Shadow Dancing: Chapter 11
By Helena Fallon
Aaron Hotchner slipped through his front door and closed it softly. He could hear laughter coming from the garden so he placed his attaché case in his study and swiftly climbed the stairs. He put his guns into his gun safe and then changed, into jeans and a navy tee shirt along with black trainers, before going back downstairs to surprise Hayley and Jack.
Hotch stood briefly unnoticed watching the scene; Jack had constructed his own obstacle course that included his tunnel and riding his trike between a row of toys and finally leaping off to have a bounce on the small trampoline while holding onto the safety bar. Hayley had been pruning back some of the shrubs after they had flourished during the summer months. She was now collecting up the pruned branches and dead heads of roses and placing them into a green garden sack.
"Daddy!" called Jack as he brought himself to a stop on the trampoline and Hayley turned from her task with surprise.
"You're early…" she said with a grin and thought that Aaron looked quite relaxed so his day must have gone reasonably well.
"Don't question it, the team has been busy on the profiles all week if not giving evidence to the Inquiry. I had a call from the Director to say we could go early but I'm needed back in his office tomorrow at 9:30 to discuss Gideon's replacement…Hey Buddy, you look as if you have a good obstacle course there. Have you been helping Mom in the garden too?" he asked his son as he swung him up into the air.
Jack giggled, "Yes…but I couldn't help with those big scissor things Mommy's got out for the big flowers."
"Yeah they look very sharp and not for little guys to use," Hotch conceded, "How's Jack's little garden doing?"
"I've still got some jer-rain-ee-ums, they're the red flowers, but some are dying now. My big daisies are all right and we put some winter flowers in my green pots. My rosemary and mint are still growing," the boy proudly announced.
"That's good because we use the mint and rosemary when cooking," his father praised.
"The winter flowers are the leftovers of the winter pansies I've put in the hanging baskets," Hayley explained but she knew that Aaron didn't really take much interest in the garden.
"Can we go in and play with the trains now?" the boy asked bored by the conversation and he had no desire to stay out in the garden any more.
"Yeah, let's see how the engines are doing this afternoon. Do you think they have been busy taking people to places?"
Hayley watched them fondly knowing that both boys would be content playing trains until dinner was ready, that would be in about an hour's time if she turned on the oven now. She always tried to prepare the evening meal while Jack watched Sesame Street at lunchtime, but having Aaron home early was a pleasant bonus to a very busy day.
The couple did not really have a chance to talk while Jack was making the most of having his father home early. Hotch made a point of giving is time to Jack; he bathed him and read him his bedtime story to make the most of the free time together. It was nearly 8:30 p.m. before Hotch wandered back into the lounge to collapse on the sofa with Hayley.
Hayley turned off the news programme and gave him all her attention.
"How did it go this morning?"
"It wasn't too bad and I was able to get my important points across."
"So you felt that you were listened to?"
"Yeah, they certainly listened and Reid was right when he told me yesterday that they were assessing the Unit and not just Gideon's state of mind," Hotch said quietly reaching across to his wife to pull her closer to him.
"Do you think they are going to move you or break up the Unit?" asked Hayley, who was seriously concerned over the things that Aaron had revealed over the past two years.
"No I don't think they are going to re-arrange the Unit. I was told that I would be consulted over Gideon's replacement from the short list, so that implies that the changes are at the Section Chief level."
"I don't think Strauss will be greatly missed," pronounced Hayley who had witnessed the effect of Strauss's regime on her husband.
"I just hope it's someone who I can trust and they understand the problems of the BAU's work load," replied Hotch hoping that the successor would just be someone he could work with and not have to be watching his back all the time.
"The new Director is establishing his control by the sound of things," remarked Hayley.
"Yeah, he was always a good Assistant Director, and was the natural successor, so lets just hope things settle down soon so we can concentrate just on the problems before us and not Bureau infighting," replied Hotch with a heavy sigh. The last couple of years had been very stressful and it had been all so unnecessary.
"Who would you like as your Chief?" Hayley asked intrigued by all the unknowns thrown up by Gideon's death.
"The people I would like to have as a Section Chief are all doing well in their present positions. I like Heidi Larensen, who was on the Inquiry Board, because she seemed to be a shrewd but fair-minded person about the pressures of the work. She had also spent time with the CACU. However, I doubt they will put another woman to immediately replace Strauss. Strauss has really upset a lot of people with her methods.
I also liked Philip Newton but he's running the Oregon Section and I understand that he is well thought of there. Charles Lineman would be an interesting choice but rumour has it that he's in the running for the Miami Office. Ken Brecht is approaching retirement so he'll probably be allowed to see his time out at the Boston Office. He was put there after the Boston bombing when his predecessor took early retirement because his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I don't really know Hayley, but the Director is known for his common sense so I suspect it will be someone experienced and stable."
"I hope so…"
"Let's forget about the job…Now what do you want to do this evening?" he asked hoping that Hayley just wanted an early night that would also entail some leisurely love making.
At 9.25 a.m. Aaron Hotchner entered the reception area of the Director's office and the secretary on duty looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, Agent Hotchner," Anne Gilmore greeted and Hotch smiled warmly at her. He knew that this secretary had worked in the organisation for nearly thirty years and was highly prized for her efficiency and discretion. Her short grey hair looked immaculate along with the light makeup she wore and her brown eyes twinkled. Hotch from his cadet days had only ever seen this woman wear navy, black or grey fitted suits, always with the hemline just below the knee, and pristine white blouses. The Unit Chief knew nothing about her personal life although she wore a thin gold wedding band and a small solitaire diamond engagement ring with it. She had used the phone to inform the Director of his presence.
