Disclaimer: See chapter 1
-------------------------
Reid's cell phone rang as the threesome was leaving the restaurant. He recognized the number and sighed, "Reid."
"Hello, it's Anderson," the voice on the phone said.
"Oh hi Anderson, do we have a case? Why are you calling instead of JJ?"
"No, no case, Detective Buckley called from Little Rock," Anderson told him. "You did the consult on his case and there's been a development. He wants to talk to you about it right away. He says lives are at stake." Anderson gave him the detective's number, glad that it was Reid because he wouldn't need to have his memory refreshed about the case and Anderson wouldn't have to go hunt up the file.
"Okay, thanks Anderson, I'll call him right away." Reid ended the call and turned to Theresa and Fletcher. "I have to make an important call but I should see you back to your room."
"No, that is fine Agent Reid," Theresa said. "We will see you on Saturday, ches?"
"I'll be there, good luck with the judges Fletcher," Reid turned and headed out the door dialing his cell as he went.
Theresa and Fletcher turned and started walking in the direction of the elevators. When they passed one of the stone pillars in the foyer a man appeared from behind it and said, "Well hello beautiful."
"Hello," Theresa said, moving Fletcher forward quickly. She did not like the look of this man for some reason, not that he was unattractive. He was tall and athletically built with dark brown hair cut short and a neatly cropped beard. His eyes were a piercing blue.
"What's your hurry doll?" he said, reaching out to touch Theresa's arm.
Theresa pulled away. "Do not touch me. I do not know you." Theresa's mind flashed back to how Mickey Donovan had been all over her when he kidnapped Fletcher and…no, she wouldn't think about that.
"Well, imagine that, that's just what I was looking to change. How about you and I have a drink and get acquainted? It's obvious that other guy wasn't buying what you're selling sweetheart but you got another customer right here."
"Selling, no, I am not selling. How can you say that?" Theresa said indignantly.
"You're very sexy when you get your dander up."
"Leave Theresa alone ya creep," Fletcher said to the man.
"Ooh, you got the big man fighting your battles," he turned on Fletcher.
Theresa stepped between Fletcher and the man. "Leave us alone. I do not like to talk to you."
"Oh wow, you're so beautiful, would I like to shoot you," he said as the elevator opened and a large group of people stepped out.
"If you do not leave us alone, maybe you will be the one who is shot," Theresa exclaimed as she pulled Fletcher into the elevator.
--------------------------
Reid fiddled with his grey tie that complimented his blue and gray striped shirt worn with a charcoal gray suit. "Morgan, I can't believe I let you talk me into this," he said as they sat at a table for four in the upscale eatery decorated tastefully in muted tones of blues, greens and grays. The gray carpet under their feet was soft. The blue tablecloths on the round tables and the blue and green floral upholstery on the chairs added a tranquil atmosphere while the green napkins were a pleasant contrast to the tablecloth. Reid reached out to touch the napkin, expertly folded to provide decoration until it was put to use.
"Relax Reid," Morgan said as the two men sat and waited for the women who were meeting them there.
"That's easy for you to say Morgan. You're used to dating and you've at least seen Cassandra before."
"Don't worry about it man, you'll get on together, I'm sure." Morgan told his friend as he looked up and said, "Here they come now."
Morgan and Reid rose as two women approached the table. Cassandra was a beautiful 5'10" African American whose black hair fell in loose curls from a center part. She wore a red tiered chiffon cocktail dress which featured a cowl neck and flounced sleeves. The skirt ended just below the knee, revealing long shapely legs.
Her companion was a few inches shorter with straight blond hair that had just the hint of a curl at the tip. Her hair barely touched her shoulder and she had a fringe of long bangs that feathered to the right from a side part and went almost to her gray eyes. She wore little makeup other than a touch of pale pink lipstick. She was clad in a black decoratively beaded top that had a low, but still tasteful, vee neck that revealed just the tiniest hint of cleavage. It was partnered with a flared black skirt.
"Derek," Cassandra said as they reached the table, "How are you tonight?"
"Great," Morgan replied. "Cassandra, this is my friend Spencer Reid," Morgan put his hand out in the direction of the two women, "Cassandra Marsden and Phoebe Coulter." Reid gave the women a little wave. The men held the chairs for the women as they sat. "So, Cassandra, make any big sales today?" He turned to Reid. "Cassandra's in real estate."
"The decline in the mortgage rates for the third week in a row must be a bonus in your line of work," Reid said. "Of course it wouldn't help that there's been a lot of default on the adjustable rate mortgages and the record foreclosures because of the economy would tend to make buyers leery wouldn't it?"
Cassandra's eyes perked up at Derek's friend's obvious knowledge of real estate. "Yes, it's a challenge, something of a balancing act."
There was a lull in the conversation as the waitress came to take their orders. Reid said to Phoebe, "Morgan tells me you're a high school teacher."
"Yes, I teach physics and math at Whittier High School," Phoebe said with a shy smile.
"Why you like teaching something like that is beyond me," her friend said. "Why don't you teach something like English?"
"Teaching English has a lot of merit," Reid interjected. "My mother taught English Literature but math and physics are wonderful subjects. Most of the objects we use in our daily lives require the application of the basic laws of physics. When you get into the complex theories, it gets really interesting. And math, well it's not just for accountants or real estate agents, a lot of problems can be conquered by the development of logarithms and mathematical patterns." Reid stopped talking to find everyone at the table staring at him. "Uh, sorry, I…uh get carried away sometimes." He could feel his face turning red and he was thankful for the dim light in the restaurant and the fact that the waitress chose that moment to bring their meals.
After the waitress had left and the foursome began eating their meals, Phoebe said, "I just had an idea, would you be willing to come and speak to my class sometime. I think you could get them excited about math and physics."
"I'm not a very good public speaker," Reid told her, "But, uh sure, if I can get away from the bureau, I'd be happy to."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll do fine," she said.
Through the rest of the meal talk centered on the food, restaurants they'd been to and movies they'd seen ending up with a discussion on each other's plans for the weekend. Morgan said if they didn't have a case, he'd like to try out that new nightspot, Vibes. Cassandra said she'd been dying to go as well so they made plans to go together and Reid thought that at least that part of Morgan's plan had succeeded. "Do you want to come as well," Cassandra asked Reid.
"I can't, I'm going to the National Science Fair on Saturday. A young friend of mine has a project entered and I promised him I'd go. I'm really looking forward to seeing his project and all the others. We'll probably have dinner afterwards but thanks anyway."
"I can't believe I forgot that was on this weekend," Phoebe said. "I should go; maybe I could get some ideas on how to help my students."
Morgan looked at Reid and sighed, how could a genius be so dumb, he inclined his head slightly toward Phoebe a couple of times. Reid's eyes grew big, "Oh, uh, you're welcome to come with me, that is, if you want to, I mean, if you weren't going with someone else."
Phoebe looked up at him, "I'd like that."
"You would, I mean, uh that's good," Reid stammered.
"Yeah," Phoebe replied shyly, "It's a date."
