THIRD PERSON POV
It had been three days.
Three days since Sarah, or Danielle, Spencer thought, had broken up with him and disappeared.
Neither the Marshals nor the CIA had contacted the BAU about Danielle.
It was early afternoon when Garcia called Spencer with news.
"Garcia?" Spencer asked, dropping the file he had been reading on his desk, his attentions now completely on the phone call.
"Reid, I found her handler. His name is Daniel Ortega, and it looks like he was not only her handler, but her sister, Ashley, and her family's handler. According to some reports, Ashley, her husband, and her son have been missing for over three months, but due to some protection rules, Danielle was never informed."
"So, Sa… Danielle, her sister, and her sister's family are all missing? Garcia, that can't be a coincidence."
"Yeah, I thought so too, so I did some digging, totally legal digging, like there was some chipping and cutting of the rules, but totally legal," Garcia said, before Reid interrupted her.
"And?"
"Oh, right! So, anyways, I got into a sealed report that was filed today that shows they may have found Ashley's husband, Charlie, and her son, Ben, at a hospital in Detroit, both unconscious and Charlie was beaten pretty badly, but otherwise they are expected to be okay."
"Wait, so they may have found some of her family, but they haven't contacted us?"
"Reid, you know as well as I that the CIA and Marshals weren't going to tell us anything. Why else do you think I've been doing such deep investigative work on this?"
"Thanks Garcia," Spencer said, "Can you get contact information for Daniel Ortega?"
"Just sent it to your phone," Garcia said, "But Reid… be careful."
"I will," he said, hanging up the phone to see a text message with a phone number. Without hesitation, he dialed the number.
"Hello?" asked a gruff voice.
"Is this Daniel Ortega?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"My name is Dr. Spencer Reid… I know Sa-Danielle. I think we need to talk…"
And that is how Spencer found himself sitting next that man, whom he had only seen through pictures, on the same park bench that she had met with Daniel every month prior.
"So, you are the guy she was seeing, correct?"
"Yes, I'm-"
"I know who you are," Daniel said. "The real question is how do you know who she is – really is – exactly?"
"She left me a video," Spencer said, explaining the situation, telling Daniel what exactly Danielle had said in that video.
"You really shouldn't know about that," Daniel said, rubbing his eyes, before making Spencer look at him. "But that's all she told you?"
"Yeah, but I'm guessing that she didn't tell me everything?" Spencer asked, picking up on Daniel's accusatory tone. "After all, the CIA is assisting the Marshals in trying to find her, right?"
"You would be correct. But I can't tell you anything you don't know already," Daniel said, seeing the confused look on Spencer's face. "This is higher than your security clearance."
"You found her brother-in-law and nephew?"
"Yes," Daniel said. "They were found unconscious at a hospital in Detroit. Ben woke up with morning, but Charlie was given higher doses of etorphine, so he hasn't woken up yet."
"Etorphine? That's an opioid that's used as a sedative in veterinary practice for large animals," Spencer said. "I haven't heard of it being used on humans."
"It's not licensed for humans, but, like other opiates, have found their way to the black market, and growing in popularity, especially with kidnappings. It's dangerous if used incorrectly on humans…there have been cases where victims have died of overdose or apnea."
"Have you interviewed her nephew?" Spencer asked, feeling concern for her safety grow in his gut. "He might remember something."
"He remembers seeing Danielle, and that she made a deal with Nicolas for his dad and him to be freed. Other than that, I can't tell you anything else."
"She made a deal with him? What about her sister?"
"Like I said, I can't divulge any more details," Daniel said, beginning to get up. "Now, I believe that's all I can share, so I must be going."
"Wait," Spencer said, grabbing Daniel's attention. "Just…don't stop looking for her."
"We won't," Daniel said, leaving without another word.
Spencer sat on that bench for a few moments, not sure of how to feel. His whole life, he had always known what to do, how to think, what the next step was. And it felt for the first time in his life, that his brain was a bunch of mush.
He felt like the most useless person in the world.
He should be angry. He committed himself to someone for six months, only for him to find out that he never knew her at all. Even with that video she had left, she still had secrets. But he wasn't angry. He was worried and scared for her.
Gazing around the park, he was acutely aware that he was sitting in the same spot that Danielle had sat. She had sat here and someone had been spying on her.
And it was then that Spencer realized in order for someone to have taken pictures from the angle in the pictures, they would have had to be in one of two places. In the alley across the street or in the building next to it.
And where there were buildings, there were usually security cameras.
Getting up from the bench and grabbing his things, Spencer quickly made his way to the building. The alley was dark and unlit, which would have made it a poor place to do surveillance. He made his way to the building. The bottom floor was a butcher shop. Glancing inside, Spencer realized it would have raised suspicion to take photos from here. Taking the stairs up to the second floor, Spencer's heart dropped.
It was an art studio, with a sign on the front door reading, "Alex's Art Space: $15 for Unlimited Access!" Stepping into the space, Spencer was greeted with two people working on paintings, someone working on pottery, and large, open windows. Perfect for taking pictures of someone in the park.
"Hello, welcome to Alex's Art Space! Can I help you?" came the voice of a woman behind the desk. She was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans splattered with paint, so that was likely her 'art' of choice.
"Yeah," Spencer said. "Do you happen to have security cameras here?"
"Yeah," the woman said, "One right outside the entrance and one right above me here…Why?" She pointed to two cameras, one above her that had a good view of the whole room and one that had a view of the stairs leading to the entrance.
"Has there been anyone who has come in and take pictures out that window?" Spencer asked, ignoring her question and pointing out the window overlooking the park.
"Quite a few people…the lighting and angles makes it a very unique spot for photographers," the woman said.
"Okay, thank you," Spencer said, grabbing his phone and leaving. He dialed Garcia's number.
"Garcia!" she said, cheerily.
"This is Reid," Spencer said, eyeing the camera at the top of the stairs. "I might have a lead…can you get access to some security cameras outside a place called 'Alex's Art Space?'"
"Of course, but what am I looking for?"
"Anyone coming in on days that those photos of Danielle were taken with a camera… I think this is where they spied on her at the park."