"The Director is ready for you, Agent," she softly said with another smile.
"Thank you," said Hotch and moved towards the closed door with a steady step.
Entering the large office he was greeted by not only the Director but also another middle aged man who looked vaguely familiar. This newcomer had a receding head of white hair that made his broad face look as if he had a very high dome to his head. The man rose to greet him and the agent saw that he was 6 foot tall and broad shouldered but looked to have a trim figure so he obviously looked after himself.
"Agent Hotchner let me introduce Simon Nelson, your new Section Chief," the Director announced without preamble. The pieces fell quickly into place in his memory for the Unit Chief.
Hotchner found his hand shaken by a firm grip and hazel coloured eyes gazed steadily into his brown ones.
"My pleasure, Hotchner, or can I call you Hotch as people around here like to call you?" the man asked in a straightforward manner that Hotch found refreshing after Strauss.
"Hotch please," he said amazed that this man who had a reputation for being the 'managerial trouble-shooter' was here in Quantico.
"I think you have surprised Hotch?" Nelson said in a teasing tone to the Director.
"Makes a change, the BAU never stop profiling," replied the Director but this new man grinned in a friendly manner.
"Well that's their job, you do yours and I'll do mine and we should get along just fine," Nelson assured.
"I must admit, Sir, that I thought you were coming up to retirement," Hotch said to explain his genuine surprise at his new supervisor. He took the seat that was proffered at a round table to one side and away from the main desk.
"It's just Nelson, unless I'm briefing the media…I thought I would be retiring too, but the Director assured me that my skills were needed here, to steady a section after a couple of rough years. I couldn't resist really because my new grandson resides in Fairfax," the man said with a warm smile.
"I'll admit to using that piece of emotional blackmail on Nelson to stop him disappearing on retirement escapades like fishing trips Long Island way and then the Florida coast."
"Well I didn't need my arm twisting that much; my oldest son and his family have just moved this way to Fairfax and my other son, with the granddaughters, lives in Maryland. But enough of me, the real point of this morning is that we have to make a decision on Gideon's successor," Nelson said and suddenly was all business. The Director nodded in agreement and appeared totally at ease with this new man at Quantico.
The Director walked over to them with a buff coloured file and sat down before opening it.
He looked at Hotch as he said, "Now I've got a short list of 4 names and I've made sure that each of these men is capable of the coping with the position by consulting independent psychologists and Assistant Directors for their opinions of those on this list. I read the list to Nelson and he immediately confirmed my opinion without any disagreement, but I would like to know who you would like, Hotch, from this list of Alan Cassell, Nicholas Jansen, Brendon Reilly and Spencer Reid?"
Hotch inwardly felt a surge of relief, there were two agents on that list who he knew quite well and felt he could work with either. However, this pair wanted to know his preference.
"I know he's the youngest but I'd prefer Reid and that's not just for some continuity for the team. Reid was chosen and trained by Gideon to basically succeed him. In my opinion Spencer Reid can do the work and there were times when Reid was carrying Gideon. My only doubt is whether Reid himself would want to take the position at this time?" Hotch replied evenly.
"Interesting," said the Director slowly and paused before adding, "I thought that too, so I sent Felix Steiner, who's known him from a child. Did you know that Reid was one of the genius children Steiner studied for his doctorate and subsequent follow up studies? But I digress, Steiner spoke with Reid yesterday, who said that he was interested in the job but not if he had to work under Strauss."
"Did he raise the issue of Morgan?" Hotch asked.
"Reid immediately acknowledged the possibility of problems but said that if Morgan didn't tow the line then it would be an official disciplinary matter," replied the Director.
Hotch nodded and then asked, "But whom do you gentlemen want as the senior psych?"
"Reid, of course, he's been chosen right from the start for this post but its unfortunate that Gideon chose suicide over retirement," the Director replied, "I watched Reid's Inquiry session, he was every inch the senior profiler and seemed to understand his colleagues very well. Also you as a team have a respect for the youngest agent. I think we should give Reid the chance to prove himself and as the pair of you work well together, and trust each other, I think it will work. I'm going to speak to him first before sending him along to Nelson's office for his briefing. What the BAU and that section needs is stability and Reid is familiar, and they all know he's the genius, so being promoted to the senior psych position will be accepted as the natural progression."
Hotch breathed a sigh of relief. This was all going far better than he had anticipated and hoped that the Director's optimism over the appointment would prove to be correct.
"Now I want you two to go and settle into each others way of thinking. I'll send Reid down to you, Nelson, when I've finished with him," the Director suddenly announced. It had been a brief meeting but not stressful and it held the promise of a better outcome than Hotch could have expected when he left his home that morning.
The two agents rose together and left for the Section Chief's office. They chatted about children along the corridors; it was a safe and easy subject and Hotch felt very relaxed about having this man as his immediate superior. Over coffee in the Section Chief's office, Nelson stated bluntly what he expected from the BAU.
"Hotch, I respect the expertise of those under me. I'm not a profiler but I know the cases you handle and anything can happen in the field. Life doesn't always run smoothly but the only thing I ask of my Unit Chiefs is that they trust me with those problems. Tell me, so if there is the possibility of shit hitting the fan, if I know about it before the media, then I can back my people to lessen the blow. Other than that, I read my Unit Chiefs' reports. I like to know if you have any problem agents, but again that is just so I can back you or act as the intermediary before an issue escalates out of proportion.
I've read your reports to Strauss and watched the tapes of the Disciplinary Inquiries so I know what has been happening and I didn't like her manipulation of Prentiss. You have a loyal agent there despite everything that has been happening to try and undermine your position," Nelson stated in a mellow voice that enhanced the air of reasonableness about the problems the Section faced.
