Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I'm grateful for the input! I do need to apologize for the confusing scene changes. The page breaks showed up in my computer, but not on the sight. I have reposted this chapter correctly. Thanks again everybody!
CHAPTER FOUR
"Spencer, I'm brining in another box. Where do you want it?" Elle hollered as she walked into the house. They had been moving her things in a little at a time. Now it was her last chance to finish as her apartment lease was up.
"I just finished unpacking one in the kitchen, so the table's clear." He answered as he put the last of Elle's dishes in the cabinet with his own. Spencer wasn't big on cooking, so there was plenty of room for Elle's cookware.
Meanwhile, Elle was busy unloading the last box of her things. She paused as she held up two bottles of shampoo. "How the heck did these end up in the kitchen Tupperware?" She then turned and headed to the bathroom.
Spencer had climbed up on a chair in order to put the good dishes on the highest shelf. They would only be brought down for dinner parties or holidays, so there was no reason to have them down with the plates they use everyday.
"Aaahhhhh!" Screeched Elle from the bathroom.
Spencer took off down the hall as fast as his legs would carry him, ready to take down whatever was attacking his woman. He slammed the door open to find Elle standing on the toilet seat.
"Popi! Kill it! Kill it!" She yelled.
"What? Kill what?" Spencer spun around quickly, expecting to see some horrible deformed creature.
"The spider! Its right there!" Elle pointed as she leaned slightly on his shoulder to emphasize the gesture. The small critter was about the size of a quarter.
Spencer turned and faced her slowly and looked his girl straight in the eye. "Are you freakin' serious?"
"What?" Elle lost a bit of the edge of terror under Spencer's scrutiny.
"You can take down a 300 pound unsub with your bare hands, but you can't step on one tiny spider?" He should really stop chuckling; Elle was going to get mad if he didn't stop chucking.
"Well Genius, I'm not wearing any shoes." Uh-oh, she didn't look like she thought it was as funny as he did.
"I'm just teasing, baby." He offered in apology.
"Are you wearing shoes?"
"Yeah." He answered.
"Then start steppin' its getting away." Elle cocked an eyebrow and stood straight on her perch, hands on her hips.
"I'd only do this for you Princess."
Spencer was tired. He was about to give up and try something else. He had been bending and turning the wire for almost an hour. He had a couple close calls, but no success. The lock just wouldn't—'click'
'Never mind, time to go.' Spencer quietly eased the heavy door open. When he was met with silence, he peered out into some type of hallway. It was clear that he was in a house. The furnishings were outdated and dusty, but in their day would have been top quality and tasteful.
There were footprints in the dust leading to the room that he had just escaped. He looked around cautiously silent. If the unsub was still here, Spencer did not want to alert them to his current state of flight.
He crept along to the end of the hallway that held a window. Outside there was nothing but grass and trees and sunshine. He would have to find a way to a road somehow. Then he would need to get to a pay phone. If he chose to be smart, he would put his first call into Garcia. She could track his location and send the rescue party. Or he could call Elle first and completely out their relationship. Damn.
He made it down the stairs and out the door without seeing another soul. He took note of the lack of car in the gravel driveway. Now he knew he had at least until a car returned before the unsub came searching. The trees would make good cover until he could find help.
Spencer Reid began to run.
Elle slammed the door to the bathroom shut and almost locked it. 'No.' She stopped herself. 'If they find Spencer, they'll come looking for you.'
Instead, she locked herself inside a stall and gave into the tears that she held back for the past thirty-six hours. Once she began, they wouldn't stop. The door opened slowly.
"Elle?" It was Garcia. "Elle, honey?"
She tried to move her lips and say she was fine, but all that came out was a muffled sob.
Garcia rapped on the door stall. "Open up," came the command. The voice that made it was thick with tears as well. Elle obeyed.
"Look," the tech began, "the current files I requested will take exactly seven minutes to fully download. The way I see, we have seven minutes to cry our hearts out. After that, we suck it up and get back to work. Whacha think?"
Elle reached out her hand. The two sat down on the floor and held hands while they cried.
Eight minutes later, both of them were back at their desks; the only sign of upset was their red faces and swollen eyes.
It had been like tripping a handicapped kid, even two hours later. Hotch would have given anything to not have to tell Elle about the condition they found Reid's car. Burned to a crisp. There was nothing to salvage. They would be lucky if they could collect any decent evidence.
The Land rover was parked under an underpass. There had been an empty gas can and box of matches on the ground close by, both were clean. Whoever took Dr. Reid was being very thorough. They had no time left. The unsub's intent was a clear end game. He would kill himself or Reid. It would be soon.
They were running out of time.