Cardigan, Criminal Minds¹

𝒙𝒙𝒙𝒗𝒊. ex-convict

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: EX-CONVICT !

5x11
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IT WAS ANOTHER WIN FOR THE TEAM. They had tracked down an ex-convict who had killed someone and kidnapped his own daughter. The guy had been sloppy with his crime and ended up getting caught. Casey had offered to ride with the head officer in charge, Officer Bunting and with the convict by the name of Dale Shrader.

So, Casey was currently on the ride with the two. She sat in the front as they began to drive to the station.

     "Killed a random woman and kidnapped his kid. Used the same truck. Not the brightest bulb." Officer Bunting stated. "He's been locked up for eleven years. It's been a while." Casey told. "Don't they say these guys come out better criminals?" Bunting asks. "Smart ones do." Casey shrugs.

      "You saying I'm dumb?" Shrader questioned. "You're impatient, angry. You took your own kid just to get back at your ex. Yeah, I'd say you're dumb." Casey told.

       "You got it all figured out."
       "Well, your ex-wife said--"
       "She was a liar. And I should have killed her."
       "Like you killed Stacy Ryan?"

    Casey scoffs at the man. "Why did you do it? I'm genuinely curious." She asks. "You wouldn't understand." Shrader answers. "Try me." Casey tells.

    "I didn't know they had Girl Scouts in the FBI." Shrader tells. "Shove it." Casey tells as Bunting glares at the rear view mirror.

    "Here's what I don't get about this guy." Casey begins. "What's that?" Bunting asks. "His whole life he's a thief, he comes out of prison a murderer." She tells. "He killed an innocent woman." Bunting says. "How do you know she's innocent?" Shrader questions.

    "You stabbed her and threw her out of a truck. What the hell did she ever do to you? You know, what I don't get is why you couldn't just appreciate the freedom. You could have holed up in that cabin a long time, enjoyed the quiet. But some people just need the distractions. You probably got used to all that madness when you were locked up." Bunting explained.

     "It's madness for the sheep to talk peace with a wolf." Shrader says. "That sounds like something my daddy would say." says Bunting. "Thomas Fuller." Casey tells.

    "You impressed?"
    "I'm surprised. So, you're the wolf."
    "You have no idea."
    "There it is. That despicable ego. Most men have it. You know, for one second, you were unpredictable. But you can't help yourself. You gotta talk a big talk 'cause you have nothing left except for your masculinity. But just so you know, that's boring and not everyone likes it." Casey explains.

     Suddenly, Shrader doubled over in his seat in pain. "Oh, I'm gonna be sick." He tells. "What's going on?" Bunting asks. "I don't know." Casey shakes her head. "I'm gonna pull over." Bunting tells and stops the car. "Oh, I'm gonna be sick."

     Casey could tell Bunting thought them needing to stop was ridiculous. "Am I still boring?" Shrader asks. "What?" Casey asks in confusion. "Am I boring?!"

    Before Casey could process anything, everything took a turn for the worst as the car had been crashed into and the car flipped over down the road.

    All Casey could hear was the ringing in her ears and all she could see was a blurry vision and stars. She turned her head and saw Shrader choking Bunting to death. Shrader stopped choking him once Bunting was dead and began reaching over on Casey's side for the keys. Unfortunately, he had retrieved the keys to his handcuffs and got out of his handcuffs.

Casey looked over and saw someone coming towards them. "I'm a federal agent! I have a prisoner in here who's just killed this officer!" She yelled.

"I knew it. You are one committed son of a bitch." The man reached to the backseat and pulled Shrader out. "No, no, that's the prisoner! What are you doing?" Casey shouted.

"Give me the gun."
"What?"
The two men were having a conversation.
"What's wrong with you? You killed a cop?"
"Give me the gun. She's a fed. Look, she knows there's two of us now."

Casey began to try and reach for her seatbelt. "There's a lot of blood. Put pressure on it. You're gonna be all right." The man pulls Shrader away towards his truck and Casey successfully gets out of her seatbelt and reaches for her gun, which she successfully retrieves.

With her boot, she pushes the broken windshield and gets out of the car as Shrader and his buddy are getting away. She fires three times at them and as she limps up the hill, she fires more shots at them, not hitting them once.

Casey had stayed at the road and saw bright headlights and she squinted as she heard Morgan's voice and saw Emily rushing towards her. "Pull over. That's one of us. Pull over." Morgan shouted.

"Willows!" Morgan got out of the car and Emily had reached Casey. "Casey, are you okay?" Emily asked. "What the hell happened?" Morgan questioned once he reached them. 

Casey points towards the crashed car. "Bunting's down there. He's dead." She tells. "Where's Schrader?" Emily asks.

"He's gone. It was a--a big... t-truck, New York tags, I think... uh, Victor Alpha 737. License plate. They went northbound about ten minutes ago." Casey explains. "Son of a bitch got away." Morgan says.

"And another thing... he's got a partner." Casey informs and both Emily and Morgan exchange a look.

The team had been informed of Casey's accident and Casey was currently in the hospital and Morgan had decided to stay with her as Emily had gone back with the team at the station. Casey had a concussion and was currently arguing with Morgan about leaving... to which, Morgan suggested that she shouldn't leave and that she should rest.

"No, we gotta find Schrader." Casey told as she rolled on a stretcher and she held an ice pack to her head. "The team's got it covered." Morgan assured.