Chapter 1

JJ alerted the rest of the team using the simple method of standing on the balcony and yelling "BAU in the briefing room in 5" before walking along the corridor to collect Garcia. They would definitely be needing her skills for this case. She walked into her friend's office without knocking to find her tapping away at the keyboard on her desk. The eccentric analyst turned as JJ walked into the room and, upon seeing her face, stood up, stating, "It's a tough one right?" JJ merely nodded in response and said "5 minutes" before going back to her own office.

Inside her office she took a few moments to centre herself before collecting some files to take to the briefing. Cases with kids were always difficult, but since Henry had been born JJ found herself struggling more and more. She saw his face in all of the victims' pictures. Doing the job she did meant that she constantly worried that her child was in danger. She didn't have the benefit of ignorance, unlike most parents. If she was honest she had begun to wonder whether this was the job for her anymore. That maybe she should find a job that meant she could be home every evening by 6, a job that didn't leave her crying herself to sleep and fearing for her son's life. She shook the doubt out of her head and made her way to the briefing room.

When she arrived the team were all waiting for her. She quickly distributed the files and began talking;

"6 year old Tommy Lawson went missing from East Potomac Park at 4:30 this afternoon. He had been collected from an after school programme by his Nanny who had planned on spending some time in the park before taking him home. He was playing in the playground when she was distracted by a phone call from Mrs Lawson. She claims to have looked away for no more than 2-3 minutes. When she looked back, he had gone. She spent 20 minutes searching before she called the police. The parents were informed just before 5 o'clock and met police at their home. When they arrived at the house there was a note pinned to the door."

She paused, giving the team time to read the copies of the note in their files.

"Where do the parents work JJ?" Rossi asked.

"Both parents have high profile jobs." JJ replied, "Mrs Lawson is a senior partner at the Lawson Smyth law firm. They specialise in corporate law – obviously something for us to look into. Mrs Lawson owns her own company – wedding planners. Her company have planned some of the most high profile society weddings in DC over the last 5 years."

"So I'm guessing that any ransom is not going to be an issue" Emily said wryly.

"I highly doubt it" replied JJ with a smile. "Any other questions?"

But Hotch interjected before anyone could talk; "We can check the files on the way to DC. We need to be moving on this now. We have been given the lead on this case with whatever support we need from local PD and the DC field office."

He looked over his team, saying, "JJ and I will go straight to the Lawson place. JJ will obviously be acting as liaison to the family as well as her media duties. I will talk to Mr and Mrs Lawson and work on victimology. Garcia?"

"Sir?" The blonde technical analyst sat up straight, always desperate to please the unit chief.

"The DC field office will be setting up traces on the Lawson's phone lines. Are you better off being at the Lawson's with the equipment or here with your computers?"

"Here Sir" Garcia responded quickly, "I can connect my equipment with the equipment at the house, but my programmes are much more advanced."

"Fair enough" Hotch said. "Your contact in DC is Agent Moore. It would be useful if you could start looking into the Lawson's lives as well, see if you can throw anything up."

"I'm on it like ketchup on a hot dog Sir." With this quip, she was off to hide herself in her office.

Hotch turned back to the team and divided up the tasks.

"Reid and Rossi, go to Mr Lawson's place of work and see what you can get on clients, colleagues etc. Morgan and Prentiss, start at the crime scene and analyse the area. If you can, go over to Mrs Lawson's office after. I want everyone at the Lawson's place by 9. We'll set up there. We all know that the unsub is likely to call at night – to unnerve the parents and keep things on their terms – and I want us all there when that happens. Let's move out."

Without a word, the team were on the move.