"Yes, Prentiss has worked hard to get accepted and she's good in the field," agreed Hotchner.
"I've never worked with a genius before but I watched Reid's session before the Inquiry and he seemed a compassionate and thoughtful man," remarked Nelson.
"Yes, he is, he may look terribly young but Reid is one of those who was born old," replied Hotch and Nelson nodded in understanding.
Reid sat before the Director's desk, he had been summoned by a phone call at 8:30 that morning and he wondered if he was going to be offered Gideon's position after the conversation with Felix. Susie thought that was the reason for the summons because she didn't feel that the Bureau would want to move him without considering the loss of her own expertise. However, he pointed out that there were other Bureau offices within commuting distance from their Alexandria home.
"Now Agent Reid, I want to make this clear that you can turn this position down if you do not feel comfortable with what I am going to offer you. However, your Unit Chief, the New Section Chief and myself were unanimous in wanting to offer you promotion to the senior profiler and psych position within the BAU. This was Gideon's original intention for you after being impressed by your research on sentenced serial killers. I remember those discussions vividly as I sat on the panel to consider your early entry. Gideon was very persuasive with his argument over your research to get the Bureau to accept you at only 21, but then as a genius I suppose you make your own rules."
"Not quite," the genius challenged, "I still have to live and work within the law."
The Director smiled; he hadn't expected Reid to be like this. He had never had a long conversation with Reid but had been fascinated with how calm and compassionate he appeared at the Inquiry despite the distressing scene he had found at Gideon's cabin. The Assistant Directors were all aware of the youngest ever agent, who was a real genius, and a few even knew that he had turned down approaches made by the CIA and the NSA before Gideon spotted his usefulness.
"I know it won't be easy taking over in such circumstances, but you said that you looked upon Gideon's actions as a final challenge for you to pass?" the Director asked trying to get a feel for this new senior agent.
"Yes, that's how I've made sense of all his actions for myself. Everything was so carefully prepared, right down to the arranged chess game that Gideon knew he'd not keep. I had my suspicions because he was refusing to answer his phone while we were on the Milwaukee case but I didn't want to be right as I drove up to the cabin. It wasn't a pleasant sight I found but I knew as soon as I opened the cabin door because of the smell. Gideon had been obviously very unhappy over the trail of death and distress that Breitkopf had left; he blamed himself for Sarah Jacob's becoming a victim. The suspension of our Unit Chief, after the Flagstaff case, was the final straw in Gideon's mind because it had been his decision that brought about the meeting that led to both Tubbs and Begley's deaths. I tried my best to give him support but Gideon felt that life had lost its meaning for him because he could no longer focus on profiling without a steady personal life. All his self-confidence had gone with the death of Sarah and they had planned to do so much together. I think I might have felt that way too with all that had happened, so I think it best for all of us to just respect his decision to end his life. The challenge now is for me to prove, that as Gideon's protégé, I am worthy of the training he and his old team gave me," Spencer Reid gravely explained.
The Director had listened carefully to the quiet but steady voice that explained briefly things that the Director had read in much greater detailed reports, including Spencer Reid's. However, he felt that this man was probably right to accept the choice that Gideon had made and not to feel some gnawing guilt that he had failed his mentor; such actions would serve no purpose now because everyone had to look towards the future.
"You still remember them, the old team?" the Director suddenly asked and he saw the young agent's expression soften and the large expressive eyes shone brightly in the very thin face.
"They were all very special people who took me under their collective wings. They were good agents who had worked as a team for over five years and Gideon looked upon them as friends. The fact that they were all friends explains why Gideon changed after Boston; after the incident he was terrified of getting too close to the agents he worked with and why he could blow hot and cold towards the team. He never really forgave himself for making the wrong decision that led to their deaths and was terrified of putting one of the team in danger. Ironically, he ultimately put the woman he loved in danger by letting a serial killer go free to save the lives of children. After Sarah Jacob's death, I always felt there was a strong possibility of him taking his life at some stage," Reid explained softly.
The Director nodded, " I'm not sure if I'd been Gideon I would have forgiven myself either," he replied in a very quiet tone, "But life doesn't always run smoothly does it and we don't always get it right."
"No, we just hope that we don't do too much harm when we get it wrong," Reid replied evenly and the Director began to understand why this younger man had the respect of older agents who had worked alongside him.
"I want you to understand that as 'a senior' agent you have passed through one of those invisible curtains…You are still part of a team but also a senior member who now has to stand apart and at times give support and also discipline junior agents. I know that you have a good working relationship with Hotchner and I don't see any problems there, but you may have to establish your position if a junior agent tries to take advantage of your youth. You are in fact, the longest serving BAU team member and the only one with a direct connection with the old team; I hope you'll never forget the old team's contribution in making you a senior profiler. I knew some of those men and I am proud to have seen them help establish the BAU. But it is now time for you to step forward from the shadows and make your own name and continue the contribution of the BAU in understanding the criminal mind," the Director spoke solemnly as he fixed the agent with his steady stare, unafraid to be assessed by this genius profiler.
"Yes Sir," replied Reid and he wondered how well this man had known that old team but he didn't feel at that moment that he should delve. However, Reid filed it away in his memory so that perhaps in a few years time, when he hopefully he had managed to prove himself worthy of his promotion, he would ask the Director about his knowledge of the old team.
