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Chapter Ten:
"Wow, pretty boy," Morgan said as he entered. "Wow."
"I'll say," Hotch said.
"Is this all yours Uncle Spencer?" Hank asked.
"This is really cool," Jack said.
"It sure is," I said with smile.
Savanah appeared carrying their seven-month-old daughter Sharon.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"I hope the plane ride wasn't too much for her," I said looking at her sweet face.
"Nope," she said. "Little Sharon slept right through it."
"Let's check this place out," Morgan said.
"There's a game room downstairs," I said.
"Awesome!" Hank said.
"What kind of games are there?" Jack asked.
"Lead the way Spencer," Hotch said.
"Am I going to be beaten handily at ski-ball by a four-year-old?" I asked.
"If he's anything like me, you will," Morgan said with a smile.
I sighed and Morgan laughed and patted me on the back. Even Hotch was smiling.
…
After lunch, the kids were settled in watching a movie in the home theater with Savanah so Morgan, Hotch, and I could really talk.
"How's the eye?" he asked as we sat my office.
"It's healing slowly," I said.
"This has to be a huge adjustment," Hotch said. "How are you holding up?"
"When I was infected with Anthrax, he visited me in secret. My mom and he met regularly. He tried to reach out me but my mother wouldn't allow it. Jacob Jensen agreed with her wishes so long as he was alive."
"This must be extremely tough Reid," Morgan said.
"I'm getting through it," I said. "My cousin Nico Cade has been phenomenal. My half siblings are terrible, but I couldn't ask for a better cousin."
"Your siblings have retained the services of Liam Harris," Hotch said.
"I know he has a terrible reputation, but not much else," I said.
"Harris is a cash upfront lawyer who will twist the truth to suit his needs. He probably told your siblings they had a case. I looked at a copy of the will uploaded online. They don't come more valid than what Jacob Jensen established."
"Should I be retaining legal counsel?"
"Ask a member of the Jensen legal team," Hotch said. "As they're the ones who put it together, they should be able to defend it. If Jensen is thorough as I suspect, he probably has safeguards already in place."
"How'd you end up on the west coast anyway, Hotch?" Morgan asked.
"Once we left witness protection, I entered practice at a law firm. A year later there was an opportunity for a transfer to California and I liked the idea of one final fresh start for all of us."
"It sounds great," I said. "Did you ever run into Jensen-my father?"
"I dealt mostly with permitting," he said. "But on my way out one day, he called out for me as Hotch. I thought it was odd, but I also knew his reputation as knowing every person who worked for his company. He thanked me profusely for all my hard word even though I had only been at the company for a week. I think there was a double meaning behind, it looking back now."
"He knew everything about me," I said. "He probably knew you too."
"Have you thought about what you're going to do for the long haul?" Morgan asked.
"I want to see what I can do in the tech section of the company," I said. "Their chief engineer and I get along already, so I am eager to collaborate with her more to see what we can accomplish."
"It sounds like as much of a plan as one can have at this point," Hotch said. "You're always welcome at my apartment Jack, Tracy and I."
"Who's Tracy?" Morgan and I both asked together.
"My fiancé of two months," he said with a smile. "She's a private security firm consultant and currently on assignment abroad for another week. I finally know what it is like to live with myself."
I checked my watch.
"The movie is going to be over soon," I said "We should go down. I am having pizza made as I didn't want the delivery man to sneak in a camera."
"Homemade pizza sounds awesome," Morgan said.
"By professional chefs no less," Hotch said.
"Nothing but the best for you guys," I said with a smile.
…
After a massive slumber party full of pillow fights in which I got hit more than Hotch, despite being the one with the black eye, everyone slept in the next morning. Savanah was going to take Hank and Sharon to the park while I gave Hotch, Morgan, and Jack a tour of Jensen Tech. Making sure to have all my keys, it promised to be a fun tour.
"I have never been here when it was this quiet," Hotch said.
"It's like being in the BAU on the weekends," Morgan said.
"It's hard to believe those days are behind all three of us now," I said.
