A long while of silence. Reid's resentment eventually dissipated, and his attention went to the case files he'd brought along. "There has to be a connection between the victims. An unsub wouldn't kill like this unless each victim set him off somehow."

"These don't seem to be entirely random acts. He probably stalks his victims for at least a few days, and considering the length between kills, he probably stalks more than one person at a time." Morgan stated. "He used to bury his victims in coffins, and now, provided Addie was buried the same as Maria, he simply dumps them. What made him change?"

"Riley?" Reid voiced, glancing back. "You're awfully quiet back there. Medical opinion on his mental state?"

Riley wasn't listening. Her mind was focused on what Morgan had told her. Had Reid really been a mess, or had Morgan just said that to push them back together. She knew they were better off apart, it was why she'd severed contact. But it might explain his reasoning. If he were such a mess over her… no, that was absurd. It had to be a lie. 187 IQ and he was letting his life become disruptive over a woman. Maybe some women would be worth that. Ones that weren't emotionally awkward and doomed to ruin all personal lives touched. Unlike she was, repeating the same mistakes her parents had imprinted on her.

"Riley?" Morgan called, "You awake back there?"

"Yes!" she cried. "I'm just… thinking… why would a man take a kid with cancer?" She had been thinking of it during the briefing, it wasn't a complete lie.

"Maria was pregnant, he took her," Morgan pointed out.

"Maybe he didn't know that. Maria had just told her mother that morning, she was probably keeping it to herself." Reid voiced.

"Exactly, but cancer? That's not exactly something you can hide. Once one person knows, they pass the news on to other people, before long strangers have heard of you. Didn't the witness say he recognized Alex from a news article?"

"Okay, let's say he did know," Morgan said, "Why might he take him?"

"It seems cruel. I know Alex's mother said he was getting better, but it doesn't mean he was. There's a chance the treatment can backfire, and remission doesn't always last."

No one could think of an immediate answer. It was true, the poor boy was going through enough. Cancer was a different kind of torture, a torture no one would wish anyone to under go. It was a life long endurance, whether you beat it or not. Why would anyone, sane or not, feel the need to put anyone through a live burial, let alone a sick boy like Alex?

The three's separate, yet similar thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a ringtone. Morgan's cell. With a quick maneuver, he grabbed it and answered it, hitting speaker phone. "Prentiss," he said, informing the others the identity of the caller. "What do you got?"

"The cops got a possible hit off the numbers Garcia gave us," she informed them. "A Ford Explorer with the license plate 766-PND was reported stolen a month ago in Portland, Oregon."

"That seems like a pretty long distance to match the unsub's car." Reid said.

"Well, that's what they thought too when the APB was posted. Lloyds Crew police spotted an Explorer driving on Jefferson Avenue about ten minutes ago. They think it pulled behind the abandoned middle school building."

"Why don't they check it out, then?" Riley asked.

"Unfortunately, the building is now privately owned, they can't investigate it without a warrant. Now if the car is there, that's enough for probable cause."

"It's worth a shot," Morgan said. "Thanks, Prentiss. We'll call you back when we know something."

He hung up quickly. The exit leading to Lloyds Crew was quickly approaching them. The road trip was quickly coming to a stop. Each one hoping for a successful outcome to their journey, all with the same feeling to expect the worst.

"Jefferson Avenue!" Reid cried, pointing down the street. "I told you we'd find it."

"Yeah," Morgan exclaimed, "Only after we drove in a circle for the last ten minutes. You couldn't have glanced at a map of this place before we left?"

"Hey, I'm the one who suggested we stop and ask for directions. You're the one who refused. What's your method when driving, Morgan? Do you just wing it or are you using The Force?"

Despite the elegant street name, the area was far from pleasing. As far as the eye could see were abandoned homes and condemned buildings. It was like a ghost town; not a soul in sight.

"I think that's the school up there," Morgan said, indicating the largest building on the next block. Indeed, it was a run down structure with flaking orange bricks and boarded up windows. Faded letters stood over the door, at one time probably saying "Jefferson Avenue Middle School". The place couldn't have been used in quite some time, at least two decades. A large drive way lead around to the back of the building, leading to abandoned playing fields and back entrances, unseen to the those on the street.

Morgan pulled down the block. It was good thinking. If anyone was hiding out in that building, the SUV would be out of sight. With the element of surprise, the three got out of the car, both men donning their gun vests.

"Stay here," Reid said to Riley, who had already climbed out of the car. "I'll call you to meet us if we need you."

"Not a chance," Riley exclaimed. "I'm here, you have extra vests, I'm going with you."

"Riley," Reid said, stepping closer to her. His hands settled on her arms, as if holding her steady, standing close to her in an intimate way. "You're not trained for something like this. You can't carry a gun and we can't protect if the situation becomes intense."

"Spencer," Riley urged. "I know the risks, I'll be fine."

"You don't know that, you've already been through enough." Reid inhaled, speaking under his breath. "We shouldn't have let you come in the first place."

