It pains me to see a parent who showed grief expression to tell them their child commits a crime to murder innocent people. I know it's all part of our job but sometimes... I hate it to be the bearer of the news to tell them.
Job aside, I've become closer to Reid before the moment when we first place. There's something about this guy who brings me out of the darkness. I've been through a lot of pain from the past but Reid pulls me out. I know it's time for me to take into the next stage but the question is... does he feels the same way as me? ~Novilene Cruz
Novilene went inside of the bullpen wearing a casual dress instead of working attire. Ignoring their staring because she's fuming in anger to a certain someone decided to buy her a gift. She's supposed to have day-off today to spend time with her grandma and Alex to visit her but someone ruining it. Luckily for Novilene, Alex has a driving license and allow him to use her car to drop off to work. Novilene failed to notice Reid is staring at her and ignoring Moran's teasing as she straights towards Hotch's office.
"Yo, Reid!" Morgan snapped his fingers in front of Reid's face to make his senses back. "You drooled seeing mini Gideon." Reid blushed and trying to wipe it off if he has a drool but there's nothing as Morgan laughs out loud. "Man, you're whipped!"
Spencer Reid is officially smitten towards Novilene Cruz, the daughter of famous Jason Gideon. Both men can't deny that Novilene is an attractive person despite she's a half Asian and some of the men couldn't help but ask her out.
"I can't believe you lied to me, Morgan." He glared at the older man and lose the confidence to asks some tips from him. "I thought Lenny would have an off today because her grandmother and younger brother are arriving today."
"Ohh... have you been stalking her life?" Morgan wiggling his eyebrows causing Reid to glared more of his friend. "How did you know? That her family is coming over?"
"I have been told that Mrs Cruz and her younger brother, Alex, are coming over." He sips his coffee. "She invited Gideon to fetch them but he rejects it." Reid is not the only one who could see the tension between his mentor and Novilene.
"Yikes, I guess the tension between them are still a bit tense huh?" Morgan couldn't help but feel sympathy towards the young woman. "It must've been hard for her working alongside with your father." He knew that Novilene is trying her best to fix their relationship as father and daughter but apparently Gideon pushed her slightly away.
"Um... Morgan, you dated a girl right?" Morgan stared at him with a skeptical look as Reid gulped nervously. "I need help."
"Let me guess, you wanted to ask mini Gideon out on a date, again?" Reid nodded shyly as Morgan smirked and shaking his head at him. "You should ask Elle, she probably knows what mini Gideon's ideal type of date-"
"Or you could ask me now." They jumped in surprise to see Elle is grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Novy types of dates are..."
Novilene stops by her small office and noticed there's a white tulip, her favorite flower at the top of her table with a small card. She grabs the small card and reading it silently.
Mulan, I'm so proud of you that we are reuniting with each other for the past 2 years. I've been a terrible father to you and don't ever forget that I always love you. ~Jason Gideon
Novilene crumbled the paper and throwing it in the bin. The penmanship doesn't belong to Gideon but to her Unit Chief because her father is not that type of person to send flowers with a small card and he never knows her favorite flower. Barging in the office and didn't bother to knock his door. "Hotch, I really appreciate your effort but I know my father very well... he doesn't know that white tulips are my favorite flowers." She pointed out and Hotch didn't expect she'll notice it.
"I can-" She shakes her head and stopping him.
"Did he asks you for this?"
"No." Hotch told her the truth knowing this young woman could detect lies. "I'm not the only one who could feel the tension between you and Jason."
"As much as I really appreciated the gestures. Dad doesn't even know what my interests are including my favorite flowers that happened to be tulips." She sighs heavily and rubbing her temple.
"I also don't do it for you." She stared at her Unit Chief in a skeptical look. "I also gave flowers to Garcia as well... I'm letting Jason know there are some people cared for him."
"Sometimes... I feel like he's hiding something from me." She gulps and sighs heavily. "Ever since I knew the truth that I had a dead twin, Angelique... It seems like there is more than that." Hotch didn't know very well about Gideon's personal life but it's not in his place to dig in the older man's past. Only Novilene could search those answers she's looking for.
"You could ask your father about that." Someone knocks the door to see JJ, holding the manila folder as she stared at the young woman with an apologetic look that they need her.
"Novy, we know it's your off because your grandmother and younger brother are here... but we need you." She noticed Novilene's wearing a dress instead of working attire.
"I'll inform them and my outfit is kind of wasted." She sighs heavily and immediately texted Alex they have a case and didn't know how long they're going to work this one out. "Let's go?"
Novilene is sitting right next to Reid as he stared at her with an apologetic look for dragging her day off. She waved it off and focusing the task at hand.
