It was almost eight by the time they got back to the hotel. They didn't say much since they left the station. Reid had a lot on his mind. The crime scene went through his mind over and over like the scene a horror film. Judging from the minimal damage to the room, the unsub had to have known his way around... he'd been planning this for awhile.
Riley kept glancing out of the corner of her eye. She was getting worried about him, already seeming so stressed and tired. Once on their floor, she unlocked the door to their suite and allowed him inside first. She watched Reid cautiously, his back to her as she dropped her things in a nearby armchair.
"Are you okay?" She asked tentatively as she hung up her coat.
He gave a nod, too distracted to even speak. Riley had seen him like this before, during intense cases with evidence that didn't exactly fit together. She could see the tension already building in his muscles. "I'll order dinner; what are you hungry for?"
"Whatever you want." He mumbled quickly, sitting on the couch. He closed his eyes, rubbing the building pressure in his temple.
Reid needed to get his mind off this if he wanted to start fresh in the morning. Riley wasn't sure if he needed space or comfort, but decided on the ladder. She joined him on the couch, putting her arm around him.
"You know this isn't your responsibility." Riley explained, her brow resting on his temple. "You're just assisting, it's Scotland Yard's job to find the killer."
"I'm just trying to help." He muttered. "I thought I would have been able to lead them in the right direction... but now I feel just as lost, and I've gotten them more mixed up then they were."
"It's only been a day." Riley pointed out. "You've never caught an unsub like this after one day or even a few days. And you don't have the rest of your team with you. You just... need more time."
"That's more of our honeymoon being wasted." He sat up to meet her dazzling brown eyes. "You don't have to come, you know. I know you want to help, but you should at least be enjoying our vacation."
"You sound so desperate to get rid of me, Spencer." She smirked, her fingers reaching to run through the tendrils of his hair, just the way he liked. "No, I want to help in any way I can. And besides," she reached to kiss his ear, lowering her voice seductively, "we still have tonight. The morning is a long time away."
Reid was exhausted, but he couldn't help but smile. Even just a few hours with his wife sounded like heaven. "I'm sorry, I've been ignoring you. Tonight is all about you, anything you want."
"Fantastic," she grinned, placing a few chaste kisses on his jaw line. "Because what I really want is to make my husband happy and relaxed... and I think I recently bought a few items to make that possible."
He suddenly was sitting at attention. "Like what?"
"Well... for instance, different body oils in some of your favorite scents. And they're the really good kind that warm up to help relax your muscles." Her fingers stroked on his cheek, sending a tickling desire through him. He was already starting to forget the stress of the day. "How about I slip into something very tantalizing and give you a full body massage?"
He gave a pleased sigh, "Oh, I like you."
She giggled, reaching in to give him a soft, slow kiss. Pulling away carefully, she stood. "You just get comfortable and wait for me on the bed. I'll be back in a minute."
"What about dinner?" He asked as she retreated.
Riley glanced at him from the doorway of the bedroom, giving him a sinful grin. "Oh... I think we'll be more hungry later." And with that, disappeared around the corner.
The bathroom door closed and Reid was alone. After a few minutes, he pulled his tired body off the couch and went to the bedroom. He did as he was told, changing out of the day's clothes and pulling on his plaid pajama bottoms. He left his torso bare in anticipation for his massage, laying on the bed in wait. At the time, the promise was almost enough to get his mind of the case... but it was creeping up again.
As his head hit the pillow, one question was surfacing in his mind. How exactly did the unsub find his victims? There didn't seem to be any connection between the couples, except for the fact they were on vacation. If they weren't familiar with the area, the unsub couldn't have known about them for more than a few days... Reid barely had enough evidence to create a partial profile. He needed more, and with Eden's help, he might be able to get it.
Meanwhile in the bathroom, Riley spent as little time as possible getting ready. She only had a few precious hours with her husband, she didn't want to waste it in the bathroom. For several minutes before getting undressed, she held a particular piece of lingerie in her hands. It was most definitely not her style. Riley would never have packed it if it hadn't been a gift. For weeks since her shower, she'd been debating whether she'd have the courage to even wear it in front of her husband.
