Chapter 18

Rock Creek Park Playground
Washington DC metro area

Will LaMontagne eyed the car that pulled into the far end of the parking lot as he was getting Henry out of his car seat. They'd had tails on them for days now. Not that he had any reason to hide or care, and everyone at the Bureau said to just go about his business. But it still creeped him right the hell out.

Not that that was the reason why he still carried. He'd done that anyway, to protect his family.

"Whoa there. No running across the parking lot. We had that talk." He grabbed Henry's hand and the box of toys and led him over to the sand area. This was a good playground, one that still had good old-fashioned sand, not that black rubbery stuff that could burn you on a hot day. He led his son over to the little kids area on the other side of the toilet structure and put the box down where Henry could get to his precious truck collection.

When Will looked over the playground he noticed something was a little different. He recognized the usual kids from this hour of the day, the usual moms and nannies. But there was one new kid there, hanging by her knees from one of the jungle gym things, a girl of about nine or ten, all overalls and neatly braided pigtails hanging down as she looked over in their direction. It was the dog sitting there watching her that he found not right; a pretty white thing, 'bout the size of a lab, with a real pointed muzzle that just looked kinda wild. And there wasn't a leash anywhere in sight. He'd never seen a dog quite like it, and he didn't like it being around the kids without a leash. Well, as long as it was over there, he guessed, but when he saw who that kid belonged to he was going to have a chat with mom.

"Horsey, Daddy, horsey!" Henry called up to him

"Okay, Henry, you'll ride your horsey." He helped Henry up and over to the horses on springs over on one side, helped him mount so he could bounce away for a while. Kid loved the bouncing horses.

"Hey Mister, is that your son?" Asked a young voice with a fairly thick accent. Will spun around to see the new girl and her dog standing right behind him. He hadn't heard her come over, not at all.

"Yeah, that's my boy, Henry." Will watched as the dog came closer, gave him a good sniffing around the waist, and then sat. I'd swear that dog just spotted on my gun, he thought, I've seen K9 dogs do just that. But that's no K9 dog. "Your dog ought to be on a leash there."

"Daisy's all right. Come here Daisy, I know already." Will watched as the girl made a hand gesture and the dog went to her side, sat, and then lay down.

"That's a well trained dog." He had to admit. "She used to be a police dog or something?"

"Kind of. My Mom taught her all kinds of stuff. Why do you sound funny?"

"'Cause I'm from New Orleans. "What's your name, sweetheart, and where are you from?"

"I'm Miri. What's your name?"

"Will. You didn't tell me where you were from."

"Nope" Miri pulled a white envelope from the front pocket of her overalls. "This is for you." She waited for Will to take the offered envelope, and then started silently backing away. "I have to go, my Mom's calling me."

Will looked at the envelope and could almost feel his jaw hitting the sand under him. "Hey, hold up. What's this?" He reached for the girl, and got a handful of overall strap.

Just as he made contact an evil specter stood straight up. The dog, Daisy, was showing all her teeth and giving a growl that made everything primitive in his brain take all kinds of notice. The girl, however, was unperturbed. "I'd let go, Mister, Daisy bites for keeps." Will quickly opened his hand, and the girl took off, running across the sandy paths without a sound, her guardian loping after. Within moments she disappeared on the other side of the park.

Will looked at the envelope in his hand, and sighed before he called his wife.

BAU Headquarters
Quantico, VA

"It's addressed to Lord Montague at the BAU." JJ said. "Will didn't open it."

"Good." Hotch took the envelope and tore it open.

"Shakespearean reference?" Spencer asked.

"Of course, Romeo." Hotch replied with perfect deadpan. Inside the envelope was Michael Ellensworth's business card with a note on the back. "The Capulets would like to meet in two hours." He said. "Their SCIF."

"Great." Morgan replied.

Just then Rossi came in and gestured for them to follow him. "My friend Pete at CIA came through with the Old Man's hit list." He said. "From the looks of it he sent this out when team 1 landed in the US." He studied the boards, comparing them to the contents of the file. After a moment he sighed. "I wish I hadn't done this."