"Missing child in Wilmington, Delaware." JJ started to brief them. "11-year-old Billie Copeland was last seen on the playground at 4:30 yesterday afternoon."
"That's... 20 hours ago." Novilene spoke up and thanking JJ when she opened the files.
"Child abduction response plan says we get notified immediately." Hotch pointed out and Novilene nodded her head in agreement while shaking off her terrible past. "What happened?"
"There was a reason to believe she was with her father. Her cellphone shows a call to him around the time of the disappearance."
"So they've since ruled him out?" Gideon asks and noticed his daughter's silent behavior.
"He called the mother about an hour ago." JJ answered.
"That doesn't mean he isn't involved."
"He's on his way to the family home, so you can talk to him there. But the local Police are now considering this a stranger abduction."
"20-hours late." Morgan spoke up.
"Long-term stranger abductions of children Billie's age are rare." Reid spoke up as Novilene closing her eyes to calming herself down before she caused a panic attack. "They represent only half one percent of all missing cases per year. But they are usually more likely to be fatal of the children that are abducted and murdered, 44% die within the first hour." Novilene opened her eyes and trying to hide her hands that are shaking. "From that point forth, their odds of survival greatly decrease. 75% are gone after 3 hours. Virtually all of them are dead after 24."
"Which means we have just under 4 hours to find her." Novilene spoke up and mentally sighs in relief that her hands are not shaking anymore.
"Shall we?" Gideon asks them and none of his team including himself knew Novilene's hands are shaking.
|| Wilmington, Delaware ||
Novilene and the others are already at the crime scene. She already changed her clothes and thankful that her go-bag is always been under her desk for the spare of clothes.
"She's been missing 21 hours." Reid informed them.
"We're gonna go meet with the lead Detective at the park where the girl was last seen." Hotch informed Gideon.
"We need to know everything that's being done." Gideon spoke up.
"I'll find out what the press is running, see if I know any of them. We may need to manage what they put out." JJ informed Gideon.
"Good. See what the uniforms know from the canvasses. Elle, you and Novilene needed to be a Liason with the family."
"A Liason?" Elle asks him as Novilene didn't bother to question him since she can calm a person of being a former Paediatrician Doctor.
"In a child abduction, the parents are likely to break down if we aren't careful." Novilene answered Elle's question.
The mother, Marilyn Copeland shut down the television and crying because her daughter, Billie Copeland is missing. Novilene couldn't help but her heartache seeing the older woman is deeply worried about her daughter.
"They've been running that over and over again for the past 2 hours." Mrs Copeland spoke up. "The press wants to talk to me. I just- I don't think I can face it." Telling the two FBI Agents.
"Why don't you just tell us what happened?" Elle asks in a soft tone.
"Um... I was focused on practice, and... Billie was... being a pain, as usual, giving me attitude. So I told her to run it off. I sent her away." She sniffs and Novilene gives her a glass of water thanking the young woman.
"How long have you been divorced, ma'am?" Novilene questioned the red-haired woman.
"Um... it's been final for 6 months, but we haven't lived together for over a year." Mrs Copeland explained while Novilene takes down the notes.
"You seeing anyone?" Elle questioned.
Mrs Copeland sadly laughs and clenching the glass. "Between work and Billie, when would I have the time?"
"Not one date? Any men coming over to the house?"
"I- I had a few casual dates after work, but they never came to the house. Billie still hopes that her father and I will get back together." Novilene is a bit similar to Billie. She hopes and always prays her mother and father will be together, but Maria fell in love with someone else. That someone else is Ethan and Alex's father, Nathan Hunt, her stepfather.
"How did Billie's dog die, Mrs Copeland?" Gideon asks curiously and seeing her daughter is writing down the information including that theory of hers.
"Uh, it was hit by a car 2 weeks ago." Mrs Copeland answered and a bit startled that the man is with them. She could also see the resemblance between his and the young woman's eyes. "How did you know that?"
"Shrine in the room." He answered with a nonchalant shrug. "Helps her grieve?"
"Her father did that for her."
"They get along well?" He remembered how his daughter used to be closed to him before.
"Best of friends. She calls him every night, tells him about her day, asks about his. He's a cancer survivor. So he takes time off from work, pulls her out of school for father/daughter field trips. Says we all need to stop and enjoy life. But he forgets that he has responsibilities, that they both do. This makes me the bad guy and she blames me for the divorce. Blames me for everything." Mrs Copeland tears up again and Novilene stared at her in sympathy as she stops writing. "I should have just let her go with her father. I'm sorry." The red-haired woman left the living room not wanting to talk anymore with them.
