JJ is staring at hundreds of names on one of Garcia's computer screens. "Think, Prentiss, think," she coaches herself.
Garcia sits, hands ready to type in anything JJ comes up with to narrow the hundreds down to a few.
"Okay, first things first. Do any of those names show up with records in Arkansas and Missouri?"
"Two states could help us," Garcia says as she types. A second later her computer beeps. "Ooo, good call, Jayje. Down to 43 names with personal or familial connections to those two states."
"Good. Okay. Of those 43, any convictions or even just arrests for assault, rape or attempted rape?"
Garcia's fingers speed over the keyboard. "Shit. No."
JJ starts to pace. "And their extended family?"
"Gonna be a long list to try but…." Garcia types, expanding her parameters. She sighs. "My baby needs 5 minutes to complete that run. It's a lot of people."
JJ nods. "Right." She continues to pace, trying to come up with another way to narrow the search.
"Uh, Jayje? The nesters called. They want you to sit down and relax," Garcia says with a grin.
JJ chuckles and sits down. "You're twisted. They don't have phones yet."
Garcia laughs. "Who's calling who twisted?" She studies her best friend. "So, uh, feel anything yet?"
JJ shrugs. "Just nerves. You'd think I'd know what to expect since I have Henry."
Garcia laughs. "Jayje, it took you so long to realize you were pregnant do you really even remember what your body was going through?"
JJ laughs. "A little. I remember feeling like…like I had the flu or something. And I suddenly felt dirty every time I got home. I got obsessive about showering off the cases when I got home, even if I just spent a day doing budgets and paperwork. I had an insane urge to be clean."
"So are you itchy all over and needing to get a shower?"
JJ sighs. "No, I'm not." Garcia's grin fades. "But it may not happen this time, Pen. Who knows? I could get Emily's fishy cravings instead."
"Not if you're lucky," Garcia says with a wince.
"Yeah, I know. Emily will never let me live it down if I start living on sardines and anchovies."
Further conversation ends as Garcia's computer beeps.
"Coolness! Done sooner than 5," Garcia says as she turns around to the screen. "Okay, we have 14 names. Huh. Who'd have thought it would be so long?"
"Okay, what do those people do?"
"Let's see we have: 4 in the military or military reserves, 1 accountant, 6 teachers, 2 cops, and 1 jack of all trades."
JJ's eyes narrow. "Pull up more info on the cops and the jack of all trades."
"First cop Eileen Oreck. She is- -"
"She's not a rapist. Next."
"Right. Good point. Next cop is 64 year old Peter Straus. Hmm…wonder if he's any relation to our Straus?"
"Doubtful. Do we have a picture?"
Garcia types and pulls up Straus' office State Police photo. He is a handsome African-American man.
"Not our unsub," JJ concludes. "Now the jack?"
Garcia pulls up the info on the last man. "Harold Blair, age 26. Has had a job in…whoa…Jayje he has been close to all 4 parks, including the community park."
"Why didn't he come up on the first check of the community park workers and barn users?"
Garcia shrugs. "Not sure. But he lived near it, working as a yard maintenance worker. He has no direct tie to the park except living near it."
"Check his financials. Does he have a horse?"
Garcia types. "Yes! In fact, he didn't need the park barns because his parents had a small farm where he kept his horse."
"But I bet he started his hunting in that park. Does he have any arrests for anything at all?"
"Was arrested a couple times for stalking but no charges pressed. He would focus on a woman and she would eventually get skeeved out and call the cops."
"Were the women connected to the barns at the park?"
Garcia checks the complainants. "Yes, both of them. OH! Look!"
JJ turns and looks at the photos of the two women. "Brown-eyed, brunettes. Shocker there. How soon after the second arrest did he leave town?"
"About a month. My guess is his Daddy, who is a city alderman, got his son out of trouble but finally sent him off."
"Most likely. And there are probably other women in that area who complained about him but it was swept under a rug." JJ thinks a second. "Garcia, his father…what does his wife look like?"
Garcia types some more. "Mr. Blair is currently married to his second trophy wife who is, shock again, a brown-eyed brunette."
"Run her information."
Garcia types a bit, getting what JJ is after. "Ew, that is too gross for words."
JJ just sighs as she reads the article Garcia's search had pulled up. The current Mrs. Blair had been Harold's high school sweetheart. They were even named king and queen of their prom and most likely to get married.
"Well, she did get married to a Blair," JJ notes.
"And about 6 months before the wedding is Harold's first arrest for stalking," Garcia notes.
"That was the stressor that started him down this path. Where is he now, Pen?"
Garcia types. "His truck is registered in St. Louis but his cell phone records show a lot of hits around Winslow."
"Then the team can find him. Send them his info," JJ orders as she pulls out her cell phone. "Hotch? I think we have a strong suspect for you to find." She listens a second. "That's the hitch: we have no idea exactly where he is." She listens and smiles. "Well, that's why you get paid the big bucks."
Hotch, Reid and Rossi read over all the information Garcia had send on Harold Blair. Hotch finally nods.
"It's him."
Rossi nods in agreement. "I agree. But where the hell is he?"