"Now on a lighter note, I also want to say, that your Unit Chief will probably invite you and your wife for dinner. It's usually acceptable at this level to occasionally socialise in this more personal manner, when previously a senior agent would have kept an invisible barrier between the senior and junior personnel. It is a good way to get to know each other better and can strengthen working relationships. Sometimes an 'out of hours' dinner can also help the wives to have some contact. It doesn't always work of course, but Hayley Hotchner is an old hand at mixing at the senior management level and may help your Susie cope with that side of things. I have every respect for your wife's professional abilities in this organisation, but I have to admit that she is something of an enigma and I know that she doesn't socialise outside work with those of her Unit," the older man confessed.
"It's her work, it doesn't help that she's tied by the codes that govern security, and usually she hides behind me when away from work. She's then the wife of a profiler who happens to work with computers but Susie never indicates just how clever she is…Most of our acquaintances think Susie's just an ordinary programmer," Reid explained.
"They don't realise that we protect her because of the national security issues she often deals with?" the Director asked amazed by this little insight.
"No…I actually find the protection side comforting because I'm away a lot and they are very discreet," Reid confessed and the Director nodded and could understand his reasoning.
The Director's thoughts took another path and he suddenly asked, "Well now, have you heard of Simon Nelson?"
"Wasn't he the senior agent who was sent to New York to settle things down over the infighting between various agency departments dealing with anti-terrorism?"
The Director beamed and it made the man look at least ten years younger, "Oh yes, he's very experienced at handling difficult situations and I persuaded him to delay his thoughts of retirement to become your new Section Chief. He's waiting to speak with you in his office. Nelson's never worked with a real genius before but I'm sure Hotch is telling him how you put you memory to good use to help raise funds for the local hospital with their Quiz Nights and your addiction to coffee!"
Reid stared a little perplexed, "My wife is on the fund raising board of the hospital," explained the Director and grinned at the genuine surprise that was mirrored in Reid's bony features.
"We very senior agents like to know that our partners are keeping busy and charity work is often an attraction for them because it's usually not too controversial," the older man explained and the younger one nodded.
Reid knew he was being dismissed but he was looking forward to meeting Strauss's successor although he didn't feel he had the right to ask the Director just what had happened to Strauss. Susie's personal opinion, expressed over her muesli breakfast, had been that she should be sent to Juneau, Alaska, where she felt the locals wouldn't take much interest in her and she would be well away from any influence within Bureau politics. Spencer wondered just what Juneau had done to Susie to deserve her dismissive attitude but he was sure that one day he'd find out if he pressed the issue.
On the way down to the Section Chief's office, Reid paused and rang Susie with the news. She was her usual calm self and said that she would gather things together to make his office his own space and would get to Quantico as soon as possible. She had in fact been packing up things since his departure for Quantico, although she'd not told him that, but Susie knew that Spencer was the logical choice for Gideon's replacement.
A few minutes later Spencer Reid was entering the Section Chief's office. It looked very bare because he'd not had time to establish any personal touches yet although he had re-arranged the furniture. Reid noted how quickly Strauss had been removed from this room and thought about how Gideon's office had been cleared to help the healing process for the Unit. However, the genius smelt freshly brewed coffee and Hotch and Nelson both grinned at his hopeful expression as his eyes sought out the percolator.
"Help yourself to a mug and come and join us, Reid. We are just having an informal session to get things clear right from the start as to what I expect from the Units under my brief," Nelson invited. Reid sensed the relaxed atmosphere between the two older men in the room, that was totally different to when Erin Strauss occupied the space, and happily went to help himself to coffee.
After an hour with the new Section Chief, Hotch and Reid went to the BAU and Gideon's old office. There was no nameplate on the door and the room was a blank canvass waiting for the new occupant. The Unit did not know of Hotchner's part in carefully storing away Gideon's effects from his professional life. Hotch was aware that Reid needed to feel comfortable in his new workspace that held some difficult memories, especially the most recent one of waiting for Gideon to turn up for an arranged chess game. Time had moved on but the memories were still near the surface for the team.
"Hotch, I didn't like to ask Nelson, but what's happened to Strauss?"
Hotch nodded and a slight smile touched his lips. "I asked and I was told that she has been offered a sideways move. Actually it's more like a demotion because she has less units to manage. Also, her immediate supervisor is someone known for being scrupulous about procedure and will keep a tighter watch on her after what has happened here."
Reid looked hopeful that Hotch would tell him his answer and Hotch knew this but was merely stretching out the task for his own amusement. However, the Unit Chief was satisfied with his own private opinion that Reid's curiosity would finally lead him to ask about the elephant in the room. Reid's patience was wearing thin and he finally said, "You're avoiding my question."
"Not exactly, just drawing out the reply. OK she's been offered a move to Delaware, which is just about commuting distance from here."
"Right, so management is expecting her to resign and she can't make a fuss because it would all come out why she has in effect lost a prestigious position here."
"Yes…that's about it. Nelson suspects that she'll resign and will probably go into teaching or consulting work but I can't see her getting a managerial position after her behaviour here. It would get known, even if it were not put officially in written form, it would spoken of in the unofficial background enquiries that those in 'head hunting' for organisations make."
Reid nodded and was just pleased that he didn't have to deal with her. He liked Nelson and his straightforward manner of setting out the ground rules and gave Reid a feeling of confidence in the new Section Chief.
"Look, you have to establish this has your space now," said Hotch standing in the middle of the bare standard looking office, with its very pale blue walls and the pale grey slatted blinds now open to let in the sunlight.
"I don't like the position of the desk, I think I would like to try it over there…or perhaps that corner?"
Hotch ruefully smiled, he wondered how Reid and his wife had agreed on furnishing their home.
"OK, let's try it out," Hotch said taking off his coat and throwing it over the nearby chair. Reid mirrored his action and they both took opposite ends of the desk.
Twenty minutes later, Hotch was relieved that Reid had finally made up his mind about the placement of his office furniture.