Novilene sighs sadly and unconsciously playing her silver star locket. "She's pretty fragile." Gideon commented in a soft tone while gazing at his daughter.
"The last thing she did was fight with her daughter." Novilene pointed out in a soft tone but filled with sadness. "Can you imagine what that feels like?" She questioned her father and knowing it's a bit personal for themselves.
"Mr Copeland's here." He stared at the window and ignoring the questions. Novilene shakes her head sadly and Elle stared at the young woman in skeptical and worried looked.
"Sooner or later, both parents will argue about their missing daughter." Novilene spoke up and leaning over Elle.
Novilene finds it uncomfortable seeing the parents argued back and forth about their missing daughter. Mr Copeland sighs heavily and stared at the three FBI Agents. "What's being done to find my daughter?" He demanded answers from them.
"We're assessing that right now." Elle assured him and Novilene stared at the ground with a blank expression.
"She's been missing since yesterday! What the hell have you people been doing since then!?" He asks angrily and Novilene didn't flinch at his tone but decided to ask him.
"Where have you been, Mr Copeland?" Novilene stared at the man with a calm expression.
"Me?"
"Where were you all day and night?" She asks again and narrowing her gaze at him.
"I have a cabin in Brandywine Valley." Novilene detects a lie and never reveals the real truth by his sudden absence.
"Police tried you there." Gideon pointed out and noticed his daughter is analyzing if this man is lying or not.
"Well, maybe I was out at the time." Mr Copeland answered.
"Billie tried your cellphone yesterday afternoon."
"Well, I shut it off sometimes. I like the solitude." He's started to get on his nerves towards the older man.
"You didn't fight your wife for custody of your daughter. But you... you like being in her life."
"I want her to grow up in her home with her friends around. This is the only place she's ever lived." He explained to them.
"So you love her very much."
"Yes."
"Why do you waste any precious time we have left? You weren't in your cabin. You weren't at work or with friends. Police didn't call us until a little while ago. Because they thought your daughter might have been with you, that you might have taken your daughter." Mr Copeland was speechless as Gideon stands up. "Until you can give us a satisfactory accounting of your whereabouts-"
"Sir, if you love and care for your daughter." Novilene intervened Gideon before he could ask more questions. "I want you to tell us the truth of what really happened when Billie tried to contact you but it went through voicemail."
"I'm-"
"Look at me in the eyes and I can tell that you're lying!" She raises her voice as Elle jumps slightly at the young woman's tone. Elle didn't expect Novilene loses her temper at someone else before. "Your daughter, Billie, is somewhere out there wanted her father or anyone to save her. Here you are lying in front of our faces, what kind of a father are you?" Novilene spatted angrily. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I- I was at Sloane Kettering Hospital." Mr Copeland told them the truth and knowing the young woman is very determined to save his daughter. "In New York City. Dr. Baylan Mahal is the head of Oncology. You can call him if you want."
"I will." Gideon vowed and Novilene pushes her glasses up. "Had a relapse?"
"It's in my lymph nodes now. There's nothing more they can-" He teared up and stared at the young woman. "Please find my daughter." Mr Copeland breaks down as Novilene comforting the man.
"Call Sloane Kettering." Gideon ordered Elle.
Novilene cursed mentally in her own language and forgetting to bring her spar hair tie. "Billie Copeland has been missing 22 hours." She spoke up first to profile about the unsub. "It is vital that we locate her in the first 24."
"The unknown subject, in this case, is most likely a resident of one of the subdivisions around the park." Hotch continued. "We have canceled the amber alert. We need to coordinate with all your officers to pull everyone off the street immediately."
"That's crazy." One of the Sergeant Police officers pointed out.
"Just hear me out."
"But it goes against court procedure and you guys wrote the damn thing." Novilene wanted to knock his sense out of him and seeing Gideon glancing in her direction telling don't do anything stupid.
"Carp is just a guideline for immediate response to child abduction." Reid explained and Novilene calming herself down. "Believe it or not, we're already late in the game, and we do know enough about this unsub to know that if he feels like we're closing in on him at all, he will kill Billie to avoid detection. If anything, we need to lessen the pressure on him."
"The man fits in. Cause nobody knows what he is." Gideon pointed out.
"Can we really know our neighbors?" Novilene questioned them while pushing her glasses up. "He walks his dog... does yard work. Solitary activities appeal to him. But if you watch closely, you'll see he pays a little too much attention to the neighborhood kids... largely goes unnoticed because he isn't perceived as a threat."
"He's a white male, in his late 20's to 30's. He's a menial or temporary job." Hotch describes their unsub. "Socially marginalized and frustrated. He relates better to kids than he does to adults."