The door opened on floor three to a massive wave of music.
"It's time to try/Defying gravity/I think I'll try/Defying gravity/And you can't pull me down."
Almost as if in agent mode we cautiously walked into the space. Then Nessa came skipping forward, oblivious to our appearance as she mouthed the words:
"I'd sooner buy/Defying gravity/Kiss me goodbye/I'm defying gravity/And you can't pull me down."
She twirled at the end and stopped mid-spin. Nessa looked a like a deer caught in a headlight.
The song began change, and she quickly used her phone to shut it off.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm breaking no labor rules. I swear. I promise. I can just work better on my side projects in solitude with musicals such as Wicked blaring from the speakers."
"Guys," I said. "This is Venessa Lutze. Our chief technical engineer. Wendel Logan joked that you lived here and I'm beginning to think that not be a joke."
"Oh, it's a joke," she said. "I don't live here. I have an address and a cat who hates me, I think. I'm really sorry."
"Nessa," I said. "There is nothing to be sorry for so long as you aren't working on company time."
"Okay," she said.
"Can we look around?" I asked.
"It's your company," she said. "By all means."
"This place is cool," Jack said looking at boat prototypes.
"Jensen was really interested in building machines with smaller carbon footprints," I said. "It is really fascinating work."
"What is this?" Morgan asked.
A piece white fabric was on display with blue wires the size of thread sticking out.
"Wearable technology," I said. "Clothing that cools a person down automatically. Not to mention clothing that can handle excessive wear and tear while also more biodegradable than the standard t-shirt."
"Neat," Jack said.
"This feels like home for you Reid," Morgan said.
After poking around a little bit, more, we went to back to where Nessa was working.
"You can put the music back on if you'd like," I said.
"Thanks," she said. "And thanks for understanding."
"Sure," I said.
Hotch and Morgan were smiling at me when we got in the elevator.
"What?"
"Somebody likes you," Morgan said.
"As in like, like?" Jack asked. "As in love?"
"That's a word for it, son," Hotch said.
"She's just glad I'm not Carina or August," I said.
"Whatever you say, pretty boy," Morgan said.
I wanted to tell him that the name was getting on my nerves after the unsub used it. But that would've meant telling him everything and I don't think I'll ever be ready to do that. So, I had to live with a minor annoyance.
"So, this is the executive level," Hotch said interrupting my thoughts.
"I actually haven't been in the office yet," I said. "I was busy in tech."
We passed the reception area and I used one of my keys to open the door. The office was massive and had paintings Rossi would be envious to own. The desk was of a quality polished wood.
"Take a seat," Morgan said. "Let's see how you look as the big boss."
"It's quite a transition from a cubicle to this," Hotch said.
I took seat the blue leather chair. I felt the weight of the company on me. It was powerful.
There was an envelope on the desk. I opened it to find a letter and read it out loud:
"Dear Spencer,
If you're reading this, it means I am dead and you know most of my secrets by now. I hope you know that I tried to do right by you in whatever way that I could without you knowing it. These are my last secrets.
I met Jason Gideon when we were both admiring rare bird paintings at an event in DC. Carina has expressed interest in birds at the time and I was desperate to show her something that might inspire a career. He told me he was looking for a new protégé and I mentioned that I knew of a young man at Cal Tech who was extraordinarily smart with a heart of gold. I think he guessed my relationship to you, but didn't say anything. I never met him again.
It gutted me that you were tortured the way you were. I had some power in Washington and I pushed to make sure you kept your job through back alley dealing. I spread my power around so my influence wasn't obvious.
I hope you've met Nessa by now. I knew you two were at MIT together briefly. Am I playing matchmaker? I don't know, as I don't know your preferences in women. I love her dearly, Spencer. Maybe you will too.
There are probably a few more things you'll find out about me in time, but this is my last formal confession. I love you Spencer. I always have.
Love always,
Jacob Jensen"
There were tears running down my face. Morgan hugged me and Hotch patted me on the back. I was not sure how many more revelations I could take.