Riley shook his hold off of her. Her expression one of loathing, her eyes narrowed into slits; obviously offended by the lack of faith he had in her. "Give me a damn vest."

Morgan grabbed her one and helped her slip it on, Reid to the side, just watching. Once she was set, the trio set forth. Both Reid and Morgan checking the assurance their weapons were at the ready.

The lot on which the school sat was just as empty as the rest of the street. Nothing, just silence. The only signs of life came from both the amount of trash and debris left abandoned around the overgrown grass on the property and the clan of rats scurrying around the overgrown trash. Reid had to give Riley credit, she didn't even flinch when two rats ran directly over her sneakers. He rarely saw her in sneakers, and for a second, his mind drifted as he thought she looked cute.

Schools this small hadn't been in function since the 70s, Reid knew. This was certainly an ideal place for hiding out. Minimal light, hidden from view of the street, abandoned structures lining the entire block and the ones surrounding. It was amazing the cops had even spotted it in the first place. Hopefully, the unsub hadn't noticed the police spotting him pull into this place.

Behind the school a distance stood a large old maintenance shed. The doors were solid, closed with a sturdy chain and padlock. A quick look around revealed no one was about, nor were a sign of any car.

"Well," Morgan said, handling the padlock a moment. "No chance of breaking that by accident."

"There's a window over here," Reid said. His fingers grabbed the ledge, attempting to pull himself up, but no luck. "If someone could get up there we could see."

"Yeah, someone smaller… who could easily be lifted and maneuvered." Morgan agreed, his attention shifting to Riley.

Realizing his plan, she backed away slightly. "Why me?"

"You're the one who wanted to come along." Morgan pointed out.

Riley rolled her eyes, "Yeah, in case my expertise was required, and I don't remember at one point my résumé ever reading 'trespassing' under special skills."

"He has a point," Reid said. "You could have just stayed in the car… like I asked."

She glared at him again, but could find no further argument. "Fine, lift me up."

Instead of Reid helping her, as she had expected, he stepped aside to give them room. An indicator he'd had no intention of aiding her. The unsubtle hint was not lost on Riley, but she chose to ignore it. Pulling her own self up with an injured hand was impossible. Morgan moved over into position, placing his hands on her waist and lifted her up.

Reid watched them. Hating himself, he felt a burning stab of jealousy strike him. It began just below his sternum and seethed up surrounding his heart. His lungs felt like they were filling up with concrete, making each breath difficult, gasping to pull in air.

"You see anything?" Morgan asked. Reid tried taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"I think… it's dark, but… that could definitely be the car. I can't see… I can't angle right to see the license plate. Put me down."

Morgan did as she asked and set her down easily. Reid exhaled, allowing the resentment to seep away. At least the others didn't notice his emotional predicament.

"Unfortunately, if we can't prove it's the car, we don't have probable cause to get inside the school, and in order to get probable cause, we have to prove evidence and that's the only evidence we have." Morgan explained.

"It's Schrödinger's Cat," Reid said.

Both Morgan and Riley stared at him. "It's the experiment placing a cat in a steel chamber with a vial of radioactive liquid that at some point breaks of its own accord. Until the box is open, the cat is considered both dead and alive-"

"Yeah, I know what it is." Riley snapped, trying to stay on subject. "Most people say Catch-22, though. For future reference. Anyway, I'm thinking of something… turn around."

"What for?" Morgan asked.

"Just do it, turn around, both of you, and face the school." She was completely serious. Reid and Morgan, confused, did as requested. Their focus remained on the pathetic structure, hearing the distinct sound of glass breaking behind them, pulling them back at the shed. The dirty window now stood in shatters.

"You do understand probable cause?" Morgan said, Reid's mouth gapping at what she'd done. "We can't break a window in order to get in."

"You boys can't… but I could," Riley explained. "Well, think about it. You guys are agents, I'm not. I'm only associated with the FBI. You didn't actually see me break in… we're in the clear. Now, help me climb up."

Morgan moved to lift her up again. Reid watched as Riley brushed off her hand, distracted by something in her palm.

"What is it?" he asked, stepping forward. He took her hand to see, her palm covered in the dust and remnants of the object she'd just thrown.

"Doesn't that look familiar?" Riley asked, pulling a small brown flake off her skin.

Reid recognized it immediately. It matched the flakes pulled off of Riley's face for evidence. "Where'd you get that?"

"The bricks," she indicated. Loose orange, decaying bricks lay all through the grass, matching the same ones constructing the school behind them. "I used one to break the window."

Reid's fingers tenderly brushed the orange powder off her hand, his attention on centered on the dusty skin. "Your, um… your attacker might have taken his weapon from here."

Riley nodded. "Can I have my hand back now?" A faint smile on her face.

Reid came back to life and let her go. Riley turned, preparing to climb into the recently broken window. Once again, Morgan moved to lift her up. The jealousy twisting and turning into his chest again forced Reid to rush forward. "I got this,"

Unaware, several yards away, the three were observed through a filthy basement window. Watching as Reid guided his past love into the broken glass.