NOTE:I do not own Criminal Minds or the characters within.
CHAPTER 3
Matt and Luke stepped into the commotion of the subway station. A group of people were huddled to the side whilst police officers were jotting down statements and crime scene investigators were testing a small pool of blood on the floor. Matt's phone rang in his pocket. He retrieved it from his pocket and turned it onto loud speaker as he turned and started to ascend the stone steps to try and move away from the noise. Luke glanced over his shoulder and turned to follow him.
"Hi, princess, what you got for me?"
"Oh, Matt, wouldn't you like to know?" purred Garcia on the other end of the line.
"You're on speaker, Garcia" chuckled Matt as he gently shook his head. Luke snorted with laughter.
"I knew that! Anyway my doves, I've managed to track Reid's phone. It's there in the sub station, and in fact-" Garcia paused, the sound of clicking filling the air, "It's right next to you." Matt and Luke peered around in confusion. Luke caught a flash of tan in the trashcan next to him. Pulling on a pair of blue nitrile gloves that he had requested from CSI, he reached into the trash can and wrapped his fingers around a leather strap- Reid's bag. He was never without it. Crouching down, he carefully opened the bag to find Reid's credentials and phone.
"We got it," sighed Matt, "His bag was thrown into the trash with his badge and phone inside."
"Oh my God," squeaked Garcia.
"We'll let the PD know what we've found and log this into evidence," replied Luke as he straightened. He carried the satchel over to CSI to place into an evidence bag. Matt hung up the phone and joined Luke next to CSI. He gazed sadly at the blood.
"What's the bet that that's Reid's blood?" asked Matt. Luke was staring at the same spot as Matt.
"Without a doubt." A young red-haired crime scene investigator stood up and turned to the agents behind her. She gave a small smile.
"We've taken swabs of the blood. We'll get these rushed through the lab and see if we can get a hit."
"The man described is likely to be our friend and colleague, Dr Spencer Reid," replied Matt.
"Really? It was Dr Reid that was taken?" asked the investigator in horror.
"That's what we need to find out, but I suspect that that blood is his. His bag with his badge and phone were in the trash by the stairs," answered Luke with a sigh. The investigator nodded and turned to her colleague who was placing Reid's satchel into a case with other evidence bags. Luke took out his phone and dialled Emily's number.
"Hey, Prentiss. We found Reid's bag with his badge and phone in a trash can. There's blood on the floor which has been swabbed for testing by CSI."
"Okay. Head back to the BAU and we will go from there." Luke hung up the phone and pocketed it.
"Let's get back to Quantico."
JJ and Tara raced up the stairs to Reid's first floor apartment. To anyone who was unaware of the situation, one would think that the pair were having a race to see who could get there first. JJ curled her hand into a fist and knocked twice on the door. The number 23 glinted gold on the door.
"Spence, it's JJ. You in there?" Her question was met with a deadly silence, "I'm gonna use the spare key to come in". JJ fished her keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door. The door swung open to Reid's apartment. Sunlight beamed through his lounge window. The stacks of books on tables and units cast shadows across the floor. Everywhere was freakishly tidy, as would be expected of Reid. JJ rested one hand on her gun as she made her way through the lounge to the bedroom. Tara moved silently towards the direction of the kitchen.
"Spence? Spence, you here?" called out JJ as she gently pushed open the bedroom door. The bed was still unmade and the masculine scent of shower gel emanated from the bathroom. JJ sighed and turned back to the lounge.
"Reid? Reid, it's Tara. Sound off, man." Both women were met with more silence. They met back up in the lounge. Tara sighed and looked up at the ceiling in despair, "He's not here." JJ crossed her right arm across her body and propped her left elbow on her arm as she nibbled her fingertips nervously. Tara took out her phone and dialled Emily's number, "Hey, Prentiss, it's Lewis. There's no one here and there's no sign that anyone's been here."
"Matt and Luke got something at the subway. We'll brief back at Quantico," replied Emily. Tara snapped her phone shut and glanced at JJ.
"Let's get back to the BAU," said Tara as she started to leave. JJ remained firmly planted in place, "JJ?" JJ looked intensely into Tara's eyes, her own blue orbs filling with tears.
"This can't be happening again. Hankel, the LDSK. He just got out of prison. I-" JJ's breath caught in her throat as a lump formed. She desperately tried to swallow down the lump, "I can't do this without Spence." Tara stepped forward and brought arm around JJ's shoulders.
"We'll find him Jayje. You can count on it. The team has never rested before when it gets personal, and we won't rest until he's back this time." JJ nodded and forced a small smile as she followed Tara out of the apartment, locking it up behind her.