You know, it just hit me. I have written over ten thousand words for this story and have already posted (not counting this one) ten chapters. I think I had to restart my brain after that. I have to say, ten chapters sixty five reviews and all of them good? I rock. :D
NOTE: The story is set in June as I needed to place it somewhere. All date math is worked out based on a forty week pregnancy and a four month old baby. If it is off a bit, I apologize in advance.
So I say thank you to each and every person that has reviewed so far, you guys are the reason I am writing this so fast.
So now, to continue where I left off,
Chapter Eleven, Bar Girls
"I think I have saw her at a bar once." Morgan said squinting at the screen on the wall. "Last year, in April."
The team turned to look at him, questions in their eyes. "I don't remember ever seeing her, at a bar or other wise." Spencer said.
Morgan studied the still shot again. "It was after a rough case, we hit the bar, I don't remember much of it myself honestly."
Rossi nodded. "I remember having to call cabs that night, I think we left at least three of the Bureau's cars in the parking lot."
The rest of the team had a vague recollection of the night in question. But that doesn't explain why me, Spencer thought, I don't even think I was there.
The team spent a half hour trying to remember more of the night beyond arriving and ordering the first few rounds to no avail. It wasn't until Isadora became restless being passed from one team member to another that they finally decided to call a quits for the day.
"Keep trying to remember all you can guys." Hotch said as everyone began packing up. "And Penelope be sure to get a copy of that still shot to the police, it should help them in their investigation."
"Of course sir." She replied.
The team separated after saying their good byes to Isadora and Reid and left the man alone in the room with the normally excited blonde. Spencer turned to the woman in question. She was holding Isadora and looking somewhat put out. "Garcia?"
She looked up at him. "I was just hoping that more would come from this." She shook her head and looked down at the baby in her arms. "Not that I don't think that you are doing a wonderful job with her, it's just, I want her to know where she came from, you know?"
Spencer nodded and shrugged. "Why don't you put her picture through that facial recognition software you have?"
Penelope looked up at him with wide eyes before they narrowed. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Spencer chuckled and took the baby from her arms. "I don't know, but did you hear from any of those houses?"
"I did, there are three available for viewing tonight." She said and began unplugging her laptop. "Would you like me to go with you to look at them?"
"I'd like that. Do you want to meet there?" He asked.
"How about we take your car, and you drop me off here when we are done?" Penelope suggested.
"Sounds good."
The first apartment was a bust. It wasn't maintained and smelt of garbage. The prievious tenants hadn't taken care of the place and had multiple pets if the stains on the carpets had anything to say. The paint had been peeling and the once cream coloured carpets were more of a tan colour from all the dirt and muck that was imbedded in them. Spencer and Penelope left as quickly as they could possibly manage after the landlord that was showing them around said they wouldn't be replacing the rugs, merely steam cleaning them.
The second was much better then the first, but the missing balcony railing and the unlock-able sliding door was not something Spencer was in mind to fix. The super of the building had agreed to look into the door and railing and would give Spencer a call later in the week.
The third residence that the pair were to view that day was a house. Now it's not a very big house, nor did it have much land in front, it did however have a fair sized back yard with patio and a swing set in the back. The house itself was fairly average, the floors were a bit worn, but were walnut stained hardwood, the walls were all freshly painted off white, the light fixtures were basic, but the overall look of the house was pleasant.
"This seems like a nice place, G-man." Penelope said as they walked up the short path to the front door.
"I agree, much better then the first place at any rate." He said and knocked on the red painted door. The pair stood silently beside each other, each taking in the front of the house, taking mental notes until the door swung open and a man in a rather nice sports suit smiled at them.
"Hello! You must be Dr. Reid." The man smiled and gestured them to come inside. "My name is Nathaniel Grey, I am the owner of the house. I must say, you have a lovely daughter and wife, Doctor."
Spencer blushed about ten different shades of red while attempting to stutter out that Penelope isn't his wife, not even his girl friend of that matter.
Penelope smile and laughed a bit. "Thank you, Mr. Grey, but he and I aren't married."
Nathaniel seemed to pause for a moment, as if at a loss for words. "How about I show you around?"
Penelope nodded and the group set off on a tour of the modest two bedroom home. An hour later and a sheaf of papers in hand, the two agents left the house and retreated to a coffee shop not far from the house they just looked at. The two settled themselves into seats across from each other, Isadora in her travel seat on the table beside the wall.
"Well, I'd say that that first one is done without question." Penelope stated and set the paper's on that apartment to one side. "The house for sure you should keep in mind, it has a great location, the back yard was well laid out, the floor plan was good. It had your hard wood floors."
Spencer nodded along. "I agree with you there, there is no way that Isadora nor I will ever be going back there. And the second wasn't bad, but that all depends on the door and balcony."
Penelope took out a pen that had a pink feather pompom on the top and began scribbling notes on one of the papers she had before her. "So that leaves us with four to see tomorrow, and one to see the day after." She said.
Rather unintentionally, the pair kept comparing each successive home to the one that they had dubbed "Maple Lane" despite it not being on a street named Maple Lane. It would seem that each house was, "not as big as Maple", or "Maple Lane has a bigger kitchen" or "the lay out of Maple Lane was better." And with each successive house, they became more and more unhappy with each. By Thursday after seeing the last house, they both knew.
"So, Maple Lane, huh?" Penelope speculated when in Reid's Tahoe on the way to a restaurant for dinner that night. The man driving nodded. "You want me to give Nathaniel a call?"
"He already thinks we are married, if you call he wont give up that image." Spencer said.
Penelope was silent. "You can call if you want to." She paused for a long moment as she gazed out the passenger window. "Is it that bad of a thing for him to make that mistake?"
