A/N: Uber long chapter for you all today!! (For my Tinny!)
And you know uber long chapters generally mean something really exciting!
Enjoy!
Chapter 25: Meeting With The Enemy
Day by day the dose time was pushed back until Reid could last over 24 hours without a craving. In truth that was only slightly better than when he'd started this mess. He'd been on a 24 hour dose schedule back then, now it was about 32 hours. The ultimate test would come today. The next drop had to be today, they couldn't put it off any longer, and Reid knew how he reacted to the phials in his hand would determine how far he'd come.
"Are you ready?" Gideon asked him, breaking through the haze of thoughts.
"Yes." Reid replied, remembering what they'd rehearsed, before hitting the speed dial on his phone and then putting it on speaker. He waited for the ringing to stop and then said, "Dilaudid." His voice wasn't overly confident, nor was it nervous.
"Why the early phone call? You should have another week on you." Alexander Connors replied.
Right, immediate suspicion, just like Reid expected. "I-I know I should, but I don't. Please, I need some more, now." Reid never realised how hard it was to act, and suddenly greatly respected anyone in the field. Lying was one thing, faking emotions was another.
"And what if I don't haven any, Doc?"
"No! You have to have some! I don't know what I'll do if you don't."
A chuckle, "Well you're in luck, I just got your next batch in today. You can pick it up in an hour."
Reid decided to push, ignoring his colleagues concerned looks, "That's too late. I need it now. I won't make it another hour."
"I would love to jump at your every whim, but I wasn't expecting your call. You'll have to wait until I have someone available in the area. One hour Dr. Reid, and no sooner."
"But what am I supposed to do until then!?" Reid asked, sounding desperate, but the line had already been disconnected. He sighed and closed his phone before looking up at Gideon and Hotch. "Do you think I was convincing enough?"
They both nodded slowly, still wearing slightly shocked expressions. The silence grew until they both decided to break it at the same time. "You were very convincing." Gideon said.
Hotch opted for, "Why did you push him like that?"
Reid gave Gideon a smile before turning his attention to Hotch, "I took a chance. He needed to really see how desperate I was. If I'd been so forceful and suddenly accepting that would probably be more suspicious than being pushy the whole time. I needed to stay consistent. It worked."
"I wouldn't have approved that." Hotch said.
Reid nodded, "I know, that's why I didn't ask. It was spur of the moment really. I trusted my instincts."
Hotch frowned, "Why didn't you ask him about the meeting?"
"Had I done that I definitely would have been crossing a line. If he wasn't suspicious already he would have been after that. I'll find out at the drop if he agrees, and I'll be given a time and date. He's smart, and a request like this isn't something he's likely to forget so we'll know in an hour."
Hotch sighed but didn't say any more so Reid made himself a cup of coffee and tried to relax in the tense air. He thought deeply of the timeline they had. With any luck the meeting would be in a few days, but it could take up to another week which would be pushing it too close to when the trial would start. Though he hadn't gotten an official statement he was pretty sure he'd be required to testify. Strauss had said this was all the time they had, so whether Reid liked it or not he had to make sure this worked out.
Reid, Hotch, and Gideon were standing by the door and Reid was double-checking he had his wallet when an idea struck him. He wasn't sure what compelled him, what urged him, but he silently held up a hand to say he'd be right back and walked down the hall and into his small office area. He grabbed a pen and ripped off a chunk of paper from a stray piece near his keyboard. He wrote down three words, and then folded it and tucked it in his coat pocket next to his wallet. He took a deep breath and walked back towards Gideon and Hotch. "Alright, let's go."
Reid stepped into the alley, noting that there were a few dealers or drop boys mulling about this time. Only one made eye contact with him, accompanied by a nod. This was the one Reid approached. He was deeper into the alley than usual, but that was good. It would hopefully provide enough cover for what he might have to do. He fidgeted with the sleeves of his coat for effect, "You got it?"
"I got it. Let's see the cash."
Reid pulled out his wallet and took out the money within it, "N-now show me you have it."
