Chapter 25
BAU Headquarters
Quantico, VA
"It Takes a Village"/"Proof"
"Willow Wood Ranch."
"May I speak to Kate please?"
"Hold on a moment."
A moment later, "Hey, Roo."
"Hey Kate. You're not going to believe this." Spencer held up his phone, snapped a picture of Emily, and hit send."
A moment later, "Um, Roo, isn't that your friend Emily?"
"Yes, yes it is."
"Isn't she dead?"
"That's what I thought too." He was trying very hard to bank his anger, to bury it low and deep so that it wouldn't get in the way of the case, but if anyone could hear it he knew Kate would. "They lied Kanga. They lied to us all."
"So, what did the committee say?"
Spencer leaned against the bathroom wall. Not the best place to hold a conversation, but it was private. "We're reinstated. We're all off suspension. I'd like to think my standing up to the Senator had something to do with it. I guess I still get irritated when they don't call me Doctor. It's a respect issue. Thank you for the vest by the way." It was complicated and colorful and felt like he was wearing her support wrapped around him in every stitch.
"So what are you going to do now?' Kate asked.
"Back to work."
There was a pause on the other end. "You don't sound right, Roo."
And she was the only one who noticed, even now. "I'm not. But if I talk about it now I'll…pop my cork and this is not the time."
"All right, sweetheart, fair enough. But if you want to talk you know you can call."
Always, he thought, always. "Thank you. I love you Kanga."
"I love you too, Roo."