Penelope and I were on the edge of our seats as we waited for contact from the team who were currently raiding an address that we had discovered for them. She was visibly calmer than me, able to rely on the trust that she had built with her team, but I couldn't imagine that it was possible for this case to ever come to a successful close. The tension hung heavily in the air between us as I wrung my hands together with anxiety and from the corner of my eye, I could tell that she was studying me.
"It must be hard to accept that you had someone on your own team working against you." She muttered as she turned to face me fully with a sympathetic smile and I hummed thoughtfully. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm honestly frustrated. If I'd had the freedom to investigate properly, without everyone blocking me out, I could've found him sooner. We could've stopped this before so many girls were lost." I admitted, feeling pressure in my chest as I considered all of the times that I had looked this person in the face and had no idea that they were responsible, sighing as I continued.
"I just can't imagine how anyone who signed up for a job like this could allow something so awful to happen. It's monstrous. I hope that the money Jackson pocketed was worth all of the lives that he destroyed." I added bitterly and Penelope nodded in agreement.
"It's horrific. The things that people will do for the right amount of money." She commented solemnly and we lapsed back into silence as we continued to wait for some news from the team.
The thought of this group of monsters finally coming to justice seemed to be too good to be true and I couldn't stop imagining the BAU team storming an empty building in my mind.
"You should be there with them. They would never have found Jackson without you. You deserve to see this through." Penelope muttered, revealing her annoyance with the situation and I was already clear of her disapproval for Shepard after our earlier conversation via webcam.
Though Penelope was certain that Agent Hotchner would have discussed this incident in private, nothing had changed in my circumstances since and I had to assume that even if she was right, Shepard had held his ground about me.
"I wish that I was. I'd love to see his Valeno's face when he realises that we're still on his ass." I grumbled, imagining the satisfaction that I would've got from finally seeing him in cuffs, but instead I tried to focus on the bigger picture. "I'll settle for just having him behind bars, though."
Time felt as if it had almost slowed to a stop and though I appreciated that a raid of this size required a great deal of preparation and incredibly careful execution, I couldn't help feeling that it was taking too long. My heart couldn't survive another loss and I prayed for the safe recovery of the missing girls.
"I can't sit here any longer. I need to move. How about I make you a cup of tea?" Penelope suggested as she got to her feet and forced a smile. "I'll keep my phone on me and I can run back to the desk at record speed if needed." She winked reassuringly and as I opened my mouth to answer her, the phone finally rang.
Penelope practically fell into her seat and almost sent the phone flying off her desk in her rush to answer it, and I felt my back straighten to the point that it was almost completely rigid.
"Garcia. We've got him." Agent Hotchner's voice announced over the phone and she gasped with excitement. My mouth fell open in shock and for a moment I was unsure if I had imagined his statement, as it seemed like a dream.
"And the girls?" I blurted, unable to wait a moment longer for an explanation and in the moments that it took for him to speak again I felt as if I couldn't breathe.
"Most of the American victims are here. Some of them have already been moved on, but we've got enough records here to begin seeking them out, including detailed tracking of the last known address of every missing girl from Europe and their buyer details. You'll be very busy with recovering them all once you get home, Agent Hawthorne." He explained, a very subtle sense of understanding in his voice and I felt my lip begin to wobble with the strain of the tears that I held back.
"Thank you for letting us know, Sir." Penelope responded for me, sensing that I could not manage it and the moment that the line disconnected, she pulled me into a hug, prompting tears to stream down my cheeks in relief.
"It's finally over. We found him." I struggled to say between gasps for air as the strain of the months of stress finally came crashing down over me. For the first time since I had started with Interpol, it felt as if all of the trauma and nightmares were worth it. I could finally say that ruining my own life had at least provided me the opportunity to accomplish things that I never could have managed as a lone hacker.
"You found him, Alice. You saved those girls. I'm so proud of you." Penelope praised, tears glistening in her eyes too as she sat back to smile at me and I sighed in an effort to calm myself.
