"We need to change our game plan," Hotch declared, leading the group out of Captain Wright's office. "We need to examine the Captain's house as well as his office."
"I'll take the office," JJ volunteered. "It looks way too neat and I am willing to bet there is something hidden in there for me to find."
"Great!" Hotch told her. "You can get started on that. Blake, you can come with me to check out his house. Reid, if you and Mr. Elkhorn will continue working the geographic profile, we can keep the searchers on track."
Reid nodded and turned to the village elder. "We have a map right over here," he explained, leading the way to the conference table. "I have marked the areas where the victims lived and where their bodies were found. What can you tell me about the terrain I have outlined?"
The two men were soon deep into a discussion concerning the topography of the island.
Hotch looked at Blake. "I assume that is Captain Wright's house just across the road," he said. "Shall we get started?"
Blake glanced around. "Where is Father Michael?" she asked. "He came back with us from the Klein's house."
Ben Elkhorn looked up from the map. "He probably returned to the Klein's," he suggested. "They are part of his congregation and he'll want to be with them if any information comes in about Danny."
Quickly, Hotch and Blake strode over to the house occupied by Captain Wright and his wife. Before entering, they stood on the front porch and assessed the view. "This overlooks the wharf, so he'd have a clear view of whoever was coming and going on the island," Hotch observed.
"There are probably other docks where smaller, private boats come and go," Blake pointed out. "But the majority of the traffic would most likely come through here and go right down the road past Dudley Bear's home. He would definitely know who had arrived on the island."
Hotch turned and looked at the door. "Well, let's go in."
The front door proved to be unlocked. The room the two agents walked into was a comfortably furnished living room in an unnaturally pristine condition. As the agents cautiously sniffed the air, they could smell industrial strength disinfectant.
Hotch looked around. "Where do you want to start?" he asked.
"I assume we are looking for a large chest or trunk," Blake said. "Let's just walk through and see what we find."
The blanket chest was in what appeared to be a guest bedroom. Hotch took one look at it and winced. "I suspect I should do the honors," he remarked.
After Blake had removed the runner and the ornaments from the top of the chest, Hotch gingerly lifted the lid and the two looked inside.
"Oh, boy," was all Blake said.
"Looks like we were right," Hotch commented as they both took a step backwards and allowed the lid to fall back into place. "Terri Wright never left the island."
Blake pulled out her cell phone. "Garcia, we need you to locate the coroner and send him over to Captain Wright's house immediately," she spoke into the phone.
Hotch spoke up. "Please, make sure he understands this is in strict confidence," he told the tech. "We don't want this getting out quite yet."