Michelle Blankford was sixteen years old and saving up to buy a car. Her parents agreed to help with some of it, but for the most part Michelle was on her own, landing herself a job at Pizza Hut – aside from school, this was where she spent almost all her time.

Now Michelle smiled at the two people who came in the door, a man and a woman, looking official and serious. "Hi, how may I help you?" she asked in the chipper voice she reserved only for customers.

"Are you the one who helped the little red-headed girl today? A car was bothering her?" The man asked. Michelle nodded. She couldn't tell if she was in trouble or not. Then, simultaneously, the man and the woman both pulled out ID.

"We're with the FBI. I'm Agent Todd and this is Agent Rossi. We're investigating the murders of three girls." Said the woman. Michelle blanched. "That girl – she – she made it home safely, didn't she? I mean, she didn't seem like she was about to get in that car or anything……..oh my god." Michelle thought she just may faint.

"What's your name?" asked the man, who Michelle took to be Agent Rossi. "Mi – Michelle. Michelle Blankford." Michelle replied. "Michelle, the girl – her name is Hannah Bless and she's fourteen years-old. Because of you she made it home ok. But we need to ask you some questions." The woman, Agent Todd, replied softly.

Michelle nodded. And then, "The ones on TV…do you think…the guy in the car…?" she couldn't quite bring herself to ask the question. "We don't know. How about we sit down." Agent Rossi suggested. Michelle nodded again and then looked around the restaurant, "Rob, cover me, I'm taking my break!" she yelled to the other guy who was working right now.

Then she and the two agents sat down at a table.

"How often did you see this car following Hannah Bless?" Agent Todd asked. "I…I dunno. I mean, I'm here every day after school practically, except Fridays. And I'm always looking out the window. My Mom says I have a runaway imagination, so when I noticed the same car drive past just as the girl walked past, I though maybe it was just me. But then…" "It wasn't just you." Agent Rossi finished.

"Yeah. Rob, over there," Michelle nodded her head in his direction, "He also noticed the car going by. And then today it drove up and he rolled down his window and started talking to her – it just didn't feel right to me, you know? And they seemed to be talking for a really long time so….I stepped outside…and the moment I did he zoomed off." She concluded.

"Michelle, did you get a good look at the man?" Agent Rossi questioned. "Yeah, I did. And the girl seemed to know him, too." Michelle put in. "If he were to approach you, would you get into his car? Or help him look for a dog? Or might you even think he was attractive?" Agent Todd pressed.

Michelle blushed and nodded, "Well – I'm not an idiot. I'd never fall for those kidnapping tricks. But…yeah, he was hot!" she exclaimed and then blushed even more.

Agent Rossi slipped a card across the table, "If you have anything you want to ask or add," he said. Michelle nodded and took it from him, "If you want to find me, you can just ask here. I'll let them know that it's ok." She replied.

"Thank-you for you time." Smiled Agent Todd.

And just like that, they were gone, and Michelle swore to herself she'd look out for that girl – Hannah – who walked by every day.

***

After calling Nicolet, Hannah knew she'd better let her Mom know, even though she didn't want to. And when the FBI showed up on her doorstep some time later, Hannah knew it was a good thing she had told her Mother.

"Yes?" Mrs. Bless looked out at the two people standing on the Blesses' front porch.

"We're Agents Morgan and Prentiss from the FBI. We need to talk to your daughter, Hannah. She was approached today and because of the recent homicides in the area we must talk to her." The man informed Mrs. Bless. Hannah was sitting on the stairs, listening in. She was a bit disappointed she wasn't going to get to meet her sister's newest love interest. But, oh well.

"Hannah…" Mrs. Bless contemplated, "Well you know, I think this has all been blown out of proportion. Hannah told me it was just Mr. Shaefer. He's a good man. He was likely just being helpful." She replied.

"Ma'am, please let us talk to Hannah. You can be there too, if you'd like." Agent Morgan requested. "No. Good day." Mrs. Bless glared, seeing only the colour of Agent Morgan's skin, Hannah knew that much.

"Mom!" she squawked, jumping up from the stairs, "Mom, I don't mind. I'll talk to them." Although Mrs. Bless had begun to close the door, Agent Morgan put his hand on it to stop her from completely closing it. "Mrs. Bless you daughter is fourteen years-old. I think she can make her decisions, don't you?"

Mrs. Bless rolled her eyes, "Make it fast!" she snapped, spinning around to give Hannah a look that said, I'll deal with you when they're gone.

The two agents entered the house. "Hi Hannah, I'm Agent Prentiss. Your sister called us." Agent Prentiss introduced, "And I'm Agent Morgan. Is there somewhere we can sit?" Agent Morgan added.

Hannah nodded, leading them into the living room and lowering her voice so that her Mother – who had departed into the kitchen – couldn't hear.

"I called Cole because Cole's the only one who takes me seriously. And also 'cause she said to tell her if anything weird ever happened." Hannah whispered, "But Mom doesn't like Cole. Not anymore. So I didn't tell Mom I called Cole. You won't, will you?"

"We won't tell your Mother anything she doesn't need to know. So, your sister told us she was almost kidnapped a while back?" Agent Morgan inquired.