"I couldn't have done it without you." I breathed, staring at her with an overpowering appreciation and her smile grew into a teasing grin.
Though we'd managed to pull off a few insane covert operations as anonymous teenagers, they paled in comparison to what we had achieved today and I was struck with the reality of our joint growth in the last few years.
"I'm glad that my genius is acknowledged at last." She drawled, flashing me a playful wink before she released me from her grip and I sat back to wipe my face dry on my sleeves. "Anything for you, mon cherie."
"Tu es la meilleure." You're the best. I crooned in response, noticing that my heart felt more at peace in her comfort than it had for a long time.
- O - O - O - O - O -
Despite having the least luggage with me, I was the last of my team to finish packing up to leave, as Penelope found every excuse that she could to keep me for just a little longer. Shepard and the others were content to go ahead without me anyway and I was honestly pleased that I would not have to endure another awkwardly silent car journey with them.
Penelope arranged to drive me to the airport herself to allow us a chance for one final chatter and I headed out to the main office to find the BAU team each waiting to shake my hand. All except for Reid, who gave me another charmingly awkward smile and wave that had already become endearing to me. Just as I was about to leave, Agent Hotchner pulled me aside.
"I just wanted a chance to tell you that you did great work on this case. My team isn't easily impressed, but you've made it seem that way. I understand how difficult it can be for people recruited into agencies in the way that you were to integrate into this lifestyle." He explained, as usual his expression sharing none of the warmth of his words and before I could say anything, he reached into his jacket pocket to pass me a card.
"If you ever run into roadblocks like this again, my line is always open for advice. You have good instincts. You deserve for your team to trust them, as ours does." He offered as I examined the card to find his contact details and I felt my brows raise in shock.
"Th-thank you, Sir. That means a lot. Your team is outstanding." I stuttered, struggling to find the words to express my gratitude for his kindness and he nodded curtly. He moved to walk away, then paused to turn to me again.
"Oh, and Agent Hawthorne? Pack a go bag. You never know when you'll need it." He added, before strolling away and leaving me to notice that several members of the team were smiling at me from their desks.
Just as when I arrived, I hesitated before pushing my way through the glass doors and this time, I had a heavy heart at the idea of leaving.
Penelope and I spent the entire journey to the airport catching up on our current lives, discussing our equally poor work life balance and absence of our social life. She was infuriated by my description of my work environment and I shared in her joy for how well she had settled into her team.
Though our situations were contrasting, I didn't harbour any jealousy for her, simply revelling in the delight of her happiness. After everything that she had been through, it warmed my heart to see her smile.
Our time together seemed to whizz past and before I knew it, it was time for us to part. As we strolled in the airport, Penelope clung to me protectively and I knew that this would be a remarkably difficult goodbye as I approached security. She pulled me into another lung crushing hug and I could hear her sniffing back tears.
"I don't want you to go." She whispered beside my ear and I smiled over her shoulder, as I shared her reluctance. "I always knew that we had a connection, even just chatting over the internet, but finally seeing you in person just feels so special. Where have you been all my life?" She whined dramatically, expressing the same bittersweet sentiment that I felt taking root in my chest and I pulled back to view her with fondness, taking in the vibrant details of her cheerful appearance.
"I feel the same, my darling. We will see each other again. I promise. I haven't visited my dad in forever. I'm sure that when I get some time off, I can swing by to see you to make the trip worth doing." I remarked, causing a smile to fill her tear stained face and I quickly dried her cheeks so that I wouldn't start to cry in return. "Besides, you are always welcome to visit me. I could finally show you Paris!"
"Oh chérie, Paris n'arriverait pas à me gérer." Oh honey, Paris couldn't handle me. She winked, setting us both into giggles. "I'll really miss having you here. Let me know if there's anything I can to help with those Interpol bullies. Seriously, anything. My life destroying skills are only a call away." She added, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and I didn't doubt for a moment the things that she would do if permitted.
