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"It started with a note on my desk, at the university lab."
"He has access to your office," Rossi observed. "Could it be one of your fellow researchers?"
Maeve shook her head. "I don't think so."
"What happened next," Hotch asked.
"I received an envelope in the mail with a two-page letter full of the vilest threats and pictures," Maeve said with her eyes on Spencer. "I was horrified, and I didn't want it in my apartment. I got rid of them. I'm sorry. I should've kept them to help with your profile."
Spencer reached for her hand. "It's okay," he said firmly, and his eyes roamed over the team, and dared them to contradict him.
"Do you remember specifics in the letter," Hotch continued.
"Just things like death is the only answer for us," Maeve said. "I know he wants to kill me. I tried to convince myself that the letter and the photos were just pranks. I've guess I've been in denial."
"The fact that the stalker's noticed Reid is telling," Emily said. "He views you as a threat to him."
"Yes," Reid said, and his matter of fact tone surprised Maeve into silence. "He thinks of Maeve as his, and he won't tolerate another man. I think we can use it to our advantage."
"Spencer!"
"I promised you I wouldn't let anything happen to you and I mean it," Reid said, resolutely.
"Do you know anyone that might be the stalker," Hotch asked.
"No! I spend all my time in the lab, or, rather, I used to," she said and looked at Reid with an expression that made Morgan grin.
"Is there anyone at the University that you interact with, such as janitorial staff, or graduate students helping with research, or administrative staff," Rossi asked. "Anyone that you'd consider on a lower social rung."
"No. I can't think of anyone," Maeve said, and her eyes locked onto Reid's with a silent plea.
"Guys, we went over this in the car on the way here. We didn't come up with anyone, except Bobby."
"Who's Bobby," Emily asked.
"My former fiancé."
"Former," Hotch repeated. "Why did it end?"
"Hotch," Reid complained as Maeve's cheeks turned pink and she began to fidget with the sleeve of her sky blue sweater.
"You know I have to ask, Reid." Hotch scolded, his dark eyes hard and his perpetual scowl deepened.
"Hotch's right," Reid admitted. "Tell them what you told me."
"Bobby was my first serious boyfriend. In the beginning, he was kind and solicitous. He got me out of the lab, and he made me feel like I was the most important person in his life. After we got engaged, he changed and became controlling. He didn't want me to spend time with my family and my friends. He was jealous of the time I spent planning the wedding."
"You broke it off," Emily guessed.
"Yes, I finally listened to my parents. They'd seen him for what he was before the engagement when I closed my eyes to it. I'm happy I listened to them," Maeve said and squeezed Reid's hand.
"Me too," Reid agreed, enthusiastically.
Garcia sighed, and Morgan laughed. Rossi winked at Reid, and he felt his cheeks growing hot. Hotch studied them with a frown and deep concern while JJ and Emily smirked.
"I think we should talk to this Bobby."
"What's Bobby's full name," Garcia asked Maeve.
"Robert Putnam."
"Got him. He's an artist, yes?" Garcia said after a few moments
Maeve simply stared at her. "That was… amazing."
"Garcia's the best," Reid said with pride.
"Thank you, sweet cheeks."
JJ looked up from studying the photos of Spencer and Maeve. She handed one to Emily. "I don't think your stalker is a man. What do you think, Emily?"
Emily touched the black substance covering Maeve's face as astonishment filled her eyes. "Is that what I think it is?"
"What," Reid and Maeve said together.
"The medium is eyeliner, Spence."
Reid's eyes widened in surprise. "The stalker is a woman."
"That changes the profile considerably," Rossi pointed out. "Female stalkers are rare, only ten percent."
"What's the top motivation," Hotch asked the group.
"Prior sexual intimacy," Morgan said.
"You mean erotomania," Rossi asked.
"No more like a woman scorned, you broke up with me, and now I'll do anything to get you back."
The team focused on Maeve. "Is there anyone like that in your past."
"No, I'm straight."
"Not even experimentation in college," Emily suggested.
