Disclaimer: Anything familiar belongs to JE and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warning: Adult language, adult situations

Chapter 58: Tuesday, August 30th; 0800-1300

Palm Beach

JJ POV

In a few hours, we will hopefully have our unsubs in custody. Matt and I woke up at seven, took our showers and got dressed for the day. At eight, we had a conference call with the rest of the team and Ranger's men. We finalized our plan and went about our morning. Ranger contacted Emily this morning to confirm that Terry Gilman, Richard Orr, and a baby boy boarded the plane in Newark. He had two of his men waiting at the airport to make the confirmation. Garcia is tracking the plane's flight, which is expected to land here in Miami on time. She found the reservation Terry made for the Honda CRV and Rangeman placed a tracking device on the car. Marco spoke to the manager from the rental agency, ensuring that Terry only gets the car she originally requested.

During our meeting, Emily told us about the break in the case. Last night, two of our unsubs were captured when they decided to break into Marco's, the head of Miami Rangeman, home. He was at home with two other Rangemen, and they were able to subdue the suspects. Ranger has them under lock and key at the Rangeman Miami building, with his guys from Trenton, Lester, Hector, and Bobby, guarding their cell. I know we are all itching to interrogate them.

Once the meeting is over, we place some random pictures around the house. I have some pictures from the BAU's random gatherings over the years, as well as photoshopped photos with Simmons and me. This way when Emily and Luke come in, it will be more realistic.

At ten, we receive a call from Tina Conti, aka Terry Gilman, confirming that she is in Florida; on her way to our home, with her ETA set for eleven-thirty. Even though I know we have a strong plan, and that everything will go down smoothly, I can't help but feel apprehensive. I'm always more concerned when there are children involved, having an infant in the middle of this whole operation is scary. That poor, innocent baby could so easily be hurt or killed. My main priority is going to be to get him out of harm's way as soon as possible, to minimize the risk he will be in.

We are hoping to convince Terry and Dickie to join us in the kitchen, for coffee and cake to celebrate the adoption. If we can corner them in the kitchen, we have the best chance of getting them with minimal risk. The table is set up off to the corner. There is only one seat where one could see out of a window. We decide to put the highchair in the location. It is also the best location for us to sit down and sign all the paperwork.

If the kitchen doesn't work, we will sit in the living room. The only difference is that I will need to get the baby out of the room faster to ensure his safety if we are in the living room. The team will need to enter the kitchen, which leads to a greater chance that Terry and Dickie will figure out what is happening.

"JJ, let's set up a pack 'n play in the living room." Matt states.

"I don't think that is a good idea just yet. With a pack 'n play, it will be harder to get the baby out of the room. We will have a location to place him that will keep him in harm's way. If we don't have one, then I have an excuse to bring him to our room or his room, where he will be safe."

"I guess you're right. What are we going to do about being natural around the baby?"

"What do you mean?" I ask him.

"Well, most first-time parents have no idea how to change a diaper, know when a bottle is heated to the appropriate temperature, or even know how to hold a child. We are both parents, who have gone through the paces. How do we keep Terry from getting suspicious?"

"For me, it's easy. I had quite a lucrative babysitting business when I was a teenager. Also, we have nieces and nephews." I respond.

"Okay, so then I'll try to act the way I did when we had our first child. I'll be the idiot father who doesn't have the first clue when it comes to taking care of an infant." Matt states.

"I think that will work. What do we do if Terry wants to accompany me to the baby's room? How do we keep her in the same room as Dickie?"

"I don't think Terry has too many maternal instincts. I don't think she understands much about babies, nor do I think she wants them. Based on our profile, I don't see her making any more effort than minimally required to run the con. If we keep up our façade, convincing them that we take them at face value, I don't think she'll want to be near that child any more than she must."

"We need a stuffed animal. Something to give to the baby when he walks in. We need a camera out and ready to take our first 'family pictures." I'm sure that real adoptive parents take pictures of their child the first moment they lay their eyes on them, just like we did in the hospital when our children were born."

"You're right, JJ. We'll have our phones ready to record him being carried into our home. I'll continue to record you both the first time you hold him, making the traditional memories that families make when a new child comes into their world."

"That sounds like a plan."

We hear Rossi speak into our earbuds, "Suspects did a drive-by. Everything must be in order because they are on their way back down the block. Showtime."

We hear the car pull up outside on our gravel driveway. We both go to the front door, Matt with his phone out. I open the door, practically running out onto the grass. I watch as Terry slowly unbuckles the baby, carefully lifting him out of the car. She has dressed the part, and if I didn't know any better, I'd think they were both legitimate. Once she is about fifteen feet away from me, I meet her on the lawn.

"You must be Tina. I'm Samantha Wilson. Can I please hold my son?" I ask Terry as I introduce myself.

"Samantha, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm so glad that you can adopt this child. He is such a sweet boy." Terry responds, laying it on thick. She hands the baby to me, and I immediately kiss his forehead and examine his body.

"He's perfect. I'm so glad you're home, Eric Jr." I state while holding the baby. I turn quickly and bring the baby into the house. Matt follows us inside. We lead Terry and Dickie into the kitchen. So far, our plan is working.