"Tell me…did you and Susie take a lot of time to sort out your home?" asked Hotch with a lop sided grin.
"We experimented, but we've mostly settled in now, replied Reid mildly with twinkling humorous brown eyes.
"Susie's coming with your possessions?"
"Yeah, I rang her with some suggestions as I was going down to Nelson's office and she said that she would be here 'ASAP' but… well Susie lives in her own time world when not at work!" Reid explained and Hotch shook his head wondering just what that rather vague remark about Susie really entailed. However, a tall African American, wearing a 'cadet ID' suddenly appeared at the open door…
"Dr Reid, Sir," the cadet said as he stood in the doorway holding a large cardboard box along with a carrier bag that was swinging from his left wrist."
"Oh I see my wife recruited you to help her…Let's put those things over on that counter top," the new senior agent instructed.
"Sir?" another male voice said from the doorway, where another cadet, who was broad shouldered, blue-eyed and the fair Viking type, leaned holding a large plastic grey storage box.
"How about just putting that box on the floor…out of the way of the door…That's fine," Reid soothed.
Then two janitors followed pushing a removal's trolley with more boxes. Some of these boxes obviously contained books and they proceeded to unload these in front of the book shelving before disappearing with their trolley without any fuss.
Hotch watched the situation with amusement from a corner, and out of the way, as belongings were placed unceremoniously on the floor for sorting. The scene took him back to his own first senior post back in New York. It had amazed him how Hayley had got the things he wanted across the city and then somehow persuaded security to give her a much coveted parking lot so she could empty the car. Hayley had been assisted by two security men, who had been about to go off duty, when his wife smiled sweetly at them and charmed them to assist in making her newly promoted husband's office his own space.
"Thank you gentlemen, you have both been such a great help and saved me several journeys with those boxes," said Susie bringing up the rear with her own bag and a large picture that was swathed in bubble wrap.
Reid moved to her to take charge of the picture.
Susie reached into her bag and handed each of the large cadets a small food box, "Home made chocolate cake for your efforts," she told them as they grinned and thanked her.
"I gave Jay and Gordon theirs before they took the trolley to the lift…thought they needed the energy!" she explained to Hotch and Reid.
Hotch chuckled, there was something about this Susie that was so different to the expressionless one when she was working. The working Susie was just inscrutable and that just tended to confirm to the usual comment that she was a 'cold' person.
"What's that?" Hotch asked eyeing the picture and went to help Spencer.
"Ah, this was a present from a friend who's an astro physicist," Reid explained as he began to unwrap the sheets of the bubble protection from the large rectangular shape. Finally a photo, that had been printed on a canvass, was revealed and Reid propped it up by the desk so Hotch could finally see it properly.
"It's a Hubble photograph of the 'Horseshoe Nebula'," Reid announced triumphantly and stepped back to stand beside Hotch to admire the canvass.
"Stunning," said Hotch who was captured by the awe and beauty of the photographic image.
"Yeah, I just wanted something to be able to lose myself in…"
"So an out of this world picture," Hotch remarked.
"Exactly! It reminds me just how tiny my world is in the vastness of the universe. I'm labelled a genius here but I'm nothing compared with this," Reid said quietly and Hotch was reminded of the humble quality that Spencer Reid attached to his genius status.
"So where do you want the picture?" Susie asked all business and had opened a small toolbox that had been in the large grey crate. She produced from it a cordless drill and began to fit a drill bit.
"That wall there, opposite the desk," Spencer stated looking at the bare pale expanse with its hint of a blue colour.
"Right," and suddenly Susie had climbed up on the stool steps, that Gideon had used to reach his top tomes on the floor to ceiling shelving, and made a pencil mark, "Or do you want it a bit higher?"
"Mmm…few inches higher," the man instructed and Hotch watched transfixed. It was obvious from this that Susie was the capable 'woman of all trades around the house' by the confident way she proceeded to quickly scan the wall for wiring and plumbing pipes before confidently fixing a hook to the wall. Hotch handed her the large canvass that was surprisingly light despite its size. The office was instantly transformed into Reid's space with the hanging of this vivid canvass and the three of them stood back together to admire it.
Hotch caught the look of wonder on Reid's face as he was drawn into the photograph but then his eyes caught the box that Reid had been unpacking while Susie was busy.
"What's that?" enquired Hotch as he caught sight of a large pale creamy light oak square, with a grid of fine black lines running vertically and horizontally inked upon it, surrounded by a slightly darker oak border inlaid with rosewood.
Susie grinned, "It's my present to Spencer for his promotion…He's going to be in a difficult position and he'll need something different to balance out those awful crime details," Susie justified and Spencer gave Hotch a boyish grin behind her back but the Unit Chief was still puzzled.
"It's a Go board and here are the small black and white stones…or rather wooden discs in this case, in these oak pots with matching inlaid lids," explained Spencer as he placed the small wooden pots beside the board. "I saw this in the Torpedo Factory Art Centre last week; it's made by a local craftsman but I couldn't justify the expense because we have a lovely board at home."
"Well that's home and I'm sure that Anderson will occasionally give you a game perhaps at a lunchtime," replied Susie.
"And Prentiss, she plays too and belongs to the Arlington set of players," said Spencer placing the board and pots on the small rectangular coffee table where once sat a chess set.
Hotch looked up to meet Susie's bespectacled enormous pale grey eyes, there was a faint smile on her lips and she gave a slight knowing nod to this older man. Hotch instinctively knew why she had bought this game; it would break the connection of this room to chess games with Gideon and establish another side to Spencer.
"I didn't know Anderson played Go," admitted Hotch and thought how shrewd Susie was as well as being sensitive to Spencer's needs.