The drop boy obliged and took two phials from his pocket. Reid nodded and passed the cash while he took the drugs. The drop boy smiled almost viciously, "Pleasure doing business with you, and the boss says he won't meet with you."
"Did he say why?" Reid asked, trying not to look panicked while putting the phials in his pocket and taking out the slip of paper. There was enough cover from the dumpster he didn't have to worry about the small piece being seen by Gideon or Hotch.
"No, but why is not important."
"Give him this." Reid thrust the paper forward. "It really is important I meet with him. You can read it if you want, but make sure he gets this."
The drop boy looked less than pleased but he took the paper before walking away. Reid sighed and turned the other way, making his way towards Hotch and Gideon in the car. No one else in the alley paid him any mind so he wasn't worried about any of them passing on word of his apparent alliance with official looking strangers.
When he got situated in the back he pulled out the phials and handed them to Gideon to put in an evidence bag. Gideon looked at Reid, "What did he say?"
"I don't know." Reid replied.
"How can you not know?" Hotch asked.
"He said no, but he could change his mind. We'll have to wait and see."
"How long do we have to wait?"
"Hopefully only a few hours. For now, you need to drop those off." he pointed to the phials in the evidence bag.
Hotch nodded and started the car, heading for the local precinct. Reid settled down in the back, suddenly really tired. He was proud he'd hardly blinked at the phials, but now that it was silent his mind wandered to them. He tried to think of when it was he'd last had any. Early the day before, so today would probably be his first day without any at all. Yes, he'd lasted more than 24 hours, but over the course of two days; shortly after midnight one day, and around 7am the next. My first day clean, the thought made him smile. He'd done so well, the road was almost over and he could start fresh. This was what he'd been working towards with Gideon. This was what it was all about.
Later that evening Gideon, Reid, and Hotch were gathered casually over cups of coffee and good conversation. Silences had a tendency to be awkward since Reid had no TV to use as a distraction. Luckily the only silence came when Reid's phone unexpectedly rang. Reid looked at the display, "It's him! Yes, it worked!"
Hotch and Gideon fell silent while Reid put the phone on speaker and waited. "Good, I was hoping you were available. What makes you think I'm being watched?"
Reid smiled, "Funny how those three words, 'you're being watched', cause such a reaction from you. You obviously believe there's some truth to it or you would have just ignored it."
"I know you have intelligence nearly as high as my own but do not use your job skills against me. Why do you believe this?" Alexander asked again.
"Because, Mr. Connors, you know who I am, you know where I work, you know my friends. Those should be three valid reasons right there."
The anger was not lost in Alexander's voice, "What right do you have to call me that? How do I know you're not working with them?"
"You don't." Reid replied. "You'll have to trust me. But you'll need to meet with me, I don't trust using the phones, and I don't think there's time to waste relaying messages with your drop boys."
There was silence which Reid wasn't sure was encouraging but finally there came a reply. "Tomorrow, 1pm, a car will be waiting in front of the doors to your complex. You will get inside and further instructions will be given by one of my men. You will be driven here, we will meet, and you will be driven back. Understood."
Reid glanced at Hotch who nodded. "You won't regret it." Reid said, and the call was disconnected.
Once again Reid was met with shocked faces. "You told him he was being watched?" Hotch asked.
"It was the only way, and it worked. Had he agreed initially I wouldn't have told him, but I knew this was our only chance to set it up, so I gave him something to worry about."
"But now our cover is compromised."
"Not really, he already suspected, or he wouldn't have taken that as seriously as he did. He needs to find out what I know. I should be able to feed him a few lies, while still finding out what you need to know. And then you should be able to bust him before he gets a chance to move out."
"Reid, if this doesn't work I will hold you accountable for it." Hotch said.
Reid nodded, "I understand, but trust me, this'll work."
Gideon visited Reid on his lunch break, and set him up with a wire. A small antenna and microphone hidden on his person. So long as the antenna could find a connection it would transmit the audio to Garcia and the rest of the team. Gideon made sure the microphone was set up and out of sight in Reid's sock. "We'll be able to hear you and everyone else, but we won't be able to talk to you. Essentially you're on your own."
