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SSA Blue strode into her office, ignoring every agent she met on the way. She slammed the door so hard, it rocked on its hinges. She dropped into her office chair and reached for Andy's photograph. The cold surface of the glass covering the picture felt like a coating of ice against the tips of her fingers.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and tears filled her eyes. "I'm sorry I believed everyone when they told me you were dead. I should've known better."
Spencer Reid's face popped into her mind, unbidden as an unreasonable, burning anger rose in her chest. He hadn't bothered to defend her reasoning that she should be with the team looking for Andy. He'd shown zero loyalty. Well, that's what she got for trusting a man with eyes that reminded her of her son.
Georgia refused to listen to the voice of reason in her head that said it wasn't Dr. Reid's fault, since he'd known her for only a couple of months, and they'd spoken exactly three times before everything went to hell. Why did she expect him to leap to her defense against his team and his boss? Paying attention to that logical voice only increased her rage, so she returned her gaze to Andy's photograph.
Her hand gripped the frame of the photo so hard her fingers cramped. "I promise I'll find you even if the entire FBI tries to stop me."
She let go of the photo and called up her email. She sent a short note to her boss claiming illness and that she'd be taking several days of personal time. She knew he wouldn't be happy with her, but she didn't care. The only thing that mattered was finding her son and finally making Charles pay.
Georgia reached for her cell phone and quickly researched flights going to JFK in New York. After she booked her flight, she called a number and spoke with an old friend.
"Hey," she said when the familiar voice answered. "It's me."
"Jesus H Christ," said the voice. "It's been forever. How the hell are ya, George?"
"Something's happened, but I can't talk about it on the phone. I'm coming into JFK in about four hours."
"Say no more. I'll pick you up."
"No, better I catch a cab. Meet you at the usual place."
"Still paranoid," said her friend.
"Got to be, but I'll explain when I see you."
"Watch your ass, George."
"Same goes," Georgia said and disconnected the call.
She grabbed her bag and started for the door, she turned back after a moment staring at the closed exit then picked up the photo on her desk. She kissed the glass covering over Andy's face and left without another glance back.
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Luke and JJ entered the Capello residence together and stopped first at the crime scene. The coppery stench of blood soaked into the carpet, mixed with bodily fluids released at death hung like a veil over the room despite an open window and door. JJ grimaced as she snapped on protective gloves. The smear of blood from the fatal head wound told a story backed up by the CSI report.
"Hello," greeted the officer at the door. "Officer Crane, first on scene. The sarge said you'd want to talk to me."
"Yes, can you tell us what you saw when you arrived."
The officer, who reminded JJ of a young Prince Phillip, led them into the house. "The mother lay just here inside the door, her feet facing the door and her head facing the entryway."
"Someone bashed her from behind, but there's no sign of forced entry."
"Could be she knew her assailant," Luke commented as he surveyed the room. "No sign of struggle and whoever killed her was strong enough to take her out with one blow."
"That was my first thought," said officer Crane. "We cleared the house, and she was the only one we found. We didn't know about the boy until we did a knock-on-doors with the neighbors."
"I take it no one saw anything."
"Nope, the next-door neighbors to the right and left weren't home. We talked to a Grace Kelman, whose around sixty and lives with her husband, four doors down. They knew of the boy, said he was a nice little guy, but they barely had contact with him. Other neighbors said the same that they never saw the Capello's out and about in the neighborhood, or if they did, they didn't socialize. That's all I found out."
"Thanks, Officer Crane.
"You're welcome, ma'am. I'll stick at the door until you're through here."
JJ and Luke stepped into the living area. "Takes guts to pull this off, even in the morning when you're mostly certain the neighbors are off to work. He knocks on the door, certain that he'll get in without a problem, but what if someone drove by at the wrong time."
"She goes to the front door and lets in someone she knows well enough to turn her back. The un-sub strikes, kills her, and takes Andy. All of it happens in broad daylight without a witness. There's something not right."
"Yeah, this is a nice neighborhood, but not ritzy enough for a gate, or guard. If you're a former crime lord, hiding in plain sight, would you pick this neighborhood? Why not buy a mansion on some huge compound and lock yourself away?"
"You're cocky," JJ suggested. "From what we know about Charles Capello, that fits the bill."
"He got away clean in New York," Luke said. "His victim, SSA Blue thinks her child is dead. No one's looking for a boy that matches that description. What does he have to fear?"
"Yeah, makes me think he had nothing to do with this."
"Me too," Luke said. "Why mess with the perfect setup?"
"Unless," JJ said. "Maybe SSA Blue was closing in on him, and he realized he'd need to disappear again."
"Pretty risky considering the FBI's always called in on abductions, especially child abductions. He's a wanted man, JJ. Why kill your girlfriend and try to make it look like a kidnapping? He had to know that SSA Blue might get wind that her child is alive. What would you do if it were Henry or Michael?"