"Anderson's quite an accomplished player, both he and his wife play with a Georgetown club. Anderson was taught by his father who was one of this country's leading players. Marcus Kungsberg also plays and he was his college champion," said Spencer as he arranged the decorated boxes of wooden discs to his satisfaction. Hotch noticed how Reid's long fingers seemed to linger a little on the warm coloured wooden pots as if giving them a caress.
Hotchner was suddenly reminded of the quiet friendships that Reid had within the Unit that were not always apparent.
"Do you play Susie?"
"Yes, I was taught at High School and became quite hooked on it…A true game of strategy," she stated but then suddenly changed direction.
"I think we deserve some coffee, how do you like yours, Hotch?" Susie asked.
"Muddy and no sugar, please."
"Fine," she replied but she then delved into the grey crate again.
Hotch watched as a 'geranium' red round cake tin emerged and Susie placed it on the desk. Reid grabbed it and, like a child, quickly opened the lid to peer inside. The smell of freshly baked cookies made Hotch's mouth water and Spencer passed the tin over to him and grinned. They were soon eating chocolate and raisin cookies while Susie announced that she'd go and make the coffees and disappeared to the Unit's small kitchen.
"It's looking more like your space already," Hotch said as he began another cookie and was drawn back to the Hubble canvas. He thought that it was typical of Reid not to put any of his academic diplomas on display.
Spencer nodded and looked around him, "I wasn't expecting the Go board, it's a lovely surprise and a beautiful piece of craftsmanship but that explains why Susie was late."
Susie reappeared with a small round white plastic tray, with three mugs in primary colours, that she placed on the desk.
"Yours is the blue one, Hotch. Spencer I recognised your red mug." Susie took the green mug and they spontaneously stopped and stood together.
"May you carry on Gideon's expertise and let us move forward to a new era," Hotch solemnly intoned. They carefully brought their mugs together to make a soft chink and seal the toast.
Hotch sensed a calmness settle in the office. Gideon's presence was gone but there was a continuum of the past in Reid and a new atmosphere seemed to fill the room, although they had not unpacked the rest of the things yet.
Once they had drunk the coffee and eaten a few more cookies, the two men set about unpacking the books and journals that Spencer had requested while Susie concentrated on the more personal possessions. There was a carved ebony cat that stood eight inches high and seemed to be looking intently ahead at some interesting action. A model of a 'tea clipper' sailing ship in a bottle was carefully unpacked. Then a toy car that was the same Volvo model that Spencer drove was unwrapped together with a model of the original Star Ship Enterprise. Susie Reid carefully placed these treasured items along the counter top of the low cupboards. Hotch thought that they made an interesting eclectic mix that he must ask Reid about one day because he was sure that each had its own story and significance in his life beyond the obvious. The ship in a bottle particularly interested Hotch and it looked quite old and the cat was exquisitely carved and he wondered if that came from the Torpedo Factory Art Centre too.
"I forgot to bring a plant…a cactus so you won't kill it with your usual neglect," Susie said to the room and Hotch caught Spencer's wide-eyed look of mock innocence.
"Susie likes plants," he whispered to his Unit Chief. Hotch was about to reply sympathetically when Susie further added,
"Course I shouldn't really expect much from someone from a desert state."
"Nevada isn't all desert," her husband defended.
"The bits you're taken me to are," she retorted.
Hotch stifled the laugh that was forming because he was not quite sure yet about that remark and wondered if it was some sort of censure of Reid's choice of vacation.
"She doesn't like my home state," Spencer said in a stage whisper, and Hotch grinned beginning to feel his way into how this relationship worked. He thought back to the funeral and how forbidding Susie had looked in black but here she was in old denim jeans and a crimson red and white striped shirt and the colour gave her pale skin some life. Hotch absently noted that she still wore boots, not trainers, to complete her outfit and they merely confirmed the 'Boots' nickname she had amongst some of the senior agents.
"Susie has the green fingers and has been establishing a garden," Spencer added to flesh out the information.
Hotch nodded as he placed another psychology tome on the shelf. He wondered why Spencer had them considering his eidetic memory or perhaps it was just to make other agents comfortable because this was how a senior profiler's space should look. Gideon had such books on these shelves and occasionally loaned them out to agents who were interested. Gideon had also used them when giving tutorials about certain areas of psychology. Hotch suddenly consciously stopped his thoughts dwelling on Jason Gideon and turned to the new senior agent and his wife.
"Have you two got any plans for tomorrow afternoon?" Hotch asked, as the room seemed to be sorted for the moment.
"Not yet," Reid replied and knew what was coming next.
"Would you two like to come over to my place for a 'get to know you' chat and to stay for a light early supper. We usually keep things very simple on a Sunday, very casual, especially with Jack being around and willing to show you his toys," Hotch assured. "I know Hayley would love to chat to you, Susie, she's the gardener in the house too," Hotch confessed and was rewarded with a warm smile from Susie that transformed her whole appearance.
"That would be nice," Susie replied before Spencer but he nodded and let her take the lead. Spencer was pleased that she was unafraid of this man but then very few people in the Bureau seemed to shake Susie's self-confidence.
"Great, any time after three," Hotch said and picked up his jacket, "It's been a good morning, see you both tomorrow and thanks for the cookies and coffee."
"Thanks for all your help!" Spencer said as his boss grinned and raised his hand in a swift wave and was suddenly gone, closing the door as he went.
Susie went over to Spencer and put her arms round his waist.
"You'll be all right, Hotch wanted you and that's what matters…The rest of the Unit will accept it," she said searching his face for worry.
"I hope so," Spencer said softly returning her hug, "The Go board was a nice surprise."
