Prologue *Three Months Ago*
Hotch and I arrived at the Illinois State PD five minutes after the call came in through the scanner. Apparently, the unsub had twelve of the detectives and a couple of interns hostage. Garcia had informed us that he was every half-hour he was shooting one victim execution style.
"Hotch, it's already been nineteen minutes and sixteen seconds since we left the dump site. From my calculations, with the traffic and the distance to the precinct, it will take at least another thirteen minutes to reach our destination. At that rate-"
"Reid!" Hotch curled his fingers even tighter around the steering wheel, "How about you use your brain and factoids in a useful way... Like finding a shortcut to the station!"
After about forty-five seconds I blurted out "Take the next left and then a sharp right!" I grabbed on tight to the handle above my head as the team leader of the Behavior Analysis Unit whipped our S.U.V across three lanes of traffic.
Fifteen minutes later local cops were leading Timothy Buel into a police car and EMTs were checking on the victims who made it through the situation. Rossi ordered us to make our way back to the office so we could write up our reports and send them to Judge Ruby. As I was getting into the car, Morgan grabbed the strap of my shoulder bag and pulled me back .
"Hey, Pretty Boy. See that little cutie over there? She wants to talk to you. I'll hold back the team. Go talk to her, man. You've been seeming a little down lately."
"Well… uh, okay." I made my way over to a petite brunette who had just gotten the approval to go home from the doctor on site. "So, I heard you wanted to talk to me?"
"I just wanted to say thanks for saving me today! I just graduated from the academy and I was really hoping my first case wouldn't be my last!"
"Well it's my job to do so! So, you said you graduated the academy?" I was going to strike up a conversation when I heard JJ calling me to the car. "I'd love to stay and talk to give you some hwlpful tips and facts but I have to go.. Here's my card. If you want, you can call me sometime. I completely understand if you don't want to. I know I'm kinda awkward.."
"Ill call you sometime, don't worry." She smiled and walked away and that's when I realized I never got her name.