"I'd never stop looking," JJ said immediately. "If I thought my child was dead and then found out he was alive, I'd come unglued."
"Yeah, makes sense. You think Blue's telling us everything she knows."
"If I were her, I'd keep it close to the vest."
"She has to know we only want to help."
JJ shook her head. "No offense, Luke, but you're not a mother. The most dangerous animal in the world is a mother protecting her child. Trust me, I know."
Luke studied her for a moment. "Yeah, I can see that you do. Did something happen?"
"I'll tell you about it later."
"Well, let's look at the rest of the house, then meet up with the team."
"Agreed."
CMCMCMCMCM
Emily and Reid entered the police station in downtown Baltimore an hour later. A harried-looking black man with a receding hairline, and a face that spoke of years on the force, met them as they arrived. Lines radiated from the corners of his mouth, and his dark eyes were tired and haunted. Then, he smiled, and his face completely changed. "I'm glad you came," he said as he shook hands with Emily. "I'm Det. Darnell Richmond."
Emily introduced herself and Reid "is there a place we can set up?"
"Yes, sorry for the confusion, but with a nine-hour head-start, I feel like we're playing catchup in a losing game."
"I wish I could say you're wrong."
They congregated in a small room with a roundtable, several chairs, a phone, and a whiteboard. "You said on the phone that the missing boy belongs to an FBI agent and she's believed him dead for a year."
"Yes," Emily said. "We know it sounds like something out of a daytime drama series, but we did facial recognition on the photo you sent us, and the computer says it's a match."
"Damn," said Det. Richmond. "Have you talked to the biological mother?"
"Yes," Emily nodded. She filled him in on the details, and he whistled. "Good, God, I can't imagine how she must feel. I have a couple of kids and if anything like that happened to them or their mother… I might forget who I am."
"Understood," Emily agreed. "Still, we can't rule out that someone outside the Capello crime family's out for revenge. The un-sub could be a preferential offender with a liking for kids the age of Andrew."
"You're right," said Det. Richmond. "I've taken the liberty of putting together a prize-winning list of sex offenders who might fit the bill."
"Good, but first we need to work up the profile, and we'll be able to winnow down the list."
Det. Richmond nodded. "In the meantime. I've got a snitch with a nose for all the latest child abductions. He's harmless," the detective added. "He fancies himself a crime fighter, but he has a liking for coke. I arrested him, then realized he's more useful to me on the street, so he's working it off as a CI."
"Good. Dr. Reid and I will stay here and begin the profile. The rest of my team will meet after they've been to the scene and the coroner."
"I've got the first on the scene with Agent Jareau and Agent Alvez at the Capello residence." Det. Richmond said as he hurried from the room.
Emily turned back to Reid who'd remained silent during the exchange. "What's your gut telling you, Spence."
"Don't know for sure. I need more."
"Let's start with what we know. If the child wasn't taken by a parent, or family member looking to throw a wrench into a custody battle, then it's a stranger, and that means -what, ransom or pedophilia."
"It's been nine hours and no contact, so I'd rule out kidnapping for profit," Reid said quietly. "That leaves a sexual motive and since it has been nine hours… then we know what that means."
"Yes," Emily said, and her dark eyes went blank. "I don't want to think about turning this into a body recovery for SSA Blue."
"I know what it's like to believe that someone you care for is dead and then they come back."
"Yes, you do."
"I'm sorry," Reid said with a sad smile. "I didn't mean to open old wounds. You know it's over and done for me, has been for years."
"I know," Emily said. "Because I understand, I refuse to make it worse for SSA Blue. That's why I didn't want her here."
"You didn't want her to see him if – "Reid stopped because he couldn't say the words.
"I get it, Spence ."
"Thank you for that, Emily."
"You're welcome. After all, what are friends for," she pointed out with a tired smile.
Reid grinned at her. "Okay, let's work it out. We assume that the kidnapper is in this for non-monetary motives. He's organized, patient and most likely prefers children under five. We should have Garcia concentrate on crimes involving children from three to five in and around Baltimore in the last five years."
"Good," Emily agreed. "We'll look at men over thirty because this feels like it took planning and that means he's not young and impulsive."
"I agree."
Reid plucked his phone from his pocket. "Hey, Garcia," he greeted when she answered.
"Hey, gorgeous gray-matter. How's Baltimore?
"It's good. Listen, we need you to dig into crimes against children between the ages of two to five in the Baltimore area. Concentrate on the sexually motivated offenses."
"Ick," Garcia said. "I hate it when you call with requests like that."
"Sorry, but we need more information."
"I know, I wish it weren't necessary. I'll contact CACU and see if anyone's on their radar."
"Thanks."
"Anything for you, sweet cheeks."
Reid could help but smile. "I bet you say that to all the guys."
"Nope, just you. Gotta go, I'll hit you back when I have something," she said and hung up on him.