"You needed something to celebrate the step up with…I know its not going to be easy but you are ready for this or they wouldn't have offered it to you. There were a couple of agents in the kitchen and they did ask me if you really had been promoted so it will soon be about."
"Yeah," he sighed but he longed for Monday morning to be over with, although he was sure that the Saturday staff would have texted people with the news. This room was now his office but he still had the memories of his early days being mentored by Gideon and they would always be a part of him. Perhaps one day he would be able to find a promising protégé to prepare to take over from him. However, Spencer hoped that he would not make such a dramatic and sad end to his life. He stopped any melancholy thoughts and concentrated on the present and Susie's voice.
"I didn't know that Hayley Hotchner liked gardening but she seemed a pleasant person when we met at the funeral."
"I like Hayley, you'll see that the Hotchners have a strong marriage and Jack's a nice boy," Spencer added wanting to divert his thoughts away from Monday.
"Yes, she spoke about him and how they take him riding…"
Jennifer Jareau heard her cell ringing and hoped that it was not a case. She glanced at the number displayed…Penny.
"Hi Penny!"
"Guess whose the new senior agent?" Garcia's excited voice boomed from the tiny device. Jareau felt her stomach twist and hoped that it was Spencer.
"No idea…But you're dying to tell me!"
"Sure am…Dan Kenrick has just texted me from the BAU…It's SPENCER!"
Jareau let out the breath she was holding, "Fantastic, he's the best choice for the job!"
Jareau felt so relieved that it was someone the team knew and there would be no settling in problems that could occur with someone being brought in from another Office.
"You bet he is…That's why Gideon trained him up all along to succeed him," pronounced the excited voice.
"Yeah…Have you told anyone else yet?"
"You were the first, Dan said he tried to reach Morgan but he wasn't answering his cell."
"Probably out on a run," reasoned J.J.
"Yeah…but I'll get on and try and reach Emily," Garcia stated.
"Thanks for ringing," J.J. replied and sank down onto her couch. She wondered if Hotch had been consulted and what Strauss had to say about it all. They had finished early yesterday and she had rushed home and changed to go out for a game of squash at the River's Sports Club. It had been wonderful to just play a fast game and get rid of all the pent up energy and mixed emotions of the past week. After the game, she was included in a meal at a nearby restaurant with her fellow enthusiasts and the evening had stretched out so she had returned home around two that morning. Jareau stretched, it felt good and the news was the best they could have expected. She thought that perhaps she ought to go and do some mundane food shopping while they were still having a rather slow time at work.
Emily Prentiss was listening to her mother giving her a very boring account of her charity luncheon. The 'ladies who lunch' were not exactly Emily's circle but she knew that her mother didn't like how her once very high powered and busy life had suddenly slowed down. Ambassador Prentiss felt sidelined despite her years of experience as a diplomat and her strong feelings that she still had much to offer her country. Emily picked at the salmon and pasta salad that mother and daughter had ordered and hoped that her phone would ring to give her an excuse to escape.
Her prayers were answered as her phone trilled and she swiftly reached into her purse.
She glanced at the caller's number, "Sorry, I must take this," she said rising and walked out of the restaurant, to a quiet area in the foyer of the prestigious Washington hotel, as she prepared to answer the call.
"Prentiss," she said all alert.
"Guess what little gem of news I have for you?" said Garcia's teasing voice.
"No idea," replied Prentiss who was pleased to have left the table but a little disappointed that it wasn't a case.
"That was J.J.'s reply too…Spencer's the new senior agent!"
Prentiss laughed, genuinely pleased, "Yeah, I guess we all wanted him to be given the post but we didn't want to say anything just in case we jinxed it!"
"He's our genius," Garcia stated firmly, "Only he could follow on really and keep the BAU together with Hotch."
Prentiss felt a comforting stillness settle deep within her. The past few weeks had been far from happy but suddenly this piece of news seemed to be the light showing the way out of the tunnel. She liked Reid and knew that he'd be fair and could be trusted with personal issues because he was not a gossip. Reid was also a sensitive and a very good profiler, who had come back to the Unit despite a traumatic ordeal and, if anything, seemed stronger as the months progressed.
"Morgan know yet?" she asked thinking that he might feel his nose pushed out of joint.
"Haven't been able to contact him yet…I may have to leave him a voice mail because I'm going to meet up with my little brother, Ricky. I promised to buy him some clothes for his birthday and you know how hard up students say they are…"
"Yeah, Is he enjoying his course at Brown?"
"Seems to be working and playing hard!"
"Oh happy days," said Prentiss.
"Gotta go, Emily…Take care, see you on Monday!"
"Bye, don't max out your cards…" Emily warned but the link was broken and she closed the lid of her cell and looked back towards the restaurant.
Her mother looked up at her approach, "Work…Well I hope that you manage to get some food down you…You've lost weight, Emily."
Prentiss heard the usual censure in her mother's tone and decided to take the opportunity to escape.
"Must go…I'll be in touch," she said and bent to give her mother an air kiss on her proffered cheek. The air kiss was as empty as the emotional ties these two women felt for each other. Prentiss was grateful to be free of spending the rest of the day with her mother and headed for the subway.
Meanwhile, Derek Morgan pounded the park paths near his home with his dog obediently beside him. He hated not being on a case. Gideon's death had left the team confined to the office but he hoped that being desk bound would soon be over. He wondered if he ought to go to another club that evening or ring around to see if he could get a theatre ticket or, failing that, go to the cinema. Morgan thought about the films presently doing the rounds…none really interested him but he just needed to fill his time in some way. He'd had a pretty lonely time at Bernard's Club the previous night; the women were not interesting or rather they had not been interested in him. Perhaps he was losing his touch, but Nina's goodbye because 'it wasn't working' speech had upset him more than he wanted to admit to himself. For a few months he had maintained a steady relationship but Nina had not wanted to be on his contact list, because they had their separate apartments, and now she wanted to be free to have her own life because he came and went so randomly. Morgan had considered it steady because they had seen each other regularly when the work permitted but, it was the job, it could put unnecessary stress on any relationship.
