Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters. Some "guest stars" are based on people in my life while others are totally made up, as are some places and random actions.


Chapter 9

"You OK, Spence?" JJ asked when Morgan and Reid returned to the conference room.

"I'm fine, thanks." Reid smiled slightly. "Cruz left?"

"He had a call," Hotch answered.

"So where did we leave off?" Rossi asked.

"We were discussing why the UNSUBS gave her a notebook," Reid volunteered. "We eliminated code because writing it down would be counterproductive and passwords are a possibility but there's been no new security breaches."

"I think there's a third UNSUB," Morgan said. As one, the group looked at him.

"What makes you think that?" Hotch asked.

"Someone is turning on the camera and it's not the UNSUBS. The second assault was unscripted. Compulsive. UNSUB A lost control and the camera just happened to turn on at the perfect time to record the assault. And they were both waving at the camera when I got the latest text," Morgan explained.

"And the camera was switched from night vision to day," Kate added.

"I think Morgan's right. During the second assault UNSUB A said, 'We've been given orders for full color.' Why would he say that unless there's someone completely behind the scenes running the show?" Reid said.

"So he's the silent partner. Pulling strings behind the scenes with no desire for contact," Hotch said.

"Two alphas?" JJ looked skeptical.

"Maybe we need to treat this as a pack." Morgan frowned.

"UNSUB B is obviously the follower. UNSUB A is lieutenant. UNSUB C is leader?" Kate asked.

"UNSUB B referred to UNSUB A as his brother. I don't think the pack mentality matches exactly. As close as they are, I don't see the brothers turning on each other," Rossi said.

"'Brothers' doesn't necessarily mean biological," Reid said. "It could mean adopted... foster..."

"Sometimes unrelated family is closer than biological," Kate pointed out. "We've seen it before."

"I think I can make a very preliminary geographical profile," Reid announced. "I was thinking about when UNSUB A said, 'we're too far away from Quantico for them to get here in time.'"

"They must not know we have our jet," Rossi said wryly.

"Right. I think they took Garcia out of state. He also said they had been live-shooting since her arrival. I can assume they were in-transit until then. It was approximately eleven hours between abduction and the first video."

"So they could be an eleven-hour drive away in every direction," Morgan got up and paced in frustration. "That's helpful. She could be in Maine or Canada, or Florida, or the Ohio Valley."

"It potentially eliminates over half the country," Rossi pointed out.

"Agent Hotchner, I've searched everywhere. They haven't posted any of the videos online," Shane said. "I've written a rudimentary program to constantly search but I don't think they're going to post anything until it's all over."

"Son of a...!" Morgan punched the wall. "They're taunting us; that's obvious! That's why they only sent the link to one recipient; to try and get in our heads."

"Are you saying...?" Kevin asked.

"UNSUB C isn't just pulling the strings, he's the editor. He's going to compile these clips and make a movie." Morgan finished .

"So the viewers won't be charged for accessory to murder," Hotch said.

"And no viewers means no one to potentially rat them out," Rossi sighed.

"And he's using hundreds of different proxy servers each time he sends a video and he's hiding behind so many firewalls we can't pinpoint their location," Shane added.

"Agents!" Cruz burst in clutching some papers. "I just got this. Authorities in Ohio County, West Virginia found Garcia's badge inside a van that was abandoned at a farm near Wheeling."

The team looked up instantly."Wheeling?" Morgan repeated.

"Do you think it could be..." JJ looked shocked.

"Cissy Howard and Malachi Lee's son?" Reid answered. "I don't think so. That UNSUB used barbed wire and had a hatred for both families. I don't think he's sophisticated enough to be UNSUB C. And none of his brothers on either side knew of his existence until three years ago so that rules out UNSUB A and B."

Hotch took the paper from Cruz. "The call was originally for a stolen RV," he read.

"I told the Ohio County sheriff to expect you in two hours," Cruz said. "I'll email the details to you, Kevin."

"Wheels up in twenty," Hotch announced. "Morgan, stay for a minute." Cruz and the team dispersed.

"Wyeth, I won't be able to get them to let you come with us. Get our numbers from Kevin and get a hotel room. We'll call as soon as we land." Hotch explained.

"I understand. I'll keep looking. Good luck," Shane smiled sadly.

"Agent Morgan will see you out," Hotch said as he left.

"Don't be stupid like me, Agent Morgan," Shane looked at the floor as the elevator doors closed.

"I'm sorry?" Morgan asked.

"I spent years pretending to hate Penelope. I never cared to see beyond what I thought was betrayal to see why let herself get caught. She wanted a new life and she got one. I saw how happy she was after we met in San Jose. That's when I stopped following her."

"Do you still love her?" Morgan asked.

"I'll always love her. A woman like Penelope never leaves your heart. Don't be stupid like me. Tell her how you feel. You're a good guy. I just hope you're half a good a person as she is." Shane replied.

They reached the front door. "If I'm half a good a person as Penelope is, I say I'm pretty good." Morgan chuckled as Shane gave a brief wave and walked away.


"OK... details are coming in," Kevin said on the monitor. "As Chief Cruz said, the original complaint was for a stolen RV. There was a strange van parked in the garage where the camper is usually stored. Apparently the owner is away on an annual vacation. Local police are trying to find him but he goes completely off-grid on this trip, not that he was a big fan of technology to begin with."

"So who reported it stolen?" Hotch frowned.

