Chapter Two

I followed his instructions. I parked my car at a restaurant in the city. A little diner known to have the best milkshakes. I had been here several times with Spencer, it was our place. After a particularly hard case he asked if I liked them, which of course I do, and the way his eyes lit up made it more of a reason to go. Spencer liked the window seat, and we would comment on the way the city looked at night. His hair would tousle, a stray curl in his eyes, and I fought every nerve that wanted my fingers to get lost in the feeling of his hair. We made it a tradition after particularly hard cases.

"It's nice to get out of the office," I sipped on my strawberry milkshake. The summer heat was brutal this year.

"We should do it more often. I know a few great bookstores in this area if you ever needed recommendations," Spencer's voice was soft. He had a sweetness about him, and it made me feel special when he made comments like that. The team often had plans together, and many of us spent time outside of work. We were a family, but with my feelings for Spencer growing, every moment with him not spent with anyone else felt special.

"I would love that, I've been meaning to find a new book for when I finish my series." Our order of fries hit the table and we both reached in. Our fingers brushed and I felt the shock run up my arm. His skin was hot compared to my cold fingers. I hid blush on my cheeks. Spencer was weird about germs, but for some reason he didn't mind sharing with me. I didn't know if it was from how close we've grown over the years or if it was something else. He knew I was a little weird about germs too. Maybe it was reassurance that hand sanitizer was always available.

"So," Spencer began. "Are you going on that date?"

"What?" I was caught off guard.

"With Agent Young, I heard him ask you out to dinner in the hallway when we got back." His dark eyes searched for an answer in my face before I spoke.

"I said no," I broke the gaze into his eyes and plucked another fry.

"Good."

The subject changed, but I couldn't help that my heart was doing flips in my chest at the thought of Spencer being happy I turned down a date, and what that might allude to.

"When we get out of the car we're going to go into the diner and that booth. You'll pretend to be my date. If you don't cooperate I'm not opposed to killing everyone in the diner." Our booth.

I knew better than to fight, so I listened. He let go of the wire and gave me a scarf. I wrapped it around my sore skin and grabbed my purse. I kept my phone hidden, Garcia would be able to track it. I'm sure they're already trying.

He opened my door for me. He took my hand and helped me out. His eyes were dark coal, they were the first thing I looked at. Dark thick eyelashes to frame them, he reminded me of Ted Bundy, using his handsome charm. His hair was black and curly, swept from the wind and mist. A shadow of hair along his strong jaw. He stood half a head taller than me. This was Richard Gloss.

Gloss rested his hand on my back as we entered the diner. The waitress recognized him and smiled. He guided me toward the booth Spencer and I would sit at.

"Sam, who's the pretty girl?" The waitress tag said 'Sandy'. So he went by Sam now.

"This is my date Elaine. Isn't she beautiful?" He brushed my hair behind my ear and looked over my face. I forced a convincing smile. "A beautiful natural brunette, isn't she?"

The feeling of vomiting lingered in my gut. Sandy the waitress hosted us and got us a couple of waters. It felt strange to sit at the booth and Spencer not be across from me.

"You are beautiful Elaine, Dr. Reid is a lucky man to have gained your affections." Richard had a way of smiling like a hubris-afflicted lion. "Just my type actually, isn't that what you said? In your profile of me, I target women with brown hair and blue eyes. You fit that description don't you?"

"Did you tell Bethany she was beautiful?" I whispered. I studied his face, which never broke.

"I settled for Bethany that day." A chill ran along my spine. I held in my anger. I wanted to release it like a hell storm on him, but I held it. For Bethany. I would do this for Bethany.

My phone began to ring. They must have realized I wasn't coming in, that something happened. I'm sure Spencer told them he was just with me.

"Give it to me." Richard said calmly. I reached into my bag and slid it over to him on the table. "Spencer Reid. That's the one you're in love with, right?"

I opened my mouth to protest but no words came out. He simply smirked in satisfaction and took my hand when Sandy returned with our waters. He ordered fries for us to share to keep the appearance of a date.

"You don't have to answer. I've been watching you for a long time, Elaine. I see how you react around him. That aside, I will need this." Richard shut my phone off and put it in his pocket. He had an air of giddy confidence. I could stall and hope that Garcia got an address from my phone. "You're awfully calm."

"I could say the same for you," I said as I stirred the water and ice with a straw. I had no intention to drink or eat anything.

"Tell me about Dr. Reid," Richard questioned. His eyes lingered on me like I was a perfect steak and he hadn't eaten in weeks.

"No," I replied and looked out the window.

"Is he sensitive?" Richard sipped his drink. "Kind to you? What else is it that women like…I suppose it would make a bigger difference if he knew you were in love with him."

"Leave him out of it," I hissed.

"But this is exactly why I need to bring him into this. He's the reason I can't have you how I want you. Which, if I can't have you, no one can," He paused as if in thought. "Do you have any idea what I'm going to do to you tonight, Elaine Hall? Dr. Reid won't recognize you, and I can be sure he is the one who finds you."

"Yes," I said softly and shifted my gaze to the table edge, my jaw set. The images of the women he killed before ran through my head. The sight of Bethany. "I did profile you as you so kindly mentioned. I know your signature, your MO."

"Do you know why I killed Bethany?" Every time he said her name his fingers twitched. He continued when I didn't answer. "I took Bethany because you left her at the park. Do you remember that day?"

I held my breath. I did remember that day.

"Cranberry white chocolate smoothie for you," Bethany had an obsession with smoothies. Every Wednesday we met at the same park for a smoothie break during our busy weeks. If only I knew he was watching us then.

We caught up for the week before I got a notification of a case. A tall man in a dark sweater was lingering by an oak tree. I didn't notice him then, he had a camera. I didn't notice but he was taking pictures of us. Of me.

"If you didn't leave her, she would be alive." He dipped a fry in ketchup nonchalantly.

"You can't twist it on me," I muttered hotly.

"But it's true. My sweet Elaine. I've wanted you for so long and you never even noticed me. Just him," his voice dropped to acid. Sandy came by with a refill of his drink.

"We'll take the bill now, thank you." He uttered with a charming smile. "Come on love."