"I know, Gideon. I'll be okay, don't worry." Reid replied trying to calm his mentor's nerves.
Gideon smiled tightly and nodded, "I know you will, Spencer. Garcia should be able to track your location so if anything goes wrong we'll hopefully be near by, but it might take us a while to reach you."
"Gideon, please. Nothing will go wrong. I know what I'm doing." In all honesty Reid didn't have a clue, but he wasn't about to tell Gideon that.
"We'll be in vehicles somewhere in the area. Far enough away so it's not suspicious, it might take a while if you need us."
"Gideon, you said that already." Reid replied, looking slightly concerned.
"Right, right, I know, I just want to make sure you're prepared."
"I'm prepared, Gideon. I have all I need right here." he said pointing to his head. "He's smart, but I'm smarter."
Gideon smiled a tight smile again. Reid's IQ might be higher, but he definitely wasn't as street smart. The only thing Gideon could hope for was that these months of Reid sneaking around in alleys and dealing with this crowd had taught him something.
"Gideon, just go meet up with the team. Less than half an hour until I have to be downstairs. I don't want them to see you leaving."
Gideon nodded, "You're right, I need to go. Just remember to turn that device on before you go downstairs."
"I will. Now go." Reid urged.
Gideon gave Reid a farewell, good luck hug and then forced himself to leave Reid to fend for himself. Reid spent the following minutes pacing the hallway until five minutes to one. He knelt down and lifted up his pant leg, flicking a small switch on the top of the device.
"I hope you can hear me Garcia, guys, I'm heading downstairs now." Reid left his apartment and walked to the elevator in silence. The ride down was also silent. He was walking through the front doors just as a sharp black car pulled up. A man opened the passenger door, got out and closed it behind him before opening the rear passenger door.
"Dr. Reid. Perfect timing. Get in." Reid did as he was told and sat. "Slide over." Reid looked up at the guy in the doorway. He must have worn a confused expression because all he got in return was the command again. "Slide. Over." Reid did this time and the man sat in next to him. The driver passed a blindfold to the man in the back and Reid's eyes widened. "Standard procedure." he was told.
"Please," Reid begged, "I don't want the blindfold. I-I'll keep my head down I promise, just don't blindfold me. I don't…" Reid sighed, "I don't like the dark."
His request was considered for a moment and then met with a nod, "Alright, head between your knees. One wrong move and you'll pay for it."
Reid nodded and leaned forward to stare at the floor. The man next to him put a hand on his neck. It was firm, but not painful in any way. Just there to keep him in place. Reid felt the car start to move and noted that he was already in the perfect position if he felt motion sick. He tried to superimpose the vehicle's movements onto a map in his head, left turn, right turn, etc, but when they started down a gravel road he was stumped. He really and truly had no idea where he was, and to him that was possibly more frightening than what he was going to face now that he was here.
The car slowed to a stop and Reid was allowed to lift his head. He looked around and spotted only old industrial looking buildings. He was most likely at a building where his dealer's business ran from, not his dealer's actual home. Which made sense of course. The glance at the area told him one thing very important. It was extremely low traffic. The team wouldn't be able to get anywhere close and still blend in. Garcia was probably telling them that now, and finding the best location for them to settle and listen to the exchange.
Reid was led up and into a warehouse. The inside looked nothing like he expected. It had been renovated and had walls and halls and many rooms. Reid made mental notes of which turns they took as he was led through this maze. It was well decorated, even regal in appearance, if it wasn't for the stench of various drugs everywhere. When they finally stopped Reid was sure he'd been led nearly the whole length of the building. This room looked almost like the reception area of some small private office. A coat rack, a fully functional desk, behind which was a filing cabinet, a potted plant and some artwork, and finally a row of chairs for him to sit in. The only thing missing was a secretary to go behind the desk.
"Sit here, someone will be with you shortly." The man Reid had been with this whole time flicked a light switch near the door, which had no effect on this room, and then left.
Reid had barely seated himself when the door opposite the one he'd entered in swung open and he was being ordered to stand. He did and took a step towards the open door. "Not so fast." he was told. "I need to check you for weapons and other potentially harmful devices first. Turn around."
