Chapter 29

Morgan returned early from his lunch break to find a wiry little woman in the bullpen. She was hot, for a Wednesday, but looked tough as nails. Morgan approached her, clearing his throat, and asked, "You lost, mama?" The icy look she returned made him freeze over. "Or not."

"It's Detective Martinez, and I'm waiting for Dr. Spencer Reid."

"Do you have an appointment?" he asked curious.

"I was hoping to catch him here."

"Well, you're going to be waiting for a long time. He's out for the week."

"On vacation?"

"Something like that, but can I help you."

"I seriously doubt it. I'm going to need to see S.S.A. Aaron Hotchner."

"Just a minute." Morgan made his way upstairs feeling like her messenger boy. "Excuse me, Hotch? Sorry for interrupting, but a Detective Martinez requested to see you."

Hotch looked up from his computer screen. "She's here, right now?"

"Oh, so you know her. She's asking about Reid."

Hotch sighed and said, "Please send her up." Hotch was nervous, although he had no idea why. He saved the document he had been working on all morning and closed his laptop.

Detective Martinez walked into the office. The black suit, she expected, but not the handsome face. "S.S.A. Aaron Hotchner? Detective Sharon Martinez." She threw in her first name, just in case he was interested.

"How can I help you?"

Straight to business. Okay. "I need to speak with Dr. Spencer Reid. I understand he's on vacation this week?"

"What's this about?" barked Hotch taking control. This was his agent, his office. If anyone was going to do the asking, it was him.

She was unfazed. Taking a good look into his hard eyes, she realized Reid was his pet. Better to tell him the whole story, and see where it led. "Dr. Reid's girlfriend is wanted for questioning, but we can't get in touch with her or with Spencer."

"Is she a suspect?" Hotch noticed that the detective was on first-name terms with Reid.

"No, we have a suspect, but we don't have probable cause to arrest her. But we believe Dr. Alison Montgomery can provide relevant information."

"How so?"

"Hospital records show that our suspect was raped a couple weeks ago, and Dr. Montgomery was the one who took her to the hospital." She noticed his interest and added, "This is the second time her name has come up in our investigation." And she told Hotch about the witness and Alison's alibi.

Hotch asked, "And did Dr. Reid confirm her alibi?"

"No, not really. I mean, I thought that he had, but now I realize that he didn't actually say the words."

"Well, either he did or he didn't, Detective."

Piqued she responded, "Look, I'd really appreciate some help here. Spencer isn't answering my calls and his next-door-neighbor said he was away on some kind of road trip. I'm guessing he and Montgomery are together. Maybe you could get in touch with him and tell him I really need to speak to him. Please, if it isn't too much trouble. I know he respects you."

"Of course," he responded.

"Thank you. I'll see myself out." And she walked out with her confident stride.