CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR: MASS SUICIDE AND AN INTERVENTION !

7x09

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      THE TEAM WAS CALLED INTO A CASE BY STRAUSS HERSELF. Hotch had debriefed the team about the case as Strauss sat with the team. "Somerville Military Academy, Oceanside, Florida, five boys were found hanging this morning." Hotch delivered as Strauss continued. "The bodies are at the medical examiner's now."

"There's no photos?" Morgan asked. "School personnel thought they may still be alive, so they cut them out of the trees." Strauss stated. "Jimmy Burbage, Phil Mumford, Jerry Bowden, Jack Briggs, Tucker Calhoun." Hotch listed the names of the bodies that were found. "So we're walking into a contaminated crime scene. We don't have anything solid?" Morgan questioned.

"'We're sorry' was carved in a tree branch nearby." Hotch told. "This happened on campus?" Emily asked. "No, in the woods about an hour away." Hotch told. "How long were they out there?" Casey asked. "Six days." Strauss told. "Without supervision?" Emily asked.

"It was an outward bound mission for the upperclassmen." Strauss said. "What drive them to suicide?" Reid asked. "A freshmen cadet, Bailey Shelton, hung himself two weeks ago in his room." Strauss told. "Identical bed sheet, hangman's knot." Hotch said.

"Who takes sheets camping?" Rossi asked. "They would if it was the plan. Could be domino effect." JJ assumes. "The campus would have been on high alert after the first one, so the kids wait until they're alone in the woods." Rossi told. "They must have made some kind of pact." Morgan thinks.

"And there's something else," Hotch interrupted. "Six kids went on the trip. Only five were found." Strauss continued, "The school officials confirm that Josh Redding is still missing." Morgan shrugs, "So maybe he chickened out of the pact." Reid looked over at Morgan. "Or was never a part of it."

"And the campus is completely off the grid. No Internet." Hotch told. "I can help with that." Garcia spoke. "Which is why you're coming with us." Hotch nodded and Casey gave a small smile to Garcia. Times were rare when she traveled with the team. "Oh." Garcia said.

"And so am I." Everyone looked Strauss's way as she spoke. Strauss was never really technically on their side when she joined them on cases, so obviously this one wouldn't go well.

"Isn't Somerville the director's alma mater?" Rossi questioned and Strauss nodded, "Yes. The academy has enjoyed a spotless reputation, so the hope is to keep the investigation in house." Reid and Casey exchange a look, knowing this wasn't gonna fly well.

Emily speaks up from the silence. "I imagine there's a lot of concern for Josh. He's been in those woods almost a week." JJ looked over. "So how's he surviving?"

         The entire team, along with Strauss, had gone up to the jet and traveled down to Florida. Why, oh, why is it always Florida? Casey thought in her head as she looped over the case. Casey was seated next to JJ, Hotch and Strauss seated in front of them. "There's still no sign of Josh Redding." Strauss informed. "We'll join the search." Hotch says.

        "So, the Somerville Academy was founded during World War II. It is hard-core old school. They don't even have a website." Garcia informed the team. "Socioeconomic breakdown's all over the map." Emily said. "Yeah, so are the ages. Students are 12 to 18 years old, on the same campus, in the same dorms." JJ pointed out. "Same personnel has worked there for a lifetime. Ron Massey has been superintendent for 30 years." Morgan stated.

       "He's an alum, as is the majority of the staff there. Lieutenant Tawes has been his second in command this whole time." Strauss explained. "These type of places have their own infrastructure. If it ain't broken, they ain't gonna fix it." Morgan told. "That's probably why they banned modern technology." Emily said. "They didn't need it back then, they don't need it now." JJ added.

        "Aggressive motto-- vivere est vincere." Rossi read. "To live is to conquer." Casey recited. "The school raises soldiers. Suicide is not part of that mantra." Morgan tells. "Bailey Shelton was only 13 years old. He was one of the youngest students there." Reid states. "His death is probably the key to the others." Hotch tells.

        Once the team flew into Florida, Hotch separated the team— Casey going with Reid and Garcia. They had taken a vehicle the rest of the way there. Colonel Massey had been waiting for the team's arrival.