Finally, she decided, if there was a time, tonight was not it and chose something else, something more conservative. At last she pulled on a long black negligee reaching down to her ankles. It fit firmly around her curves while still moving easily with her. It was elegant without being flashy. Spencer was sure to like her choice once again.
She quickly brushed out her wild hair, taming the curls as much as possible. They hung loosely down to her hips, matching the color of her nightgown. Not wanting to leave a mess, she put most of her supplies and clothes back in the bag. Besides, it would be easier to pack at the end of the trip.
As she tossed her jeans in, a piece of folded paper came into view, catching her eye. Grabbing it, she was curious what it was doing in here, only remembering once she opened it. The contact information Emily had given her at the wedding. Numbers to both the American Embassy and Ambassador Prentiss. Looking at them, she sat on the edge of the large bathtub, thinking.
Her fingers played with the edges of the paper, reading over the numbers. She knew Emily gave this to her because she cared about her and Reid, no other reason... but from the moment she took it, Riley felt like it was a bad omen. Now they were pulled into this serial homicide, the light at the end of the tunnel getting further and further away. She'd sacrifice the rest of their trip if they could just go home where they were safe.
It was getting late. And they were together now, she should be making the most of it instead of sitting in here with her usual unhealthy obsessions. She had much better things to occupy her mind with. Among the other items, she pulled out the oils and returned to the bedroom.
"Alright, my darling, the wait is over. I am ready to pamper and spoil my husband with a long, pleasurable massage... to start with." She grinned moving into the room. Looking over the bed, her smile faded instantly.
Reid was already fast asleep; their romantic evening was over before it had even begun.
She let out a disappointed sigh, but wasn't angry. Accepting defeat, she set the oils aside for another time. She wasn't very hungry and figured she'd turn in early, too. Riley went around the room to switch off the lights. The bedroom was bathed in darkness, only the street lamp for company. She climbed onto her side of the bed, laying above the covers with her husband.
Riley wrapped her arm around his middle. "You're lucky I love you." She whispered, leaning into his ear. "I wouldn't be doing this with you if I didn't. I wanted this trip to be so perfect... I wanted to spend every night showing you how much I love you... but if this is what you need, I'm here. I will always be here."
She pressed a kiss on his warm cheek. She snuggled closer to him, closing her eyes. A moment passed and she felt him move. Without waking, he wrapped his arms around her. She clung to him tighter, because this was the only place she felt safe in the world. They were enclosed in a bubble, with the evil outside waiting to burst it. Hours ago he had said nothing was going to pull them apart again, but she was beginning to feel he had spoken too soon. And the eluding evil they were hunting was instead hunting them.
Reid was angry with himself when he woke up the next morning. It was almost seven when he was dressed and ready to go. Riley was still fast asleep, lying peacefully above the covers. She looked so beautiful and sexy and perfect and it was all for nothing. If he'd seen her come out dressed like that, he wouldn't have been able to blink let alone sleep. Another night of the honeymoon he'd ruined
Tonight would be different, he swore to that. He'd give her the perfect romantic evening and start making up for this. Nothing was going to stop him this time.
He finished getting dressed and debated waking her. She seemed so relaxed right now, Reid didn't want to ruin it. He thought about ordering her breakfast, but wasn't sure how long she'd sleep and didn't want it to turn cold. Instead, he wrote a quick note on the hotel's stationary, stating he was meeting Eden early to conduct a few suspect interviews and would meet her at the Yard later. He wrote a warm I love you - debating whether or not to add an apology - and signed it. He set the note on the bedside table and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
Riley smiled sweetly, letting out the hum of a contented sigh. She slept on; Reid could have stayed here and watched her forever... just like the day he met her... and the night in the snow... and sitting in the cafe before their first blissful night together... if the man from three years ago could see what he had and how he was treating it, he'd hate himself.
"I'm sorry," He whispered, brushing back some of her curls. "I will make this up to you, I promise... I love you."
Her sleep was too deep for her to hear anything. He gave her brow another kiss and stood, hurrying out the door.
Eden was waiting for him in the lobby when he arrived. He'd called her this morning around five, requesting to meet him here. From the sound of her voice, she was not pleased with the idea. And, from her expression, he could see her attitude was the same.
"Why the bloody hell did you want me to meet you here so early?" She grumbled, standing to meet him. Several of the guests glanced at her, rather put off by her appearance. Eden wasn't one to dress like a typical inspector, leading none of them to believe she was with the police.
