Thanks for reading the last chapter guys. I really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy this one:

Chapter 29

'Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will' Mahtatma Gandhi

When JJ and Hotch arrived at the address they had been given they noticed that the garden was very unkempt. "Looks like someone has been letting her life fall apart" Hotch said as he looked at the scratched paint on the door and the broken table and chair on the grass.

JJ nodded before they both headed up to the door and knocked the door.

It was a few minutes before they heard the door opening and a pair of timid grey eyes peered out.

"Clara Malclay" JJ asked gently "yes" Clara said "who are you."

"My name is Special Agent Jennifer Jareau and this is Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner" JJ said "we are here about the tip you left on our tip line about the missing girls and agent" she added.

"Yes" Clara said uncertainly "what about it."

"Well we have a few more questions about what you said about your ex-boyfriend" Hotch said "we were wondering if you could come down to the station and tell us about him?"

"I don't know" Clara said "I mean I don't like that idea very much…"

"Please" JJ said "there are girl's lives on the line including one of our own agents and we really need your help to find them?"

Clara stared at them before she looked past them nervously. "Are you still scared of him" Hotch asked and she looked at him before she nodded quickly.

"Well why don't you come to the station?" Hotch suggested "we can keep you safe there."

"Really" Clara whispered and Hotch nodded "nothing can harm you there" he promised. "Ok" Clara whispered and she quickly turned and grabbed her coat and bag before she followed them to the car.

All the way the back Clara sat fidgeting miserably. "Clara tell us about your ex" Hotch said after a while.

Clara looked up miserably "he was nice when I first met him you know… he was charming and sweet and he treated me like royalty. I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. Then when I was totally head over heels in love with him… that's when he started asking me to do thinks that I wasn't comfortable doing. And when I tried to tell him no… that's when he got violent"

She sighed and twisted her hands nervously "when I said no he would grab me and throw me on the bed. He would duct tape my wrists together and then gag me and … assault me… I was terrified of him. He regularly beat me and I couldn't escape him."

"How did you get away" JJ asked gently.

"His brother" Clara said "he was always kind to me… then one night he came to me and took me away. He stole me away in his car. Took me to a motel. Told me to hide there for a week before I went anywhere. I did so and haven't seen either of them since but I have lived in fear ever since, terrified that he will find me"

"When did you leave him" Hotch asked. Clara sighed "about two and a half months ago" she said softly.

Hotch and JJ looked at each other realising that they had just found their unsub's trigger.

When they arrived at the station they took Clara to the observation room where they showed her Mavis. "Is that his bother" JJ asked and she nodded "Kieran" she said with a smile "I am glad he is ok… I feared that Joe might have done something terrible to him after he helped me escape."

"Joe" Emily questioned "yes Joe Mandaville… that is what he said his name was" Clara said looking around confused "unfortunately that is just an alias" JJ said "tell me did he ever hang out with anyone else whilst you were with him other than his brother."

Clara thought for a minute "he had a friend who would come around a lot, he really frightened me… he always talked about how he wanted to cut me and hurt me."

"Do you remember his name" Reid asked urgently coming forward but Hotch put a hand on his shoulder not wanting him to come on too strong to this scared young woman. "Yes… it was… Cory… no Cody… I never got a last name" Clara said.

Hotch nodded "JJ can you finish taking Clara's statement whilst we run that" he asked and instantly JJ nodded and guided Clara off to an interview room.

Hotch looked back into the interrogation room where Morgan was having a good stab at Mavis who was doing very well to stay silent.

"He isn't going to be easy to get anything out of" Rossi said "he has obviously just been told to not say a word if he is caught and due to the fact that it is his brother we are trying to him to turn on might make it more difficult to get him to talk." Emily added.

That was when Prescott suddenly came charging into the room. "We have another body" he said.

Everyone froze "two bodies in one day" Hotch said coldly. "That's one hell of an escalation" Rossi commented. Hotch tapped on the window to the interrogation room and Morgan paused talking to Mavis before slowly he turned and looked at the mirror and then he rose to his feet and walked out of the room where he joined the others.

"Another body" Rossi filled in and Morgan groaned "shall we head down" he asked with a heavy heart.

Leaving Rossi, JJ and Reid interrogating Mavis for more information, Hotch left followed by Emily and Morgan.

As he drove Hotch could feel Morgan's eyes on him. "I know" he said knowing what Morgan was thinking. "I know that if they drop a body every four hours we won't be able to keep up with them."

"Then what are we going to do" Morgan asked. "I don't know" Hotch said looking into the rear view mirror where Emily was sitting "But I sure as hell know that we are not going to give up on her"

Morgan nodded and lifted his head defiantly as they pulled up on the outskirts of the crime scene and made their way through the crowds of curious bystanders to the uniforms to whom they showed their badges and were waved through.

