Hotch shut the door to the conference room "What were you thinking?" he demanded.
"I didn't think it was a secret and I thought Reid might already know." Emily said turning to face Hotch.
"This wasn't your call, if I wanted to inform Reid I would have told him myself." Hotch said
"I'm sorry, I made a mistake." Emily looked around the empty conference room "Where is everyone?"
"I sent Rossi and JJ to talk to Samuel Lannen and Morgan is digging into Richard Hale's past to see if he can find anything that will help us decipher the note."
"Samuel Lennen?"
"An old friend of Jason's he works as a curator at the Smithsonian Museum of Art. Jason made a call to him two hours before he disappeared."
Emily nodded then switched subjects "You think David Hale is getting revenge for both parents?"
"We can't rule it out and so far our primary focus has been on David Hale and his relationship with Gideon and Reid. I think his vendetta may be fueled by more than anger over his mother and the loss of his military career."
"How can I help?" Emily asked
"Look over the note, see if you can make anything of it." Hotch said
Emily sat down and both fell to work, they were interrupted a few minutes later by Section Chief Erin Strauss carrying a newspaper.
"Have either of you seen today's Washington Post?" Strauss demanded dropping the paper on the table.
"No Ma'am." Emily said reaching for the paper, while Hotch looked to Erin for an explanation.
"Danny Concannon wrote an article about every single part of this case and traced every part to James Dewitt even the Davis's plane crash."
"Why would Dewitt want the Davis's dead?" Emily asked skimming through the article
"Miles stole money from Dewitt, however Concannon is very clever, he lays out all the facts but doesn't directly accuse Dewitt of anything." Strauss said
"That won't stop people from believing James Dewitt is behind everything. How do Gideon and Reid fit in?" Hotch said
"Reid is not mentioned by name all Concannon says is that an FBI Agent was kidnapped on Hale's orders by a common street thug. Gideon is the Agent who put Richard Hale's father in prison and can tie Hale and Dewitt to William Rhoades. "
"What do you want us to do?" Hotch asked
"As soon as Agent Jareau returns she'll be handling the press, but I need Gideon and Hale found as soon as possible. Agent Prentiss I want to look into James Dewitt find me any evidence that ties him to the accusations in the article. As soon as Agent Rossi returns I want him and Agent Morgan to work with the joint task force I set up to find Gideon and Hale. Agent Hotchner have you interviewed Dr. Reid yet?"
"No but he would have told us if he knew anything."
"I did ask him at the house if he knew anything about Gideon leaving but Reid shook his head and went to his room to get ready to leave."
"Okay, Agent Hotchner you and I will interview him see if we can get answers."
Straus and Hotch went to Rossi's office. Hotch knocked and then both entered finding Garcia and Reid on the couch two coffee mugs and an untouched plate of food on the coffee table.
"Sir, Ma'am I was working but when I checked on Reid his stomach rumbled so I grabbed him some food and kept him company while he ate." Garcia said hastily getting to her feet.
"It's fine Garcia, has he said anything?" Hotch asked
"No, he's just been drinking coffee and staring off into space." She said
"Thank you Garcia." Hotch said dismissing her
Garcia squeezed Reid's hand, picked up her coffee and left the room. Hotch closed the door behind her and took her place on the couch, while Strauss took Rossi's guest chair.
"Dr. Reid how are you?" Strauss asked after settling herself to face him.
Reid started as if he wasn't aware of her presence and turned to face her.
"Dr. Reid how are you?" Strauss repeated.
"I'm fine." Reid said flatly
"Did Gideon talk to before he left? Do you know where he might have gone?"
"Jason Gideon is not a man who shares things Chief Strauss." Reid said a bit sharply.
"I know it's hard for you to talk about Jason, but Spencer it's vital we find him before David Hale does."
I know that Ma'am but as I said Gideon rarely reveals his plans before he executes them."
"Agent Reid the note Hale left for Gideon after burning down his cabin does that mean anything to you?"
"No, Ma'am I barely remember what it said, I only saw it for a short time."
Both Hotch and Strauss stared at him keenly aware of his Eidetic memory but Reid just stared at Strauss waiting for the obvious callout.
"Is there anything, anything at all you know that might help us find Hale or Gideon?" Strauss asked instead.