"All his jobs have been as an outdoor worker or a stable hand," Reid notes. "I'd say we have a few calls to make."
Hotch prints out a picture of Harold Blair and lays it on the table. "He is definitely the same complexion as the unsub." He stands and puts the picture beside the sketches of the suspect. "There's a little bit of him in all these sketches. Reid, Rossi, get some pictures together and go show the women a line up. We need to see if this is the unsub or not."
Reid and Rossi stand. They go see Ranger Bennett and put together a series of 6 photos to show the women. They are out the door in less than 10 minutes, hoping they are closing in on the man terrorizing women in the area.
Anna leaps up. "Chase!" She throws her arms around his neck and gives him a deep, passionate kiss. He gives her a smile when it finally ends.
"Not that I'm upset but that's a hell of a welcome."
Anna grins. "Long story."
Emily stands and extends her hand. "Emily Prentiss."
He shakes it. "Chase Clarkson. Was out checking on one of my primitive sites for next weekend when I heard the horses. Wanted to make sure some hikers weren't lost or something. When I saw the horses I realized I'd stumbled on you all. You okay?"
"Not hurt just trying to wait out the storm," Anna explains. "Pilsy has pulled up lame so we needed to give him a break from walking through the mud."
"Damn. Are you all done with what you came up here to do?"
"No we still have two more places to go," Anna explains.
"Oh. Can I help at all?" he offers.
Emily nods. "I think so." She looks at Anna. "The storm is easing. Why don't you and Chase take the pack horse and Pilsy down. I can ride Starfire to the last two sites on my own. They are pretty close to the trail and I'll have the GPS just in case."
Anna slowly shakes her head. "I don't know, Emily."
"I promise: if I run into Bigfoot I won't panic," she says with a grin.
Anna chuckles. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'll be damned if I stay one more night out in these damn woods. Uh, no offense."
Anna laughs. "No offense taken. But just in case, let me put a few things in your backpack."
Emily nods. Anna puts in the metal cup, a couple packs of soup, a first aid kit and a signal mirror.
"Stick to the GPS trail."
Emily stares at the machine. "Right. Just follow the blue line."
Anna's jaw drops open.
Emily grins slyly. "Just kidding. I know that's a river."
"Morgan's right, you are a smartass."
Emily nods proudly. "Yes, yes I am. I follow the red line. I'm the black dot so I'll see if I get off track." They step out to the horses. "I promise to take care of Starfire for you."
Anna pats Emily's shoulder. "If I didn't trust you I wouldn't agree. You may not be a woodswoman but you're definitely a horsewoman."
"I love riding. I'd almost forgotten how much."
The three lead the horses down the deer path. When they reach the equestrian trail, Emily mounts up.
"See you at the parking area."
Anna nods. "Be careful, Emily."
"Always," Emily responds as she and Starfire set off for the 7th site on the trek. It takes her about an hour to pick her way to the site even though it's only about a mile away. She doesn't want to push the horse as the rain is starting once more.
"I thought this area was known for droughts," Emily mutters to the horse. "Just my frickin' luck it picks this weekend to make up for lost rain."
After taking pictures of the rock pyramid and even bagging another piece of clothing that she finds in the bushes, Emily sets off for the eighth and final stop on her journey. It is just before 3 when she makes it to the site.
"Thank God, Starfire."
She tethers the horse to a tree and starts to scan the clearing. She spies the pyramid of rocks and pulls out her camera and takes several pictures of the clearing, making sure to get the pyramid in one shot. She finally steps into the camp site and starts to look around.
"Hi."
Emily spins in fear. "Huck! Holy shit, you scared me!"
He smiles at her. "Sorry. Got worried about the storm so I thought I'd ride back up here and check on you and Anna." He looks around. "Where is she?"
"Pilsy came up lame. She and Chase are leading him and the pack horse down another way."
"Ah, okay." He starts towards her.
"Uh, please, Huck, don't walk in here just yet. I need to get a few more shots for our records."
Hucks nods. "Sure. No problem."
Emily turns her back to him. She squats to get a close up picture of the pyramid.
"So, did you grow up around- -UNGH!"
Emily crumbles to the ground, unconscious.
Morgan walks into the ranger station at 5 minutes to three. Hotch rolls his eyes.
"You're early."
Morgan grins. "Would you believe my watch broke?"
"No. But I'm glad to see you. JJ and Garcia found a good suspect for us. Reid and Rossi have seen two of the women and so far both have picked him from a photo line-up."
"Thank God. So who is this bastard and- -what is he doing on the board?" Morgan asks pointing at Harold Blair.
"That's him. Harold Blair."
Morgan spins, fear on his face. "Hotch, that's Huck, the guy that brought the horses back this morning!"
Hotch stiffens. "So he knows where Emily and Anna are. SHIT!" He pulls out his phone and dials the number for Emily's satellite phone. He hears it pick up. "Prentiss?"
"I'm sorry, Emily can't come to the phone right now. I'm about to give her the ride of her life…however short her life may be."
Hotch and Morgan hear the sound of the phone falling into a puddle…and then silence.