The coroner was already bending over the body when they approached and he quickly leaned back as they approached. "Cause of death appears to be the same as the others" he said "strangulation after brutal sexual assault. Her body was mutilated too. It looks like she had her stomach cut multiple times by a knife" he added lifting the girl's top enough to show them the nasty cuts criss-crossing across her stomach. "Her name was Jessica Carlisle"

Hotch felt his anger rise as he looked at the girl's dead body; once again her hair had been dyed a darker brown than it originally was to look like Livie. She looked a lot younger than her real age of 23. And despite her face full of pain her eyes were peaceful, as though she had finally found the serenity she deserved in death.

"OK" Hotch said "let's get her out of here." As the officers carefully lifted Jessica onto the gurney something clattered onto the floor from beneath her. Frowning Morgan bent and scooped up a DVD in a case off of the floor. Slowly he looked at them "this had better not be another video of Livie" he said. Hotch sighed "unfortunately I think it most likely is" he said looking at the bloody case in Morgan's hand.

They drove back to the precinct where they found the rest of their team all waiting for them. Reid looked terrified as he watched them move towards him. "Officers were saying that you found another DVD" he said apprehensively.

Hotch nodded "you don't have to watch it Reid" he said. "Yes I do" he said "I can't just turn away from her. She needs me… I can do this… for her."

"Are you sure" JJ asked gently and he nodded vigorously. "I need to see her" he said desperately.

JJ looked at Hotch waiting for him to make his decision. Hotch considered both his agents before slowly he looked at Morgan. "Play it" he said quietly and he quickly positioned himself where he could keep an eye on Reid.

Morgan slotted the disk into a player and turned on the TV before pressing play.

The screen slowly lit up to show a locked door that was quickly unlocked and pushed open to reveal a room filled with pens. And inside each of them was one of their missing girls with their hands cuffed to the wall above their heads all gagged and crying.

Reid scanned each face that was revealed before feeling his stomach clench as he saw Livie refusing to look at the camera that slowly moved towards her. Then he felt horror course through him as he saw that she was in a worse state than when they had last seen her; her shirt had been torn open and her stomach was covered in blood which appeared to be on cuts all over her stomach, just like the ones all over their new victim. The unsubs had been caring for Livie however. Her wounds were bandaged. Obviously because she was worth more alive than dead.

Livie continued to stare away from the camera; even when they moved she made it so that she wasn't looking at the unsubs. There was a chuckle before one of the unsubs stepped in front of the camera once again wearing a ski mask.

He crouched down in front of Livie who continued to look away breathing heavily until he grabbed hold of a handful of her hair and used it to force her to look back round. "Hey sweetheart we are making another video for your friends at the FBI. Why don't you look at the camera and say hi."

He forced Livie to look at the camera and Reid was relieved to see that the fire that usually burned in her eyes was still present; that meant she was still fighting and that she was still strong.

Livie fought to get away mumbling something past the gag and with a small laugh the unsub released her. "Sorry that our girl isn't being cooperative at the moment agents" he said looking at the camera "but she's in a bit of a huff with me after I killed sweet Emma."

Livie clenched her fists above her head as the unsub laughed "don't worry sweetheart you're still my top girl."

JJ put her hand over her mouth as she visibly retched at what he was saying about Livie who was blinking to hide tears.

"I am sorry that you are angry at me for killing Emma honey" the unsub continued "and unfortunately I don't think you are going to like what I am going to do next."

Livie's head instantly snapped up to stare at him in horror as he laughed again before he rose and headed away. The camera followed the unsub as whistling he moved down the isle of pens until he stopped in front of a pen containing a girl they recognised.

"Hello Jessica" the unsub said as the girl stared up at him with tears streaming down her cheeks before she began to shake her head from side to side. "Sorry sweetheart… it has been fun but it's time for the fun to end."

There was a muffled scream from behind and the camera turned to see Livie fighting against her bonds desperate to get away. The unsub laughed "this has you talking to us again hey sweetheart" he shouted at Livie as he unchained Jessica and pulled her away towards Livie who was shaking her head violently trying to say something past the gag.

"What you saying darling" the unsub crooned before he reached over to Livie keeping hold of Jessica whilst he yanked the tape away from Livie's mouth. Instantly Livie let out a cry. "Don't kill her" she said "don't you hurt her you son of a bitch."

The unsub laughed "well feel free to stop me honey" he said before he threw Jessica to the ground and his hands descended onto her throat.

