Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to Ms. Evanovich and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warning: Adult language, adult situations

Chapter 42: Saturday, August 27th, 1200-1400

Command Center, Ranger's Estate

JJ's POV

Now that we have a focus, our investigation is moving along at a faster pace. It is always easier once we deliver the profile. When our focus is scattered all over the place, it is difficult to determine who we should be looking at amongst a city full of suspects. Knowing that two of our unsubs aren't in the State of Florida, but over a thousand miles away makes it easier in some respects, but harder in others. Since Steph suggested that illegal adoption could play into this case, Garcia has been trolling the dark web and the internet for any children for "adoption" without the usual bells and whistles. About an hour after she started, she got a hit. Stephanie returned to the Command Center after a half-hour, saying that Julie wanted to wait until after her appointment to shop.

"Um, guys, I think you need to come over here," Garcia exclaims.

"What's up, Penelope?" Emily asks.

"I started looking on the dark web for adoptions, and on the regular web, it is crazy how many people are trying to get couples to pay a lot of money for kids when there are so many kids in need…" Garcia rambles before Dave interrupts.

"Garcia, what did you find?"

"Sorry, I was rambling. I found a post made by Discrete Adoption Services, listing an address in Brick, NJ as their headquarters. They list three babies currently available for adoption, two boys and one girl. All are under a year old. They do not have any fees posted on the site. The site directs potential clients to e-mail one of the members of the adoption team for more information. Could this be our unsub?"

"Brick is approximately 33 miles northeast of Trenton. If Terry Gilman is the unsub, this could be her." Reid states.

"Brick is outside of our zone at Rangeman so that we wouldn't be involved in any crimes or police investigations there," Ranger adds.

"Dickie's Aunt Carmela on his father's side lived in Brick. I think she also owned a candy store back in the day." Stephanie informs everyone.

"Then this is a viable lead. How do you think we should approach the lead?" Alvez asks.

Stephanie replies, "a distraction."

We look at her confused by what she means. She continues, "they are looking for a family to adopt these children. Two of you can pose as a wealthy couple who are looking to adopt a child on the DL. Maybe the wife suffered a late-term miscarriage, and you don't want everyone to know that you lost the child. I think JJ and Matt could act as a wealthy couple. You can be a partner in a prestigious advertising firm, living in a wealthy part of Florida, maybe Palm Beach. I'm sure that Terry will perform a basic internet search on the couple before contacting them back, so maybe Hector and Penelope can create some history on the web. The five-month-old will be the perfect one for you, given his blonde hair and blue eyes. You can pose for some pictures out back with the ocean as your backdrop. JJ, you look like you are around my size and I'm sure I have some clothes you can wear to play a role in some pictures. Matt, you and Lester are about the same size. Maybe he has some stuff here or at Rangeman headquarters that you can borrow."

I watch as we all contemplate Stephanie's plan. I think we are all a little surprised that we didn't think of this plan. Stephanie is an asset to this team and this investigation. I watch, and Emily and David look at each other and smile. I see the moment they decide to go with Stephanie's plan.

"Stephanie, that is a great idea. I think it will work. Garcia, how long will it take for you to create a fake presence on the internet to have Terry send us the fees?"

Hector and Garcia look at each other, silently communicating in two different languages, before Garcia answers, "about an hour for the social media and false lives."

"I have several aliases set up for Stephanie and myself with covers already in place. There are also bank accounts associated with these aliases that will allow for our fictitious couple to afford the child. Let me talk to my handler. While the Pentagon created most of my aliases, there are four that I created. One is a wealthy couple from Palm Beach. Their names are Eric and Samantha Wilson." Ranger nods to Hector, he hits a few strokes on his computer, bringing up the data on the Wilsons.

We spend a few minutes pouring over the information and decide what we can easily use them as our cover. Hector and Garcia modify the cover to fit Matt and me. Once we finish modifying the cover, Matt e-mails Terry expressing interest in the five-month-old boy. Now we wait until we get a response.

About five minutes later, Maggie comes bustling into the Command Center. "I have lunch for you." She exclaims, setting up sandwiches, fresh fruit, salads, and some cookies on the kitchen counter while taking out bottles of water, seltzer, soda, and juice out of the fridge. Next, comes a large thermos of coffee.

"I know you are used to drinking cop shop coffee, which is almost as bad as hospital coffee. I made Cuban coffee for you. I also have regular coffee if Cuban coffee is too strong. Carlos, Dr. Purpura is here, if you would like to talk to her before she meets with Julie."

