Chapter Ten
Spencer walked into the BAU office, dressed and ready for work. After spending a month alone together, he hated leaving Keirsten at the house by herself. He walked over to his desk, and set his satchel down. For once, he was the first person to show up. He sat down, and started to look through the reports on everything that had gone on in his absence.
"So Reid, how was the beach?" Emily asked as she walked in.
"It was great. Keirsten got a real treat when she saw a few orcas breeching in the distance. She was thrilled with the sight of that."
"I didn't think that you could see orcas from our beaches."
Spencer gave a small shrug. "I guess they've changed pattern in migration. Changes in climate could make them do that."
"Glad you guys had a great time."
"So am I. But, she kept getting distracted. I'm sure you've heard by now what's going on."
"Oh yeah, the police trying to arrest Keirsten on your wedding night. Good catch on the difference in the name on the warrant, to her name. They've been asking us for the records we have on that case as well."
"Then did they not find where Morgan told the police chief about what he heard Anne Verde saying as they brutally beat up on my wife?"
"I don't know what all they looked at in the reports. Sadly I think they are still going to try to arrest her."
Spencer shook his head some. "I still don't see a probable cause for arrest besides the words of two killers. That's not always reliable."
"Hey Reid! Good to see you've finally returned to the land of work," Derek said as he walked over. "How are you liking the married life so far?"
"Loving it. I wish I was back home with Keirsten though. With the police trying to arrest her, I'm not sure if she's going to be okay."
"She'll be fine. Pretty sure that they haven't gotten the probable cause for arrest, because there is none. She's got a clean background. Stop being so worried."
"Can't help it. I just have this gut feeling is all."
"Guys, conference room, now," Aaron said as he walked in with David, J.J, and Penelope.
Spencer looked at Derek and Emily before following the other three quickly.
"Someone is at it again in Dallas. There have been more attacks that match what happened last fall with Verde and Holler," Aaron claimed.
"Spencer, you can't let Keirsten know of these… it'll really get her down this time," J.J stated.
"Why?" Spencer asked.
"Because, Keirsten's friend Louise was just killed, yesterday," J.J replied.
Spencer looked over, his expression blank. "Do what? Please tell me you're joking…"
"I wish I was, and you know I would never joke about that. We aren't sure if this is a copy cat, or if Verde and Holler are in communication with someone else. There is a slight difference in both cases though. This time, the victims have been targeted at night, in their cars. Instead of during the day."
Spencer ran his fingers through his hair. "Keirsten is not going to be helping on this one, not this time. Sorry, she's staying right here in Virginia, where I know she is safe."
"Agreed, we aren't going to put her back in the hospital Reid, don't worry," Aaron replied.
Spencer nodded somewhat satisfied. Now the fun would be to let Keirsten know about Louise, in as gentle a manner as he could. It wasn't a job he was looking forward to.
"Anyways, we've been called back in, because Louise isn't the only victim we have. They want us talking to Verde and Holler as well, to try and get any information we can get from them on these new killing," Aaron stated.
Spencer sighed and shook his head as he listened in on the conference, before he heard his phone going off. "I'm sorry, that's Keirsten, she wouldn't be calling unless it was an emergency."
"Go ahead and answer, but make it quick."
Spencer walked out of the room, quickly answering his phone.
"Who were the other victims?" David questioned.
"Jason Morrow, Ariana Eliot, and Jerome Calloway," J.J said looking through the files.
"I wonder if they were any connection to Keirsten…" Derek claimed.
"We aren't going to ask this time. As said, she was a liability last time, the bureau just finished paying off the doctor bills."
"Guys... Keirsten's just been put on a plane for Dallas... they arrested her... an hour ago," Spencer said walking back in with a frown. He looked up from his phone, and around the room.
"Looks like we have a double case to work then... Garcia, I want you running a full background check on Keirsten, pull up all emails, phone bills, any of the sort. Proof that she has or has not been in any contact with Verde and Holler. Also, look up Morrow, Eliot and Calloway, see if they have any connections anywhere. I'm fearing where they might lead to though," Aaron claimed. "Reid, you'll go straight to her. We aren't going to put you on this new case out there, you're going to be way too distracted."
Spencer nodded. "If there's nothing I can do for her right away, I'll try and be of some help to the case at hand, Keirsten would want the person who killed her friend behind bars as soon as possible. I'm sure at some point, Keirsten will find out about Louise before this day is over."
"Garcia, you'll also be going with us. We worked the case, and we all know Keirsten personally, we'll probably be going to trial with her as witnesses."
"I'll make sure to have all my equipment ready to go and will do my digging in flight."
"I can't believe they just came in and arrested her... second time they came in at one of the worst times possible..." Spencer said shaking his head and stuffing his hands in his pocket.
"What do you mean worst possible time?" Derek asked.
"Said she was in the shower when Adalynn started barking like mad. Next thing she knows, the bathroom door is being kicked open..." Spencer stated. "Keirsten is also upset, because she thinks one of the officers might have kicked Adalynn, she saw her laying on her side, whimpering like she was in pain."
Aaron shook his head. "Call the neighbor to check on the dog, you have bigger problems to worry about. Let's get out there, get our newest killer, and get Keirsten out of jail."