"NO" Livie screamed as tears fell from her eyes and she yanked against the chains so hard her wrists quickly became bloody. "Stop it" she begged as Jessica fought to get away but to no avail "please" Livie begged "don't do it."

"Sorry sweetheart but I need a body to deliver this message to your FBI friends" the unsub said matter of factly without loosening his grip on Jessica's throat. "No" Livie sobbed before dropping her head as Jessica exhaled for the last time and her body went limp.

The unsub remained crouched over the dead body for a minute staring at his kill before he looked over his shoulder at the camera man and nodded.

"Right" he said "now that that is done how about we get down to business."

"What" Livie whispered as he moved towards her and she struggled away as he bent down but all he did was uncuff her and throw her down beside Jessica. Livie stared at the dead body in front of her crying miserably. "Her death is on you my sweet" the unsub whispered and Livie closed her eyes trying to stop the tears.

Hotch looked over at Reid and saw that his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white and shaking. Hotch didn't know how he was still able to watch this. He was amazed by the strength and loyalty Reid was displaying to Livie. He hoped it wasn't for nothing.

His attention was drawn back to the screen as Livie let out a cry of pain and he saw that the unsub had grabbed Livie by a fistful of her hair and was dragging her backwards out of the pen. Livie was struggling frantically clawing at his wrist, kicking out desperately as he dragged her out of the room.

The camera followed them as Livie was yanked down a hall fighting the entire way crying out as he yanked at her hair. Eventually she was dragged into a room which they recognised from the first video where she was thrown roughly to the ground.

She caught herself to stop her head from hitting to the ground and she instantly swung round to face the oncoming danger as the camera and the unsub moved towards her. "Can't kick the tripod over this time bitch" the unsub said as Livie's eyes filled with horror "they'll see everything this time."

"No" Livie begged as he came towards her and everyone tensed but to their relief the unsub stopped in front of her. "Don't worry honey, I won't hurt you as long as you do what I ask."

He towered over Livie who struggled backwards away from him. "What the hell do you want from me" she hissed angrily brushing her tangled hair out of her eyes. "I want you to beg" the unsub said and Livie frowned at him. "What" she whispered in confusion.

"I want you to beg" the unsub repeated "I want you to beg to your team to come save you… beg to them and make them feel guilty that they haven't found you yet… go on… beg…"

Livie's lip curled as she stared at the unsub and she clenched her jaw. "Go on" the unsub said dangerously but Livie just glared at him before she finally spat "screw you!"

The unsub laughed "no my dear I'll screw you if you don't do exactly as I tell you" he said moving once again towards her. Livie flinched violently as he moved towards her and everyone hated the sight of her staring up at the unsub fear in her eyes despite her best efforts to hide it.

The unsub cackled delightedly at her flinching away and bore down on her grabbing her and yanking her up. "Do as I say sweetheart" he said before he threw her to the ground and Livie instantly wriggled away from him gasping as he paced after her and his hands descended to the waistline of his trousers.

"No" Livie begged "please… no… not again"

The unsub laughed delightedly before he leapt forward "then do as I say" he roared. Livie shied backwards and a small sob slipped out before she slowly looked up at the camera and they all saw that her eyes were brimming with tears.

"Please" she whispered shakily "please… you have to help me… please… we can't take much more of this… you have to find us… please… hurry…"

The unsub crouched down next to her and pulled her close murmuring something in her ear. Livie squeezed her eyes closed briefly before she looked up at the camera once again. "You have to hurry if you want to save us" she whispered "because by midnight tomorrow… we'll all be dead… the bodies will keep coming through the night… so you had better find us… before it is too late."

She took a shaky breath before she looked up at the camera and gave a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Then she slowly mouthed "I love you Spence" to the camera before she looked away as the unsub began to play with her hair again.

Then the screen went black as the movie ended.

Nobody spoke for a few minutes after the DVD had finished. They all just stared at the black screen as though hoping it would give them something that would lead them to Livie. But the dark screen gave nothing away. They would have to find her themselves.

Morgan was the first to break the silence as he rose to his feet "I'm going to have another crack at Mavis" he said coldly before he marched out of the room. Nobody missed the sound of him slamming his hand against a door frame as he let out some of his frustration before he burst into the interrogation room slamming the door behind him.

Everyone looked at Hotch wondering what they were going to do now. But he seemed at a loss too. They had very little to on and their window of opportunity for rescuing Livie and the other girls was rapidly shrinking. "Hotch" Reid whispered "there has to be something we can do."

Hotch looked at him with solemn eyes "if there is I don't know it at this time Reid" he said softly. Reid stared at him before he turned and left the room almost dazedly. He ended up in the observation room watching Morgan getting very angry with Mavis, trying to use threats to get him to speak.

