CHAPTER 7

One of Garcia's other screens flickered to life as the faces of Luke, Emily and Rossi appeared. Following Tara's phone call, Emily insisted that they hold a conference call to watch the new video.

"You guys landed yet?" asked Tara.

"Not yet. Another hour or so. When was the envelope delivered?" asked Emily.

"About fifteen minutes ago by security. He said a Mexican guy dropped it off and said it was urgent." Emily nodded.

"Once we've watched the video, I want Garcia to check the security footage for the front of the building to try and ID the guy. For now, let's get on with this." Garcia nodded shakily as she pressed play. The window opened up to Reid still in the chair. His cardigan, tie and jacket had been taken off and he was now barefoot. His eyes glinted with anger. The tape had been replaced over his mouth and was now wrapped around his head, trapping his curls underneath. His hair stuck to his forehead with blood and sweat. He was involuntarily trembling as the masked figure knelt down at his feet.

The man pinned Reid's left foot down to the floor and brought a wooden mallet down hard onto it. Garcia jumped at the audible cracking of the bones underneath the mallet. The team felt their hearts shatter at the sound of the muffled scream that came from Reid's very being. Garcia let out a choked sob. The man moved up Reid's leg and pinned it down before swinging the mallet hard against his ankle. Tara gulped down a wave of nausea as his ankle snapped, twisting his foot in over. Matt crossed his arms across his torso and bent his right arm up, pressing his fist to his mouth. Emily visibly paled as Rossi whispered a prayer to himself. Luke turned away from the screen as he tried to compose himself. Garcia reached a hand to her screen as tears escaped Reid's eyes.

The man switched legs and repeated his actions on the other. Tara was unable to contain the second wave of nausea as she quickly grabbed Garcia's trashcan and vomited into it. Reid was panting through the tape as he tried to swallow down the pain and nausea. He soon succumbed to unconsciousness as his head dropped forward, his chin colliding with his chest. The man turned to the camera with the mallet in his hand.

"Good luck finding Dr Reid. You have less than three days left. God help him when Shaw gets his hands on him." With that the video cut dead.

Setting the trashcan back on the floor, Tara stepped forward and crouched next to Garcia, her eyes fixed to the screen.

"Garcia, can you rewind the video a little?" Garcia nodded and clicked the rewind button on the video, "Stop. Can you zoom in?" Garcia tapped again so that the image of a tattoo on the man's wrist was visible between his glove and sleeve, "There. You see that tattoo? It's a spider web. It represents the time spent in prison. This guy has obviously done time. Can you search for prisoners released from Millburn Correctional Facility in the last three months? Narrow your search by tattoos. All tattoos have to be documented on incarceration. We're looking for a Hispanic man, probably in his thirties or forties."

"I can do that!" responded Garcia, as typed the parameters frantically on her keyboard. A mugshot popped up on the screen. A pair of dark eyes stared back. His black hair was gelled back away from his face. He wore prison blues, "Alberto Sanchez. Originally from Igualla, Mexico. Moved to Baltimore ten years ago. He was arrested for drug related gang activity back in 2001 and was sent to Millburn Correctional Facility. He was released on parole a month ago. He was an avid follower of a one Calvin Shaw."

"This is the guy who took Reid. Now to figure out where he went."

"He doesn't have his name to any known properties."

"What about Calvin Shaw? Does he have any known addresses?" asked Rossi. Garcia shook her head, "Okay keep looking. We'll call once we've landed in Michigan." The conference call cut off. Matt, Tara and Garcia were startled by the panting presence of JJ at the door.

"What the fuck?" she shouted between breaths. No one had heard her approach. Matt wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her away from the office. Tara gave Garcia's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as she came to her feet and followed the others out.

Emily entered the police station of the Michigan PD. It was surprisingly busy given the time of night. Phones were ringing from all sides and officers were struggling with prisoners. An officer in a black uniform was seated at a desk directly in front of Emily and was talking heatedly into the phone. Emily approached the desk. The officer raised one finger at her to indicate that they'd be with her in one minute. The officer put down the phone and looked up at Emily. She looked to be in her fifties and her face screamed out desperation for retirement. Emily took out her badge and held it up.

"Hello. I'm SSA Emily Prentiss, Unit Chief of the BAU. This is SSAs Rossi and Alvez. We're here to speak to the captain about the escape of Calvin Shaw." The officer reached out a hand and shook Emily's.

"I'm Sergeant Hitchens. Captain Holbrook is in his office. Let me take you to him," she said as she came to her feet and guided Luke, Rossi and Emily to a small office situated at the back. Captain Holbrook was buried under piles of paperwork, his greying eyebrows twitching in frustration. He rubbed his hand over his bearded chin. Hitchens knocked on the door before opening it.

"Sorry, sir. The FBI are here about Calvin Shaw." Captain Holbrook waved them in. Hitchens excused herself and closed the door behind her. Rossi and Emily sat in the hard seats opposite Holbrook at his desk. Luke remained stood, his arms folded tightly across his chest.

"What can you tell us about Shaw's escape?" asked Emily as she leaned forward, her elbows against her thighs. Captain Holbrook sighed and sat back in his chair.

"He was being transferred to Milan when the transport van was cut off by a sedan. The guards and driver were shot dead at the scene and the prisoner was nowhere to be seen."

"Is there anywhere he could have gone to?" asked Rossi. Holbrook shook his head.

"Afraid not, agent. There was no witnesses and no fingerprints left at the scene. We've been scouring the areas around where the van was found but so far coming too empty. I'm curious – Why is this an FBI case?"

" The prisoner, Calvin Shaw, has an associate that has kidnapped one of our agents and Shaw is after the agent's blood." Holbrook whistled.

"I sure hope you find him then." He replied with a sigh. Emily and Rossi glanced at each other, then over their shoulders at Luke who was now pacing with the fingers of one hand tucked into his belt.