December 22, 2004 - F.B.I. Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Zach was sifting through some information on the strangler cases that could in some way set off any ideas that would lead them to the unsub when Carswell came into his office.

Expecting the visit for the past two days, Zach looked at his boss.

"There was a woman's body found in Arlington. The locals need one of us to come and identify."

Walter Carswell kept his voice cool and unemotional, knowing Zach understood that he was there for him.

Zach nodded, closed his eyes for a few seconds, then stood up.

"Let's go."

When Zach stood over the mutilated body of his wife, the only thing that kept him from breaking down right then and there was the slim hope that his kids were still alive.

December 25, 2004 - Alexandria, Virginia

Zach was sitting on a couch in the living room, looking at the Christmas tree the four of them had decorated as a family and wearily rubbed the tears from his eyes.

Leaning back, he eyed the level of whiskey in the bottle when the phone rang.

Oh well,

he thought, feeling disassociated from everything. Might need it later.

"We have him."

Zach drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"I'll be in front of your door in five minutes."

"Thanks, Boss," Zach replied.

He was waiting outside when Carswell pulled up.

"The police are waiting on us."

Zach watched and listened, barely able to suppress his rage, as the "Falls Church Strangler" talked.

When the man recounted what he did with a sly look of ill-concealed rapture about what he did to the women and children, it took three men to restrain Zach.

Carswell, after talking with the rest of the team about what help they could give, took Zach home and called a doctor to come out and sedate him.

He stayed with Zach through the night, this being the only thing he could do for one of his best agents. Also knowing that when the man they had caught went to trial, it could very well end Zach’s career within the Bureau, though definitely within the B.A.U.