A third evidence board had joined the two already in place in the BAU conference room. This new board featured a map of the Atlantic coastline of the U.S. and was decorated with multiple black marks indicating which islands that had been eliminated from the ongoing search. And, next to that, a map of the eastern Caribbean islands was also prominently displayed.
"There's two more off our list." Garcia was updating the Atlantic coastline map as Reid and Rossi watched. "Which means we have worked our way north all the way to the coast of Maine."
"Based on the climate in that area, I am tempted to say 'Skip those islands'," Rossi commented. "Somehow I can't picture a colony of people being held there."
"As far as we know, there hasn't been any heavy winter-type clothing procured," Reid added. "Everything we know about has been better suited for a warmer climate."
"Okay then, let's go back to the Caribbean," Rossi suggested. "We may have been right the first time."
"Do I start at the north end and work my way south, or do I work east to west?" Garcia wailed. "This is all too much!"
"Okay – Okay – Calm down!" Rossi walked over to pat her on the back. "Let's look at this differently." He began intently staring at the Caribbean map.
"They can't be making and/or growing everything they need to survive themselves," Reid said thoughtfully. "The purchases they've made indicate that. They have to be getting supplies somewhere. Where are the main ship's chandlers centers in the islands? Maybe we should start there."
"If these guys are paying cash, there won't be any way to track them," Garcia warned.
"However, if we know where they are getting their supplies, we will know where to start looking," Rossi pointed out. "Wherever they are holding these people, it is probably within an easy trip from their supply source."
"I would start with the largest chandlers," Reid suggested. "On the theory that it is easier to remain anonymous in a crowd."
"Okay, a list of ship's chandlers located in the Caribbean, starting with the largest is coming up," Garcia made a note on the pad of paper she was carrying. "Then I can get Monty's help with checking on the islands within a day's trip from each location."
"Baby Girl?" Morgan asked as he walked into the conference room. "Don't tell me you are at it again."
"Yes I am Derek!" Garcia told him defiantly. "And I am not going to give up. If it were you that was missing, wouldn't you want me to continue looking for you?"
"I would want you to continue the search as long as reasonably feasible," Morgan declared. "But I would also hope that you would use some common sense as to how long to continue the search."
"Well, maybe I don't have as much common sense as you would like, Mr. Derek Morgan," Garcia raged. "But I will keep looking until I find my Boss Man!"
"JJ and Lewis have moved on," Morgan tried another tactic. "I just don't want to see all of you stuck on one issue."
"JJ transferred to Consulting because of her boys," Reid pointed out. "And she still talks and brainstorms with us on a regular basis."
"And Lewis is currently making the rounds lecturing on that paper she published," Garcia told the man. "When she gets back I know we will be hearing from her."
"As for me," Rossi spoke up. "When I retire in another two weeks my time is my own to do as I please. And, if I want to hire this young woman to do some research during her off-work hours, that is totally my decision."
"Really Rossi?" Morgan questioned. "That's the way you want to spend your retirement?"
"Traveling between the various islands of the Caribbean doesn't sound all that bad," Rossi told him thoughtfully. "And with all the communications satellites and everything, staying in touch shouldn't be a problem."
"Reid?" Morgan looked over at the agent in question. "What about you? Where do you stand in all this?"
"I think that if I was missing, I would like to be able to trust that the people I care about will keep looking for me," Reid said thoughtfully. "Regardless of how long it took."
He fixed a stare at Morgan. "What about you?" he asked.