In less than half an hour, the members of BAU had all arrived. The ambulance had just taken Angela Miller away, and seeing JJ's face covered with gauze, everyone was shocked.
Emily, being a woman herself, understood how important appearance is to a woman. Despite her efforts to persuade JJ, she refused to go to the hospital first.
"I am the only one who has seen the killer's face." That was her reason.
Jack didn't try to persuade her either. To him, removing scars was a trivial matter.
"At least let them treat your wound. Don't worry, I know the best plastic surgeon in Hollywood. I'll introduce you to him when we get back. JJ, you represent our task force's image to the public."
Rossi also agreed that JJ should get medical attention.
Hotchner hung up the phone and said sternly, "That's an order. There's a good plastic surgery clinic in the city. The sheriff will send an officer to take you there, along with a sketch artist. It won't take much time."
Even Reid showed concern. "We found some videotapes at Francis' old residence, and we expect to find more clues here. No matter who his accomplice is, we will catch him."
Seeing everyone so insistent, JJ reluctantly got into the car with an officer.
The sheriff, a middle-aged white man with a cowboy hat whom Jack had seen at the grocery store, had arrived almost simultaneously with the BAU team.
Seeing Jack, the sheriff shook his hand. "I've sent the Millers to the hospital. Thank you and Agent Lange for your efforts. You saved this family."
He then spoke to Hotchner. "I've notified roadblocks within a 40-mile radius, but there are many side roads that locals can easily bypass."
"Sheriff, we need to get inside the house." Hotchner looked towards the farmhouse.
"I've already urged them. The bomb squad needs to check before you can go in, but the smaller buildings around should be fine for you to search."
Perhaps the FBI's presence made a difference, as the sheriff seemed very cooperative.
"We need to find as much information as possible to aid in profiling." Hotchner naturally took over command.
Everyone, including the sheriff, split up.
Jack and Rossi opened the door to the tool shed.
"Everything is orderly, all tools are on the shelves, and it's been cleaned as much as possible."
Rossi wiped the old table with his finger; there wasn't much dust.
"OCD or just a neat freak?"
Jack noticed a partially open metal cabinet with a combination lock. Pulling it open, he found it was a typical gun cabinet.
The left side had several shelves with scattered gun maintenance tools and a few boxes of various caliber bullets, all opened with only a few rounds left. The right side had a gun rack, but it was empty.
"Uh-oh," Rossi remarked.
In no time, everyone reconvened in front of the farmhouse. Two bomb squad members, dressed like astronauts, were removing their heavy gear.
"The gun rack is empty. That guy took all the guns," Rossi said loudly.
Jack showed the bullets he found in the gun cabinet. "7.62X51mm NATO rounds, likely from the rifle that almost hit JJ. There are also spent deer slug casings. He must have at least one shotgun."
Hotchner checked the damaged garage. "I found two pairs of men's shoes in different sizes."
"The team reported no suspicious vehicles. I suspect he's been monitoring police radio."
The sheriff hung up his phone, looking annoyed. "We'll switch to the state geological survey frequency. No one monitors that."
"Hey, everyone, come over here." Emily, who had been wandering in the flower bed, called to the others about to enter the farmhouse.
"There were three victims before Angela Miller, right?" Emily pointed to the rose bushes. "There are three sections of roses with different growth heights. This newest one even has a tag."
"Corresponding to the three victims?" Hotchner nodded.
Reid squatted beside a rose bush, closely observing it. He pulled it up, revealing several gray-black beetles crawling out of the disturbed soil.
Everyone's face turned grim. "Burying beetles, just like in a cemetery."
"Sheriff, we need some shovels." Hotchner's expression grew dark.
While the sheriff directed his men to start digging, Garcia's call came in.
Rossi and Reid had previously found old family videotapes at the killer Francis' former residence. Garcia, along with local technicians, had digitized and organized them.
Rossi opened the first video file and played it for everyone.
The footage showed a shaky and blurry image of Francis Goring sitting by a window in a large chair, looking down at the camera and speaking nonsensical words.
"He deliberately shot from a low angle to make himself appear towering. That chair is like his throne. It's interesting."
Before Reid could finish, Emily shushed him, signaling for silence.
"The existence of a nation is inherently based on the inequality between people."
"Martin Luther said, the weak will ultimately submit to the strong, like me. He was a man of dreams and vision."
"In feudal times, the monarch lived high, watching for invaders. He had servants serving his kingdom. The monarch need not leave his castle; his servants would bring everything to him!"
Jack was confused. Martin Luther was the founder of the Protestant Reformation. This guy must be talking about Luther Martin, an American founding father who advocated for the Bill of Rights, including the first ten constitutional amendments.
These amendments included some highly regarded clauses, such as freedom of assembly, the right to bear arms, and double jeopardy. But none of this seemed to relate to what this guy was saying.
"It should be Luther Martin. He supported slavery and believed owning slaves was his right as an American. He also opposed federal authority over states."
Human encyclopedia Dr. Reid quietly explained to Jack.
"How many of these tapes did you find? Eleven? Poor Garcia, sorting through this garbage," Emily said, feeling uncomfortable.
Rossi shushed her in the same manner, earning an eye roll from Emily.
Francis continued his excited and passionate monologue in the video.
"First, I will establish an organization, a kingdom."
"Second, I will form an army to defend this kingdom."
"Third, women will be slaves to serve me. This is my right as a free American. I will make my kingdom a reality!"
Rossi clicked through other video files. The content was similar, filled with the ramblings of a madman.
Jack was reminded of the self-proclaimed "emperors" eradicated by the police in the past, bearing some resemblance to Francis Goring.
"Let's see this 'king's' castle." Rossi sighed, closed the tablet, and led the group into the farmhouse.
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