"This is not his first offense against children, but it is his first abduction." Elle added.
"How do you know that?" Detective Russet asks Elle.
"First-timers hunt closer to home. Experience predators don't." Elle answered.
"And he's had a recent stressor, a job loss or other setback. Unable to maintain a normal relationship, he'll have extensive pornographic materials in his home and on his computer and while they won't all involve children, some of them definitely will." Hotch pointed out.
"Since he used the missing dog ruse and we believe him to be a regular fixture of the neighborhood, it's quite possible that he truly does pwn or did at one point own a dog named Candy." Novilene commented and crossing her arms.
"We recommend cross-checking veterinary records with residents in the neighborhood." Reid added and glancing to see Novilene is feeling alright but she's hard to read especially her emotions are hidden very well.
"He will not inject himself into this investigation."
"Don't these guys like to know the cops know?" Detective Russet questioned the FBI Agents.
"No, not this type of unsub. He's hiding." Gideon answered her question. "He doesn't know what anyone saw. He doesn't know if there's any information about him out there. He's unlikely to walk in, ask us... 'can I help you?' But I can guarantee you he will be watching the news. So how we handle them is very important."
"Check your canvas records. One of you may have had contact with him in the early stages." Hotch suggested.
"What about registered sex offenders?" Detective Russet asks.
"We've got somebody working on that right now." Novilene answered and pushing her glasses up.
"Ok, ladies and gentlemen, everyone clear on that?" Gideon asks them as everyone nodded their heads. "Good luck. Thank you."
Novilene exhales heavily and regrets not bringing a hair tie with her. Reid noticed her frustration due to her hair without any rubber to tie them together. Tapping her shoulder and giving a hair tie to the young woman. "Here, I noticed that you're not comfortable letting your hair down when it comes to work." Reid explained and Novilene blinks her eyes in a surprised look while processing his statement. "Uh... Lenny? You okay?"
"Wha- yeah, yeah, I'm fine." She blushed slightly in embarrassment as Reid couldn't help but smile when he saw her blushed. "I didn't know you... um... have a spare tie?"
"I ask Elle if she has one and planning to give it to you." He told her the truth and didn't bother to lie.
"Thank you, Spen." She pulled her up into a ponytail and realize something. "I'm-"
"No, you're not fine." He interrupted her and Novilene stared at him with a blank expression. Reid wasn't surprised if her personality can be like Gideon closing off their emotions and hard to read them like a book. "Please, Lenny... I wanted to know."
Novilene's body is shaking and couldn't help but hug Reid as he is startled and returning the gesture as well. Reid guessed it has something to do with her past. "I was kidnapped before and almost sold out if it wasn't my mom to save me... they argued a lot and got divorced because my dad was always busy at work. He didn't have time to spend time with us."
"Does your dad know that you've been kidnapped before?" He didn't expect this young woman has experience kidnapping before when she was a young girl back then. Reid hugged her tighter and never letting her go.
"Yeah, when my dad left... mom was trying so hard to balance the time between work and family." She sighs heavily and pulling away from him. "Ma-" Her phone rings then grabbing it. "Cruz speaking and how may I help you?"
"Nov, how fast can you stop Mr Copeland?" She noticed it was Elle who called her.
"Depends on which area he is right now and I'll ask someone to lend me their motorcycle, why?" She questioned the woman and staring at Reid in a skeptical look.
"Someone gave him the papers and you know the rest."
Novilene sighs heavily and pinching the bridge of her nose. "Sent me coordinates and I'll be there." She hangs up on Elle. "I'll see you later, Spen." Novilene smiled in apologetic at him as Reid couldn't help but feel worried about her.
"Be careful." Novilene nodded her head and left the young Doctor.
Novilene jumped off the motorcycle and snatching the wrench out of Mr Copeland's hands before he could hurt someone. "Enough of this, Mr Copeland!"
"Stay out of this mess, Agent!" Mr Copeland told her angrily and trying to kill the man. Novilene throws the wrench. She pulls his arms and throws over her shoulder to lock both arms.
"Killing him is not going to get your daughter back!" She looks up to see Hotch and Morgan approaching them as they tried to calm the man down who got almost assaulted by Mr Copeland if it wasn't for her. "Do you really think killing is the answer and forcing someone that they-"
"What do you know about kidnapping their daughter!? You're just a cold heartless bitch! Who doesn't even care if their loved ones are kidnapped or worse!" Morgan saw the hurtful look of Novilene when she loosens her grip on Mr Copeland and he glared at the man for saying horrible things to her.
