Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews, favorites and follows. A big thank-you to SuperGuardianNinja for the formatting advice-I'll try to remember what you said.
Warnings for implied non-con and child abuse, and mild violence
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the recognizable characters. I'm just borrowing them for a while and will put them back when I'm finished with them.
Chapter 3
Hearing the change in Spencer's breathing as he dropped into slumber, Hotch moved slowly to the bed then shook out a blanket over the bare mattress to cover the filth and layers of dried blood. Gently laying the boy on the blanket he covered the child with another and gestured to Morgan to join him at the opposite side of the room.
"We cleared the main house before coming down here, and there is no way McCormick got past Prentiss and Rossi outside. Where the hell did that S.O.B. come from?" snapped an angry Morgan.
"That is what I want to know" Hotch responded thoughtfully, pacing in a small circle. "All right, what does where we found Miranda tell us? He uses hidden spaces. We need to go back over this place with a fine tooth comb. Find where he was hiding. Make sure there is no-one else in the walls or floors. Then we profile the house, discover who McCormick had dealings with. There are 4 victims still unaccounted for and some one knows where those women are."
"What about the kid? He knew about one-do you think any of the others were brought down here?" questioned Morgan as he knelt by the exposed opening in the floor and began systematically checking for additional hollowed out areas.
"It's possible. I'll talk to him after he's rested a bit; meanwhile I want Prentiss to ride in with Miranda in case she comes to. She and Irene Johnson were taken together, and there's always a chance she was held with one or both of the others at some time. Tell Rossi to start on searching the main floor-let SWAT watch the exterior-and I want you to start checking down here. I suspect we've just found the tip of the iceberg here and there's no telling what could be in some of these boxes…" Hotch was interrupted by the ringing of his cell. "Hotchner" he answered.
"Garcia here bossman. I have the 4-1-1 on your mystery boy, and sir it is sad, so very very sad. And horrifying actually, considering how things ended up. And"
"Garcia!" Hotch chided.
"Sorry sir. One Spencer Reid, only child of Diana and William Reid, was reported missing by his mother 3 years and 7 months ago. Only nobody believed her on account that her husband William claimed that their son died at birth and that Diana was imagining he was still alive on account of her schizophrenia. So nobody ever even looked for him! Then, when she kept insisting her 3 year old son was alive and missing she was involuntarily admitted to Bennington Sanitarium for 3 day evaluation. She then totally lost it and started claiming the government stole her son, and she is still there! Then that scumbag William divorced Diana, sold the house, and married the secretary at his law firm. He married the secretary-I mean how stereotypical is that? Anyway what is really interesting is that Scott McCormick has the law firm that William Reid works for on retainer for his import/export business and according to the records, that business is run from the very house you are standing in." concluded the computer diva breathlessly.
"3 years 7 months ago? Are you sure it's the same boy? This child is maybe 4 or 5." questioned Hotch.
"Well there are no photographs-Diana claims the government stole them-but I am sending a drawing Diana submitted to the police when she made the initial report. You should have it…..now."
"Garcia, it looks just like him" exclaimed a surprised Hotch, "Good work. Get me everything you can find on William Reid and his movements over the past 4 years. Also whatever is out there on this import/export company."
"I'll be able to tell you what kind of toothpaste he uses by the time I'm done with him! Garcia out."
A slight smile quirking his lips, Hotch was replacing his phone in a pocket when a shrill scream split the relative quiet of the basement.
"EHHRRRRUN! EHHRRRUN!"
Whipping around toward the bed on which he had left Spencer sleeping, Hotch was shocked to see a light blue uniformed paramedic kneeling over the boy and holding a hand over the child's mouth, hissing "SHhhh".
As Hotch flew toward the bed, the paramedic jerked his hand back with a curse when Spencer sank his teeth in as hard as he could, then scrambled backward until he reached the headboard.. Hotch reached the man just as he began to swing his other hand at the boy, catching the fist and twisting the arm behind the man's back none too gently. "What do you think you are doing!" demanded Hotch, patented death glare turned on the man full strength as he shoved him back off the bed.
"He bit me!" the paramedic tried to defend, wilting under Hotch's gaze
"Him the blue man! Eh-run, tell him go away! Him hurt Spencer!" the boy cried.
"Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you" soothed Hotch.
"No, him hit Spencer, him bite Spencer!" he insisted, then raised the bottom of the windbreaker and pointed to a fresh, ugly looking bite mark on his inner left thigh, then toward the bruises on his face.
The man whirled and ran-right into the solid chest of Derek Morgan, who slammed him into the wall and snapped handcuffs around the paramedic's wrists. Morgan shoved the man into the grasp of 2 officers who had come to assist, snarling "Get this piece of shit out of here! Just make sure his teeth stay intact until they make a bite mold."
Spencer sat trembling on the bed, legs pulled up to chest, arms clasped around them, rocking back and forth as he gazed fearfully at the 2nd paramedic who was calling in to headquarters. Hotch sat and drew the child into his lap, rocking gently and whispering reassurances.
The paramedic turned to Hotch and explained "I can't run with just myself, but they're sending another bus with 2 women-that should be easier for the little guy. It'll be here in about 10 minutes." The paramedic looked regretfully at the frightened boy and shook his head, then climbed the stairs on out.