He stared at the phone's screen, imploring it to say something—anything—else.

Then he remembered something. It came in a rush, the memory.

"Reid, what are you doing?" Prentiss asked as Reid began to rifle through the pile of blankets.

"That's how he knew—someone must have—" he continued tossing items aside, "I left my—it has to be here."

"Reid, what the hell is going on?"

He moved into the bathroom, where he found what he was looking for.

Lying in the bathtub, soaking wet, were his tie and shirt. They were cut to ribbons.

JJ and Prentiss appeared behind him. "Reid, is that your shirt?" JJ asked. "I was going to ask what the hell you were wearing."

"Don't worry about it," Reid spat, poking through the pieces of his clothes. "They came to destroy but left no evidence."

"They've all been kidnapped, Reid."

"They've all been kidnapped cleanly," Reid clarified, moving out of the bathroom. "This is the very first violent one."

"Because Lorelei fought back."

"No, they wanted a bigger response. That's why they went for the one who would put up a fight. They're trying to make a statement, warn more people."

"Should we go to the press?" JJ asked.

"No," Prentiss countered. "We're not legitimizing this."

JJ's phone rang. "Hey Hotch." She looked at Reid. "No, he's actually here. I know." She nodded at him and Prentiss, signaling their departure. "Okay."

"What is it?" Prentiss asked.

JJ clapped her phone shut. "The APB on the van picked up a hit on Joseph Avenue. Morgan and Hotch are on the way already."

Reid grabbed his bag, almost running out of the room. Prentiss and JJ exchanged a look. JJ tilted her head in Reid's direction, raised a brow and widened her eyes. Prentiss nodded, understanding.

Prentiss followed Reid to the SUV. "I'll drive."

"It's fine, Emily," Reid snapped.

She cut him off by blocking the driver-side door. "It's not fine, Spencer." He rolled his eyes. "Listen to yourself! You're acting irrationally, you're confrontational—this is not the Reid I know and love."

"We have to find her," he said thickly.

"And we will," she nodded. "But right now, you're too upset. You're emotionally involved and you can't think straight."

"We wouldn't be here if there weren't so many other people thinking straight."

She pressed her lips together. "Very funny." She put a hand on his shoulder. "You know what happens when we can't be objective. And Reid, this team can't function, without your logic rationality."

He took a deep breath, dropping his gaze. "I shouldn't have left her."

She took the keys from his left hand, limply hanging in the air, the muscles relaxed. "Reid, look at me."

The wind tousled his brown hair. His caramel eyes were tired, a beleaguered expression of desperate sadness present in the slackness of his face.

Prentiss gripped his upper arms with her hands, speaking slowly. "This was not your fault."

He shrugged out of her grip, meandering to the passenger side of the vehicle.

"How far is Joseph Avenue?"

Prentiss shrugged. "A while. Try to relax."

The black SUV circled the city until Reid fell asleep.