Reid stepped off the elevator to the sixth floor and entered the BAU bullpen. He placed his messenger bag on his chair then moved toward the kitchen nook where he made a fresh pot of coffee. He gazed out through the distant window just as the dawn was breaking. With a steamy cup of coffee in hand, extra sweet, he took a seat at his desk and pulled out a paper and pen.
xvx
Mom-
I'm sorry I haven't written you over the last few days. We have been assigned a new case and are driven to solve it as soon as possible. Of course we feel that way about all of our cases, but this one is different. Two children have been abducted in the past two weeks and we feel that it is only a matter of time before another one is taken. I know you don't like me to elaborate on our cases, especially those involving children, but I thought it was important for you to understand what would be preventing me from writing you as diligently as I would wish.
I am extremely confident in our team's capabilities, nonetheless, this particular UnSub has us a bit perplexed. I hope that when I write my next letter that I would be able to share happier news about how we were able to solve the case.
But in the meantime, Christmas is three weeks away and despite this troubling case, Garcia has made it her mission to decorate and get everyone into the spirit of the season.
xvx
Rossi got up from his desk and abruptly opened his office door to see a startled Garcia standing on the other side just after attaching a wreath around his nameplate.
"Season's greetings!" She pleasantly announced.
"Garcia, what are you doing?" He asked in his grumpy tone.
She looked back at him and stammered, "I… I'm just… spreading a little holiday cheer."
"Just whatever you do, keep the cheer out of my office, okay?"
"Uh, yes sir," she quietly responded as he shut the door, cloistering himself back inside.
Morgan made his grand entrance as he walked into the bullpen and stopped to look at all of Garcia's decorations. "Oh mama, I could tell you've been burning the midnight oil."
"That, I certainly have, but I could still use a big, strong man to help me with a few things," she flirted.
"Just point me in the right direction," he beamed back.
Reid was miffed, "You could have told me there was more to do when I was helping you earlier."
"We wouldn't want to strain those muscles, pretty boy," Morgan lightly patted Reid's face.
Prentiss looked up from her desk, "And why are you so filled with good cheer?"
"Because I just booked my trip to go back home to Chicago to see my family. I am counting down the days 'til Christmas," Morgan snickered.
"Just keep your counting to yourself," Prentiss grimaced then turned back to her paperwork.
"And what's turned you into Ebenezer Scrooge?" Morgan stood at her desk.
"Come on, we have a case to work on." She picked up the folders and made her way up to the conference room.
Morgan turned to Reid, appalled.
"I don't know, she's been like that all morning, maybe it's this case," Reid shrugged.
A short while later, the group had gathered at the round table. JJ walked through the doorway with Hotch and Rossi on her heels. "We have another missing child." JJ picked up the remote and clicked. "A boy named Michael Lane, six years old. He was taken from the park this morning. No one reported seeing anything."
The team marched onto the crime scene amidst the yellow tape and flashing police cruiser lights.
"Agent Hotchner." Detective Weston steadily approached. "I wish I could say it was good to see you again."
"Where are the boy's parents?" He asked, getting down to business.
They both looked toward the woman with the paramedics. "Judith Lane. She had a panic attack, we had to call the EMTs," Weston explained.
Hotch nodded and went to the mother.
"What can you tell us detective?" Morgan asked.
"Michael was playing over here on the jungle gym; his mother was on a phone call on this bench. When she looked up, he was gone."
Prentiss skimmed through the crowds of people talking to the police. "And no one else saw anything?"
"No," Detective Weston shook her head.
"I need to go make a statement," JJ announced as she moved toward the hungry mob of reporters.
Morgan stepped away from the others and pulled out his phone.
"I only want to hear good news," Garcia demanded as she answered her phone. "Too many kids have been kidnapped and no amount of baby panda videos is going to cheer me up until they're returned home safe and sound."
"I know, sweetness, but we still have a job to do," Morgan reminded.
Garcia let out a deep breath, "What do you need from me?"
"I need you to work your magic and see if you can find any connection between these kids."
"Will do; I'll hit you up if I get anything," Garcia ended the call.
JJ returned to the group, "They will hold off on reporting a few things for tonight, but tomorrow is going to be a different story unless I can give them something."
"What are we looking at here?" Prentiss asked. "First it was a boy, then a girl, now another boy. It doesn't look like the UnSub has a type."
"They are also different ages, which is also unusual," Reid added.
"We can't rule out that this is a team trafficking children," Morgan pointed out.
"We can't rule out anything," Hotch said as he took his place in the circle. "We are going to be working late on this one. Let's get started."
JJ silently let out a breath of frustration and stepped away to call Will. "Hey, I will be working late tonight. I'm sorry, but we are going to have to cancel." She looked to see the team walking toward the SUVs. "I have to go, I'll call you later. Love you, too. Bye."
Hotch stared at the evidence board, at the faces of the three missing children.
"We just keep going 'round in circles," Morgan vented.
"You're right, we should pick this up tomorrow when we can see this through fresh eyes," Rossi agreed.
"Okay, everyone, we will meet tomorrow morning. Go get some sleep." He looked at his watch then walked to his office. With his door closed he dialed his sister-in-law. "Jessica, I'm sorry, worked later than I thought. I hope you watched the movie without me." He rubbed his hand over his forehead in remorse. "Yeah, I'll be home soon."
