Thanks for the support! If you know where I picked up the name of the new character from, then you are as big a fan of YA literature as I am.
Chapter Ten:
Hotch was playing cards with Jack when there was a knock on his door. Hotch opened it and a man who appeared to be in his early forties in a gray suit appeared holding an e-tablet
"SSA Aaron Hotchner," he said formally. "I'm Agent Colin Feldspar, the new department head for the human trafficking task force."
"I know who you are," Hotch said. "You used to work in counter-intelligence. Congratulations on the promotion."
"Thank you," he said. "I'm sorry to bother you at home but your technical analyst found something of vital importance to us."
Jack appeared. "Dad what is going on?" he asked.
"Why don't you play in your room Jack? Agent Feldspar won't be staying long."
"Okay," he said and went to his room.
Hotch gestured for Feldspar to come in. They walked into the kitchen where Hotch and Feldspar took seats.
Feldspar put his e-tablet on the table. "I understand you technical analyst has been running facial recognition scans on several people."
Hotch nodded. "Yes and she couldn't find any results."
"That's because her searches aren't digging any deeper. These men have had plastic surgery done to conceal their real identities. Agent Hotchner your team has uncovered a lead on one of the most dangerous human trafficking rings in the world. This was a group that managed to evade the Silk Road completely."
"Please get to the point Agent Feldspar," Hotch said. "What do you want from my team?"
"Please, it's Colin. I want everything your team has on the Society of the Black Sash. This is the first big break on the case we've had."
"Colin, this case is very unique in nature. Someone is targeting a member of my team. I'm willing to work with you but the final decisions must be mine."
"You really want to engage in a turf war over this?" Feldspar said
"I think you want to use my agent for an undercover operation into this society. Something I will not allow."
"This could save literally hundreds of lives. Shouldn't the agent have a say in the matter?"
"Agent Feldspar I understand your desire to take down this trafficking ring. It would also prove your ability to lead your team. But I will not endanger the life of my agent unnecessarily."
Feldspar sighed. "What about your source? Can I make contact with her?"
"She is only knows what she is told. Follow her too closely and her superiors might sense she came to us."
"So you really don't want me to near this case without your approval of the slightest action?"
"No," Hotch said firmly.
"What if I were to go above your head then? I still don't think you have any idea the size of the operation my team will be able to take down with access to your sources."
"My answer stands firm. You're welcome to go above my head with this but I assure that the outcome will be in my favor. I don't question your competence but I have been at this longer and know what I am dealing with."
Feldspar stood up. "I can see we have reached an impasse. I will speak with my team and decide our next course of action."
Hotch stood up also. "It is not personal Agent Feldspar. I would like to work with you but on terms we can both agree on."
"Understood Agent Hotchner," Feldspar said and then opened his e-tablet suddenly. He showed the pictures of three men hanging from chains and then three pictures of men that looked drastically different.
"Robin Daily. Corbin Thomas, and Graham Dixon. These men have been missing for over eight years. Your technical analyst was looking for eight point matches. These men only have four. Their hair, and facial structure have been drastically altered. Some food for thought."
Hotch looked at them briefly. "I assure you we will do everything in our power to catch the people responsible."
"I hope you do," Feldspar said.
…
When Jack was asleep, Hotch put in a call to Rossi.
"We could be facing a turf war with the human trafficking taskforce that I'm afraid we'll lose," he admitted.
"This is our case Aaron, they can't touch it."
"This isn't one woman with an obsession with Reid," Hotch said. "This is a whole operation."
"They can't have Reid," Rossi said. "The kid has been through enough."
"I know but do we have enough to build a case to keep it?"
"It was Reid's idea to build the virus, it should be his choice as to whether to stay involved."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"Him wanting to play hero?"
"Yes."
"Then talk him out of it. He can't be the hero all the time at the risk of losing his mind."
"I will David."
…
Sunday had been a pleasant day of surveillance. Cortland even managed to play a few games of chess while watch Reid played with a variety of people he seemed to know. Then he ordered a Nigerian dish and watched a movie in Russian. She could almost pretend she was with him enjoying the day.
Reid was tying his tie his when there was a knock on his door.
"Dr. Spencer Reid," the man in a gray suit said. "I'm Agent Feldspar, how would you like to liberate a three hundred sixty-two men and women?"