"A Mr. Arnold Longman. He says the owner, Mr. Cornell Tripp, pays him to check over things and feed the animals when he goes on this vacation. The local sheriff is checking him out now but they don't suspect him," Kevin answered. "When the deputy checked out the van it was unlocked. He saw a bag with blood on it and called CSU. CSU found Pen's badge under the seat. The back was otherwise empty and the badge was stuck under the seat. The bag had some blonde hair in it along with the blood. They sent both in for testing but they haven't come back yet."

"Did Longman mention anything else?" JJ asked.

"Yeah. He said Tripp didn't have any family nearby and he was bragging about a surprise visit from his grandsons last week. He told Longman about that visit the day he left on vacation. He said thought their names were Alfie and Grant Jackson."

"What about the van?" Rossi asked.

"I ran the plates and they are stolen West Virginia plates," Kevin frowned.

"People won't look twice at an in-state plate," Kate said.

"Yep," Kevin said. "I just got done running the VIN and the Mystery Machine belongs to a... Scot Kryer of Indiana."

"Anything on him yet?"

"Not much," Kevin sighed.

"Let us know when you find something," Hotch dismissed Kevin.

Hotch's phone rang. "Excuse me," he said. He returned a minute later.

"That was Cruz. I was worried about jurisdictional problems but he just assured me the local sheriff and the Pittsburgh field office are offering their full support. Once they found out Garcia is a federal agent and what she does, they were happy to let us take the lead. Some of the agents out of the Pittsburgh office will be meeting us on the tarmac."

"That's one less headache," Kate said.

Kevin didn't call back until they were almost ready to land. "Found some info on Scot Kryer," he announced over speakerphone. "He actually died almost eight months ago, of Leukemia. He had no children, no wife, parents died years ago. Only immediate family I've found is a half-sister, Lola Jackson."

"'Jackson?'" Reid spoke up. "The guy who reported the stolen RV said the owner had a recent visit from grandsons. He thought his names were Alfie and Grant Jackson."

"What can you tell us about Alfie and Grant?" Hotch asked Kevin.

"Let's see... They are both 24..." Kevin began.

"Twins?" Rossi asked.

"No, sir. Grant was born November 8, 1991 and Alfie, September 20, 1992."

"Irish twins," JJ said. "Siblings born less than a year apart," she elaborated.

"The brothers have the same father but he hasn't been in the picture at all. He's currently at the Miami County Correctional Facility for armed robbery and assault. He robbed a convenience store and pistol whipped the clerk. Lola has been busted twice for prostitution but that was twenty and fifteen years ago. She moved to Florida six years ago."

"And the brothers?" Hotch asked.

"Not much about them yet. I'll let you know when I find something." Kevin hung up the phone.

"When we land, Rossi, I want you, JJ, and Kate to check out the van and farm. Reid, you Morgan, and I will interview the witness and speak to the sheriff." Hotch ordered.


"Mr. Longman, I'm SSA Aaron Hotchner and this is SSA Derek Morgan. We're from the FBI." Hotch introduced himself and Morgan as they entered the interrogation room.

"I've already told the cops all I know- twice! Why do I need to tell you?" Arnold Longman growled.

"This is a federal case, Mr. Longman," Hotch explained patiently.

"What case?! I just reported a stolen RV and then the cops arrested me!" the older man snapped.

"You are not under arrest, sir," Morgan explained.

"Then why am I here?"

"Hasn't anyone told you?" Morgan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Hotch.

"No," Longman replied.

"Mr. Longman, a federal agent was abducted last night. Her badge was in the van that you said didn't belong in that garage," Hotch explained.

"Are you serious?" Longman asked.

"Yes. That's why we need you to go over everything you saw when you first arrived at Cornell Tripp's property," Morgan told him.

"I pulled up in the drive like always and grabbed the mail. I let myself in with my key and put the mail on the desk. Then I fed the fish and checked the windows and back door. All were closed and locked. Then I went out and fed the pigs and goats. I went to the garage and to check the cats' water and that's when I saw the van and the RV missing. That's when I called the police," he paused. "I filled the cats' water bowl and went back to the barn to see if anything else was missing. That's when I heard the car pull up and I met the deputy in front of the garage."

"You said Mr. Tripp's grandsons visited recently?" Hotch asked.

"That's what he told me the day he left."

"Did you see them or what they were driving?"

"No, I didn't stop by until the day he left and "

Hotch's phone rang. "Excuse me," He gestured for Morgan to follow him.

"Hotchner."

"Agent Hotchner, I found out some stuff on the Jackson brothers," Kevin answered.

"Hang on, I'll put you on speaker." Hotch hit a button on the phone. "OK, you have me, Morgan, and Reid."

"Grant and Alfie Jackson were inseparable as kids and it looks like they still are. They got decent grades and went to community college for Computer Information Systems. They took every computer class that their high school and college offered. They were in a few clubs, no sports, and really missed school, no disciplinary action."

"They recently quit their jobs as mechanics when their uncle died and left them with a large inheritance."

"How much?" Morgan asked.

"Fifty Gs each." Kevin replied.

"Current address?" Hotch asked.

"It's an Indiana address. I sent it to your phones."

"Any recent pictures?" Reid asked.

"Oh, yeah. I'll send their driver's license pictures to your phones." He hung up.

"Excuse me, Agent Hotchner," the Sheriff stepped from his office as the agents walked by. "I just got the lab results back from the blood. It was a match to your Agent Garcia." He handed the paper to Hotch.

"Reid, call Rossi. Have them meet us at the jet. We're going to Indiana." Hotch ordered.


A/N: Did I mention in my vent yesterday that I have to work on top of all that chaos? Thanks for the prayers and reviews. Much love, PC.