Hannah nodded, "Yeah…but that was before I was alive. Or maybe I was a baby," Hannah frowned, unable to remember the story correctly, "At any rate, Cole's always been cautious. So when she left us, and I was little….I guess I was around the age she was when she was kidnapped. Cole told me to tell her if anything like that happened to me. Cole taught me all my street-smarts. My family…it just never affected them. I guess that was one of the first stressors when it came to Cole and my parents."

"So then Hannah, what didn't feel right to you about this man?" Agent Prentiss inquired. "I dunno…I mean, first of all, getting into a car it's…it's the number one don't-do-it, right? And then how he knew my name – I mean, I know his, but only 'cause he's a teacher. But I'm not even in strings, and of all the tons of students, how could Mr. Shaefer know me? I've never even talked to him." Hannah replied.

"Was this guy pressing for you to get in his car?" Agent Morgan asked. Hannah thought for a second, "Well – yeah. I mean, it was like he really wanted me to go for a drive with him." Hannah said.

"Were you scared?" Agent Prentiss wanted to know. Hannah nodded, "I was a bit afraid, I won't lie about that…I mean, I'd like to think I'd know better but…if the girl hadn't chased him off…I might have eventually broken down and gotten in, you know?" she answered.

"Hannah, you're old enough to follow the news. Do you know what's going on?" Agent Morgan questioned. "Yeah. All the girls in my school have pepper spray in their lockers now. Even some of the guys." Hannah responded.

"Thank-you Hannah." The Agents said, before bidding her goodbye and leaving.

Once they had, Hannah was left alone with her Mom.

"How did they know to come here? Did you call them? Do you know how bad it looks, Hannah, to have FBI on your doorstep?" Mrs. Bless seethed. "Mom I –" "Did you call them?" "No…"

In that moment, something clicked for Mrs. Bless, "Oh that Nicolet! First chance I get, I'll be smacking her upside the head…" and Mrs. Bless went off, muttering, while Hannah could only sigh and disappear up to her bedroom.

***

Garcia had given them the address after a couple of minutes. Once more the team was amazed as Garcia managed to figure something out with only the last name and the fact that he was a teacher to go on.

Now Reid sat in the passenger seat while Hotch drove, on their way to interrogate Mr. Shaefer – Mr. Harold Shaefer, as they had discovered his name was.

"Nicolet never mentioned she was kidnapped, or almost kidnapped, anyway," Reid muttered, more to himself than to Hotch. Hotch found himself having to hide a small smile. He had never seen the youngest member on the team so smitten over a girl before.

"Did you tell her you were kidnapped?" Hotch asked in return. Reid looked at Hotch, "Well, no." he admitted. "There you go. You haven't known each other for that long, Reid. I didn't even learn some things about Hayley until the last month of our marriage." Hotch said.

"Yeah but…but she told you guys easily enough." Reid replied, "Her sister could have been in danger, Reid, she's going to say whatever it takes to make us believe her." Hotch responded. "Are you implying she made it up?" Reid asked, a bit annoyed. "Not at all. I'm just saying that it's not really something you mention over dinner with JJ breathing down your neck." Hotch smirked.

Reid didn't answer – mostly because he knew Hotch was right – and just stared out the window.

When they got to the house Mr. Shaefer himself answered the door. "Yeah?" he inquired, looking at them both.

"I'm FBI Agent Hotchner and this is Dr. Spencer Reid. We're here to ask you a few questions." Hotch replied. "What's this about?" Mr. Shaefer asked, not yet letting them in.

"We're investigating a number of murders in the area and we have to ask you some things." Reid said, knowing that to tell Mr. Shaefer he was a suspect wouldn't go over well.

Mr. Shaefer looked at them both. Then he sighed, "Come in," he opened the door wider and the two agents stepped inside.

"Do you want anything? Coffee, beer, whatever?" Mr. Shaefer offered, "No thank-you." Hotch answered for both of them. "Mr. Shaefer, did you offer Hannah Bless a ride home today?" Reid questioned.

"Call me Harry, please. And yeah, I did. Is something wrong with that?" 'Harry' responded. "Due to the fact that you seemed to be pressuring her, knew her name, and sped off when another woman approached you, yes – we find that suspicious." Hotch said.

"Look, I know her name because she's a student of mine." "You teach the strings class, Hannah Bless plays flute." Reid jumped in. Harry looked at both the agents, "Ok. That's enough. Out of my house please. Now." He decided.

"Mr. Shaefer all we want is an alibi. Where were you today and on the days the other two murders occurred?" Hotch asked. "Well, today I was teaching. And as for the other two, you'll have to give me the dates."

Hotch did and Mr. Shaefer replied with alibis and people they could ask if they wanted the alibis confirmed. Both Reid and Hotch left the house unsatisfied.

"Are we just going to let him go?" Reid inquired, "We'll watch him but it doesn't seem like he's our guy." Hotch replied. "But you agree, the thing with Hannah – I mean, that's just weird!" Reid argued. "Look, Reid. It's good the Bless family came to us. But this might have nothing to do with the murders." "Nothing to do with it? Hotch –"

"Reid," Hotch said sternly, "You have to separate your life and the job. We all want to catch this guy. But you can't just decide Harold Shaefer is guilty because Hannah and Nicolet think he might be. Ok?"

Reid sighed. But then he nodded. He knew Hotch was telling the truth.