Thanks for the support!
Chapter Fourteen:
After retrieving the man's gun Cortland went back in the apartment building. She went down to the basement and broke into the building super's office. She called Hotch.
He answered on the first ring.
"Who is this and what do you want with Reid?"
"It's me Eileen, I had to ditch my phone," she said.
"I sent agent's to retrieve the mole in the human trafficking task force but she wasn't there," he said. "Her name is Mary Downing. Garcia is desperate to find Reid but only his phone was at a café not far from his apartment. Witnesses say he ran out the employee exit after pushing a woman, presumably Downing."
"Okay so he is on the run and scared," Cortland said. "Where'd he go?"
"Someone is probably watching all of our homes and he knows it. With the resources the Black Sash has and the desire to find him, I honestly don't know. Where are you?"
"Somewhere I can't stay much longer. Listen I'll find him and bring him back to the BAU. Be ready for us okay?"
"I'll do everything I can," he said. "Stay safe and bring him back Cortland."
"I will Agent Hotchner," she said and hung up.
Cortland ran out of the room and back up the stairs. At the back entrance she saw another armed man waiting for her. She silently ran to the main lobby and walked out casually.
It was nine o'clock at night. Still too early to make a ruckus in public. Where would Reid go that he felt safe? She'd been monitoring him for nearly three weeks. Careful to stay in the middle of the sidewalk, she began to think.
My name is Dr. Spencer Reid. A mixture of terror and adrenaline are running through my veins as I have just realized I walked into a trap. These people want to do horrible things to me. Where do I go for safety?
Cortland thought about the memorials, the Smithsonian locations, the libraries. Embassy Row. Law enforcement agencies.
She noticed a man following her for about three minutes. So this was what it was like to play prey. Cortland made a few rapid turns and doubled back twice. In a dark corner she suddenly felt a man push her to the ground.
She swung her foot and made contact with his ankle forcing his knees to buckle giving her time to leap up. She punched the man the groin and then wacked him over the head with her forearm. This knocked him down. Once he was on the ground she kicked him in the chest. She pushed her foot to his throat.
"Phone and gun now," she said.
The man obliged. After zip tying his wrists and ankles, Cortland looked at the phone. The conversation had ended twenty-five minutes ago.
1: Any sign of him?
2: No. Four saw some running your direction.
1: I'll take care of him. First I have to get rid of the broad.
2: Do it quickly and quietly.
1: Am I ever not?
The conversation ended. This was the best lead she had. Time to play head games.
1. The broad is dead. I have the punk in the trunk of his own car.
2. It took you long enough. Meet at the second floor of the Jasper Street parking garage.
1. Consider it done.
That was about ten minutes from her current location. She started to run and knock into people. She pick-pocketed a phone in the process.
"Agent Hotchner," Cortland said. "I don't have Reid but I have a meetup location. Jasper Street parking garage, second floor. I just posed as Black Sash agent driving Reid's car with Reid in the trunk to get in."
"You want to pose as an agent to get in all the way I assume?"
"You better believe it."
"What about Reid?"
"I think I know where he is and he is safer there until the Black Sash is taken down."
"You know I'm putting a lot of trust in you in Cortland."
"Have the SWAT team ready the minute I get in."
"You stay safe."
"Yes Sir."
Cortland hung up and walked into Reid's parking garage. Once again she had no trouble breaking into it. Hotwiring his car was absurdly easy. She tied her hair back and pulled out her makeup kit. She hadn't done this in a while but it was necessary in case the lights were bright. She applied some makeup to look a touch more masculine and threw on baseball cap. Some had teased her for her huge purse but it was working to her advantage tonight. Cortland took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Anything for Reid.
Cortland drove into the parking garage and adjusted the brim of her cap. The parking attendant came out.
"Password?"
"Getting the heck out of my way you stupid numbskull," she said in her roughest voice. "I have a package to deliver."
"I still need a password," the man said firmly.
"Fine," she said. "Come closer so in case someone is listening."
"Just give me the password," he said impatiently.
Cortland pulled out a gun. "How about this for a password?"
The man raised his hands. "I'm not paid in enough for this. Go ahead."
The button was pressed and Cortland was able to get through. She really wasn't a fan of playing an action figure but it was what needed to be done.
She got to the second floor and every spot was taken. There was a woman dressed in a black business suit waiting. She had dark hair and a string of thick pearls around her neck.
Cortland rolled down the window.
The woman didn't even look at her. "Pop the trunk," she said.
Cortland recognized her voice. It made her blood boil. It was Tasha.
"It doesn't work," Cortland said in the same rough voice.
"Then give me the keys," she impatiently and came closer.
"I'd rather shoot you," Cortland said fiercely as she pulled out her gun and aimed it at her forehead.
She heard a variety of guns being a cocked and ready to shoot.
"Eileen," she said delightfully. "I'm so sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. Especially since I'm going to kill you now."
"Spoken like a bad Bond villain," Cortland said and watched sniper beam took aim at the center of her chest.
Tasha gasped.
There was the screeching of tires as SWAT trucks filled the remaining space in the garage.
"Where is he!?" Tasha screamed. "Where is my pretty boy?"
"You'll never find out now," Cortland said nastily as men in SWAT gear apprehended her and her agents.
Hotch emerged from one of the vehicles, followed J.J., Rossi, and Lewis.
"You said you knew where he was," Hotch said urgently as Cortland got out of the car. "Tell me now."
"In his apartment," she said. "Hidden in the shower. The last place they'd look because they would think he was too smart to return home. Reverse psychology in other words."
J.J. turned to leave. "I'll go get him."
"Let me," Cortland said suddenly. "This could have just been a job for me but I didn't want to see your agent, friend hurt. Please let me find him and then bring him to the BAU as promised."
Everyone looked to Hotch. "Just call to say he is safe Cortland and tell him I'll see him on Friday."
"Yes sir," Cortland said with a smile and ran.
…
When this was over Cortland was going to help him install better locks. She wandered through the dark apartment and slowly opened the bathroom door. Cortland saw a shadow in the curtain. She slowly lifted the curtain.
He was curled up in a ball holding a knife.
"You're safe Spencer," she said.
Reid dropped the knife. "It is really over?"
Cortland nodded. "Truly over."
Reid stood up and stepped out of shower. He hugged her.
"Thank you Eileen," he said.
Cortland began to tear up. "I love you Spencer," she said.
He touched her face. "I think I'm starting to feel the same way."