ shouted, her eyes blazing. “Look. At. Me!”
She waited for everyone to shut up and look at her.
“I'm a fully trained FBI agent; I know the risk, but I AM the perfect bait. We can't let that chance pass by. I might be our only chance.”
“Then I'm coming with you.” Emily exclaimed. “Hotch, she needs a female partner. JJ and me going into a club is way less suspicious than JJ and Jason. No offense, Gideon. And don't forget the bathrooms.”
Hotch took a deep breath and then addressed his agents.
“Okay, fine. But JJ? Are you really sure? This is gonna be extremely dangerous. The guy is obviously intelligent, smart and feels no remorse at all. You fit his profile 100%; I really don't like sending one of my agents into mortal danger with open eyes. And Prentiss: Don't you dare let anything happen to either of you. Garcia?”
“Yes, sir?”
“You'll keep their GPS-signals from either mobile or car or both on the screen 24/7. If I call from Cleveland, no matter what time, you have to know where they are! Understood?”
Miami, 0800, June 02, Miami DADE, the lab
“Ma’am. May I have a word?” The redhead’s voice was calm and to the point as usual.
“Horatio. Sure.” Calleigh stopped on her way to the ballistics lab, coincidentally right in front of the lift and the reception. She flashed him one of her trademark smiles, but it didn't reach her eyes. But only someone who knew her very well, like Horatio did, would have noticed.
“The last few days and nights have been hard on you. You hardly slept. I want you to take some days off. Get some rest.”
“But Horatio. What about the case? We can't let him get away with this. We need all hands on deck on this one.”
“You will continue the undercover mission, but only after you took some days off. You need to rest Calleigh. We need you on top of your game. This is an order!”
“Fine. But will you call me, if…”
“Detective Duquesne! Go home. I don’t wanna see you for three days straight. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir!” The blonde gave a mock salute to her boss and friend of many years.
The redhead’s features softened and a smile twinkled in his eyes.
“I’ll just clean up and then I’ll be gone.” Calleigh said.
“I see. Now, go home. Get some sleep. Call me, if you need anything.”
The blonde detective continued her way to the ballistics lab and started to clean up, every movement a familiar and welcome routine she found some sort of peace in. Her thoughts drifted back to the case that had developed so extremely horrifying during the last weeks. It had started out as a somewhat usual murder case, evolved to a serial murder and had come to it's momentary peak with the insight that the killer had to be one of them. Calleigh had thrown herself into the case, each fiber in her being aching to catch the bastard that was contaminating his oath of protection. And he was threatening her team and her trust in them. She found none of them capable of doing something so horrible and inhuman but one of them was and she just didn't know whom to trust anymore. The foundations of her believes were shaken and she was unable to listen to her instincts anymore. So when Horatio proposed to secretly bring in the FBI she agreed at once. And now they were coming. Horatio ordering her to take some days off was his way of letting her know that everything was going according to their carefully forged plan. Nobody in the lab or in whole Miami knew that they had contacted the BAU. They had to take every advantage they could get.
Calleigh had cleaned up nearly on autopilot and made her way to the locker room to grab her purse and shed the lab coat. All she wanted was getting out the lab, a shower and some hours of sleep before the agents would arrive. Her plans were partly disturbed by one Natalia Boa Vista entering the locker room behind her. Worried brown eyes observed the blonde CSI carefully.
“You okay?” Natalia's soft voice ripping her from her thoughts. Calleigh's head snapped up in surprise, she hadn't been aware of anything around her. She tried to regain her control, smiling softly at her friend. It hurt her deeply that she couldn't confide in her. That she wasn't allowed to trust her, even if her instincts told her otherwise.
Her inner turmoil must have shown in her eyes, because the dark haired woman rushed to her side and took her hands tenderly.
“Calleigh, what's wrong?”
