Chapter 3

Hotch and Dave walked into the police station of the Memphis suburb of Collierville. They noticed two men coming out of an office as the receptionist smiled at them, nodding at their credentials.

"Agent Hotchner," the first one said, offering his hand. "I'm Jamison Winston, head of the local response for the regional CARD team. Thank you for getting here so fast. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances." Hotch nodded his head. "This is Chief Dan Lewis of the Collierville PD. Chief, this is Agent Hotchner, Unit Chief of the BAU."

"Pleasure to meet you both," Hotch said, shaking their hands. "This is the team's senior profiler, David Rossi. We both agree on the better circumstances." Dave shook hands with both men.

"Agent, I've got a conference room all set up for you like Agent Garcia requested. I'm sorry it's not bigger," Chief Lewis said, showing them into the room. "We're not the biggest suburb in Memphis."

"It's fine Chief," Hotch said, putting his briefcase into a chair. "We've been able to keep up with the case while we were flying thanks to Agent Garcia." Hotch outlined to them what the other team members were doing and the team's initial profile.

Winston and Lewis looked at Hotch and Dave. "You really think your profile is right?" Lewis asked.

"The longer this goes on without a ransom demand or contact from the kidnapper, the more right it is," Dave said.

"That's why I brought them in Chief," Winston said.

Dave looked at Chief Lewis. "I'm assuming you have officers that patrol around Justin's school during the school day." Lewis nodded. "We need to talk to those officers."

"The morning shift does most of that. The afternoon shift patrols the school release for the kids to go home. However, agents, this is big for us, this department. This is one of our own kids. We haven't had a case this big. The morning shift is still around. They want to help."

"We need to talk to them now," Dave said.

"Chief, would you mind getting those officers together so that Agent Rossi can talk to them while I coordinate with Agent Winston?"

"Whatever you need Agent Hotchner," Lewis said, motioning Dave out of the conference room.

-00CM00-

Matt and JJ pulled up to the curb in front of the Thompson home. "Matt, wait a second," JJ said. "This kid has been interviewed by how my law enforcement officers by now?" Matt looked at her. "How do we do this?"

"Gently, with our parental skills. We have to get him off the standard facts and into looking around. This kid saw something."

"I'll follow your lead," JJ said.

Matt stopped opening his door. "Jayje, you are a wonderful mother and a damn good profiler. Follow those skills." They both got out and showed their credentials to the Collierville PD officer at the door. He nodded at them and Matt knocked on the door.

"Can I help you?" a man said.

"Mr. Thompson?" Matt asked. The man nodded his head. "I'm Agent Taylor from the FBI. This is Agent Jareau," he nodded at JJ. "We would like to speak to Charlie."

The man walked out the door shutting it. "I'm Mike, Charlie's dad. He's been through enough agents. He can't tell you anything more. And honestly, all the questions have just traumatized him. Lisa and I are heartsick for Ryan and Michelle. They're our friends. But in a way, Charlie is a victim too."

"We understand that Mr. Thompson. And we agree," JJ said. "Matt and I are with the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI."

"What does that mean?" Thompson asked.

"Sir," Matt said. "It's our job to study the behavior of people that perpetrate crimes like this. We analyze that behavior and use our analysis to hunt down the people that do these crimes. We are not going to ask Charlie the standard law enforcement questions. And we do believe Charlie can help us."

"More importantly Mr. Thompson, Matt and I are both parents," JJ said. "Between the two of us, we have five children, four that are around Charlie's age. We do our job because we are parents first."

Thompson looked at them. "He's really upset right now."

"We'll get through that," Matt smiled. "Please trust us." Thompson nodded and opened the door for Matt and JJ to enter the home.

Matt nodded JJ in first. "Forever the gentleman," she whispered with a smile.

Lisa Thompson looked at the two agents and shook her head with tears forming in her eyes. "Babe," Mike said. "They're specialists in cases like this. I've read about their unit. And they are both parents. We have to trust them. For Justin, and Ryan and Michelle."

Matt and JJ introduced themselves. "You've got kids?" Lisa asked.