        Strauss was the first person to approach the colonel. "Colonel Massey, Erin Strauss. This is the team I spoke with you about." Hotch held a hand out. "Agent Hotchner." He introduced. "This is Agent Morgan, Agent Jareau, Agent Willows, Dr. Spencer Reid, and Penelope Garcia." Casey waved at the colonel as did Penelope and Reid held up a peace sign. Emily and Rossi were in the woods checking out the crime scene.

        Reid had opened the trunk and grabbed Casey's and Penelope's bags. "Sir, shouldn't the flag be at half-mast?" Morgan asked. "I haven't told the boys yet." Colonel Massey stated. "Do they know who we are?" Morgan asked. "I'll tell them when the time is right. I've called all of the parents. They're driving from up and down the East Coast. In fact, Josh Redding's have just arrived." Massey stated.

        "I'd like to speak with them." JJ told. "They're in the chapel." Massey informed. "How are they?" JJ asked. "As you'd expect." Massey said and JJ nods, "All right, I'll get started." A cadet had led JJ the way to the chapel.

        "Any leads on Josh?" Morgan asked. "In that terrain, he's only capable of moving a mile an hour." Massey said. "Puts him in a 60-mile radius. That's 3, 600 square miles to cover." Reid explained. "Tawes knows those woods better than anybody." Massey told. "We've got two agents meeting and we'll start the investigation here." Hotch said.

        "Where's the place with the most outlets?" Garcia asked. "Best bet is in the library." Massey told. "Thank you." Garcia says as she, Reid and Casey follow a cadet there.

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        Garcia and Casey had set up at the library and Reid had stepped away for a minute. The internet was hard to connect at first and Garcia was sure Casey was close to her anger issues getting the best of her but Garcia worked her magic. "Come on, baby. Come on." Garcia muttered.

        The silence of the place was eerie to Casey. Like a ghost could pop out at any second. There was tapping to be heard right behind Garcia and Casey and the two women jumped and turned to see Reid who had purposely scared them. "Boo!"

"Jesus, Reid! Don't do that!" Casey exclaimed. "Jeez, you scared us." Garcia sighed. "I thought you were a ghost."

"You know, older buildings like this emit a low enough frequency that you can't consciously hear. Because the sensory overload can't be explained, it wreaks havoc with your emotions, inducing fear, panic, and dread, hence the feeling of being haunted." Reid explained.

"What about the visions?" Garcia asked. "Your eyes overcompensate for what your ears are missing. That said, I do know a 3-year-old boy that once met a friendly apparition named Leverett Saltonstall." Reid told.

"He was nice?" Garcia smiles. "Very nice," Reid said. "You'd think the laundry room would be closer to the dorms." Casey looked at Reid, confused. "It's not in the basement?" She asked. "It's on the opposite side of campus. That's so strange." Reid told. "Yeah, weird." Casey commented.

"Leaves of three, let them be." Casey, Reid and Garcia turned and saw as Emily was scratching herself and Rossi tossing a thumb over her way. "Oh, man." Garcia sighs. "Poison Ivy." Emily announces.

"Hence the reason I stay inside." Casey comments. "Alcohol swabs, stat." Garcia tells. "Thank you," Emily tells and looks over at Rossi. "You know, if I've got it, so do you."

"I'm Italian," Rossi told. "It knows better." A chuckle escapes from Casey's lips at Rossi's comment. "Where's Massey?"

        "He's meeting with the victims' families. They're arriving now." Hotch answered, walking into the room. "JJ, how are Josh's parents?" JJ, Morgan and Strauss had walked into the room next. "Upset. They sent him here to keep him away from trouble." JJ told.

        "Tawes made it seem like these guys are the only family they have." Emily said. "You make it sound like a cult." Strauss stated. "Uh, it kind of is." Rossi tells.

       "This is a well-respected institution." Strauss tells. "They're not on trial." Rossi says. "The integral part of the investigation is going to be understanding what these victims lived every day." Hotch told. "And with who. Bailey Shelton killed himself in Josh Redding's room." Morgan told. "Was Josh in the room that night?" Casey asked. "According to the records." Morgan told.

