Chapter 3

"I have agents ready at the house," Rossi said, "you got a go bag?"

"Yeah, yeah," Garcia stuttered, "it's in my office."

"I'll go with you," Hotch said.

"Security footage from the apartment complex is here," Kevin said, bursting through the door.

"Let's see it," Hotch commaned.

The footage was blurry at best, but a man was seen taking the elevator up to the fifth floor—Garcia's floor.

"He appears to be white and has dark hair," Reid noticed.

"Does he look like anyone you recognize?" Hotch asked.

"No. I can't tell," Garcia answered, "the footage is too blurry and he has is face down. I can't make it out."

"Forensic countermeasure," JJ said, "he doesn't want us to identify him."

"He's been in the buidling before," Lewis supplied, "he knows where all the security cameras are."

Garcia gasped.

"I'm gonna help Hotch and Garcia move into the house," Rossi said.

"But the stalker-" Garcia finished.

"Will get nowhere near you," Rossi finished, "we'll set up video conferencing. You can still help us out that way. Meanwhile, Morgan and Reid, go back to the complex and interview her neighbors and the apartment manager. See if they recognize him. The rest of us will stay here in case any more notes show up."

"Oh dear," Mrs. Mardsen said, "I hope Peneloope's alright. I mean, I just can't think of anyone who would want to hurt the sweet thing."

"Ma'am," Reid coaxed, "we need you to think. Have you seen anyone lurking around Penelope's apartment latley?"

"There was a guy walking around this floor. I assumed he was lost. He was asking for Penelope. I told him she was just down the hall and-oh no, you don't think-"

Mrs. Mardsen nearly collapsed on the floor.

"Mrs. Mardsen," Reid stated, "this is not your fault. You had no way of knowing who he was." Or what he was he silently added.

"I'm so sorry!" Mrs. Mardsen exlcaimed, "I have Parkinson's disease and sometimes the medicine makes me..."

"I'm sorry about that ma'am," Reid said, "but like I said, this wasn't your fault. He caught you on a bad day. But we need to know what he looked like. Do you think he can help us out?"

"He was white with dark hair and he looked thirty, maybe forty. I don't know!"

"Do you think you could describe him to a sketch artist?"

"Maybe," Mrs. Mardsen replied, "on a good day. He looked like a younger version of Penelope's boyfriend. Same look."

"So he looked like Agent Hotchner?" Reid asked.

"Gentlemen," Mrs. Mardsen explained, "I love tall, dark, and handsome men. I dated a few back in my younger days. I would recognize that look anywhere"

"Okay. Thank you for your time," Morgan told the apartment manager.

"Agent Morgan," the manager stopped, "there's something else and it's kinda weird."

Morgan's ears perked up.

"There was a guy hanging around the door earlier this week. I asked what he was doing and he said he was waiting for someone. A few minutes later, I saw him walk out with the same guy who's stalking Penelope!"

"Can you describe him?"

"Copper-skinned and dark haired. Mid thirties. That's all I know. You think he was some kind of lookout?"

"I don't know," Morgan whispered, "but thank you. You've helped us out a bunch."

"Two stalkers?!" Rossi exclaimed, "Bella's in more danger than we thought."

"So we need to treat it like a criminal partnership. A dominant and submissive," JJ said.

"The fair-skinned man is most likely the dominant and the copper-skinned man is more likely the submissive," Reid added.

"But why two?" Lewis asked.

"Well, they can cover more ground that way," Morgan answered, "plus, maybe both of them have a score to settle with Penelope."

"Kevin, how are you doing with Penelope's past?" Reid asked.

"We know her parents were killed in a drunk driving accident and I've found her four brothers."

JJ sighed.

"Good. Maybe they can shed some light for us."

"I'm digging through her family, frends, classmates , ex-boyfriends and-"

"And what?" Morgan pressed.

"And nothing!" Kevin exclaimed, "none of them would have a reason to hurt Penelope. And there's nothing fishy going on with their electronic activity either. Except Robert, but he bought Willie Nelson tickets."

"Then who is it?" Morgan pondered.

"We're racking our brains silly," Rossi said, "here's what we're gonna do. Penelope, Aaron and Jack are at my mansion. I figure tonight, we'll have a cookout. It'll get Penelope's mind off of it and ours too. We'll start fresh tommorow."

JJ sensed there was something more going on and she asked point blank, "You're gonna try to lure the stalker out, aren't you?"

The smirk from Rossi was all they needed to know.