Chapter 9 Interviewing Rowena

Rossi slowly walked towards Rowena. He had gauged that making his movements slow and precise it would make her more at ease as he approached.

Rowena was sitting cross-legged on the bench. She was clearly guarding herself.

The firefighter that was sitting with Rowena looked instinctively towards Rossi. He clearly saw himself in a protective position to the girl.

"I just want to talk." Rossi reassured him.

The fire fighter placed his hand on Rowena's shoulder. "I'll be right there." He had spoken gently to her.

Rowena nodded. She then moved over slightly to allow Rossi room to sit next to her.

Taking the seat, Rossi took a quick evaluation of Rowena.

She looked like she was a little taller for her age. Her hair was blonde and pulled back in a ponytail. Rowena wore dark blue Keds and tan cargo pants. She had a thin camouflage colored jacket. Her T-shirt depicted what Rossi assumed was some kind of comic book hero symbol. He could easily ask either Garcia or Reid what it was.

"Hello, Rowena." Rossi said taking a seat. "My name is David Rossi. I'm a FBI Agent."

Rowena didn't say anything. She tapped her fingers on her knees. She didn't stay in any sequence; it was just fingers at random.

"We came here because some firefighters here were being shot at. We came to help." Rossi said trying to connect with her.

"I knew something was going on." Rowena replied to that shaking her head. Her tapping on her knees continued. "They all were trying to keep it from me. I figured I should stay out of it and they would tell me eventually."

"We think that your mom's disappearance might have something to do with the person who was firing at the firefighters."

Rowena didn't say anything she continued staring straight ahead. Her finger tapping on her knee continued.

"My ex-wife played the piano." Rossi said pointing to Rowena's hand. "When she was nervous she would tap her fingers like she was playing a piano. She would play whatever song was in her head right then."

Rowena looked at Rossi for a moment.

He took that as an entrance. "You play an instrument?"

"Yeah, I can play few, the organ, the harp." Rowena answered.

"You're good at math and science then." Rossi tried to continue to talk to Rowena.

"Not really," Rowena scoffed.

That created in a huge hole in the Rossi's initial theory. He had entertained the thought for a moment that Reid was Rowena's father. He still didn't know why Reid wanted him of all people to talk with Rowena.

"I know you are worried about your mom." Rossi said gently trying to continue to reach Rowena. He knew if she was comfortable with him that it would be easier to get information from her.

"Can you tell me what you were doing with your mom?"

"I was sitting in her office. I was doing my homework. She was doing the paperwork or something." Rowena answered. "I don't remember much."

Rossi remained calm.

"Would you be willing to do a memory exercise?"

"What?" Rowena asked.

"Let's find some place quiet." Rossi said. There were too many distractions in the open area. He took Rowena's hand and directed her into one of the empty offices.

The firefighter that was watching Rowena didn't say anything. He followed Rossi and Rowena and stood in the doorway, observing.

Rowena took a seat in one of the chairs. Rossi took the one across from her.

"Close your eyes and listen to my voice." Rossi directed.

"You're not going to hypnotize me are you?" Rowena asked becoming tense.

I've had enough with hypnotists, thank you. Rossi thought at that comment.

"No, I'm doing a cognitive interview. Our subconscious picks up more than what are conscious does." Rossi explained. "Just relax, and trust me. You may be surprised by what you remember."

Rowena shook her head and closed her eyes and leaning back on the chair.

"Think back. You're sitting in your mother's office. Was it warm or cold?"

"Cold, I have my jacket on." Rowena answered.

"What about smell?" Rossi asked trying to place Rowena into the memory.

"Popcorn." Rowena answered. "I wanted a snack."

"This is good. You are doing good." Rossi said encouragingly. "What are you doing?"

"Algebra. I can't figure out the answer." Rowena said.

"How are you feeling?"

"Frustrated." Rowena answered. "I've done it twice and the answer is still wrong."

"Let's move away from the homework. What is your mom doing?" Rossi asked.

"Mum is at her desk. She's reading over something. She's typing on the computer. The office phone starts ringing. Mum picked it up. 'Hello. Who is this?'"

"How did she react when she asked who it was?" Rossi asked.

"She gripped the arm of her chair for a moment." Rowena answered.

"Tell me about her tone."

"Not angry." Rowena answered. "I don't know. Like when I got in trouble at school."

"Concerned?" Rossi guessed. There was another hole in the Reid's daughter theory.

"Yeah," Rowena answered.

"What did she say then? Did she give a name?"

"No, she said 'I'll be there'. She then told me to stay in the office and wait for mom to pick me up." Rowena said.

"Did she still sound concerned?" Rossi asked.

"Yeah," Rowena said opening her eyes.

"You did really good." Rossi said gently to Rowena.

"No," Rowena said shaking here head. "I should have paid attention when I saw she was upset. I was worthless at that moment I should have done something." Rowena replied. She held a determined look on her face.

"There was nothing that you could have done." Rossi tried to calm Rowena down.

"Yes there was. I could have asked. Now I'm just sitting here right now. I should be helping. She's my mum."

Rossi thought about Reid and what he had said to him before he interviewed Rowena.

He now knew why Reid had asked him to interview Rowena.

"I retired has a Sergeant Major in the Marines." Rossi said.

This was the first Rowena really looked at him. She seemed to relax a bit now knowing this about him.

"Do marines follow orders?" Rossi asked.

"Yes." Rowena answered

"Then has a future marine I am giving you an order. Stay here at the station or at home. Let us look for your mom. The smartest people I know are in the next room. They are focused on finding your mom. We will do whatever it takes to find her."