Part II

With their gloves on, the team carefully removed the items from the box one at a time, sealing them as evidence until they could be tested for fingerprints and foreign substances. As Rossi had noticed, there was hair at the very bottom of the box and it was the same color as Reid's. Little doubt that it was his, but they bagged it as well, mindful of Rossi's comment about backtracking taking far more time than doing everything carefully. Still, it was hard not to be impatient when they knew something had happened to Reid.

Rossi suggested there was really very little that they could do at Hotch's house and that getting the items back to be processed should be the priority. Hotch nodded, sending Rossi and Morgan back with the box and its contents. He and J.J. would stay with Jessica a bit longer to get the details from her that she could remember about the one that delivered the package. J.J. was currently on the phone putting out a BOLO for Reid's car as odds were that it was abandoned somewhere since they had the keys to it among the box contents.

Hotch sat at the dining room table across from Jessica, who was feeling horrible about not calling Hotch immediately. He understood how she was feeling, but tried to reassure her.

"You had no way of knowing anything. I'm glad you didn't suspect anything actually. If the man had noticed that you seemed on guard about any of this, he might not have left the box and that might well be what leads us to Reid. Now, what can you remember?"

She worried her lower lip slightly as she glanced down at her notes, then closed her eyes as if visualizing back to the knock at the door.

"He was the type that my dad would have called 'built like a bear'. Not fat, but stocky. Solid. A couple of inches shorter than you are, Aaron. Really short hair with a good bit of grey. Shorter even than a lot of military cuts I've seen. He had on metal framed sunglasses the entire time, so I never saw his eyes. He was wearing gloves and a jacket. He was very gruff in manner, never gave his nameand I couldn't see a nametag. He just seemed to want to shove the box and me and be gone as quickly as possible. Like he was on a deadline. There was someone that stayed with the van in the driver's seat. As soon as the man delivering the box got back into the passenger seat, they drove off. Heading that direction."

"A van?"

"Yes, an official one or at least it appeared to be. I could see the word sheriff painted on it and a five-pointed star. There was an arc on the star that went from the left-hand arm of the star to the right-hand arm - there were words on the arc, but I couldn't make them out from the doorway. There were some words on the back as well, but the only one I could read was caution."

"Could you tell anything about the driver?"

"No. Nothing. I couldn't even swear as to whether it was a man or a woman. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. Really. We've gotten a lot less solid information from witnesses that knew something wrong was going on. You did great, but we might need you to work with someone later to get a sketch of the man for an APB, but we need to head back now. There's a good chance I won't be back home until this is settled."

Jessica rubbed her forehead and then looked up as J.J. came back from the other room where she'd been making her call.

"I hope you find your man soon, Aaron. And safe."

"Thanks. Be careful and don't open the door to anyone you don't know personally until you hear back from me. If I send anyone, I'll call and alert you first."

As Morgan took the box, wrapping paper and contents to the lab to be checked for prints or other clues, Rossi made a beeline to Garcia with the bag holding the knot in hand. She wasted no time before starting to quiz him.

"Did you find Reid? Is he alright?"

"No, we didn't and we don't know. But I've got a hunch he might have left us a clue."

Garcia's eyes moved to the bag in Rossi's hand.

"String?"

"The concern is more the knot in that string, kitten. I need to find out the name for it."

"I will do my best. No pun intended when I say this is not my specialty."

"Do what you can. It reminds me of a cooking knot, so that might be a good place to start."

It seemed to take longer than it actually did, but the lab results came back with results fairly quickly. There were several clear fingerprints - unfortunately, all belonging to Reid. Morgan was fuming. When he'd found there were good prints, he'd had hope that they would be given a direction to go in.

"I don't believe this. They made him wrap up his own stuff to be delivered?"

"Looks that way."

"That's cold. Reminds me a little of that guy that made the women clean up their own blood."

"It definitely kept them from accidently leaving a fingerprint for us. If they really are law enforcement, their prints would be in the system and they'd know that."

Garcia stuck her head out of her office.

"You were right, Rossi. The knot is one that's used in the cooking world. It's apparently referred to as a corned beef knot."

"Corned beef? What the hell could Reid have been trying to tell us with that?"

"You really think Reid is the one that tied that knot?"

"Considering the only prints all over the package were his, I'd say it was a strong possibility. And why use a special knot unless he was trying to tell us something?"

"Wait – I remember . . . it was about four months ago. Reid was showing me this book he was reading. It had hundreds of knots in it. He was fascinated that there were so many different styles and uses. I wonder if it's still around here somewhere?"

Rossi's phone rang and he watched Garcia start rummaging around Reid's desk as he answered it.

"Rossi. Yes? Where? We're on our way."

Looking around as he ended the call, he waved when he spotted Morgan.

"They found Reid's car. Let's go."