JJ smiled. "I've got two boys," she quietly said. "Henry, our oldest is Charlie's age. Michael, Will's and my surprise is three," she quietly smiled, showing them a picture on her cell phone.

Matt pulled out his wallet, showing the parents his latest picture of the kids. "The twins, Cam and Casee will be thirteen in January. The knucklehead Colin turned ten in June," he smiled.

The parents smiled, leading them into the den where Charlie was playing a video game. Matt looked at them. "We want you to stay and watch this. This protects your son and us. But you cannot interrupt us," he whispered. Mike and Lisa looked at him.

"We're going to do what we call a cognitive interview. It's more about getting Charlie to see past the facts of what happened," JJ whispered.

"Please trust us," Matt said. The couple nodded. Matt and JJ entered into the den. Charlie was playing Tetris sitting cross-legged on the floor. Matt and JJ stood behind him for a minute. "Nicccceee," Matt appreciatively said. "Great move Charlie," he smiled at the boy. Charlie looked over his shoulder, shook his head and paused the game. "My sons play that too. Their mom and I like to have them play games like that to make them think before they get into the action ones."

"That's why I'm playing it; so I have to think about it and not something else," Charlie said. He shook his head."I've told everyone all I know."

"We don't want to talk to you about that Charlie," JJ said.

"Then what?" he demanded.

Matt rubbed his shoulder. "Different things. Do you mind if Jayje and I sit down?" Matt asked, nodding at the couch. Charlie nodded.

"Charlie, can you please slide around to look at us," JJ said. He complied. "I'm JJ; I'm a mom. My oldest son is your age," she smiled.

"And I'm Matt," he said. "My three are a bit older than you."

"You cops?" Charlie asked.

"Matt and I are with a special unit of the FBI," JJ said. Charlie raised an eyebrow.

"Charlie, we work special cases like this," Matt said. "And we want to get your friend Justin home as much as you. If you help us, we think we can do that." Charlie looked at him. "You in dude?"

"What do you want to know? I told everyone what I remember."

"Charlie," JJ said. "Matt and I want you to tell us other things."

"Like what?" the nine year old demanded.

Matt smiled. "Can you shut your eyes Charlie and take a deep, deep breath?" Charlie nodded his head and did it. "Now relax Charlie. Come on bud, just relax and listen to JJ and me. Don't shut your eyes so tight. Relax." Matt and JJ noticed he was relaxing. "You and Justin are on the bus coming home from school."

"What are you and Justin talking about?" JJ asked.

Charlie blushed a bit. "It's a girl,"

Matt smiled. "What's her name?"

"Megan," Charlie said.

"Where is she sitting on the bus Charlie?" JJ asked.

"A couple of rows in front of us."

"You and Justin are sitting together?" Matt asked.

"Yeah," Charlie said. "We always do."

"So you get to your stop to get off the bus," JJ said. "You there?" Charlie nodded. "And you get off the bus together." Charlie nodded again.

"Charlie, look down the street," Matt said. "There's a car there that's not familiar."

Charlie straightened his back. JJ slid down off the couch and sat down next to him, crossing her legs. She rubbed his back. "Freeze that moment in your mind Charlie," JJ soothed, taking a few seconds. "Now tell Matt and me about that car."

"It's old," Charlie said.

"What do you mean Charlie?" Matt asked.

"Old as in I've never seen one like it. Ever."

"Can you describe it?" JJ asked.

Charlie shook his head. "I don't know how to. But I can draw you a picture," he said opening his eyes.

Matt smiled at him. "We'll get back to that. Shut your eyes again Charlie." JJ rubbed his back some more. "Now tell us where the car was parked."

"Down the street."

"Where down the street Charlie?" JJ asked. "Be as specific as possible."

"Two houses past Justin's house."

"You're doing amazing Charlie," Matt said. "Can you see the person in the car?"

Charlie shook his head. "It's too far away."

"That's OK Charlie," JJ said. "What color is the car?"

"And hey Charlie?" Matt asked. "Does the car have two doors or four doors?"