"No, never."
"The next most common motivation is celebrity stalking," JJ added.
"That fits better," Reid said, confidently, as Maeve turned pink and she stared at him with disbelief.
"I'm no celebrity," she argued.
"You're a star in your field, Maeve," Reid insisted.
"Even so, it's a stretch," Rossi said calmly. "Celebrity stalkers are usually non-violent."
"You want to tell that to John Lennon," Red interposed as he rose to his feet in agitation. "What was it that Mark David Chapman said. "It was like all my nobodiness, and all his somebodiness collided. We'll Maeve is a somebody, and this bitch is a nobody."
Everyone stared in silent disbelief as Reid shouted and paced. Maeve jumped to her feet and went to him. She hugged him and stroked his back until he gently pushed her away. He took a few precious moments to study her eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from."
"Thanks for your vote of confidence in me," Maeve said as one tear rolled down her petal-soft cheek. "You're great for a girl's ego."
Reid chuckled as the team smiled and Morgan laughed a little. "Way to go, pretty boy," he said, and Garcia giggled.
"Pretty boy," Maeve echoed. "Couldn't say it better myself."
"Look," Reid said as his face turned bright pink. "I'm not sure if I can help. That outburst proves my head's not right."
"No!" Maeve interposed. "I need you, Spencer." Maeve faced the team and smiled shyly. "I know you're all the best at what you do. Spencer talks about you all the time. I've watched enough news and crime shows to know that you think because he's a victim that he can't help." Maeve seemed to direct this solely to Hotch. "If you think that, you're all wrong. I know Spencer has an eidetic memory, maybe he can think of something he noticed since we've been together."
"She's right, Reid," Morgan said. "Maybe she said something that gives us a clue about this woman."
"You think I know her," Maeve interpreted, "I assure you that I don't know anyone that fits your profile."
"You do," Morgan insisted.
Reid turned to Maeve and spoke solely to her. "Morgan's right. You know who it is. We need to sort through it and find her. I can't do it without you."
Maeve nodded and stood. "What do I do?"
"Hotch, I'd like to talk with Maeve alone, please."
Hotch studied them together for a moment, taking in the way that Maeve held Reid's hand and how he appeared to take strength from the contact. Reid looked at Maeve with eyes that told the story of his feelings and a bit of fear for his young friend slipped greasily in his gut. Maeve turned to Reid, and Hotch saw love in her eyes, and anxiety for this young couple grew in his stomach like a malignant fungus somewhere dark and dank.
"Go," he said, as kindly as he could. "We'll stay here and go over the profile."
"Thank you," Reid said and led Maeve from the conference room.
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Winter bit Reid's face with a harsh wind as he left his car and hurried around to let Maeve out. "I wish it were warmer," he stated.
Maeve laughed as the wind turned her cheeks a lovely pink. "Motivation to be quick," she said.
Reid led her through the winding paths that bisected dead grass and bits of dirty, ugly snow. The pair rounded a corner and found a group of concrete squares and benches. "Here we are."
"Why here," Maeve asked as Reid gestured for her to sit.
Reid took his seat across the table and picked up a chess piece from the board. He studied the white queen for a minute, then looked at Maeve, who watched him with curious eyes. "I think better when I'm distracted, and I thought maybe the technique might work both ways. Also, it's neutral territory."
"You want to play a game and talk about my stalker."
"Yes," Reid said, and his eyes captured her with their kindness and their strength.
"Then, we play," Maeve decided.
Reid picked up a pawn. "What's the first thing you thought of when you found the note on your desk."
"I thought it was a joke," Maeve answered as she watched him make his first move.
"Why?"
"I'm not sure. Honestly, now that I think about it, why assume it was a joke. Why didn't I see it as a threat? Denial?"
"Maybe," Reid said as Maeve picked up one of her pawns and made her move. "If it was denial, why do you think it was your first reaction."
Maeve huffed out a sigh. "I don't know, Spencer. I found the note, and I thought it had to be a joke because – oh god," she shook her head. "I'm stupid."