       Casey shook her head. No way he didn't hear anything. "I will dig for dirt." Garcia told, looking through the computer in front of her. "Dave, you find anything in the woods?" Hotch asked. "Josh's tent was secluded. His things were left behind. He just took off." Rossi explained.

      "Massey said he never got any respect from Josh." Hotch told. "And Josh's own parents said he was impossible to control." JJ said. "His course load indicates increased isolation." Reid adds.

       "Isolated, smart, angry. That could be a budding psychopath." Emily thinks. "What are you saying?" Strauss asked. "Josh Redding killed his classmates?"

        "Then he's not just missing, he's on the run." Casey tells. "And he was been for a week." Morgan added. "One hell of a head start." Rossi continued. "With all the skills he could ever need." Emily finished.

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        Colonel Massey and the rest of the academy had hung the flag at half-mast. They had begun to go over the classmates and how they were connected to Bailey Shelton. As they had been going over it, Hotch called Casey into a separate room and told her that she was now going to be paired with Strauss with no explanation whatsoever. Casey didn't question it, she found it odd that she would be paired with her at the last minute. They had found out some more info and now, Hotch led Casey to Colonel Massey's office where she would be meeting with Strauss and Massey.

       The girl knocked on the door and let herself in. "Colonel Massey, sir, we need to speak to Bailey Shelton's parents." Casey spoke.

      "Well, his mother died years ago. I could get hold of his father." Massey told. "Do that, please." Casey nods and Strauss looked over at the girl, speaking to her privately and stood. "What's going on?" She asked.

        "We found out that Josh had contact with Bailey's father the day he died." Casey tells. "And you think he could give you behavioral clues about Josh?" Strauss asks. "It's all we have right now, ma'am." Casey told. "The man just lost his son. Do you really think he's going to remember how Josh acted?" Strauss questioned.

         "Ma'am, by all means, I'm open to any other suggestions." Casey tells. "Massey knows his students better than anyone. Why not trust him?" Strauss questions. "Because all Massey wants right now is for this to go away. He'll tell us whatever he thinks we want to hear in order for it to all disappear. He'll give us what we want." Casey stated, shutting Strauss up quick.

         Time passed by and Massey decided to speak with Casey and Strauss. Casey grabbed a pencil from Massey's desk with his permission and a note pad in front of her and she began to question him. Casey knew she had to act professional since Strauss was sitting next to her. But this man was already her number one suspect.

         "When did you decide where the boys would be camping?" Casey asked. "The day Tawes dropped them off." Massey answered. "And no one else knew?" Casey asked. "No need." Massey told.

          "You didn't write it down anywhere?" Casey asked. "We don't use maps of that terrain, Agent Willows. You're expected to know it." Casey and Strauss exchange a look.

         "Mr. Shelton must have been quite upset when you saw him. Am I right?" Casey asked. "Of course he was." Massey told. "Who did he blame? For his son's suicide." Massey looked at Casey as if she were crazy. "Because there had to have been somebody for him to blame, right?"

        "I have no idea." Massey told. "Was it you?" Strauss questioned next, causing Casey to look her way. "Excuse me?" Massey questioned. Strauss stood up. "He was a desperate widower who put his son in your hands. He trusted you, and look what happened."

        "Ma'am..." Casey stood up next, trying to get Strauss to keep her cool. "What?" Strauss snapped at the girl and Casey smelt it on her breath. Alcohol. "We're trying to help him and he's keeping things from us." Now, she knew what the team smelt on her when she was drinking. But Strauss?

       "I have cooperated fully." Massey told. "Did you blame someone? Josh Redding? Tucker Calhoun?" Strauss questioned. "This is ridiculous." Massey shook his head. "Oh, for God sakes, Colonel! He didn't just find that campsite all by himself."

        Massey hit his desk and he stood up, causing Casey to flinch a bit. "It's time you leave." Strauss had exited first but Casey stayed behind to apologize for Strauss's behavior.