“I'm fine, well I will be. I'm just terribly tired. Don't worry.” Calleigh felt something inside her tear apart. She hated lying to Natalia. The dark CSI was her best friend and everything in her heart told her to trust her, to tell her what was going on. But her sense of duty wouldn't allow it. The more people knew of their plan, the greater the risk of exposure. If they wanted a chance at catching this killer nobody could know. 'Please Nat, don't dig any deeper. Don't make this any harder as it already is.'
“Cal. It's me. You can tell me anything. What is it?” Natalia could see that her friend was deeply troubled. They were all tired; the case was getting to all of them. Everyone suspected everybody, people rarely talked to one another, the atmosphere in the lab got worse with every hour they didn't catch the killer. Up until now her friendship with and trust in Calleigh had made this all bearable for Natalia. That Calleigh now refused to talk to her was a blow below the waistline.
“Horatio sent me home to get some rest. I'm only tired, really.”
The blonde detective knew that her friend didn't believe her, but she saw no other way. She could explain everything when this was over.
As if burned Natalia let Calleigh's hands drop and got up.
“If you say so! You know were to find me.” Natalia's voice was icy and Calleigh nearly flinched at the sudden distance between them. Without another word or even looking behind the darker woman left the locker room.
All Calleigh could do was let her go. She had to fight the tears threatening to sweep over her, knowing that this case just may have cost her her best friend.
But after some moments of weakness determination rose inside her again. She would catch this killer and she would make it up to Natalia, she wouldn't give up on their friendship.
Inside an airplane somewhere between Quantico and Miami, 0900, June 02
The two women were sitting in adjoining seats inside a very full Boeing 747, studying the Miami case file.
“Explain to me why we’re flying business class.” The dark haired whispered.
“We’re tourists. Nobody’s supposed to know we’re on a case. If we flew in a private FBI plane someone would have noticed and the unsub would have heard about it. We need to stay off his radar as long as possible. So we’re just two friends, heading to Miami to have a good time.” The blond agent explained in an even lower voice, leaning intimately towards her older co-worker, grinning wickedly.
“So who’s our contact?” Emily continued to interview the blonde agent.
JJ turned some pages, produced a file and pulled an image of another blonde woman out of it, which she showed to Emily.
“Meet Detective Calleigh Duquesne. Senior CSI level three, ballistics and firearms expert. 5’3, 105 lbs, 32 years, born in Darnell Louisiana, B.S in Physics; Tulane University. Before she joined CSI she worked…” The professional list came to a sudden stop. But before Emily could ask about it JJ continued in her usual business voice.
“… she worked with the New Orleans PD. Single, no children.”
“She’s stunning!” The dark agent decided to ignore JJ’s small interruption. The New Orleans case wasn’t that far behind them and she vividly remembered how that detective had hit on JJ and how it had made her own stomach twist. She still wasn’t sure how JJ felt about him. But she surely wasn’t going to interfere, she was content with being JJ’s friend, since it was the best she could hope for. “I guess she’s been the bait? She certainly fits the unsub’s profile to the letter.”
“Yes. She acted as bait.” JJ skimmed through the file. “Four nights in a row, additionally to her usual day shifts in the lab. Wow. She must be exhausted by now. Well at least her cover will be believable. Officially she’s sent home to get some rest.”
“Are we able to rule her out as a suspect?” Emily had to ask the most concerning question right away.
“Absolutely. She was under surveillance during the last three murders. With her being the bait she’s in fact the only one we can rule out at this point.”
“Excellent. Were do we meet her?”
“At the hotel. She stays in the room next to ours, because…” a conspiratorial smile tugged at the corners of the blonde’s lips. “… her house is being renovated and she had to move out for at least a week.”
“Someone has really thought this through.” Came Emily’s dry remark.
“Absolutely. Remind me to never play poker with her.”
“I will.”
Comfortable silence settled between them. Emily was just savoring the moment. JJ leaning close to her, the warmth of her body slowly seeping through their clothing. She wouldn't mind staying like this forever. But she also knew that this was just a dream and she didn't dare let herself sink into it too far. So when she spoke her voice was calm as usual.
“Where are we staying?”
“The Four Seasons.”
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4