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Chapter Nineteen:
"I drink Red Bull when I'm not traveling with the kids," Miranda said sluggishly. "I am planning on withdrawing from an arms agreement in favor of more open trade. I also made out with a male stripper on a dare during my bachelorette party."
For the third time, the masked man pumped her with drugs. She felt high as a kite.
"Spencer, I love you and this might count as a sin, but I like the Justice League more than the Avengers. Have the kids watch the movie, will you?"
Her abductor pressed the remote to indicate the feed was over. Cat Adams's face appeared.
"You are one naughty girl," she said. "She deserves a spanking."
The man wacked her foot until Cat shouted "Stop!"
Somewhere, Miranda still felt connected to reality.
"Where do I get such good help? Did you Google 'torturers for hire?'"
She laughed.
"Ferdinand is an old friend of mine."
"I didn't think people like you kept friends."
"When it's convenient," she said.
"So, let's review what you've told me before you kill me: My beloved Geena is the traitor, Lang is the financier and you're the mastermind."
"Do you really believe you'll be saved in time to share all this? Remember what I said about instant death if you say a word on camera."
"I can't give up," she said. "I'm too stubborn to die youngish."
"You have more character than I thought," Cat said. "I can almost see what Spencer likes about you."
"Likewise, you crazy broad," she said.
"Hit her."
"Worth it!" Miranda screamed through the pain. She was fairly certain now a few bones were broken in her foot.
Cat laughed.
"Your pain ends after two more turns, that you die live on camera!"
"Good, I have a few more sins to confess," she said. "They have always said confession was therapeutic."
"It's been a pleasure getting to know you Miranda."
"It this is the part where you expect me to agree, fork you!"
Miranda laughed hysterically as the man beat her foot again.
"So, you've seen The Good Place," she shouted as the pain turned into tears.
…
"The Pantheon makes sense," Reid said looking at the map. "Miranda's been to Italy when she studied abroad in college. She'd know the pantheon if she was in it."
"It also makes sense with the clues we been given by her," J.J. said. "Where heroes lie is in a pantheon."
"It is a just too far out for someone to travel from the blast site," a commander said.
"There are tunnels throughout Rome that are not on any map," Reid said. "Rome is famous for them."
A staffer appeared.
"The pantheon has been closed for renovation for three months. Part of the project involves bringing fresh marble to restore the interior."
"The minute streaks of blue in the white," Reid said. "That's the marble."
Reid looked to the gentlemen in charge.
"Can't you see what's in front of you?" he pleaded. "Go find my wife!"
"That's an order," Gomez said firmly.
"There are still too many variables," one man said.
"One could be our president dies before we get to her. Draw up plans to go to the Pantheon."
"Yes, Sir," one of the commanders said.
Reid called Morgan.
"How are they," he asked.
"We just started watching Avengers: End Game. What's going down there?"
"Keep them occupied. Play Risk with Alex. Talk about the Moon Landing with Rachel. Anything."
"You got it buddy."
Reid hung up and J.J. approached him.
"Ignorance is bliss right now," she said.
"I won't be able to keep the footage away from them forever," he said.
"Hopefully, she'll be with you when they see it."
Reid didn't say anything. He felt so spent. Three rounds of confessions and drugs. His beautiful wife was in agony. He'd never forgive himself if she didn't survive.
J.J. rubbed his shoulder.
"We're going to get her back."
Reid hugged her.
"Thank you for believing," he said.
"It's what I'm here for," she said.
"Guys," Hotch said. "We have footage."
They took seats and saw what the men on the ground saw.
"They have the whole place wired to blow," one reported
"Do we have a bomb technician down there?" Gomez asked.
"Yes, but there's a camera right where the wire needs to be cut," he said.
"If they see someone, they'll kill her instantly," Reid said.
"Get someone to hack the surveillance system," Gomez said. "I have seen this trick done often enough in the movies, loop the footage."
"That might take time we don't have."
"Use Penelope Garcia," Hotch said. "She's the best hacker the government has."
"She's at Quantico right now," J.J. said. "She's been waiting to see if she can be of service."
"Do it," Gomez said.
It was a tense five minutes until Garcia's voice came over the line.
"I got it! It took far too long than I would have liked but it's done. I think I have a lead a Cat too but get Mrs. Reid. Go get Miranda, um Madame President."
"You heard her," Gomez said impatiently. "Do it."
The teams entered the halls. They crept around one hall where Cat's voice could be heard. They threw a flash grenade and pulled Miranda out of the reach of the abductor. The abductor was restrained as Cat Adams could be heard.
"So, your knights came after all," she said. "Spency, can I talk to you?"
Reid stepped up to a mic in the room.
"You're never going to see the light of day again."
"But you don't even know where I am sweety," she said.
"Wrong," Reid said. "You made a mistake wiring your surveillance system to your main network, Garcia is hacking it now."
"You do know how to find my weak spots," she said with a sigh.
"Let me see my wife," Reid said.
They were just pulling the handcuffs off.
"Hey honey," he said softly.
"So that's Cat Adams," she said lightly. "She's even crazier than I imagined."
Miranda screamed when someone touched her foot.
"Miranda," Reid said urgently. "It's going to be okay. When you get home, I'm going to treat you like a queen."
"You already do," she said. "How're the kids?"
"Watching End Game right now with Morgan."
"Better than Alex beating him by a hundred points at Risk again."
Her head suddenly drooped.
"Miranda!" Reid said urgently. "Miranda, open the beautiful eyes for me."
"I may have had Ferdinand add something lethal to that Dilaudid just to mix things up," Cat said. "I wasn't certain it would kill her, but I knew there was a chance."
"There's no pulse," one of the agents said.
Reid fell to his knees and sobbed.