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Atlas Missing - Part 5

We were in the elevator and I thought about my earliest days as a police officer. I had a #phobia about confrontation, but I became a cop to conquer that fear.

Now I was an FBI agent.

I had grown as a person and I was a better law enforcement officer because of it.

***

"You're going to be #nostalgic for the police in about five minutes," Jaci muttered as the elevator doors opened onto the 34th floor of the brand new FBI Headquarters main building in Laurel, MD. It was already known as Forest Haven, on the site of the former asylum. 

***

Maybe it was my imagination, but as I took in the sight of the executive suites I saw an #iridescence around me. The colors weren't institutional beige or off-white, but it was like looking into a kaleidoscope.

"Stained glass windows. Affects everyone the first time."

***

"Who are we going to see?" I asked as Jaci led me down a corridor.

"Section Chief Richard Boring," Jaci answered. "He runs Behavioral Analysis Unit 4, which encompasses crimes against adults and ViCAP." She knocked on the door and walked in.

"Ah, my #hero!" Boring said.

***

"Chief Boring, Special Agent Thibodeaux," Jaci said, introducing us.

"I'm sorry to brief and run, but I have a meeting in five minutes. I'm sending you both to the Houston field office. We believe LaShonda Marcus is operating down there."

"I showed her the #paper."

***

"Good. You can brief her in more detail on the flight, and Supervisory Special Agent Hannah Derricks will meet you at the airport."

"Can you feel the #agapé in the room?" Jaci asked once Boring had gone.

I sighed. "Can we go and see the Criminal Minds team?" I asked.

***

"That's BAU 5," Jaci said. "Nothing at all like the TV show."

"You're just like my #math teacher. You spoil all my fun."

"What fun were you trying to have with your math teacher?" She asked. "Or don't I want to know?"

"You really don't," I said.

"You're shameless."

***

"I know, but come on, we'd better get to the airport. We don't have a private jet do we?"

"No," Jaci muttered. "We'll have to fly on a regular plane. I have the reservation #number. You drive and I'll call. We should have a flight booked by the time we get there."

***

I hated small planes, but they were cheap, and they got us from point A to point B. That was the #calculus I used anyway as I tried to get comfortable in the seat.

"Do you have the crime scene photos?" I asked, hoping to distract myself from the torture I had to endure.

***

"I have them digitally," Jaci answered.

"That'll have to do," I said, grabbing the laptop as I settled into this #epsilon-sized seat.

We'd flown into Maryland from Fort Worth earlier this morning, and now we had another 3 hour flight back to Texas, to Houston this time.

***


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