"I had an epiphany last night," He explained, beginning to lead her down a separate corridor, not typically seen by the public. "But I need your help."
"Explain," Eden urged, hurrying to keep up with his long, speedy legs.
"The other day, after I heard about the McClarens, I came down here to speak to the manager, Marcy Lemon. I asked if I could offer any assistance in the investigation, and she was a little short with me."
"Can you blame her?" She wondered.
"No, of course not. But I'm wondering if perhaps she does know some information that could help. And I think she'll be a bit more cooperative with an inspector from Scotland Yard."
"You assume too much," Eden mentioned as they reached the door that lead to the manager's office. "If she wasn't helpful the first time, odds are she won't be anymore helpful with me."
"It's worth a shot." He said, knocking on the door.
Nothing. There was silence inside. "Maybe they're not here yet." Eden muttered as she folded her arms.
Reid knocked again. "A driven career woman like Marcy Lemon? She's was here before even I woke up, I'd bet what's left of my savings on it."
After a moment, the door was whipped open. The male assistant, flushed and frazzled, stood before him. "I'm sorry, sir, guests aren't allowed back here." He announced, not recognizing him from the other day.
With her flash of her badge, Eden spoke, "I'm Inspector Evelyn Eden with Scotland Yard, this is my associate Dr. Reid. We need to speak to your manager regarding the homicide investigation."
Reid recognized the ashen, nervous look appear on his already pale face. The expression civilians got when the authorities came to call, even if they knew what it was about.
He stepped aside to let them in. "Please take a seat. I'll let her know you're here."
Closing the door, the assistant turned and hurried to the door behind his desk, not even bothering to knock. Reid and Eden each took a seat in the quiet waiting area. Lemon's office door closed, muffing the raised voices that soon appeared from inside.
"Career, cut throat women," Eden uttered, relaxing a bit in her chair. She gave Reid the impression of a rebellious teen waiting in the principal's office. "Not exactly the kind of person I enjoy speaking with first thing in the morning."
"My boss's boss is like that." Reid added. "Her favorite time to show up to our unit is first thing in the morning."
"Of course it is." She added with a grin. "That way she gets to ruin your whole day."
Reid laughed lightly. He had to admit, he was really starting to like Evelyn Eden. She was actually an easy person to work with and talk to once she let down her defensive barrier.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" She wondered.
"Sorry," Reid mumbled. He hadn't realized he was staring. "I was just thinking... you remind me of one of my teammates. My best friend Derek Morgan; I'd bet you would get along with him."
"Well I hope I'll get to meet him, if we're alike as you say." She smirked pleasantly.
"I hope not." Reid muttered with a chuckle. "I've damaged enough of my honeymoon, my team joining it would make things irreversibly worse."
Eden hid her smile as the office door opened. Once again, Marcy Lemon stepped out in a swish, several notes and files under her arm. Business suits and heels always made power hungry women more severe.
"Dr. Reid," she muttered, crossing her arms. "Isn't this a surprise, I doubt this visit is about your room."
"No," Reid said standing. "Uh... but we are enjoying our stay here. You have a lovely hotel."
"Glad to hear it." Her tone dripped with sarcasm. Her icy eyes landed on Eden. "And I see we brought reinforcements this time. Well, Inspector, I don't know what he told you, but I informed Dr. Reid there was nothing I could help him with. My concern is the integrity of the Grislow Hotel, not the murders themselves."
"I know what you told him." Eden said so sternly, Lemon seemed to draw back a bit. Traditionally Scotland Yard's position was to remain polite and respectful to members of the public. They didn't typically try to manipulate and intimidate people as American law enforcement was trained. "Miss Lemon, I understand your concern, but you are not aware of our situation. In the London area, positioned particularly in a close radius of this hotel, there have been five other couples murdered the same way as your guests and we are certain there will be more."
Lemon was taken aback by that. Even her hard, outer shell couldn't deny her concern at the news of so many brutal deaths. "I see. That's awful news, Inspector. I can tell this is serious, but I don't know what help you can get from me."
"What can you tell us about the McClarens?" Reid spoke.
