"I got you a coffee from downstairs," Ryan said," I know you're always busy this time of day."
"Oh, thank you," Spencer said.
He took the cup and set it on the table next to his chair.
Reid had started counseling people during whatever free time he had. His current client had been seeing him for about six months now.
"So, we had a really good talk last week," he said," did you take any time to think about what I said?"
"Yeah, I tried contacting my dad," Ryan said," he remarried, and he has a family."
He furrowed his brow and clenched his fists.
"It just doesn't make sense. Why does he get to have a happy ending? He abandoned me and my mom. Now, she's dead, and he gets to have the American dream. I don't get it."
Spencer took a sip of coffee.
" I know it can be hard, and you're under no obligation to forgive him. With that being said, it would be much healthier for you to focus less on the past, and use your anger for something good."
"How did you move on when your father left?"
Spencer never shared personal parts of his life with clients, so he didn' t know how Ryan knew this.
"Well," Spencer said," I just try to focus my energy on helping people in need."
His vision suddenly blurred.
"I'm not a bad person," Ryan said," I did what anyone would do in my situation. I did exactly what you're going to do."
"Wha-what are you-"
"Talking is no use," he said," you won't be able to for a while."
Spencer tried to stand but immediately fell back into his seat. Ryan smiled and stood up. He effortlessly slung Reid over his shoulder.
"He-he-hel"
"No one can hear you," Ryan said.
He took Reid down a flight of stairs, and out to a parking lot, where he had a small red car parked. He opened the passenger door and slid Spencer onto the seat. He watched helplessly as Ryan got in on the driver's side.
Spencer sat up against the wall. He had been left in there with his hands tied behind his back. The room was bare except for the small blue mat he was sitting on. Spencer had slowly worked on regaining control over his body, and now he was trying to untie himself.
He heard panicked screaming from outside his door.
"No! Please! Just let me go! I want to see my family! Please! I just want my dad!"
The door was opened, and a girl who looked to be about fifteen was shoved inside. She leaned against the door and kept crying.
"Hey, it's going to be okay," Reid said," I work for the FBI. When my team says I'm not at work, they'll come looking for us, and they will find us."
"When are you supposed to be at work?" she asked," because, I've been here for almost a month, and no one's found me."
"Well, I'm sure you're parents are doing everything they can to find you," he said," and my team is going to find us."
"Do you want me to untie you?"
"Yes, please," Reid said," I've been trying at this knot since I got here. Oh, and I don't believe I caught your name."
"Clara," the girl said," and you?"
"Spencer."
As soon as Reid said his name, the knot came undone and the pair shook hands.
"Welcome to hell," Clara said," I hope. your team's as good as you say."
The team sat at the round table, after being called unexpectedly.
"Where's Reid?" Morgan asked.
"I don't know," Hotch said," let's get started. He's probably just in traffic. Let's get started."
"Okay," Garcia," you, my friends are going to Las Vegas."
She pressed the remote, and a picture of two bodies came up on the screen. One was a young woman, and the other was a teenage boy. The boy had a bullet in his head, and the woman had bruises around her neck.
"Last month, the bodies of Jackson and Susanne Brown were found inside an abandoned warehouse. Jackson had been missing for a month, but Sussane had only been gone for a day and a half."
"They had the same last name?" Rossi asked," so they're brother and sister."
"Half brother and sister," Garcia corrected," when Sussane was 8, her dad left her and her mom, and remarried. He had Jackson with his second wife."
"The gun was at the scene when they were found. Clara had gunshot residue on her hands, and her fingerprints were on the gun."
"So, is this a murder-suicide?" Prentiss asked.
"That's what Vegas PD thought until two bodies were found in a similar state were found in an old house in Dallas, Texas. The city where Jackson was abducted. Judy was from Nashville, Tennessee. Their police force is checking any abandoned buildings that could be used to store bodies, but they haven't come up with anything."
"So, he definitely already has a child," JJ said," and if he hasn't taken an adult yet, he's not very far from it."
"I've already cross-referenced all the missing children's cases with children with absentee fathers, but that number is heartbreakingly large," Garcia said.
"Well, narrow it down by only looking at teenagers," Hotch said," our unsub clearly has a type."
Reid still hadn't shown up or responded to Hotch's call.
"I'm gonna check on Reid, and make sure he's okay," he said," It's not like him to just not show up. I'll meet you all in Vegas as soon as I can."
The team left, and Hotch went to Reid's apartment.
"Reid," Hotch called," what's up? You weren't at the office."
No answer. He opened the door with the key Reid had given him.
"Reid," he called again," are you here?"
Again. Nothing. He called Garcia.
"Garcia," Hotch said," Reid's not at his place. Do you have any idea where else he might be?"
"Um, he counsels people. He helps people with addictions," she said,"I can send you the address he does it at."
"Please do," Hotch said.
"Is Reid in trouble?"
"Either he's in trouble, or he's about to be."