Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nick knocked on Calvin's open door.

"How's operation sabotage Duvall going?"

"Nick, do you have a life outside of here?" Calvin asked as she reviewed the rundown.

"Not when what is going on in here is so interesting," he said. "Rumor has you talked her other top candidates out of taking the job."

"I refuse to confirm or deny anything," she said.

"I also heard, the sheriff is prepared to do an exclusive with Duvall," he said.

"I heard that too," she said. "I'm working on undermining it."

"Who needs a life when things are so interesting here."

"I used to play D&D with my uncle and cousins. You should try it if you want to see something with more bloodshed and strategy."

"No, seeing you slay Duvall sounds more appealing."

"You put too much faith in me," Calvin said. "I'll be lucky if I land a decent shot."

Connie appeared with a giant smile on her face.

"I need to close the door for this," she said.

"Nick, are you clocked out?" Calvin asked.

"Of course," he said. "Can I stay?"

She sighed.

"Fine."

Connie closed the door and went around to Calvin computer. She plugged a thumb drive in.

"Raw, uncut footage, of Duvall's interview with Iris Gordon."

"I'm not asking how you got this," Calvin said.

"I'll never tell," she said.

"Thank you for agreeing to talk with me Iris," Duvall said. "I imagine this must be very difficult for you."

"Thank you, Ms. Duvall for giving me the chance to share my story with the world."

Duvall laughed.

"Call me Anna."

"Okay, Anna," Iris said with a nervous smile.

"Tell us what would you like the audience at home to know about you."

"I don't really want to talk about myself as much as I want to describe the runaway epidemic in America," she said. "I was a moody teenager who lived near a haven for people who don't want to be found so, it was assumed that I didn't want to be found. That's how I ended up in a sex cult for sixteen years."

"You sound angry," Duvall said.

"I prefer the term bitter. I got over being angry as I learned I was not the only perceived runaway in the cult. I found a sisterhood there and they treated me with respect I didn't have at home. Oh, it sucked being raped and abused on a regular basis, but I was grateful I wasn't alone."

"What's life like here? At the Mercer Institute."

"Oh, it could be worse," she said. "I have to talk about my feelings a lot, but I'm also catching up on a lot of TV. I saw the ending of Lost, which turned out to be kind of dumb. Have you seen Pretty Little Liars? It is hysterical."

"Have you made any friends here?"

"A federal agent," she said. "I didn't friend him so much as he was threatening to jump off the roof during my cigarette break and I stopped him. Now our shrinks are pairing us together a lot."

"What did you say that stopped him?"

"I told him about hearing my mother's voice as I put my foot over the ledge when I tried it myself a couple months before. That scared him, I think. Now he feels indebted to me for saving his life and I could care less."

"Do you discuss your trauma with each other?"

"He's cagier about it and I think what he went through was worse honestly. Talking about it for me is just part of life. I can't deny the fact that I spent my adult life getting whipped around in negligees."

"People have seen the piece with Reid done with Gwen Calvin and think that Calvin is in love with him."

"I never said the name of the agent," Iris said sharply.

"I just assumed," Duvall stuttered.

"Why are we talking so much about this agent guy? Not one person put a up missing person flyer for me. Cops didn't raid my room for clues because my mother read my last diary entry about hating everyone wishing to escape my awful life. I saw the footage of hunts for American missing children on European TV! Now all you want to talk about is this federal agent who was only gone for three years. Story of my life!

"I'm sorry, Iris," Duvall said. "You are important and your story matters. Can we start over?"

"You know what, I'll tell you about Spencer Reid since you're so curious. Spencer doesn't talk much about his personal life but he said he liked talking to that Gwen lady in person. She recently sent a letter saying she couldn't see him anytime soon as she pissed off some bigwig shrew who was threatening to make her life miserable."

"You are a clearly worked up, Iris," Duvall said. "I think we should end it here."

"I hear they call you the queen," she said. "I thought it referred to your regal looks, now I think it refers to your 'off with the head' kind of attitude."

Duvall stood up and towered over Iris.

"No one talks to me like that!" she roared as a counselor stepped forward. "You're just a damaged little girl in a grownup's body who didn't learn how to respect her elders."

"God, you remind me of some of madams I worked for," she said with a roll of her eyes. "I bet you haven't been laid since before I was abducted."

"You little bitch!" Duvall screamed and turned to the camera. "Shut that damn thing off."

The screen went black.

Connie and Nick turned to Calvin.

"So how much did you coach her?" Nick asked.

"Not as much as you think," Calvin said with a barely suppressed grin.

"She's been at this for over forty years," Connie. "You'd think she'd know how to handle a few barbs."

"She hasn't interviewed anyone challenging in a while," Calvin said.

"Whose idea was it to comment on her sex life?" Nick asked

"Iris," Calvin said. "She said one of the reasons no one went looking for her was the fact that she served a few detentions for mouthing off to her teachers."

"Admit you're enjoying this," Connie said.

"No, I don't like messing with the queen. I've edited the rundown."

Connie looked at it and laughed.

"When the hell did you interview Iris over the phone?" she asked. "Duvall just finished interviewing her!"

"Last night," she said. "Mercer has been very accommodating."

Nick rubbed his hands together.

"What are you going to do about the sheriff?"

"When you are kind of dating an FBI agent, you're dating the agency. I have access to more information than I could have dreamed of and I'm flying in Spall's mistress for an interview this afternoon."

"Game on," Connie said with a grin.

"Listen, you two, this may feel like a game because I have to strategize a few moves ahead of Duvall, but this is about making sure Spencer Reid's progress stays on track. I don't care nearly as much about the relationship aspect as much as making sure Duvall doesn't hurt him. I got lucky Iris was an eager participant, but if I know Duvall, this is far from over."

"You can count on me," Connie said.

"I'm happy to help however you need me," Nick said.

"Good," Calvin said.

"Yay team," Connie said.