Lemon let out a heavy sigh. "Hold on, I'll get their file." She grumbled, turning to go back to her office. Her assistant practically had to leap out of the way as she came charging through. Eden and Reid followed close.
She hurried to one of her filing cabinets, searching through the many papers. Eden waited impatiently, her arms folded. But Reid used the opportunity to use his skills, profiling the room. It was neat, this woman liked order. She was attempting and failing to tidy her desk, with forms and papers in a pile. She'd been reading a red file when her assistant interrupted her. Reid wondered if it was the same one from the other day, or perhaps just one similar. He had a sneaking suspicion to read that folder.
There was little decoration on the walls; a few landscape paintings which Reid was certain was hung by decorators of the hotel. Lemon was not a warm person. Her life was her career, and no weaknesses like friends, family, or past memories was going to get in the way. Women like her typically didn't have children this early in life, were unmarried if not detached from romance completely, and was hostile to anyone or anything disrupting their daily routine. No wonder she was determined to get this murder out of her hotel as fast as possible.
"The McClarens." Lemon announced, at last pulling out the form. "There's not much information on them, I have to tell you."
"What is in their file?" Reid asked, stepping over to read over her shoulder.
But she didn't take too kindly to that. Glaring at Reid, Lemon stepped away far enough where he couldn't read a word. "The McClarens checked in almost three weeks from their murder... they placed a standing order for breakfast for their entire stay and checked out a day early. They both used our car service every day, most days they were going in different directions."
"They weren't together?" Reid asked. "Where did they go?"
"Our drivers are required to keep a log, a security measure in case a complaint is placed." She replied, going to another file cabinet. She searched for a moment, at last pulling out a much thicker folder. "Let's see... Mrs. McClaren spent her time in various parts of the city. Mostly high priced shopping areas... and Mr. McClaren based himself primarily in the financial district."
"Mr. McClaren was a stock broker." Reid stated.
Eden gave a nod, "Looks like you're not the only one working on his honeymoon."
That twisted his stomach a bit, but he ignored it for now, turning back to Marcy Lemon. "Did they leave and return at separate times?" Reid wondered.
"Yes," Marcy answered. "Mr. McClaren typically left before seven, returned at noon, and departed again at three. Mrs. McClaren would have room service delivered, leave by 10 am, return in the late afternoon and leave shortly after... and the two would return together before midnight... except for the last day, of course."
Now they were getting somewhere. "What happened on the last day?" Reid pressed.
Marcy read quickly. She didn't seem at all perplexed by the newlyweds' habits. "Mr. McClaren left at his usual time. He returned at noon... and that's the end of the driver log. Check out is at three, they must have left."
"Or someone did it for them." Reid looked to Eden to explain. "They wouldn't ask for an ID at check out, as long as they had the credit card. Who's going to steal an identity to check outof a hotel?"
She agreed. "Miss Lemon, thank you for your time. If we have anymore questions, we'll contact you."
"Very well." Lemon mumbled, going to replace the file in its drawer. The two investigators left without another word from her. It was futile, considering she was certain it wasn't the last she'd see of them. It was still early and she had a lot to do. Andrew was probably having his morning tea now. She'd give him a break, considering how late she kept him last night. But once he was done, they were to get right to work.
They reentered the corridor. A maid was pulling toiletry supplies from a closet down the hall, completely emersed in her task. Eden exclaimed, heading back the way they had come, "A standing room service order. Didn't we find that the unsub needed his victims to digest the sedatives in order to drug the women?"
It was a good theory, but Reid knew it was wrong. "The corner looked over the stomach contents, in all the victims." He informed. "There's nothing to suggest they ate anything before being drugged. Only the evidence of water, but-"
"-if it were mixed in water, they'd able to taste the sugar. No one just drinks sugar water." Eden finished for him, despondence settling in. "The McClarens certainly didn't seem like a happy couple, they barely spent more than a few hours together a day. Why would the killer be interested in them?"
"People are happy in different ways. And rich people tend to be happier when they're making or spending money. Alphas are often sociopaths. Sociopaths often can't show emotion and instead use wealth and possessions to show affection." Reid explained. This was definitely new territory for him. Usually the sociopath was the unsub, not the victim.
They still had a long day ahead of them. Reid could only hope by the end, they'd have a bit more than sugar water and wasted time.