Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
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Reid had heard nothing from the hospital the next morning. He thought of calling but did not want a situation where he could do nothing to interfere with his investigation into the murder of Melanie Masterson, a situation where he felt he could do something, hopefully a lot. So instead of talking to hospital personnel, he was walking into Garcia's office. "Hey Garcia, have you got anything for me on those guest list searches?"
"Yeah, sweet cheeks, you bet that cute little butt of yours, I do."
"Garcia!"
"What, Reid, just because you are going with that cute little number from QD does not mean that the rest of the female population of this great U.S.of A cannot look and appreciate your cute butt."
The crimson faced Reid, remembering Allie's words at the mall, responded, "Uh Garcia, maybe we better get to the names you found in the search."
"Before I do that Reid, is there any word on your Dad, and how are you feeling about the whole thing. I mean, the man set out to harm you and now you are being expected to make decisions with his best interests at heart. Come on, that has got to be just plain hard honey."
Garcia patted the chair next to her and Reid sat. He was never able to resist Garcia. The computer wizard knew him like no one else and despite her quirky pet names and off beat repartee, with him she could always cut to what was important and he loved her for it.
"I don't know how I feel. I mean, I wish this was someone else's decision but I know that even though he was a rotten one for most of my life, he's still my father. Somehow when all is said and done, deep down inside I can't deny that it still matters. I hope that there will be some kind of change for better or worse that will make my decision easier. I'll just have to make the best decision I can out of the possible choices I'm given, knowing that there is no right answer."
"Listen to me, my sweet boy and remember one thing. Although when you look at it that door over there may be closed. It is always open for you, you got that." Reid nodded. "Okay then, on with the lists."
"We have quite a few people who attended Masterson's events on a regular basis. Now many of these people are the cream of the Washington social elite, so I doubt they will give you much of a clue. I did concentrate on politicians since you said Keesha Jackson said Melanie's lover might be in the White House some day."
"There are two people from both parties that everybody considers to be on the short list. The elephants have Chuck Meisner, senator from Oklahoma and his wife, Rona, and Amy Billingsly, from Wisconsin, and he husband, Phil. The donkeys have Gerry Moore, senator from Massachusetts and his wife Lana and Mike Ritchie, representative from Florida with wife Gloria. These four couples are at Masterson's functions most of the time. If you eliminate Billingsly because she's a woman, that leaves you with Moore, Meisner and Ritchie as your main contenders."
Reid thanked Garcia and left the computer tech with at least a starting point. This was not going to be easy. An FBI agent investigating presidential hopefuls; that could all too easily be gotten hold of by the press and he certainly didn't want that.
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Reid checked with Morgan and Prentiss, who were talking to Masterson's employees. Some said they thought she had something going on with someone but she was very tight lipped about it and they had no idea who it was. She was never seen out in public with anyone. "That sort of goes along with the idea of her seeing someone who could be a presidential candidate; they would certainly not want the relationship to be public knowledge," Emily stated, exasperated that they were getting nowhere with their inquiries.
The young profiler also had spoken by phone to the victim's mother Angela and her sister Ashley, who lived in Illinois. Neither woman would admit to knowing anything about Melanie's involvement with a married man, a presidential candidate no less. He hoped they had been telling him the truth and not just trying to avoid having their relative's name dragged through the mud after her death.
Garcia had given him numbers where the politicians could be reached. Reid gave the questioning of Meisner and Moore to Morgan and Prentiss while he took Ritchie. Reid rang Ritchie's Washington residence and made an appointment to speak with him.
He arrived at the Ritchie home in an affluent section of DC. The door was answered by Gloria Ritchie, who was disturbed that a member of the FBI wanted to question her husband about a murder. "I assure you Agent Reid, that my husband would have nothing to do with anything like this and it could be detrimental to his campaign hopes that you are even suggesting such thing."
"Mrs. Ritchie, I am in no way suggesting Representative Ritchie is involved in anything. I am merely on a fact finding mission. I have come here quietly to be as unobtrusive as possible. Believe me, I could have made arrangements for Congressman Ritchie to come to FBI headquarters in full view of the press," Reid countered Gloria Ritchie's accusation.
Mike Ritchie entered the foyer saying, "Gloria, the agent is right. He's just trying to do his job. I am quite willing to talk to him. If you'll come with me Agent…Reid, is it?" Reid nodded and followed Ritchie to a wood paneled study with dark mahogany furniture and rich leather upholstery.
"I apologize for my wife. She can be somewhat overprotective."
"I can totally understand under the circumstances. I am looking into the death of Melanie Masterson. I understand that you and your wife attended a number of events she catered."
"Well, that's probably true. Gloria and I do attend a lot of events. In Washington, it's who you know; so I try to get out there and meet as many movers and shakers as possible. That may sound very self serving but with your job I'm sure you understand, we live in the real world. Mounting a campaign takes a lot of work and unfortunately, a lot of money. I try to go where the money is in hopes of getting contributors."
"Ms. Masterson's phone logs show her making quite a few phone calls here about two months ago. Could you explain?"
"Well, I certainly never talked to her," Ritchie said, looking directly at Reid, his body language was open and Reid felt he was telling the truth. "It was more than likely that she spoke to my wife. We did hold a fundraiser about that time. She catered it. My wife is sometimes difficult to please so I can imagine there being more than a few phone calls from Ms. Masterson, in attempting to keep Gloria happy."
"Do you know if there was any talk in political circles about someone having a relationship with Ms. Masterson?"
Ritchie laughed, "You want me to tattle on one of my opponents, don't you? You know, I probably would if I knew anything but alas, who is doing what with whom has never been high on my agenda, I'm sorry Agent Reid."
Reid chuckled in reply, "It was worth a try. Thank you for your time, Congressman Ritchie, good luck with your campaign."
"Thank you Agent Reid, good luck with your case. I hope you find your killer," he led Reid to the door and Reid left, bidding goodbye to the glaring Mrs. Ritchie, feeling he had gotten nowhere. He hoped Morgan and Prentiss were having better luck.
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Before he returned to Quantico, he stopped at the George Washington Medical Centre to check on the condition of his father. William Reid looked no different, lying as he had last evening. He was still monitored closely. The ventilator continued its endless cycle of pumping air into his father's lungs.
Dr. Shipman, who was attending William Reid, spoke to Spencer. "There has been a very slight improvement. Yesterday, he scored three on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Today, he scored six. He's responding to painful stimuli now, which was absent yesterday and before you ask, I believe his pain has been adequately controlled with the Dilaudid."
"Can he hear us," Reid asked?
"Well, that has been a long standing question. There have been subjects who have emerged from comas that say, although they could not move or speak, they could hear every word. So I always tell families, it's a good possibility, so they should talk to their loved one."
Loved one. Not a lot of love there!
Reid thanked the doctor for his time and said he would check back later but to please call if there was any significant change. There was no time like the present, he thought. He had to talk to Janice and Evan.