"Oh." Reid said. "Okay." He did as he was instructed and the new male began a very slow and deliberate pat down, starting at Reid's shoulders. 'Please don't let him find it. Please don't let him find it.' Reid repeated in his head.
The search was around his knees when the first door opened, "Hey James. We need an extra hand in room twelve. Like now."
James stood, "Another one?" He got a nod for a reply. "Alright I'll be right there." He walked over to the rear door and knocked twice. When it opened he said, "You can take him in, he's clean. I've got to go help with a problem upstairs." James looked back at Reid and motioned him through the door.
Reid stepped through into a small entryway to a much larger room. This small area was swathed in an eerie red light, and when Reid found the source, a red bulb above the door he'd just came through, it went out; precisely at the moment James flicked the light switch while exiting the other room. Reid looked deeper into the room. It was hard to tell from here but it looked quite comfortable. Almost like a library in some large mansion. Dimly lit with a smoky haze and the shadows danced, making Reid assume there was a fireplace in the room. Books lined the walls and he couldn't help but be impressed as he was led closer to the flames burning in the grate, and two winged-back chairs, a table between them.
It was amazing that a place so luscious and warm could exist within the cold exterior of the warehouse walls. This room was the only one he'd seen that was the full 2-storeys high. Walking past a full bookcase Reid caught some of the titles and was in pure awe. He needed to remind himself that this wasn't the reason he was here, and that chances are they were all stolen or at least purchased with dirty money. He turned his attention to the chairs he was approaching. The man sitting in one of them he could only assume was Alexander Connors.
He was middle-aged, but his dark curly hair and clean shaven face made him appear younger. His eyes were a dark hazel; deep knowing eyes that could read your very soul if you let them. He appeared to be heavier set, broad shoulders and perhaps a bit of a gut, but as he stood Reid realized his mistake. Alex was a large man, yes, but it seemed to be pure muscle. He held out a hand for Reid to shake while smoothing out his crisp grey suit with the other.
"Dr. Reid. Pleased to meet you. Come, sit." he motioned to the opposite chair.
Reid shook his hand hesitantly, "I'm glad you would see me." He sat down in the large chair, his trouser legs crawling up as he did so.
Alexander Connors didn't sit until Reid had, and then he motioned his lackeys away. "Well, I take threats to my business very personally."
"I'd expect nothing less." Reid replied.
"Would you care for a drink?" Alex motioned to the bottle of red wine on the table between them.
Reid looked at the table, the bottle and two glasses sat atop it along with a small square wood-grain box. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't drink. Besides, mixing drugs and alcohol is never a good idea."
"Smart man." Alexander replied. "So then, what do you know?"
"I know that the FBI is investigating your operations and have been since the shooting in the alley over a month ago. Because the man that shot me was killed execution style they decided to look into it."
"And how close are they."
"They know your name don't they? And I'm willing to bet not even your closest men know your name."
"Hmm and how do I know you're not working for them, and leading them here to ambush me?"
"You don't. They could be listening right now and on their way here. You're just going to have to trust that I don't want to loose my supplier." Reid said.
"I'm sure someone with your smarts could find someone else." Connors said.
"Perhaps, but not someone with the access you have to the good stuff. And not someone who appreciates my business like you do. And certainly not someone who runs a smooth operation like this. I don't want to deal with thugs. I spent days searching the streets for someone who looked like they knew what they were doing. I studied the patterns, and though the drop boy was different the actions were the same. Eye contact, nod, approach. Every time. I knew that whoever was running that tight of a business was big, had power and connections, and was the only person I could trust. Now you need to trust me." Reid stopped his long winded explanation and waited for some form of response.
"Alright, I'm convinced, but you need to give me more information than what you have." Alexander replied.
In truth Reid didn't know much more than what he'd already said so now he had to think fast, "I'm suspended from my job right now, so they don't exactly tell me much. All I can say with certainty is that they have someone supplying them with information. I suggest you tighten your ranks and weed out the leak. That's all I know."