"You're not stupid," Reid argued as he moved another pawn.
"Yes. I am. I dismissed it because I understood what it meant and there was a part of me that thought, no one wants to stalk you, you're not that interesting."
Reid looked up to see Maeve in tears. "Hey," he reached for her hand and squeezed it tight. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"I know… I'm a bit overwhelmed by all of this. I want it to be over."
Reid held her eyes with his steady, direct gaze. "We'll figure it out, and then – well, we'll get back to our lives, okay."
"Okay." Maeve made another move. "What good is it to understand how I felt, Spencer. It doesn't change the facts."
"It's helpful to me because if I know what you were thinking at the time, we can work backward to the point before the first note. What were you doing right before you found the note?"
"I was working. I'd spent most of the day finishing an important step in my project. I was tired and ready to go home."
"You said you didn't see anyone."
"No."
"What happened the day before," Reid asked as he made a move with one of his knights.
"I finished going over theses for Ph.D. candidates. I was thrilled to finish because I hate saying no to people."
"Saying yes is usually better," Reid said, flippantly.
Maeve laughed and thought for a long time before she picked her Queen to move. Reid watched her and narrowed his eyes. "Why did you make that move?"
Maeve looked at the board and bit her lip. "Shoot, I just left it open for you to checkmate in seven moves. I'm not thinking straight."
"I think you are," Reid said, and excitement lit up his face. "I remember that night. You called me, and you said that you had to reject a candidate because she used her parents in her sample."
Maeve's eyes widened. "Spontaneous Cellular Death in Suicide Patients."
"Right. You never told me the candidate's name. Do you remember?"
"Yes," Maeve said, and her eyes lit up like the stars. "Diane Turner."
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"She was a grad student at Mendel University," Reid said as he hurried into the conference room with Maeve almost running to keep up with him.
"I rejected her thesis because she used her parents in the sample and because her premise was massively flawed."
"What was the topic?" Emily asked.
Maeve explained, and Morgan said. "There's the suicide angle again."
"We have to find her. Now!" Reid exclaimed as he turned for the door.
"Reid," Hotch grabbed the young man's attention with his tone. "You're one of the victims. I let you help with the profile, but you can't be involved with the arrest."
"Hotch, I can –"
"He's right," Maeve said and clutched at his hand. "Please don't go after her. I can't bear it if you're hurt."
"I found her," Garcia interrupted. "She was a research assistant at Mendel, but now she works for a local junior college."
"Dave, you and JJ take the residence. Morgan and Emily, you take the campus."
"Hotch," Reid began.
"No, I want you both to stay here where you're safe."
"Come on," Garcia motioned to Reid. "Let's get some coffee."
Reid turned to Maeve, and she nodded. "I'm a little hungry."
"Lets hit the cafeteria, and then I want to hear all about you, Maeve."
Reid rolled his eyes. "Garcia."
"It's fine," Maeve said and smiled at Garcia. "I've heard a lot about you."
Garcia threaded her arm through Maeve's and winked at Reid. "Then I think we should talk."
"Garcia!"
Reid's protest was a bit halfhearted as he understood she wanted to help them calm their nerves.
"Hush, sweet cheeks. Let's go."
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Reid's phone beeped half an hour after they bought drinks and sandwiches from the grill in the caféteria. "Hey."
"We found her, Spence."
Reid felt his whole body relax with profound relief. He blew out a huge breath and nodded to Maeve, who swallowed hard. Tears of relief filled her sea blue eyes, and she reached for his hand.
"Is she talking?"
"No, she's dead."
"Damn it," Reid exclaimed.
"She hung herself, Reid. You knew it was going to happen."
"Yeah, but I thought maybe we'd have a chance to help her."
"You amaze me, Spence. She stalked you and your girlfriend, and you want to help her."
"She lost her way."
"Yes, and it began with her parents."
"Thanks, JJ."
"You and Maeve can relax. Get her out of there and go home."
"Yes, ma'am."