        The girl exited the building and Strauss stood there in thought. Casey closed the door behind her. "What the hell was that?" Casey questioned. "I'm sorry. I just don't have the patience for this. He's clearly hiding something." Strauss told.

        "Ma'am, all due respect, have you been drinking?" Casey questioned and Strauss furrowed her brows at the girl. "What? What are you talking about?" Casey looked at the woman. "There's alcohol on your breath. I can smell it." There's a pause. "Strauss, we have one shot at this."

         "You think I don't know that?" Strauss questioned. "Well, if he could smell what I can smell on your breath right now, the credibility of this investigation would be compromised. And that would be on you." Casey stated. "Go get some rest. Sober up. Whatever. Just..." With that, Casey made her way back to the library to talk to Hotch.

         Casey had spotted him as she walked into the building. "Hotch, Strauss is drinking." She muttered to her boss. "Strauss?" Hotch asked. "Yeah and she needs help, she could blow this case." Casey told.

        "What happened?" Hotch asked. "She laid into Massey." Casey told. "She actually said the kind of things I would have said. And for a minute I was like, okay, good. She's on our side, finally. But then I smelled it, Hotch. And it occurred to me that the things she said to Massey I would've said too, if I was still drinking." Casey explained.

         "I didn't bother to ask what was going on but you partnered me with her at the last minute. What was this, some kind of intervention for her? For me to relate to her?" Casey questioned.

         "Willows, she was getting help. I'm gonna have to call E.A.P. But this is not--" Casey interrupted Hotch. "What? This is not about me? This isn't under our jurisdiction? Is that what you were gonna say?" Casey questioned. "You know, usually, I have problems trusting people. But, from where I'm standing, you're the one who can't trust anyone with anything." With that, Casey walked off to get some air.

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       After Casey recollected herself, she joined the team again and discovered that Massey had been behind the plan and he was an accessory to murder. They found the coordinates and Morgan and Hotch headed in that direction. They found Chris Shelton and Josh Redding and Massey was arrested.

       The team headed back to the BAU and Casey had been the last one in the office, filling out paperwork. Hotch approached the woman and spoke, "You got a minute?" Casey looked up and saw Hotch and looked back at her paperwork before answering. "Yeah." With that, she stood up from her desk and followed Hotch to Strauss's office. Hotch knocked and then opened the door.

       "Do you have the after-action report?" Strauss asked as Casey shut the door behind her. "No." Hotch answered. "I need it on my desk by the morning." Strauss said. "I'll give it to the director." Hotch told. "Pardon?" Strauss furrowed her brows. "It's time for you to admit that you need some help." Hotch told.

        "I don't take orders from you, Aaron." Strauss argued. "You put my team in jeopardy." Hotch said and Strauss looked over at Casey, standing near the door. "Is that what you told him, Agent Willows?"

        "You compromised the integrity of the unit." Hotch stated. "I did no such thing." Strauss said sternly. "Open the drawer, ma'am." Casey told. "This is absurd." Strauss said. "Then, if you have nothing to hide, you have no trouble opening the drawer." Casey said.

         Hotch decided to open the drawer himself and Casey heard the bottles rattling inside and Strauss knew she was caught. "One call to the E.A.P. And everything will be all right." Hotch told. "In what world will this be all right? You have no idea what this is going to do to me." Strauss said as she shut the drawer. "I have a hunch." Casey told. "You see, I've had troubles myself but I took care of them rather quickly. I believe you can do that, too."

        "Agent Willows will make sure that you get checked in privately. And for that you should be grateful." Hotch stated as he exited the office. "I'll wait outside." Casey told. As she stood, she watched as Strauss held her face in her hands and Casey took a deep breath. She knew what she was feeling and how paralyzed she felt. She knew she could do it. Even if her feelings were mixed about her, she understood it.

hey, lovelies!

casey when she finds out strauss has a drinking problem: just me and my twinnem👯‍♀️

😭😭😭😭

i hope you guys enjoyed this lol
life lowkey sucks cuz my dumbass cracked my phone screen lol like it's so bad haha life sucks😅

can't wait for the next episode!
-mya </3