"Thank you for everything, Maggie. I'll go to Julie now." I watch as Ranger walks out of the house, staring at his ass. I can't help it; he's the perfect male specimen. I love Will, he is a great husband and father, but I'd have to be dead not to look at and appreciate Ranger. I glance at Stephanie who is smiling at me.

"I've seen women walk into walls and drop things they were carrying because they are too busy staring at Ranger. It's funny seeing everyone's reaction." Stephanie says.

"How do you not self-combust?" I ask her, with Emily, Tara, and Penelope joining our conversation away from the men.

"Two words: Shower massager," Steph replies, blushing.

"I don't mean to pry, but what is your relationship to Ranger? I mean, Detective Morelli was here, and he seemed to think that you were engaged. However, I don't see an engagement ring, and you don't act like an engaged couple, but when I see you with Manoso, it looks as though you are in a relationship." Emily asks.

Stephanie sighs, putting down her sandwich on her plate. "It's complicated. Ranger and I met about four years ago when I blackmailed my perverted cousin Vinnie into giving me a job. His regular bounty hunter had just had an emergency appendectomy, he gave me my first skip, Joe Morelli. I had no idea what I was doing, Connie, the office manager, called in a favor Ranger owed her. I met him in a diner. He was ghetto Ranger when I met him or at least portrayed that persona. He was wearing clothes typical of the street gangs, large diamond stud earrings and his hair was long, tied back with a leather tie. He tried to intimidate me, but I was desperate. I had no money, Mazda Financial repossessed my Miata, forcing me to buy and drive an ugly brown Nova. Ranger took pity on me, agreeing to be my Henry Higgins. From our start as a mentor/mentee, we developed a friendship. I consider Ranger to be my best friend. He had always helped me when I needed help, lent me cars, given me a job, and rescued me more times than I could count. But he also told me that his life doesn't lend itself to relationships and that his love didn't come with a ring, but a condom would come in handy. He told me I was a budget line under entertainment. He said he would give me a child." She said before pausing a looking down at her feet.

"We slept together the first time as a result of a bet. It was magical. The next morning, though, reality set in when he walked out of my apartment, telling me to fix my relationship with Joe Morelli. He broke my heart the first time that morning. Since then, we've been lovers a few other times and spent several glorious days in Hawaii. I knew I loved him after Scrog shot him, but I know that he doesn't love me. Lately, he's been telling me that he loves me and pictures us together for the long-haul, but I can't believe him. I mean, why would a man like Carlos settle for someone like me? I'm not worthy of Carlos. Every man I have ever given part of my heart has either cheated on me or raped me. What makes Carlos any different?"

I see a woman standing before me who has such low self-esteem and low confidence that is typical of battered women. I'm wondering what has made her this way. I know Tara recommended therapy to Stephanie and I must agree that she needs it if she is ever going to be happy.

"Stephanie, from what we have all observed since the day we met you, Ranger loves you. He is never going to let you go if you let him into your heart. But, due to your past relationships, I understand why you find it hard to believe him. I think is it imperative that you get the therapy you need so that you and Ranger have a chance at a future." I tell her.

"I don't know, JJ. I mean, I can't cook, I hate to clean, I'm not sure if I ever want children, what can I bring to a relationship?"

"Stephanie, I can barely cook. I think my entire menu consists of about ten items. I have a cleaning service to take care of my apartment. I know children aren't in the cards for me, but I haven't let it stop me from having relationships. I haven't met the right man yet, but someday I will." Emily confesses.

I add, "I'm no gourmet chef either, but Will and I make it work. We share the housework and cooking responsibilities. Will supports my career. Hell, he gave up his position in the New Orleans Police Department to move to the DC area when I discovered I was pregnant. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith to find your happiness."

"I guess, but no matter what I do, unless I become a Burg woman, I'm an outcast, I'm a disaster, I'm a waste of space. My mother doesn't even agree with my choices. How can I make a choice and choose something that will disappoint my family?"

Damn, she is a battered woman, only an emotionally battered woman. I hope that she gets the therapy she needs. I don't get how she doesn't see how bright and talented she is, how intelligent. I mean, she has made most of the major connections in the case, not us. I wish she could join our team!

"Stephanie, you are such a strong and intelligent woman. If you ever wanted to work for the FBI, we would all gladly vouch for you. I'm sure that Emily and Dave would demand that you join our team. You have great instincts. We know as much as we do because of you. Don't doubt yourself. You are Wonder Woman." Tara tells her.

At that moment, Ranger returns. We finish cleaning up from our lunch, so we are ready to get back to work on tightening the Wilsons' cover. We get a ping on the e-mail. Bingo! Terry responded. Now we need to tackle the application.