"Four doors; I'm positive. That's a thing that stuck out." Charlie opened his eyes. "And the color is the other thing that sticks out." He scooted over to a large drawing pad grabbing it, throwing the cover open, reaching for his box of crayons. He slid back to JJ and started drawing. "As I was walking up the steps to open the door, I got a better look at the car." He looked at JJ. "More of a side view," he said, quickly drawing more of the outline of the car.

He pulled out another crayon. "And the car was this color. Tan," he said, coloring on the car he drew. "I've never seen that color of car either."

Matt slid off the couch and crouched down near Charlie. "Look at me Charlie." Charlie stopped coloring and looked at Matt. "Charlie, what you have just shared with Jayje and me is huge." He looked Charlie in the eye. "Can I have that picture?" Charlie nodded, pulling the sheet off.

Matt took the picture and held it up to Mike and Lisa. "Look familiar?"

"My god," Mike said. "It was parked around the corner yesterday when I came home from work."

JJ looked at him. "Do you come home the same way every day?" Mike nodded.

"But I don't," Lisa said. "And I've seen it around the neighborhood in different places that last week or so."

Matt looked at Charlie. "Dude, you've just given us a major break in finding Justin," he smiled.

"Really?"

"Really my man," Matt said, offering Charlie a fist bump. Charlie matched it as Matt rubbed is head. "This is huge bud," waving the picture of the car to Charlie. "Major huge," he smiled.

Charlie smiled. "So I helped?"

"More than you know kiddo," Matt said, scuffing his hair.

JJ rose to her feet. "Lisa can you tell us exactly where you saw the car and what date?"

"I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head. "I've just seen it in the neighborhood."

"Lisa," Matt softly said. "Be like Charlie. And think."

Lisa shut her eyes. "Last Thursday I was coming home from the grocery store. The car was parked on the corner across the intersection from our street," she pointed. She shook her head. "The other time was back up the other way about two weeks ago," she pointed in the opposite direction. "But I can't give you specifics."

"This all helps," JJ smiled at her. "More than you know."

Mike looked at Matt. "Our CARD team will re-canvass those areas. And with a picture and description of the car, they might have more luck."

"CARD?" Mike asked.

"Child Abduction Rapid Deployment," Matt said. "They are a specialized force of the Bureau like our unit. Unlike ours, CARD units are placed around the country. Memphis has a sub-unit that is attached to the regional CARD unit in Atlanta."

"Unlike yours?" Mike asked.

"The BAU is located in Quantico, Virginia," Matt said. "We're a specialized unit that gets called out on cases like this."

Lisa looked at him and JJ. "And you go away from your spouses and kids to work cases like this?"

"Why we get the big bucks," Matt grinned with a wink. "Not." He looked at the couple. "This is the job we signed up to do. Our families back that."

"Our kids think we're super heroes," JJ smiled.

"And your spouses?" Mike asked, as Charlie put his arm around his dad's waist.

Matt smiled. "They are the true super heroes." JJ smiled at Lisa. Matt looked at Charlie. "But I'm pretty sure you, Charlie, get the super hero tag for today." He held up Charlie's picture of the car. "This my man, is huge," Matt said. "Super hero huge."

Charlie looked at him. "Just bring my friend home."

"That's what we're going to try to do kiddo with the information you gave us," JJ smiled, rubbing his shoulder. "You are awesome Charlie."

Matt looked at Mike and Lisa. "Thank you so much for trusting us. But JJ and I need to get back to our team with this information."

"I understand Agents," Mike smiled, showing them to the door.

"Thanks again Charlie," Matt smiled, waving at him.

He and JJ flew down the sidewalk to the black Bureau SUV. Matt got in and handed the picture to JJ. "Shoot a photo of that off to Garcia and get her digging."

"Cob?"

"My grandma drove one exactly like that. It's a 70's model Ford Taurus. But hers was royal blue. There can't be that many tan ones around this area that are still operating."

"Cob?"

"Jayje, did you see Charlie. He was sure on the color. I doubt Reid has the probabilities on that model and color still being around," Matt said as he sped away from the curb.

###

A/N: I'll say it again. It's good to have a mentor. While I have two nephews that play video games, I don't know a thing about that world.

My proofreader questioned if kids that age would play Tetris.

My mentor games. I sent up the SOS. My mentor answered my call.

Thanks babe!