"I will. Take care, Nels."
- O - O - O - O - O -
"Alice, I've heard rumours."
The voice on the phone sounded thoroughly offended as I stepped out of the taxi and began to make my way into my apartment building. I wasn't at all threatened by the statement, as it was exactly the kind of dramatic opening to calls that I often shared with this person and I simply shook my head with amusement.
"Merci." I whispered, as a neighbour held open the door for me with a polite smile.
"What rumours?" I yawned, stepping into the foyer with the sense that I could collapse on the spot from the dreadful jetlag and I thanked my lucky stars when the bright morning light was blocked out by the heavy door closing behind me.
"That you were in my neighbourhood this past few days and you didn't even call me!" They clarified, causing my stomach to drop in annoyance at how quickly news travelled in my family.
I had hoped to have the chance to enjoy a decent night of sleep, at least, before dealing with this and my brain struggled to even coordinate my way up the stairs with my case as I balanced the phone on my shoulder.
"I'm supposed to be your best friend. How could you?!"
"Oh, Ricky. Don't be so dramatic. I was there for work. They don't exactly leave us with time to entertain ourselves whilst we are there." I rolled my eyes at the exaggerated sounds of disapproval that followed my words and couldn't summon the energy to worry about this whilst I dragged my case along the hall.
"I am your blood, Alice. I haven't even seen you in years. Is it too much to ask to even just meet for a coffee at the airport, hmm?" Ricky argued, his naivety at the nature of my work causing me to chuckle in disbelief.
I didn't dare to mention how much he was behaving like the stereotype of a gay teenage boy at the moment for fear of the wrath that would follow, but at times he truly outdid himself with his levels of drama.
"You're barely my blood, dear. We're related by marriage, remember? Besides, I've actually seen you more recently than my own father, so you should consider yourself lucky." I teased, busying myself with unlocking the door whilst he gasped with such audacity that I was worried he might actually pull something. "You're my favourite cousin, if that makes you feel any better."
"I'm your only cousin, Alley Cat. That doesn't mean anything." He responded sulkily and I could practically sense his pout despite all of the miles between us. "Did you at least catch some 'big bad' whilst you were here?" He enquired carefully over the sounds of me stumbling my way inside the apartment and I sighed with relief as the door swung closed behind me.
"The biggest of bads." I muttered, feeling another wave of appreciation as I reminded myself of what we had achieved.
My gaze roamed over my apartment, allowing my inner walls to fall down now that I was within my own space, until it landed on an unwelcome sight. Unable to wait even until I'd slept, I crossed the room and began tearing down all of the sheets of paper on my notice board that I had been using to research the case, throwing them into a box so that they would finally be out of sight.
"Well, that's pretty cool." Ricky commented casually over the phone and I smiled at the subtle pride that I caught in his voice. I knew that he respected me for the job that I did, when he wasn't caught up in his own needs.
"Listen, hun. I'm so exhausted that I can hardly keep my eyes open. Let me get some sleep and we'll have a video call later. I'll fill you in on all of the new people that I met." I offered, rubbing at my eyes in an attempt to keep them open long enough to make it to the bed and he groaned unenthusiastically in response. "Send both your mums my love. Speak soon."
I flipped the phone closed and stumbled my way into my bedroom, finding it in a state of disarray from my rushed departure. My entire apartment was relatively bare, with little personalisation as I lived in a constant temporary state. I couldn't help planning for everything to fall apart at any moment. This pattern was what I had come to expect out of life.
Throwing things aside to create some space on the bed, I practically collapsed face first into the covers, as months of exhaustion caught up to me.
- O - O - O - O - O -
PENELOPE'S POV
Penelope's heels tapped along the floor of the BAU office merrily, as she carried her fresh morning coffee to her desk in her glittery pink flask. As usual, she had arrived before everyone else and enjoyed having the space to herself to begin her day.