Alexander Connors opened a box on a table next to his chair and pulled out a large cigar and a pack of matches. He lit the cigar, took a few puffs, and gave Reid a questioning look. "You called a meeting just to tell me that? You think I don't have control over my staff."
"That's not what I said. I just thought it was important. That you should know." Reid defended himself.
"I am really beginning to question your motives, Spencer."
Reid tried his best to look indignant, "Just because I'm trying to help you? That's not fair." He crossed his arms, and crossed one leg over the other, in a defensive and insulted manner. He didn't realise his mistake until it was too late. The action had caused Reid's pant leg to ride up even further, exposing the top of his sock.
The expression on Alexander Connors face melded into shock and then anger and he was on Reid in a second, pinning him to the chair; his cigar forgotten, discarded to the floor. Two of his men were at his side and taking his place holding Reid in the chair within seconds. Connors clipped the device off Reid's sock and shoved it in his face. "What is this!?"
"I-I-I'm sorry!" Reid pleaded. "They made me do it! I didn't want to! They said I'd loose my job permanently if I didn't help them. Please, I'm sorry. They don't ever have to know. You can keep it, destroy the information on it, whatever you want, just please don't hurt me."
"So you were going to give this to them when you left here." Alexander asked and Reid nodded. "Are you sure it's not sending this audio to them now?"
"Th-th-that's not what they told me." Reid said. "You can throw it into the fire now, and they'll never have to know."
"And what would you tell them when you returned?"
"I don't know. I'll think of something."
Connors studied the device and then smirked, finding the switch at the top and then turning it off. "I think that'll be enough. You should know better than to lie to me."
Reid let out a long breath and forced himself to relax. "Thank you," he said looking at the device. "You have to believe me I didn't want to do it. I was coerced. I'd never intentionally jeopardize your business. I tried to tell you. I said they might be listening, I told you they had someone they were using as an informant. I just couldn't actually come right out and say it. I'm sorry!"
Alexander returned to his seat and the hands on Reid relaxed but didn't leave him. "You apparently believe that I have to believe you a lot. I don't need to believe you at all."
"If you believe anything let it be this: they'll be on their way here right now. They believe I'm in danger, so they're coming here. You need to leave now if you don't want to go down."
Connors looked at one of the men holding Reid who nodded and spoke into a mic on his shirt collar; very secret service, minus the suit. "Evacuate and lockdown." Almost immediately the lights were cut and the only source came from the fire.
"Now," Connors said, "I was going to use this as a way for us to celebrate but now I feel it'll serve better as a test of your loyalty. And if you're not loyal to me now, you will be when I'm done." He reached to the box on the table and opened it, taking out an unlabeled phial, syringe, and tourniquet. He tossed the phial to Reid who caught it, and then he reached over holding out the syringe and tourniquet. "Go on. Indulge."
Reid shook his head, "We don't have time for this. We need to leave, you need to leave."
"Trust me, I have time. Even if they were to come through the front doors now, there would still be 10 minutes of searching before they made it here. And it'll take them a while to get through the lockdown defences. Go on have a little."
Reid looked at the phial and swallowed hard before shaking his head, "No, I don't need any right now. Thank you." He ignored Alex's outstretched hand and set the phial on the table.
Connors leaned back and sighed, "As I suspected. You're slipping. They're taking you from me. I won't let that happen." He was rewarded by Reid's eyes widening which caused him to chuckle. He gave a nod to one of the men holding Reid.
It came quickly, a sharp strike to the side of Reid's head. Completely blindsided Reid didn't see it coming or have a chance to react. He blinked away the stars but nothing was coming into focus. Clearly one very practiced shot. The room spun as he tried to settle his rattled brain. Suddenly the face of Alexander Connors was in front of him.
Reid felt hands on his sleeves and his arm being exposed and he fought desperately to get his brain to function normally again so he could figure out what was going on. He felt something grip his upper arm tightly, squeezing all the life from it, and he wondered what he'd done for the guy holding him to abuse him that way. It wasn't until Alexander Connors' face loomed in front of him again, this time with a half-full syringe in his hand that Reid finally broke through the fog and pieced it together.