"What do you have?" Hotch asked.

"Former agents he wants dead. Okay, code name 'Areli'." Rossi put a picture up next to the ones for Daniel Ellensworth. "Code name 'Ethen'." This was Michael Ellensworth. "Code name 'Eden'." This was Rebecca Ellensworth. "Code name 'Moredecai'." He held this one up.

"That's the guy who jumped me at the hospital." Morgan said. "Based on the accent that would be Zeke."

"Okay." Rossi put that one there and held up another.

"And that's the aid who got Teri Bailey out of the room."

"Our only missing male is Ben." Rossi put that one up. "And this is the one I'm sorry for. Code name 'Delilia'." He pinned up Clare's picture.

Spencer let out a sigh that went all the way down to his toes. Some part of him had hoped it wasn't true. But there it was in a grainy photograph on the wall. The woman he loved on a street somewhere with men who's appearance said evil even from here. But something about her appearance bothered him. "Do we know when that picture was taken?"

Rossi looked at the file. "Eleven years ago, why?"

"Because Clare has never lied to me. She omitted a lot, but she never outright lied."

"So?"

"I just need to talk to her. That's all."

ClearWater Headquarters
Washington DC

"I still think we should run this by Daniel." Rebecca said. She perched on the back of a chair and fidgeted with her coffee mug.

"Can't. He's busy." Zeke replied. He was sketching something on his clipboard.

"I know." She replied. "I just want you to know that this is crazy."

"This family is not exactly known for its sanity." Ben said. He slowly spun in his chair and gave her one of those dazzling smiles, making her scoff at him.

"I told you." Claire said. "I trust Spencer." She was slowly pacing around the table, rubbing her arms for warmth and comfort. "Didn't you trust Michael?"

Her sister smiled up at her. "Yes, of course. But Michael is one of us."

"So? I trust Spencer."

"Well, it's your ass on the line." Zeke replied.

"Oh, come on Zeke..." Ben said.

"What? It is! Romeo over there gives her up and our odds are not that good. She knows that. You know that."

"I'm willing to take the risk." Claire said.

"And I trust her judgment." Ben added.

"Which is the only reason why we're doing this. You two are volunteering." Zeke replied. "How pissed do you think the big one is going to be because I tazed him?"

"Probably pretty pissed. I'd watch your back." A buzzer sounded. Ben got up to check the monitor. "The Montagues are here." He said.

"All right." Zeke covered his picture. "Let's get this party started."

The BAU team was ushered in to Michael Ellensworth's office. After he thanked his assistant he led them out the back door, down a short hallway, and into a SCIF.

Like every other regulation SCIF Spencer had been in there was a bank of lock boxes in the entryway. Michael very carefully put his phone and the Glock he was carrying in one and locked it up, then gestured for them to do the same. They did, but Spencer noticed that neither Hotch nor Morgan took off their back up weapons. If Michael noticed he didn't say anything.

Inside was set up as a conference room. Table, chairs, computers, display board, even coffee set up in the corner. Looking around the table from the left the first person he saw was a man who was so bland you might have trouble picking him out of a line-up. His only distinctive feature was the steel rimmed glasses he wore. The next man was younger, dark hair and eyes, dressed in a way that would fit in well on a city street. Rebecca Ellensworth sat next to him, or rather perched on the back of the chair to give herself height. She was dressed down, at least for her reputation, and was sporting as many visible bruises as Emily was. Michael sat down next to her.

And then there was Claire.

She looked fine and like she ought, all softness and sweetness. But she had been crying. After thinking about it all day Spencer knew why, he knew what all this had cost her. And what she thought this would cost her.

But he couldn't hold it against her. Not any of it. Not now.

After a long moment he stepped forward and tried and she gave and the next thing he knew she was in his arms once more. "I know." He murmured into her hair. "I know what happened to you. And I still love you."

With that her tears began.

.

Last casting. A young-ish Milo Ventimiglia as the last brother, Ben