Reid stared through the glass trying to focus but all he could see in his mind was Livie staring at the camera with tears rushing down her cheeks begging him to come save her.

He heard the sound of the door to the observation room opening and then Hotch joined him. "Reid you know we are doing everything we can" he said softly.

"I know" he said "I know but it doesn't mean that I don't feel frustrated. She's counting on us to find her yet there is nothing we can do except try and get this guy to talk and he isn't… her life depends on us…"

He fell silent and Hotch looked at him wondering what to do. He knew that he should take Reid off the case; Morgan had told him about how he had nearly lost it when they had gone to arrest Mavis. He should have kicked him off the case the moment Livie went missing but he knew that there was no way Reid would step back. Even if he wasn't allowed to work the case he would still go after them on his own. It would be better for all of them to keep him here where he could help and they could all keep an eye on him.

"I have to get her back Hotch" Reid said "I need to get her back… she… she's my soul mate… I can't imagine my life without her."

"We'll get her back" Hotch said "I promise we are not going to give up until we have found her."

"But will we find her in time" Reid whispered. Hotch didn't answer. He knew the odds were diminishing by the minute and he knew that Reid knew the probability and statistics. There was very little he could say to make him feel better.

He turned his attention back to back to Morgan who was very harshly talking to Mavis.

"Come on man" he said "you know what will happen if you don't help us and all those girls die then you have no chance of ever seeing the light of day ever again. But if you help us… if you tell us where they are keeping the girls… we will work to get you a deal."

"I'm not stupid" Mavis said bluntly "I know that you won't do squat. As soon as you get your agent back then you'll dump me."

"No man" Morgan said "we wouldn't do that."

"Every other cop does" Mavis said "what makes you so different… now go away… I'm not telling you anything so stop wasting your breath…"

Morgan stared at him before he rose to his feet and stared at him "you are a real piece of work you know… I thought that you might have a heart to help these girls considering how modestly you laid them out, covering them with a sheet but apparently not… you don't care. That agent who is missing is very special to all of us… you had better pray she returns alive… because believe me that is your only chance of getting out of this room in one piece."

And with that he turned and stormed out of the room into the observation where Reid and Hotch were standing. "Have any ideas about how to get to him" he asked Hotch "because we do not have enough time to build up rapport with this guy and baby and coddle him until he feels up for sharing. We need him to talk now."

"You are right" Hotch said "what if we sent JJ or Emily in" he suggested and Morgan thought. "I don't know…" he said "that might work if we humanise women to him but it might also bottle him up… I don't think humanising women is the problem. He feels guilty about what is happening but is too scared to talk to us about it… he clearly fears his adoptive brother in."

"It's worth a shot… go get Emily…" Hotch said but then both he and Morgan looked over as Reid suddenly spoke up.

"No" he said quietly and both Morgan and Hotch frowned and looked at each other before looking back at him "no" they both questioned. Reid stared through the glass at Mavis who was staring straight ahead clearly thinking intently. Slowly Reid turned to look at his section chief.

"Let me go in with him" he said "I want to talk to him." Although he spoke softly his voice was dangerous and Hotch instantly frowned.

"I can't do that Reid" he said and he watched as the young genius' eyes darkened.

"Why not" he demanded.

"Because you are emotionally compromised" Hotch said remaining calm.

"I am not" Reid burst out "I am just determined… determined to get her back… I can do this Hotch."

"No you can't" Hotch said keeping his voice even as Reid moved closer

"I can" he said angrily "let me do this…"

"You are torn up" Hotch said sharply and Reid fell silent and his eyes got slightly cold.

"How would you feel if you were in my position Hotch" he asked and Hotch's eyes tightened "what would you want your section chief to do… put yourself in my place for one minute and ask yourself what you would want me to do…"

Hotch stared for a very long time before he spoke "you cannot lose control" he said "you have to remain in control do you hear me"

"Yes" Reid said instantly.

"Give me your gun" Hotch said and Reid slowly did as he was asked.

That was when Hotch moved over to the video recording software and slowly switched off all the cameras and a glint appeared in Reid's eyes as he saw what his boss was doing.

"The moment you go too far I'm pulling you out" he said and Reid nodded before he turned and headed into the interrogation room leaving Hotch watching and wondering if he had just made the biggest mistake of his career…

'Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing' Denis Waitley

Thanks for reading.

I'll try to get the next chapter up soon but I do have a lot of university assignments due over the next month so it might take slightly longer.

Please review. (They really encourage me to keep writing ;))

Also I would love to know what you think.

Thanks

Mysticgirl