Spencer heaved a heavy sigh, and followed his team out the door. Déjà vu
was starting to sink in.
Keirsten sat in her cell, curled up on the little bunk bed. She was still in shock at what had happened. She looked around at all the other inmates going about their every day life, as if it was no big deal. She had heard stories of how brutal the Dallas prison could be, and having grown up in the area, she didn't doubt it one bit. She could see all the different gangs hanging around together. She hoped that she would be free from this place soon.
"Keirsten Reid, you have a visitor," a prison guard said as she walked into the cell and got Keirsten to her feet.
Keirsten stood there silently as the woman cuffed her, wincing a bit as she heard her shoulder crack some. She looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact with all those who watched her walking out to the visitors area.
"Keirst, are you okay?" Spencer asked as he walked over and took her into his arms. "Uncuff her please. I'm pretty sure she's not going to try and escape, or do anything dangerous here."
The guard gave the couple a skeptical look, before undoing the handcuffs. "You have thirty minutes, just remember, you're being watched."
Keirsten's arms wrapped around Spencer as she held close to him. "I'm not okay. I still don't understand what I'm doing here. They took just about everything I had away from me, only thing I still have left is my wedding ring, luckily. I've seen some of the other women eying it... and I'm scared to see what will happen while I'm sleeping."
"Hotch has Rossi talking to someone, trying to figure out what exactly is going on here. Keirst… I need you to sit down, because I have something important I need to tell you."
Keirsten looked up curiously, tilting her head. "What do you need to tell me?"
Spencer took a deep breath, and eased Keirsten into a chair."Keirsten… we have another unsub here in the area, which is why the whole BAU team is here, as well as for your court hearing. The unsub's newest victim…"
Keirsten blinked some, tears welling up in her eyes. "Who was it?"
"Louise…"
Keirsten blinked a few more times. "L-Louise as in… the person who is like a sister to me Louise?"
Spencer wiped a tear from Keirsten's cheek. "I've been able to work it out where you will be released for her funeral… Anne and Marie are more than likely communicating with someone on the outside to instruct them on what to do."
Keirsten could only shake her head. "This isn't right… when will they leave me alone?"
"Hopefully when we get to court, something will be done. You should be in here no longer than three weeks."
"Three weeks? Spencer... I don't think I can last that long in this place."
Spencer shook his head, and looked at Keirsten. "It pays to have a husband in the FBI, it was nearly three months. But we got the trial moved to a much sooner date."
Keirsten sighed softly, tears streaming down her face. "I want to go home... I'm starting to get sick of Texas now..."
Spencer sighed lightly. "Listen, the one thing that can very easily get you out of here, is when we get to trial and Derek gives his testimony on what happened when he found you at Holler's house."
Keirsten tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's written in the reports, that Derek overheard something from Verde, that saves you. I think when the case reports where looked at by both the Dallas courts, and Rowlett police, that fact was over looked. He heard Verde saying that had you not ignored them both, that nobody would have died."
"I don't remember hearing such a thing."
"Keirst... you were beaten so badly, that by the time I got there, you were barely conscious, I wouldn't expect you to remember that."
Keirsten wiped her eyes some. "When will someone come get me for Louise's funeral?"
"I'll be taking you up there day after tomorrow. I'm sorry all this is happening. Wish I could explain it, but I'm stumped for any explanation here."
"None needed. You spend a good four years taking care of someone when they need it, three in Anne's case, and they come to depend on you all the time. Then when you leave all of a sudden, and all contact is cut off, they go crazy. I just never saw them cracking like this."
"Keirsten... the whole BAU knows about your past with them now. Why did you never tell me you had been institutionalized because of them for suicide watch?"
Keirsten closed her eyes, and looked down at the ground. "I never thought of it as anything important. It was for two months, and I continued to see a councilor until I left Texas for Virginia. A change of scene was actually recommended to me, get out of Texas, away from Anne and Marie, start a clean slate. So I did it. I didn't want anybody to know about my past. I also did not want to continue thinking about it."
"You had no plans in letting anybody know about it then."
Keirsten shook her head. "No, I didn't. But now that it's out in the open here, there is nothing I can really do about it. Just, don't treat me any differently. That will really get me pissed off."
"Heh, we've known since the first series of murders. I just told them to act like they had no clue. They don't see anything wrong with it."
"So, after the trial, think we can all forget about that little fact? I've been trying to do just that since moving to Virginia."
"It won't be fully forgotten, but how about we never bring the subject up again?"
Keirsten nodded lightly, and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Hey, we're going to get through this. You know I'm going to be on your side through all of the mess those two have caused."
"I just can't believe a month ago I was with Louise... and now she's... she's gone."
"I've never had a friend like you did in Louise, closest I've got to a Louise is Derek, and he can be pretty boring at times."
"Hey, there were times where Louise could get so boring, I'd be on the verge while hanging out with her, but we stuck it out."
"Keirsten Reid, your visiting time is up, time to go back to your cell," the guard interrupted coming over and cuffing Keirsten.
Keirsten winced some, as she was yanked up to her feet.
Spencer watched in anger as Keirsten was led out and back up the hall. He gave a light sigh, and walked out himself, he wasn't going to just sit around. He was going to get to the bottom of things, even if he had to talk to Anne Verde and Marie Holler one on one after Louise's funeral.