Reid's first stop was Riley's apartment. He had left the hospital early, not bothering to wait to be picked up. He already felt he had wasted enough time.
He needed to see the crime scenes for himself; though most of the evidence probably had already been found and collected. There might have been something everyone else missed. And he knew Riley better than them…
…except maybe Hotch.
He pushed that thought out of his mind. If he focused on anything but the case, they wouldn't find her.
The building seemed a bit more alive than the previous times he'd been there. There was a baby crying on the second floor, the odd blaring of TVs could be heard on each floor. But the fifth was quiet. Almost like a sign of respect for the missing girl in the corner apartment.
Reid made it to the door, which had crime scene tape over it. That was easily broken, but the lock was another matter. Breaking that would be tampering with a crime scene. He needed a key. His first thought was under the mat, though that seemed much too obvious. Still, he checked anyway, his first instincts correct.
Thinking quickly, trying to ignore the dull pain in his stomach, Reid decided to try a neighbor. He and Holly had exchanged keys a few years ago when she and her husband moved in, maybe Riley had the same thinking. He headed across the hall.
After the third knock, a woman in her mid-seventies answered the door, wearing a house coat and slippers. She seemed very startled by Reid and he realized he must look a mess. His clothes were a bit wrinkled and he must look weak and sick.
"What do you want?" she asked sternly. Reid could tell she was frightened, but attempted to hide it.
"Ma'am, I'm very sorry to bother you. My name's Dr. Spencer Reid, I'm with the F.B.I." He held up his badge for proof.
She spoke before he could explain himself. "Are you here about the break-in?" she asked. "The girl across the hall must have been robbed or something."
"Actually, ma'am, yes. Riley is a friend of mine and asked me to take a look into the matter." There was no point in scaring the woman. "I was wondering if you might have a key to her place."
"Why didn't she just give you hers?" she asked, suspicious.
"Riley was so scared, she left her keys and everything behind."
"Oh," she said, still skeptical. "Well, no, she didn't give me a key, but I did see her reach for one above the door frame a few months ago. Check there."
"Thank you, ma'am." Reid said, turning around.
"What was your name again?" she asked.
"Dr. Spencer Reid." He replied.
Quickly, the woman slammed the door and he heard the click of the lock. Not wasting another moment, Reid went and checked the door frame with his fingers. His stomach pulsed with pain as his abdominals stretched slightly. Luckily, as his fingers danced along the wood, they came in contact with jagged metal. Success.
He pulled the key down and let himself in, breaking the tape. He didn't think he'd have the strength the bend and duck under.
Inside, it was dark, even for being daylight. All the shades were drawn. Riley could have done that herself, but that seemed odd. Maybe the crime scene unit was probably responsible, but still it made him nervous. He didn't think he'd survive another attack. His hand slipped to his gun for second, as if just to reassure himself it was there. Switching on the lights, he began his search.
Just as Riley had said, the place was ransacked. The posters were off the walls and most of the books knocked off the shelves, a lot with pages ripped out and crumpled on the floor. Her almost twenty year collection lay ruined on the floor.
"I'll help her rebuild it when she comes home." He said to himself, touring over the pile. He reached down and grabbed The Shining, shoving it in his bag, before heading through the mess and ruble to the bedroom.
The lights were off and the shades were down in here as well. It didn't look as disorganized in here. But the drawer was emptied out, just as Riley had claimed. It was all over her disheveled bed sheets. Reid felt a red hot fire in his chest, a feeling he'd never felt before. It would do no good to think revenge; not now. He had to keep his head if was going to find her in time.
A creak of a floor board pulled him from his thoughts. Someone was here.
His breath catching in his throat, Reid was frozen. He listened again, but there was nothing but silence. He could be waiting for Reid in the next room. Slowly, his hand went to his gun. He wasn't going to let this guy get him this time.
Turning gradually, he half expected to see someone standing there. Exhaling, he moved towards the door. His gun held before as he began to step back through.
He didn't call out. He didn't think he'd be able to. His throat was dry and he could barely catch his breath. After all, he should have been in bed trying to heal.
Another creak was heard. Carefully, trying to get his throat unstuck, he swallowed and got closer to the living room. Taking one more deep breath, he stepped in, hoping for the element of surprise.
"What do you want?" Reid asked, thankfully able to get the words out.
The stranger turned, revealing what was so obviously the elderly neighbor from across the hall. She looked frightened at the sight of the gun. Reid was so filled with relief, it took him a moment to realize it was still pointed at her and so lowered it.
"I'm sorry," she said, still stunned. "But, I… I wanted to check if you were who you said you were."
"That's alright," Reid said, suddenly feeling light headed. "Can't be too sure in this day and age."
"Exactly," she said. "I called the police department, who patched me to the F.B.I and the unit you're supposed to work for. I talked to a woman named Agent Jared or Jeffro or-
"Jareau?" Reid asked.
"I think that's it. Anyway, she asked to speak with you so I came to see if you were still here."
Finding his mental stability, Reid nodded, hooking his gun back onto his side. He followed the lady out of Riley's place across the hall.
"Hello?" Reid asked.
"Reid, where the hell are you?" Morgan barked into the phone. "Are you insane! You can barely stand as it is."
"I thought this was J.J.," Reid said, attempting to change the subject long enough to calm him down.
"She handed me the phone. She and I have been searching for you since we came to pick you up this morning. Where are you at, man?"
"Riley's apartment." He answered. "I…" He lowered his voice knowing the lady was eavesdropping. "I needed to see the crime scene for myself. I was heading over to my place next and then back to the BAU."
"No, you're coming here now." Morgan commanded. "In fact, I'll come to you. Just stay there."
"I'm not a baby, Morgan. You don't have to take care of me."
"That wasn't a suggestion, Reid. And if you leave before I get there, I don't care how sick you are, I will kick your ass."
Among the sincerity, Reid could hear the empathy in his voice. Reid knew his friends were just watching out for him. The only family he had.
"I'll be here," Reid said. Quickly he hung up the phone, turning to leave.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you." The woman said as he headed towards the door.
"I understand, ma'am." Reid repeated. "But I need to get back to work."
"It's just both Marvin and I have been on edge lately." She interrupted again. "Does this break-in have anything to do with the man outside our building?"
Curious, Reid turned back. "What man?"
"There was this man who was outside the building for weeks, every single night he'd be out by the front door. He'd try to stay out of the street lamp, but I could still seem him there. He always seemed to be looking up at our windows."
"How long would he stay out there?" Reid asked.
"All night. I watched a few nights. He'd show up around eleven or so and stay until just before dawn. I always get up an hour before dawn to make breakfast for Marvin, see."
"Was he there last night?"
"No, he hasn't been there in days. The young girl would always leave around seven or so. Sometimes I'd see her when I'd go down to get the paper. Not very sociable, but always polite. And she usually got home before ten, but I haven't seen her at all the last few days, which is about the same time he stopped showing up."
Well, 'Mrs. Kravitz' was at least was giving them something. "You never saw his face? You wouldn't be able to make an ID?"
"No," she replied. "Is… is she alright? The girl, I mean?"
Reid couldn't answer that. Like a fear in his stomach told him no matter what he'd say confirming her, it would doom her. That was ridiculous, of course, but he couldn't get rid of the nasty instinct.
"I need to get back to work." Reid replied, heading out the door.