Novilene stands up as Morgan force Mr Copeland to stand up. She didn't bother to stare at Hotch and Morgan just looking up the sky.
Hotch gives Novilene permission to contact her grandmother knowing she's still hurt by what Mr Copeland says. After two rings her grandmother answered and Novilene closed her eyes to prevent herself to cry.
"Apo? (granddaughter?) Is everything okay?" Maricar asks curiously and Alex leans closer to the phone. He wanted to hear his sister's voice.
Novilene shook her head and completely forgotten she's calling grandmother on the phone, not video chatting. "Hindi (no), Ma, am I really that ruthless and cold-hearted person who doesn't show any care and love for their loved ones?"
"What kind of a question is that, sis?" Alex asks in a bewildered tone. "That is bull-"
"Language, Alexander!" Maricar scolded her grandson and flick his right ear. "What makes you say that, Serenity?"
"We got a case about child abduction and the father told me that I'm just a cold heartless person who doesn't care for their loved ones." She sighs sadly and leaning on the wall. "Sometimes I questioned myself why some people are always judging us."
"Serenity, listen to me. You're kind, loving, sweet and caring sister, daughter or granddaughter that we could ever ask for. Don't listen to what they said and you work so hard... trying to save people's lives."
"Yeah, I mean... you're the coolest and amazing sister that kuya (brother) Ethan and I are grateful to have you in our lives." Alex commented with a smile on his face as Novilene hold her tears and couldn't help but smile. "Those guys are a bunch of idiots who only cares about your looks, not your personality. If it's any consultation, you can give them-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, young man." Maricar told Alex in a cold tone as he laughs nervously seeing his grandmother with her stern expression. Novilene couldn't help but giggle at their banter.
"Thanks, Ma and Alex. Listen, I got to go and speak to you guys later." Morgan showed up letting her know the parents are ready to do the press conference.
"We love you, do good and stay safe."
"Love you too, guys." She hangs up the phone and approaching him. "They finally agreed?"
"Yeah, and are you feeling better now?" Morgan asks and couldn't help to think Novilene as his own younger sister. After working with her in a short amount of time, Novilene is like a baby sister to them except Reid thinks of her otherwise.
"Yeah, Ma always scolded Alex for trying to curse when she's around." She chuckled and Morgan joined as well. "Thanks, kuya (brother) Morgan, for everything."
"Kuya?" He stared at her with a confused expression as Novilene giggled.
"It means brother." She squealed as Morgan hug her on his side then ruffling her soft hair. "Der!"
"Sorry, baby sister... you're stuck with me now." He grinned like a Cheshire cat as Novilene couldn't help but smile back.
Novilene is reading the documents together with Reid and Morgan. "How's it going?" Hotch asks the three.
Right after the press conference, one of the reporters asks if the body was Billy or not. She despised them so much that they stepped up their investigation before telling it on the public.
"The unsub is in here somewhere." Morgan answered. "You gotta bet that the police talked to him in their initial canvass."
"Maybe not." Novilene stopped reading and stared at the young Doctor. "Our unsub is a solitary individual. He isn't a type of guy to insert himself into an investigation. Wouldn't it make more sense that he wouldn't have answered the door during the initial canvass?"
"Neighborhood was crawling with cops, canine units, search and rescues." Novilene commented and furrowed her eyebrows. "Make him nervous and jumpy, he'd want to avoid them at all cost." Hotch agreed with her opinion.
"So then he couldn't allow anyone into his home to ask routine questions even if the girl was bound or gagged because it'd be too risky." Morgan pointed out while Novilene pushes her glasses up.
"It's next to impossible to control breathing, speech patterns, body language when the body's under extreme duress." Reid rambled and Novilene listens closely to his theory. "Maybe if we compare hotline tips with anyone who wasn't at home during the initial canvass."
"Or didn't answer their door."
"He hides himself to pretend the unsub is not in the house but technically he is... we'll find our unsub." Novilene commented and pushing her glasses up.
"Let's get to it." Hotch ordered them.
Novilene hopes and prays they could save the girl before the time runs out. What she didn't know is that her watch she's wearing this morning is not an ordinary watch.
"Yeah. It was worth a try. That's right. Thank you." Morgan ended the call and sighs heavily. "Nothing." He told Reid and Novilene.
"Agent Morgan?" One of the police officers called him.
"Yeah."
"This the kinda thing you're looking for?"
"Reid and Cruz." He called them as they immediately stand up and followed.
Novilene couldn't help but feel nervous as Reid noticed her demeanor filled with worried and linking his arms with hers before giving the young woman reassuring look. "A Mr Lomax has a neighbor with a green SUV, but he hasn't seen him all day. Says that's unusual. Thought he might have been out of town, but now he sees some lights on over there." He handed the yellow paper on Morgan.