Three months had passed since Alice visited and even though she had already refilled the space that she had made available at her desk for her to work, it always felt as if something was missing now. She still loved her team, but couldn't help feeling as if Alice had added something that was otherwise missing in her life.
In an effort to combat this feeling, she'd placed a polaroid of her and Alice from their time together where her workspace had been, leaning against a decorative copy of the Alice In Wonderland book.
The team was currently without a case and Penelope knew that JJ had worked until late last night. She often seemed to struggle with the effort choosing which of the many requests for assistance that landed on her desk every day would receive their attention next. Penelope didn't envy JJ for this responsibility and was glad that she could simply busy herself with updating one of the custom pieces of software that she'd created for the FBI.
"Garcia. Hotch wants us all in the conference room. We've got a case." JJ's voice announced from the door and Penelope rolled her eyes at the timing. She'd barely managed ten minutes of peace before being interrupted, but forced a smile as she turned to nod at her.
The moment that she stepped into the conference room, she noticed Morgan's absence and though she was deeply concerned, she knew from the team's demeanour that she wouldn't have a chance to bring it up until after the briefing. Even Hotch seemed more tense than usual, if that were even possible and Penelope became nervous as to what about this case could have caused a reaction like this.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm sure you've noticed that we're missing a member today." Hotch began and Penelope was relieved to find that he addressed this straight away. "Morgan asked us to let you know that he was hospitalised the night before last for appendicitis. He's out of surgery and assures me that he is doing well, but he will be in recovery for at least the next couple of days."
Though everything in Penelope's body urged her to jump from the table and run to the hospital, she knew that her overbearing, anxious presence wouldn't provide the relaxing environment that Morgan needed to heal. Besides, her small team was already missing someone and she sensed they would need her help. She willed herself to stay in her seat and pay attention to JJ's presentation to find a way to ease their workload.
"Dulvey, Louisiana. The local PD have asked us to assist with a string of abductions spanning the past two months. Several of the first victims have been found alive, but in terrible condition, wandering remote areas. They haven't been able to provide police with any details that could lead to the unsub. In fact, most of them hardly remember anything about what happened to them." JJ explained as she began to explain the case and Penelope could hardly stand to look at the photos of what had been done to these girls.
"Memory loss as a result of trauma could be likely in one victim, but multiple girls is more likely to be drug related. Anything in their toxicology to indicate what the unsub is using?" Hotch questioned, causing Penelope to rub at her temples as she considered whether their victims missing memories were a mercy or a punishment. The way that JJ sighed before answering hinted that she was considering this same question.
"We're still waiting for the results from the lab, but from the police reports, it seems clear that they'd been given something."
There were a few moments of silence as the team flicked through the case files before them and Gideon slipped on his glasses, thinning his eyes at the screen.
"If he's letting them go, he must be confident that they won't remember anything that could incriminate him. He couldn't have gained this level of security in his routine without practice. There will be earlier victims, somewhere. We just need to find them. They could be the key." Gideon analysed, earning collective sounds of agreement from around the table. "Have the police been able to establish any links between the victims?" He enquired, turning his attention to JJ with a focused expression and she shook her head before answering.
"Nothing at all. They are from multiple states, varying age and race demographics, different socioeconomic groups. The only thing that these victims have in common is that they are all female. The police are only just beginning to connect them, but otherwise, they're drawing a blank." JJ confirmed regretfully, seeming concerned by this troubling start to the case and it was clear from Reid's fidgety behaviour that something in her response had caught his attention.
"That kind of deviation from a type is highly unlikely in an offender like this. It's entirely possible that we are dealing with a team of unsubs, with varying sexual preferences. It would explain the sudden escalation in the number of victims. They're fuelling each other's appetites, which could cause them to rapidly devolve into more brutal methods." Reid chimed in, speaking in a hurried manner as usual and causing everyone to shuffle in their seats at this implication, whilst Gideon rubbed at his temples.
