Reid glanced at his phone after being on the road for over an hour and noticed a few missed calls from Alex. He parked the car then read the text she sent:

I know where you are, but I am just making sure that you are okay. I'm heading to the bar with the guys, I hope to see you there later.

Reid bundled up as he walked down the road towards Clancy's. He tried to erase the emotional journey he went on that day to be able to focus on his mission.

He entered the tavern expecting to see his regular crowd, but was surprised to find that they weren't there. Alex, Morgan, and Hotch weren't there as planned; Jannon and his group of friends were also absent. He last turned toward Colm's corner to see that even they, too were gone.

With a puzzled look on his face he approached the counter. "Leighton," Reid called out to the bartender.

"Hey, Nixer. Want your usual?" He asked as he threw his bar towel over his shoulder.

"Uh, yeah, sure, I guess. Where is everyone?" He asked.

"There was a guy in here milling to Dougal about killing his brother or something. Moira's boys took care of him," Leighton explained.

"And she went with them?" Reid asked.

"No, she and Dougal talked for a while and they left. And Jannon took off about ten minutes before you got here." He plopped down the glass and the beer foam splashed over the side of the glass.

Reid took a long gulp and decided to stay put for a while in case they returned. He pulled out his phone and sent a coded text to Alex and awaited for her to respond.

Reid put his warm, empty glass back down on the bar just as Colm entered the bar. He turned around and the two met each other's gaze.

"Nixer, come join me," Colm offered.

Reid obliged and was hoping to be able to find out details on Alex's whereabouts.

"I must admit that this isn't purely a social engagement," Colm started. "I wanted to speak to you about something rather important."

"By all means," Reid responded, with his curiosity piqued.

"Dougal will be busy working on a special assignment for a while and I wanted you to fill in for him until he's done," Colm explained.

"Wow, that is an offer," Reid was taken aback. "What would this job entail?"

"It would entail anything I would need you to be, from my lieutenant to bodyguard, to fixer."

"And my compensation?" Reid inquired?

"How does a million Euro sound?" Colm announced then noticed Reid's astonished response then double-downed. "For starters. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?"

Reid pondered for a moment, then gave a nod. He extended his hand and the two shook on it. "It will be good doing business with you."

Their attention was pulled away as Morgan and Hotch returned to Clancy's. They both looked to the back corner where they expected Alex to be and were a bit surprised to find that Reid was in her place. However, they casually moved to the bar and took their seats.

"I'm going to get another drink," Reid announced to Colm. "Can I get you anything?"

"A Guinness, thanks!" Colm responded.

Reid sauntered to the bar and stood directly next to Hotch then turned toward him ever so innocently. "You're part of Moira's crew, right?" He asked.

"That's right," Hotch responded and held out his hand. "Flynn," he gave his undercover name.

"You can call me Nixer," Reid greeted, "everyone does. And you are?" He turned to Morgan.

"I'm Eugene," Morgan gritted his teeth.

Reid held in his laughter as best as he could. "That was Alex's doing, wasn't it?" Reid asked in a hushed tone.

"Yes," Hotch responded.

"She always loved playing it a little too close for comfort. This one time in Prague, she introduced Charles and me as Lenny and Squiggy. Talk about an interesting case," he smirked. "Um, speaking of, where is she?"

"We were hoping you knew," Morgan looked a bit worried.

"I heard there was trouble with Dougal?" Reid questioned.

"Yes, we got him out of here before anyone got hurt and turned him over to Easter, but Alex was here when we left," Hotch reported.

"I don't like the fact that she's gone as well as Dougal. She hasn't responded to my texts, either," Reid tried to not let himself worry.

"What should we do?" Morgan asked.

"Stay put for a bit, if you leave too soon, it will look suspicious. Then try and locate her… discreetly," Reid advised.

After a few moments, Reid returned to Colm with their drinks. "I just met some of Moira's men at the bar, will we be doing more work with her to get weapons?"

"Yes, I am sure that we will," Colm smirked.

Well into the wee hours of the night, a man walked the streets dressed in black with a dark hood that covered his head. He marched in the middle of the abandoned street as if he owned it. His heavy boot pounded the pavement with every step he made.

The man looked towards every doorway and window, hunting. He knew where his prey was, he knew he was going to catch it. But like every good hunter knows, good things come to those who wait. And he had waited to get his latest kill.

He steadily strode up the street just as a man stepped out of his house. He turned to lock his door then casually walked up the road unaware that a killer was close behind. He went down the next corner, as usual, which was not well lit, yet he knew the route very well.

"Hugh," the man in black called out.

Hugh stopped in his tracks and turned around but didn't see anything and convinced himself he was hearing things, then quickly set back off.

"Hugh," he called out louder.

Hugh turned around again, still not seeing anyone. "It's not funny, whoever you are. Now cut it out," he demanded.

"I'll cut it out," the man in black jumped out from the corner and swung his knife at the terror-stricken Hugh who's shocked face remained as his head rolled onto the ground.

I recently had a death in the family and might delay some of my postings. I hope to be able to keep up my weekly updates, but I wanted to let you know what was going on in case I wasn't able to post as often as I would like. Thanks in advance for your understanding.