"1106 Springfield. Where's our canvass sheets?" Novilene questioned the Police officer before Morgan had a chance to ask.
Reid immediately grabbed the paper and trying to look for the address. "1100 block. 1106... no one answer."
"Let's go talk with Mr Lomax." Morgan told them. "Nice call." He thanked the Police officer. "Let's go."
The three of them went to the 1106 Springfield to meet up with Mr Lomax to ask some questioned. "Mr Lomax? Agent Morgan. Agent Reid and Agent Cruz." They showed their badges. "FBI." Morgan introduced themselves.
"Holy smokes! That was fast!" Lomax looked shocked that they came fast.
"Did you call in a tip about your neighbor, Don Curtis?" Reid questioned the man.
"Lives down the street. I saw the news thing, you know?" Lomax answered as Novilene stared at the house in a cold calculative look. "I was thinking... Don drives a dark green explorer, and he's at the park all the time. I figured like they said on the television maybe he knows something but he doesn't know that he knows it. Know what I mean?"
"Where's his explorer now?" Novilene asks in a calm tone.
"It's usually in the driveway but I haven't seen it today. Haven't seen Don either, which is kind of weird. We're always out front talking about the lawns. He never has any crabgrass. I don't know how he does it." He explained to them.
"Do you know if he has a dog?" Morgan questioned.
"Used to. A big golden retriever. Name was Candy." Novilene mentally scoffs but remained blank expression. "I think she died like 6 months ago."
"Thank you, Mr Lomax." Novilene thanked the old man as they distanced themselves to him.
Novilene saw Hotch and the others arrived. She tried herself to control her anger and not trying to go on ahead of herself.
"Third house down the right. We knocked on the door, but nobody's answering." Morgan commented when they tried to knock but no one answered."
"His neighbor said he's definitely in there." Reid told them.
"He got green ford explorer in the garage." Novilene explained.
"Break down the door." Gideon ordered them.
"No. We don't have probable cause." Detective Russet denied the idea of breaking in.
"Detective, he's got a green SUV and had a dog that died recently. He spends time in the park." Novilene explained to her.
"Pretending he's not home." Hotch pointed out.
"None of which are illegal." Detective Russet informed them. "No judge is going to sign a warrant based on that information."
"You're weighing the life of a child against the price of a door?" Novilene asks her with disbelief expression. This woman rather follows the law instead of saving people's lives that it makes Novilene furious but hiding it.
"I'm weighing the law against the price of a door."
"The girl's in the house right now. The longer we stand here, the longer he has to finish her off." She spoke in a stern tone and staring at Detective Russet.
"I'll call a judge. If we go in there without a warrant, all that evidence will get thrown-"
"We're aware of the rules of evidence." Hotch intervened and Novilene couldn't handle it any longer.
"Screw the law! The girl's life is at stake here!" Novilene said angrily and running ahead of them.
Novilene ignored their call as she immediately barges in while Gideon used the flower pot to break the window.
"Federal Agents! FBI!" Novilene shout and readying her gun.
Novilene looked for the unsub and pointing the gun at the ginger-haired man. "Where is she?" She asks the man in a cold tone.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Curtis lied and Novilene punch the man using her free hand then putting her gun back to the holster as she slams the man.
"Where's Billie Copeland?" She grips tightly at Curtis's collar of his sleeves.
"Please don't hurt me." He whimpered and Novilene grips it more wanting to kill this man. "Please!" The young woman started to choke his neck slowly and starting torture this guy until he speaks up.
"Lenny..." Reid called her knowing this young woman is going to kill Curtis without hesitation considering she's a Spy Agent as well.
"Get him bloody out of here." Novilene informs them and throws Curtis at the side before she's going to strangle him more.
"Tear the place apart!" Gideon ordered them.
Novilene, Morgan and Reid are watching the videotapes. "Just as we expected, he has an extensive collective of deviant photos and cartoon downloads." Reid informed Gideon when he walked into the library room.
"Partitioned in separate folders?"
"Mm-hmm." Novilene hums in response.
"Access the internet history." Gideon ordered Novilene. "Identify any pornographic sites, shut 'em down."
"I'm uploading to Garcia as we speak." She saw the computer it's still uploading.
"What is this? Is it all porn?" Gideon demanded when he throws some of the tapes.
"It's a lot of home movies with a bunch of kids in it." Morgan answered then holding the tape. "This one- you need to see it."
"No, I don't want to see it." Novilene stared at the television and gasping silently in shock.
"Remember what I'll do if you tell." Curtis told the boy.