"We could have benefitted from Morgan's expertise on this. We may be looking at an obsessive set of males who are attempting to recreate a specific fantasy." Gideon commented, as Penelope stared at the information in front of her intensely, until an idea formed in her mind.
"Actually, Sir. I may know someone who can help." She blurted, drawing the entire team's attention. "Alic-Agent Hawthorne from Interpol specialises in abductions. I've never known anyone as efficient at finding people." She suggested, mentally keeping every part of her body crossed whilst Hotch considered her words.
"We are starting from scratch on this case, Hotch." Gideon interrupted, seeming surprisingly gripped by Penelope's suggestion. "We still have six girls missing and no guarantee that they will release any of them as they did the first few. We know that a pack typically escalates. Any expert help we can employ could make all the difference." He added, before Reid cleared his throat to support him.
"Alice was instrumental in seeking out Valeno's victims, even those who were trafficked at the very beginning of his leadership. It's probable that her assistance would greatly increase the chances of recovering these women alive." Reid suggested keenly and Penelope smiled at his enthusiasm for this idea.
"I'll call Agent Shepard and ask to have her meet us at the Dulvey station. Everyone else, wheels up in thirty."
- O - O - O - O - O -
Penelope struggled to mask her disappointment as Alice joined the video call and could hardly believe that Interpol would only allow her to consult on this case remotely. It seemed utterly childish to her that they would restrict her friend's progression so intensely and she knew that the rest of the team had been looking forward to her assistance too.
As a result, Morgan had discharged himself from the hospital early, against medical advice, on the condition that he would only work from the local police station and he had already planned to act as Alice's physical presence should she need anything investigated.
The BAU team joined the call from the police station and were deeply involved in a conversation about the psychology of the suspect, which mostly went over Penelope's head. She was immensely distracted by how exhausted Alice looked, even on camera and couldn't help wondering whether the situation within Interpol had worsened since her visit. There were deep circles under her eyes, which despite her best efforts to conceal it, were lacking their usual sparkle. Her skin appeared paler than usual and she was dressed modestly, as if she were afraid to show any skin.
A door opened behind Alice, drawing Penelope's attention and a tall, bulky man with dark hair entered the room. He approached her desk with confidence, behaving as if he absolutely belonged in her office and was not remotely concerned about interrupting the call as he placed himself uncomfortably close to the screen.
"Good Afternoon, Alice." He drawled as he closed into her space and Penelope noticed that her friend immediately stiffened at the sound of his voice, thick with a French accent. "Shepard asked me to bring you these and to check if there was anything that I could do to assist you with this ghastly case?" He dropped a small stack of files on her desk, causing her to startle at the sound and she glanced up at him doubtfully.
"Thank you, Vidal. I'm quite alright with the BAU team's assistance." Alice answered curtly, visibly uncomfortable as she motioned to the screen, as if she were reminding him that there were others watching.
Instead of responding to her awkwardness by leaving, the man perched on the edge of her desk, blocking her partly from the view of the camera with his back. By now, the rest of the BAU team were beginning to take notice of the strange interaction as conversation between them dulled down to nothing and they all stared at the screen with analytical expressions.
"My dear Alice. How many times must I ask you to call me Étienne?" He crooned, leaning further into her space, only for her to lurch away.
A chill ran down Penelope's spine at the way that he smirked at her startled friend and though she couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was, she knew that something was wrong as she paid close attention to everything that he said when he continued.
"In all honesty, Shepard only told me to drop the files, actually. I gathered some intel on a similar case a while ago as a case study. I'm quite confident that I could assist you with it. You don't have to work alone."
"I'm not alone, Vidal. As I said before, there is a team leading the investigation who I am assisting. Now, if you'll excuse me you're interrupting a briefing with that very team." Alice's voice grew firmer, but the anxiety behind it was still clear, spreading to her face as she forced herself to meet his eyes. "Is there anything else that you needed?"
