Elle and Morgan had a mission: figure out Reid. They were both curious of the kid, and how he came to be in the F.B.I.
So later, after the kid had left Morgan searched his desk, and Elle Google searched him.
"All these articles are boring. Can I just skip them?"
"I guess, I mean, what will they tell us about him?"
Morgan dug a scrapbook out of the bottom drawer of Reid's desk. "Here's something."
He searched through the scrapbook.
The first pictures were happy, until Reid was about four. Then things got weird. There were less and less photos, and the man (who he assumed was Reid's father) wasn't even smiling in the ones he was in. Reid stopped looking happy also. And then Reid's dad disappeared all together, around the time Reid was ten. The few pictures there were after that weren't exactly a happy family. The first one was of Reid with a black eye. In the next he was helping his mom down the stairs. He had on a makeshift sling. Then his mom was reading, he was sitting next to her in her bed. Her hair was a tangled mess, she wore no make-up and looked like she hadn't moved in days. The last one was of Reid holding a diploma. He pulled the picture out. Written on the back was Spencer, Age 12. Taken by Mr. Romney. So his mom wasn't at his graduation. That was weird.
"Morgan…" Elle cried from across the room. "Look at this!"
Morgan rushed over to her side to find her playing a YouTube video. There were some jocks dragging Reid, who was struggling desperately, across a football field. "Let me go!" he yelled. Morgan could tell there was no point, Reid was facing kids three times his size, and probably twice his age. Elle and Morgan watched as they stripped Reid down and tied him to the goal post.
"I can't watch this anymore." Elle said, closing the window. The two silently continued their work. Morgan found a letter in Reid's desk.
Spencer,
I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed your letters. Please come and get me soon, I don't really like it here in the hospital. I know the people are here to help me and that if I don't take my medication I won't feel well, but I can take it at home. You can help me. The people here are very nice, and they like to learn about literature, but I would much prefer to be at home with my library. Write me soon.
Love,
Mom
Medication? Hospital? Morgan and Elle put together their evidence and soon discovered the truth about Reid. His mother had some type of mental illness. His father had left him when he was ten and he took care of her until he had her committed. He was horribly bullied in high school, and sustained many injuries, which he treated himself.
"That wasn't what I was expecting." Elle said.
"Me either."