Derek Morgan pounded on towards the park gates. He was very fit physically and proud of his body but his emotional life was a wreck. He was now forty and still without a steady partner and he was aware of his failure to maintain a relationship with a woman. Morgan felt very lonely and envied friends who were loved and those that had families. It was strange but neither he nor his sisters had managed to keep relationships going beyond a few months, although his own parents had been devoted to each other and tried to provide a good home. His father's early death had been a blow to them all, but his mother had worked hard to keep the family together and never looked at another man to replace the one she had lost.
Morgan opened his house door and headed for the bathroom and a refreshing shower while his canine companion headed for his large bowl of water in the kitchen. Ten minutes later, a refreshed Morgan was having a belated breakfast of toasted muffins and coffee when he noticed that his cell, on the counter top, was indicating a message.
"Good morning, Mr. America…Here is the latest news from Quantico brought to you by your personal messenger girl…Our new senior agent is Dr Spencer Reid. Dan texted me and said that Reid and Hotch had been sorting out his new office and Susie Reid showed up too. Everyone is happy that it's our genius and Hotch seems to still be in charge. Have a great weekend, see you Monday!"
Morgan smiled ruefully and pondered upon the news… Of course it had to be Reid, he was Gideon's protégé and Hotch probably pressed for his appointment. Also it was a case of 'better the devil you know' but he wondered how Reid would now behave towards his old colleagues? Morgan sipped his black coffee and thought that it would not be easy for Reid because he had been promoted from within the Unit, where as it was always easier to be promoted to a new Unit. Then there was Strauss; Morgan didn't envy Reid because the senior agents usually had more contact with the Section Chief than the junior ones. Morgan thought that the genius had changed so much since the Hankel case, and his wife was a shadowy figure, that the man was like a stranger these days. He also thought that Reid's promotion just formalised the invisible barrier that had grown between the two men. Reid would have Gideon's old office, next to Hotchner's, and those rooms were physically above the level of the bullpen as if to emphasise the difference between the junior and senior agents in the Unit. Derek Morgan was suddenly feeling old and vulnerable in his fortieth year.
Morgan sighed, he wondered if Anderson would now take Reid's place on the team or if someone new would be brought in to train?
Meanwhile in Fredericksburg…
Amy felt uncomfortable, for the third time in as many days she felt that she was being watched. She did not consider herself to be the paranoid type and had always been sensible about her personal safety but this was weird. It was now broad day light and she was in a busy street but it was the same feeling that she had experienced the previous evening as she caught her train out of Washington…
It had been her usual 1705 train, full of commuters who were weary after a day's work and, being a Friday, she imagined most were looking forward to a 'work free' weekend. However, as she settled down to that day's crossword, she sensed that she was being stared at. Amy defiantly looked up and saw only the usual mix of tired commuters; each confined in their own personal space, reading newspapers or books or lost in an inner world of music through their ipods. But no one looked obviously interested in her although Amy's senses remained alert and she couldn't settle to solve the clues for the crossword grid.
She got out at the Fredericksburg stop and noticed the usual people alighting with her and making their way to the ticket barrier. It was a typical day, none of these regular commuters ever talked to one another, yet they often had their favourite carriage and seat on their train journey. The usual group of men aimed for the parked cars where most where collected from the station by their wives, some even had the children strapped into the backs of cars. There was another group of commuters that automatically walked to the bus stop and finally those, like herself, who continued to walk away from the station.
There was a dull light to this time of day, too early for dusk but not the brighter light of the afternoon although it was nothing that would normally worry Amy. If she had worked late then she would have taken a taxi home for safety reasons. But it was still light as she walked along a familiar route but, with every step, the hairs on the back of her neck seemed to tingle. She stopped to deliberately admire a fashion display in an expensive boutique knowing that it would also give her a reflection of herself and the immediate street. But there was nothing that she could see beyond her own image that was obviously threatening.
While she waited at the intersection crossing, she looked about her but she saw only familiar faces of other commuters who also walked this route and other citizens who seemed to be acting normally. Amy was grateful to see her street, although by this time her heart was beating faster. The street was busy with people coming and going; some pedestrians, some people in cars and taxis, there was a small van delivering flowers to an apartment block, while another was delivering groceries ordered online. Everything just looked so ordinary and unthreatening but Amy felt unsettled and couldn't pinpoint the reason.
She had felt for her familiar keys in her right hand coat pocket and jogged up the apartment steps. The key with the purple fob smoothly turned and she was quickly inside the outer security door, she decided not to wait for the lift but ran up the stairs to her second floor home. Amy felt relieved as she reached the plain sage green painted door with its clear black number four just below the spy hole. The green fobbed key slipped into the lock and suddenly she was safe within her tiny home and momentarily stood leaning with her back against the door and took a deep breath to calm herself. Then she turned and peered through her apartment door's spy hole while still trying to calm her breathing. The corridor was empty and quiet just like it had been when she arrived. Amy walked shakily over to the living room window and peered out through the slatted blinds; below was an ordinary early evening street scene and she couldn't understand why she had panicked. However, her father had always told her to listen to her instincts and she felt afraid.
Today, Amy was once more on a busy bright street feeling a growing fear as she scanned faces in the crowd.
End of Chapter 11