A snide expression crossed the male agent's face and Alice gulped subtly. He gradually rose to his feet, towering over her for several minutes intimidatingly and eventually strolled toward the door.
"My apologies for the intrusion, Madame. You know where I am if you need...anything." He sneered, before finally departing and Penelope exchanged meaningful looks with each of her colleagues as they noticed how shaken Alice seemed by the interaction.
The tension in the office where the BAU team worked was clear, even over video call as they silently shared concern and Penelope wished that she was present with them so that she could better judge their reactions.
"Sorry about that. It's difficult to get any peace here when you're shared between multiple teams. Where were we?" Alice breezed, attempting to conceal her emotions behind false enthusiasm, but her lack of energy left her performance feeling flat. "Ah, location. Have you pinpointed anything that could indicate his comfort zone?"
Though the briefing resumed, resulting in roles being assigned to each member of the team, Penelope could tell that everyone was still on edge from what they had witnessed. As Hotch began confirming plans, another voice interrupted from Alice's end of the call.
"Hawthorne. Shepard wants to see you in his office."
"No rest for the wicked." Alice commented with a weak smile toward the camera and the way that she cleared her throat as she began to gather her things indicated that she was straining to keep her voice even.
"Sorry guys. I'll get this over with and review the files from Vidal for anything useful. Give me a call when you're finished following your leads, or if you need anything at all." She instructed, before disconnecting from the call.
Hotch and Gideon wasted no time in rushing from the room to complete their tasks, but Morgan and Reid remained in place, seeming equally as dazed as Penelope felt.
"Babygirl, your friend told you anything about that agent that delivered the case files?" Morgan enquired, leaning closer to the camera to address her, whilst Reid stared into space, seeming as if he was deep in thought.
"No, Sugar. I've never heard his name before. She said she wasn't close to anyone at Interpol." Penelope answered, fidgeting awkwardly as she replayed the interaction in her mind and felt the hairs on her arms stand on end. "Alice doesn't act like that, Morgan."
"She certainly did seem on edge, that's for sure. We can't read too much into it without knowing more about their relationship, though. We don't poke our noses into each other's lives without cause and we don't profile each other, you know that." Morgan advised carefully, seeming reluctant to inspire any action, but it was still painfully obvious that he was concerned.
Penelope chewed on her lip, as she considered researching the agent in question and couldn't decide whether it was wise to confide in the other two about her intentions.
"She could simply have been trying to keep her private life that way." Morgan added firmly, as if reading her mind and she sighed in frustration.
"No way. If she was involved with anyone she would have told me. Alice is terrible at covering her feelings for anyone!" Penelope insisted and she noticed that Reid seemed to pay close attention to her assertion that Alice was available, before quickly attempting to cover it.
"The manner in which they addressed each other was contradictory. He referred to her as Alice, but she repeatedly responded formally. She was attempting to create distance, indicating that she was uncomfortable with their physical closeness. Actually, many of Vidal's seemingly doting postures seemed to be specifically chosen to display a power imbalance. He wanted to dominate the interaction." Reid spouted out analysis as if he could no longer contain his criticism and she smiled at his support, whilst Morgan leaned back in his seat.
"So he's a creep. It's unfortunate of an agent, but not a crime." Morgan shrugged, attempting to seem careless, when it was painfully obvious that he was uncomfortable with the display that they'd just witnessed. "I'm sure that Alice can handle herself." He asserted with a smile and before Penelope could disagree, Gideon poked his head back into the room.
"What are you two waiting for? We've got a case to work." He insisted, glancing between them both with confusion and when neither of them rushed to join him, he re-entered the room properly. "You're worried about the Interpol girl?" He suggested, causing both men to look up at him in surprise.
"Doesn't take a profiler to see that her colleague is a classic narcissist, who is fascinated by her dismissive attitude towards him. It is problematic. Unfortunately, they are both Interpol members of staff and so it's an Interpol matter. Unlike this case, which requires your attention. Reid, you're with me. Let's go."