Chapter Thirty-eight

Day 46

One month to the day after Hotch sent Clara away he became aware of a man following him.

He'd actually been following Hotch all week-end, ever since he stopped for groceries Friday night, but Hotch was a careful sort, and paid close attention just to be certain before he did something he might regret.

But this Monday morning he was certain. This man had been following him. And furthermore he knew who it was.

So when he saw JJ walking toward the coffee shop he sent her a quick text. Then she got behind the man while he confronted him. "Dr. Kenneth Carrington?" Hotch asked, just to be sure.

The man in question was entirely bald. He had a neatly trimmed moustache and beard, and penetrating, intelligent eyes. When he spoke it was with a cultured accent, the sort that speaks of money and privilege. "Yes." It was acknowledgement, not question.

"Dr. Carrington, you're under arrest." As he went through the litany JJ got Carrington into cuffs. Carrington didn't resist. If anything he seemed to be helping. "Why are you following me?" Hotch asked once Miranda had been recited.

"I was curious." Carrington replied.

"Curious?"

"I wanted to see if you were grieving yet."

They hadn't had a decently obscure Unsub in a while; Hotch had forgotten how they gave him a headache. "Let's get him back to the office."

"We got Carrington." JJ said as she entered the break area.

Morgan was just standing there with Dave and Garcia, getting coffee, "Seriously?"

"Yeah, he's been following Hotch for a few days; we finally caught up with him at Good Beans this morning."

"Why was he following Hotch?" Dave asked.

"He said he was curious. He wanted to see if we were grieving." JJ said. "Hotch is calling the Marshals to check on Clara, but no one has said anything." Just then the elevator opened and Carrington was pulled out by the two agents escorting him to interrogation. "That's him." She said.

Carrington moved with his escorts quietly a little ways, but then stopped, seemingly to watch someone down one of the hallways. Curious themselves the team moved to intercept him. "Forty-eight hours." Carrington said.

"What's in forty-eight hours?" Dave asked.

Carrington focused his intense eyes on Dave. "I give him forty-eight hours, no more. At this point the damage is likely irreversible." The smallest, sly smile came over the Unsub's face. "Of course Dr. Lee is more fragile, what with the diabetes and all." He pitched his voice to be heard clearly. "She's already dead I'm sure."

"What did you do to her?" Morgan demanded.

Carrington smiled and dropped his voice to a normal tone. "Nothing," he said. "You did it for me."

"Get him to interrogation." Morgan said. As Carrington was pulled away the group turned in. "What do you think he means?"

"I don't know." JJ said. "What did we do?"

"Reid?" Garcia asked, a nervous quaver in her voice.

They turned in the direction Carrington had been looking to find Spencer standing there, a handful of files in one hand, the other pressing down on his left bicep. He was frowning, looking at nothing, his face white as a sheet and going gray. "What's wrong?" Dave asked as they moved to his side.

"My arm hurts." Spencer said in a faint, distant voice. Then his eyes closed and down he went like a falling tree.

Dave took charge as he and Morgan dropped down beside their fallen friend. "JJ! Grab the first aid pack from under the sink! Garcia! Call 911! Tell the medics we're going to need a LifeFlight helo to Washington Medical!"

"Reid! Reid!" Morgan slapped his face lightly but there was no response. He pressed two fingers against his neck. "I'm not getting a pulse."

"Here!" JJ handed them the first aid case.

"Rip his shirt open." Dave said. He yanked open the case and pulled out a blue and yellow box as Morgan went to work on the younger man's clothing. As he opened the box it began to speak.

Stay calm. Follow these voice instructions. Make sure 911 is called now.

"I'm calling! I'm calling!" Garcia said

"What are you doing?" Morgan asked as he pulled Reid's tie off, and popped the buttons on his shirt as he pulled it open. Then he grabbed the collar of his undershirt and yanked hard, ripping it down the center.

Begin by barring patient's chest and torso. Remove or cut clothing if needed. When patient's chest is exposed tear open foil package and remove pads.

"When you get to be my age they tell you what to look for." Dave replied. He opened the package and pulled out the two white squares, sticking one to Spencer's chest, another to his side, exactly according to the diagram on the box.

"Yeah, but what are you doing!?"

Do not touch patient. Analyzing heart rhythm. Please wait.

"Oh my god." JJ said.

Do not touch patient. Analyzing heart rhythm. Please wait.

"I just hope this thing works." Dave said.

Preparing shock. Move away from the patient.

"Nu uh," Morgan said, his eyes too wide.

Shock will be delivered in three...two...one...

Spencer's body clenched and released as the shock jumped across his heart.