Chapter 11
Morgan slid past the coroner's assistants carrying Robert Eisler's dead body. He watched as Elle shuddered as the corpse passed. It made him bristle inside, seeing the normally cool Elle so distraught.
Hotch and Gideon searched the house frantically, looking for the girls that Elle said were there.
Gideon stumbled down the basement stairs, flipping on the light. "Hotch!" he yelled up the stairs.
Hotch quickly followed him down the rickety stairs. He spotted the newspaper clippings on the wall and turned away quickly. It nearly killed him to think of what his friend had been through.
"Look at this," Gideon said, walking over to a large padlocked freezer in the corner.
"Elle didn't mention anything about this," Hotch said.
"Yeah, well, she was in the dark for the whole time. I doubt she was able to see much of anything," Gideon replied. He yanked on the padlock. "Locked tight."
Hotch looked around and spotted a crowbar. "Here," he said, handing Gideon the tool.
Gideon and Hotch pushed down on the bar, and the padlock popped off. They dropped the crowbar and lifted the lid.
The smell nearly knocked them off their feet. They stared in horror at the ice-crusted, naked bodies. Dried blood coated the bottom of the unit and some of the bodies. Each girl had her throat slit nearly to the spine or deeper.
Hotch reached for his radio. "We need the coroner down here in the basement," he said hoarsely.
Gideon couldn't tear his eyes away. To think, if they had been a little later, this would have happened to Elle. It was a thought that he just couldn't handle. He finally turned away and grabbed Hotch's shoulder. "Let's go," he whispered.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Elle sat in a waiting ambulance. The paramedics had said that she had a few bruises, but other than that she was fine. At least physically. She watched as the coroner's van carried away the man that had held her hostage for the past twenty-four hours. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. She shivered as the coroner carried six more bodies from the house, knowing that that could have been her.
Reid appeared beside her, a cup of coffee in his hand. He smiled as he handed it to her. "Thought you might want this."
Elle smiled at him gratefully and sipped it. "Mmmm, just the way I like it."
Reid sat next to her. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he said, "You scared me to death, Elle."
Elle looked at him, surprised.
"Really, you did," he said as he caught her eyes. "I don't know what I would have done if…"
Elle silenced him. "Thanks, Spence," she said, smiling at him. She glanced at her coffee, then back at him. "So, uh, how did you know that it was the black wire?"
Reid suddenly looked nervous. "Um…. I didn't."
Elle put her hand to her mouth. "You didn't?"
Reid shook his head and grinned at her. "Nope. I guessed."
Elle shook her head and laughed for the first time in twenty-four hours. "Nice guess," she said, putting her arm around his thin shoulders. He leaned into her embrace and grinned.
Hotch and Morgan approached them, a concerned look on their faces. "How are you?" Hotch asked, obviously concerned.
Elle thought for a minute, and the corner of her lips turned up into a smile. "I'm fine," she said.
Hotch sat on the other side of her and put his arm around her, while Morgan stood in front of them
"You know, he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown while you were missing," Morgan said, laughter in his eyes. Reid snickered.
Hotch turned red as Elle laughed. "Really?"
Hotch glared at Morgan. "They don't call them nervous breakdowns anymore," he said.
The three agents laughed again, and Elle hugged Hotch. "It's nice to know I'm cared about."
"You really are, Elle," he replied in all seriousness. "You really are." Morgan nodded emphatically, and Elle gave him a hug. He held her tightly, the friend that he had almost lost.
Gideon approached the threesome. "They want to take you to the hospital, just to check you out."
Elle groaned. "I just want to go home to bed."
Gideon shook his head. "You know procedure."
Elle finished her coffee and stood with the help of Morgan. "All right, let's get this over with."
Gideon helped her into the ambulance, and she sat on the gurney inside. "Oh, and Elle?"
Elle looked at him questioningly.
"Next time lock your door when you get home." With that, Gideon shut the doors.
"Appetitus Rationi Pareat (Let your desires be ruled by reason)"- Cicero
Pretty much wrapping everything up in this chapter! I know it's probably not as exciting as the others, but I hope you liked it! Please review, and constructive criticism is always welcome!