The adrenaline rush was large enough for Reid to start struggling, "No. Don't do that. Please just let me go." He fought to stand, to run, and was manhandled to the floor as an alarm started sounding.
Connors smirked down at Reid, and held his arm still. As he injected Reid with his drug of choice he spoke clearly, "There's not much time now, so just remember this; the next time you contact me, and you will, make sure it's for our business, not your friends'." As he stood he pulled the tourniquet off and motioned for his men to let go and move away. Without looking back they rushed to a back door and were gone.
As the tourniquet was released the rush of the drug knocked Reid's head back and he let out a groan, arching his back as the fire and ice coursed through his veins. He wasn't sure if it was because he hadn't had any of the good stuff for a while, or if it was because it was a higher dose, but this was certainly better than the first time. Pleasure and pain all at once, burning ever nerve ending he owned, setting them alight as even the slightest touch. It hurt to even have his clothes touch him, and laying on the hardwood floor was even worse.
He turned onto his side, and then onto his knees using the chair for support as he stood. His whole body was shaking and he knew he wouldn't be able to walk until it subsided. For now he placed his hands on the chair in front of him, locking his elbows straight, and leaned against it, legs out behind him. Waves of pleasure rolled through him once more causing him to cry out and arch his back. He could hear no sounds besides that of his beating heart. He'd broken out into a deep cold sweat, and every bead rolling down his skin made him want to scream. It was bliss, it was anguish, it was love and lust and torture and agony. It was life itself, and he didn't want it to end. He felt so alive, so on fire. He collapsed to the floor again and writhed with the pleasure flowing through him. He was desperate now for a release and when it finally came he thought he'd landed in heaven. Ecstasy.
He rolled onto his side again and rode out the last waves, panting heavily. Once it had all subsided he wanted nothing more than to do it all again, bigger and better. Sound began to filter back in and the first thing he heard was the alarm going off. Right, he needed to get out of here. He started to crawl away from the firelight and towards the door he'd entered in.
When he made it there he used the door handle to help himself to his feet and then the door frame to steady himself as he opened the door. His head was swimming again, and slowly he used the wall as a guide to take him to the next door. Opening that he tried to recall his way through the dark halls. It only seemed to get darker the deeper he went and part of him wanted to just sit down and wait for help, but if he sat still he was sure something else would find him first. So he continued on, holding the wall as much as he could for support and security, while he retraced his steps, shuffling along.
Rounding one corner he was met with bright lights and he raised a hand to shield his eyes. There was shouting and yelling, and he was sure somewhere in there he heard his name. As shadows blocked out the lights he lowered his arm and was met with the concerned expressions of Hotch and Morgan. He managed a weak smile for them, "Hey…"
"Reid, man, are you okay? You don't look good." Morgan said taking one arm while Hotch took the other to lead him out of this place, while other agents and police continued searching.
"Yeah," Reid said in a dreamy dazed tone. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just got… got a hit to the head and he let me go."
They continued out into the blight sunlight and sat Reid down in the passenger seat of one of their SUV's. Morgan looked at him long and hard, "Are you sure you're alright, you pupils are dilated."
Reid was rather impressed Morgan could tell that through his half-closed eyes. "Yeah, I'm okay. Might be in some form of shock or have a minor concussion. I'm just tired now, is all."
"Well don't fall asleep on me, buddy. Keep your eyes open and we'll get you checked out." Morgan said.
"I'm fine really. And that falling asleep thing is a myth." Reid retorted.
"Yeah," Morgan chuckled, "well, just in case, alright?" Reid nodded.
"Any luck?" Gideon's voice crackled over the radio.
Hotch pressed the button on the side of his and replied, "Yeah, Jason, we got him. He's gonna be fine." Hotch gave Morgan a small smile. If Reid was with it enough to correct you on something he couldn't be too bad.
Reid was checked over by EMT's and given the okay to go home and rest. There was a small argument over who would take Reid home, and Reid finally settled it by choosing Morgan, who offered to stay the night but Reid declined. All he wanted was some time alone to think, and to sleep, and relive what he'd experience, if only in memory.