"No, Ma'am." Reid said turning his gaze to the door.
Strauss looked at him keen to keep pressing but Hotch stood and after putting a hand on Reid's shoulder walked to the door. He waited in the doorway and Strauss reluctantly stood and followed him. The two walked over to Hotch's office, but before they could enter they saw JJ and Rossi entering the Bullpen. The two hurried over to them.
"All Lannen would say is that Gideon called him for a ride, he picked him up four blocks from the Safe House and dropped him off at Union Station." Rossi said
"And Lannen has no idea where Gideon might be headed?" Hotch asked
"No, and even if he did he won't say." JJ said.
"Agent Jareau I need you to come with me, I have a meeting with Dewitt's lawyer in half an hour and I need your help." Strauss said.
Both women left the bullpen and Hotch escorted Rossi to his office. They both sat down and looked at each other for a few minutes.
"How is Reid?" Rossi asked
"Shut down but not violent, he knows more then he's saying but I doubt Gideon confided in him." Hotch said
"Jason wouldn't leave Reid without a word of explanation but you're right if Reid knew where Gideon was he'd tell us."
"Did Lannen give you anything useful?"
"Maybe, Jason asked him questions about the roads out of town and if the FBI had set up roadblocks in the major roads leading to the forest."
"That makes sense Hale would want to get Jason alone and they both are partial to outdoors."
"Dave Erin wants you and Morgan to meet up the task force and help coordinate the searches focus the areas outside DC. Use the public both Gideon and Hale are public figures now so it will be hard for them to disappear."
Rossi nodded and the two men left the room. Rossi went to collect Morgan, while Hotch checked on Reid then went to the conference room to work with Emily. After an hour of uninterrupted work a crash was heard and both rushed out. They found Reid at the foot of the stairs outside Hotch's office his stick next to him. The pair joined the three Agents already helping Reid to his feet. Reid was led to the chair and the three Agents withdrew at Hotch's discreet dismissal.
"Reid where you trying to go?" Emily asked
Reid rubbed his foot and pointed to his desk.
"Is there something you need?" Hotch asked
Reid licked his lips "I think I know where Gideon and Hale are but I wanted more concrete evidence before I brought it up."
Hotch nodded in understanding "Tell us what you think and we'll verify it."
Reid looked at him "I know it's a bit of a stretch but Ida Hale told us about a small lake she and Richard used to go to. This lake is where Richard proposed and where he killed his first victim. There's a small lake where Gideon used to bird watch when he lived in DC. I've been over the note dozens of times and it mentions a place where truth roosts. The finding of the first victim led to Richard Hale's conviction and bird watching is one of Gideon's greatest passions I think there at that lake."
"This is good, we'll look into it but now you need to go back to Rossi's office and rest. We'll let you know if you're right." Emily said
Reid reluctantly nodded and Hotch slipping an arm around his waist helped him back to Rossi's office. Emily handed him his stick and both left the room. Emily left to meet up with Morgan and Rossi and head over to the forest and coordinate searches near the lake, while Hotch dug into Richard Hale's past. JJ came into the conference room with two leads: A friend of Gideon's lent him his car and a clerk at an army supply store said Gideon came in and bought some camping supplies including an army knife and ammunition. Hotch called Morgan who said that a bird watcher had spotted a man camping in the forest a few miles from Swallow Lake. Hotch ordered Rossi and Morgan to lead a team down to the lake, while Emily and another team scouted the surrounding area. Hotch went to update Reid who was sitting on the couch his stick in his hand. Reid rose to his feet and waited for Hotch to speak.
"We believe we found David Hale and Gideon at Swallow Lake as you deduced. Morgan and Rossi are leading a team there now, while Emily is scouting the surrounding area. Your welcome to join me, Strauss, and JJ in the conference room as we await further news." Hotch said
Reid nodded and both men walked over to the conference room. JJ and Strauss joined them a few minutes later. Garcia was assisting the search parties from her lair. A tense atmosphere filled the air as the four waited for news.
A/N Finally this chapter took forever trying to tie all the plot threads together. I swear I didn't plan to end on a cliff hanger it just happened. Final chapter coming soon please please review or show your interest by Following/Favoriting.