Novilene suddenly got a flashback and holding her locket tightly.
"Keep this as a secret and no harm will be done to your mommy and daddy."
"Please... leave me alone."
"Oh, you're so precious..."
She suddenly engulfed into hug coming from Reid. Reid saw the moment Novilene teared up recalling her past, he tried to calm the young woman and wiping her tears. He caressed her cheek and Novilene stared at Reid with a terrified expression. He never seen Novilene this shaken up before when she usually looks fearless all the time.
"Gideon, we searched the entire house- upstairs, downstairs. Everywhere." Reid informed when he looked away from her in a minute but his hand is still attached to her right soft cheek. "There's no sign of the girl of that she's even been here. It is possible that he moved her. Polly Klaas was found 25 miles from home, Danielle Van Damme 30, Samantha Runnion, 52." He rambled and Novilene silently grabs his hand and squeezing it before Gideon could see it. "But keep in mind... we were 20 hours late getting involved."
"Man he doesn't take chances. He wouldn't drive around with a girl in the car." Gideon pointed out to the young Doctor. "He took her, got her off the street as quickly as possible. Just keep looking." He ordered them then stared at Novilene. "Mulan, walk with me?"
Novilene looked startled at the sudden request but followed him out nonetheless. She hugs her white blazer tighter and couldn't bear to look at Gideon's eye.
"Sir, I-"
"I should be the one to apologize, Novilene." Gideon cut her off and staring at his daughter with a sad expression. Filled with guilt for not only hiding a dark secret from her but also wasn't been there for her when she needed him the most. "I should've been there for you, Mulan and despite we're no longer together with Maria... I still loved her and every time I looked at you, you resembled a lot of your mother but you have my eyes."
"What happened on 19 years ago of my kidnapping, it wasn't your fault dad... we can't predict the future and the most important thing is..." She sighs softly and Gideon opened the door for her as they went in together. "I'm still alive and breathing, that's what matters."
"Mulan... I'm proud of you to have my daughter." He smiled and sitting together on one couch as Detective Russet doesn't look happy of what stunt they pulled especially the young woman.
"Curtis lawyered up." Hotch came in the living room to informed the three as Novilene wasn't surprised at Curtis demanded a Lawyer.
"Of course he did." Detective Russet commented and slightly glared at the young woman knowing she's the one who broke into his house in the first place.
"That's the first smart thing he's done." Novilene pointed out and didn't flinch at her glare.
"We broke into his house, and without Billie, we don't have the exigent circumstances we need to make this stick. We may have to let him go." He pointed out and Novilene closes her eyes to think where Billie could be hiding right now.
"I told you we should have waited." Detective Russet told them but they didn't listen.
"I know, we made a call, and if there are any recriminations, we will take full responsibility."
"Hotch, he's the man." Gideon told them and glancing at Novilene seeing she's in deep thought to focus. "Mulan?"
"Yeah." Novilene opened her eyes. "When I ask him, he lied to my face and Curtis knew where Billie is."
"How did you know that, Agent Cruz?" Detective Russet asks me.
"I'm a walking human lie detector and I can tell whether that person is telling me the truth-" her watch suddenly beeps and she gaped at it in a shocked. "What in the-"
"Novilene?" Gideon noticed that her watch is not an ordinary one.
"It detects the heat signature of a child, Sir." She muttered and immediately followed the watch been sending directions.
Novilene stands up and went followed the directions ignoring their voices. The beeps gets loud and she's getting near to find the child. She stopped and looks up the air vent and grabbing the chair to climb up. Unscrewing on each side before she goes in and turning the watch on to have a light. Silently gasps to see Billy is alive as the child is shivering in fear to see her. "She's here!" Novilene informed them and smiles politely at the girl. "Hi, Billie. My name's Novilene. I'm here to take you home, sweetie." She immediately untied her arms and peeling the tape off slowly around her mouth. "Your mommy and daddy are very worried about you."
"I wanna go home." She sniffs and pleading to the young woman.
"I know and I'll take you to your mommy and daddy. You have my word." She calms the girl down and grabbing her gently. "Here, it's a good luck charm." Novilene handed Billie her own dog charm.
"Thank you, Miss?"
"Call me Novilene, Billie." She smiled and carried her gently. "Hotch, dad, here she comes." Calling them and trying her best not to drop Billie to scare her more. "Here you go, sweetie. Watch your arm."
Novilene chuckled when she's just watching them playing poker. She couldn't help but feel happy seeing Billie reunited with her family and in return, the girl gave her a stuff toy rabbit for saving her life while she carried Novilene's dog charm with her as a present.
"I got absolutely nothing." Morgan commented and throwing his card.
"Aw, nothing." JJ got nothing on her cards as well.
"SSS... 2 pairs... of aces." Reid commented with a satisfied smile as Novilene giggled behind her book seeing the priceless look of their faces.
"Aw, get outta town!" Morgan whined and couldn't believe he loses the game from the young genius Doctor. "Why you always winning? Nuh-uh!" He couldn't accept the defeat and earn a laugh from Novilene. "Why don't you join the game, mini Gideon?"
"Playing cards is not my forte and I don't know how to play poker." Novilene answered and shrugged. "Besides, even if I join the game, I'll still lose."
"Reid cheats and you don't know that, Novy." JJ pointed out and Novilene shakes her head the idea of playing poker with Reid. "You probably win the poker-"
"Poker? It's mathematics, it's statistics." Reid rambled and Novilene chuckled more.
"Spen came from Vegas and I was originally born in the Philippines." Novilene pointed out. "I'll still be lost by him and his house rules."
"You wouldn't know until you try, Lenny." He stared at her dark brown eyes. "Give it a try?"
"Thanks but no thanks, Spen. I'll stick to the watching you guys play and suffer the consequences of losing by him." She yelped when Morgan snatches her glasses and book. "Derek!" Novilene whined and Morgan smiled cheekily.
"Sorry, mini Gideon... you should watch and learn." Novilene tried to protest but Morgan swish his fingers back and forth. "Excuses, excuses, baby sister. Come on, this is for your-"
"Shouldn't Novy learned from Reid not you, Morgan?" JJ teased Morgan and Novilene giggled high-fiving her knowing Morgan hasn't beat Reid even once on poker.
"Oohh, shots fired!" Novilene exclaimed and Morgan glared at the two women.
"Hey, Hotch." Gideon called the Unit Chief as Hotch turned around to face him. "Did you send flowers to that tech room girl... Garcia and my daughter... and say they were from me?"
"Yeah." Hotch answered and glancing at Novilene who's consumed at Reid's explanation of how to play poker.
"Why?" He looks confused at his actions and didn't even know Novilene's favorite flower is white tulips.
"Jason, people need to know that they're important, and sometimes you forget that." He informed him and Novilene glancing at her father.
"I already sent her a gift and mp3 player. They last longer." Gideon explained and Novilene smiled that he's trying his best to let someone in his life. "Unless you drop them or the battery dies, whichever comes first."
"So she got 2 gifts, dad." Novilene spoke up in a soft tone and never jealous by his gesture of giving an mp3 player to Garcia.
"What if she thinks I'm sweet on her?" Gideon asks his daughter and she smiled cheekily as everyone chuckled. "Maybe not, huh?"
"Actually dad... it'll be the end of the world. Jason Gideon, the sweetest man in the whole world." Gideon playfully glared at his daughter and she giggled. "I think the Copeland's are gonna stay together."
"Speaking of them, you have a pretty rabbit." Morgan noticed the rabbit she carried on her arms.
"Billie gave it to me for saving her life and it's also a coincidence that I'm a total sucker for rabbits." Novilene stroke the soft blue stuff toy rabbit.
"Are you planning to have kids in the future?" He asks curiously.
"To have my own child? I do but I'm still waiting for the right man to handle me." Morgan smirked and discreetly glancing at Reid.
"You're still a sucker for kids, Mulan." Gideon commented and looking for something in his bag. "Here are some pictures that you wanted it back."
Novilene blinks her eyes and grabbing the pictures. She gaped in surprised and looked speechless seeing them again while Gideon smirked at his work and shrugged it off.
"Dad!" She blushed furiously and Morgan decided to snatch the pictures from her hands. "Derek!"
"Woah! Where have you been all my life, mini Gideon?" He smirked and showing everyone the pictures.
The first picture is a teenager Novilene is with three teenagers and one little girl wearing a white different top. The second picture is her leaning on the table wearing a blue blazer to cover her white lace top, black mini-skirt, grey knee-length sock, silver shoes and fedora hat as it's taken in the classroom. The third picture is the same but her top changed to the nude long sleeve with nude vests, black and white skirt, grey ankle-length socks and brown shoes.
"Wow, who knew our Novy is a model... don't forget that her hair used to be so long." JJ commented and noticed Reid is speechless seeing the pictures. "This is the best picture."
The last picture is Novilene wearing an orange black strips dress to match the wall and wearing 2-inch nude high heels.
"A model huh?" Morgan spoke up and seeing Novilene's face is red like a rose. "Ohh... you have a lot of explaining to do, baby sister."
"I hate you all!" They laugh at the young woman.