Chapter 6
Evidence
"There is no witness so terrible, no accuser so powerful as conscience which dwells within us." - Sophocles
As Derek and Spencer walked into the court house, Reid's name was being called. Morgan followed Spencer through the doors into the court room and sat in the gallery while Spencer was led to the witness box. Morgan could see how pale Spencer was, even more than usual. The dark shadows around his eyes looked black against the white of his face. As he affirmed his oath, his voice shook.
And so it began. "Please state your name for the record."
Morgan watched as Spencer began to give his evidence. Spencer leaned forwards, holding the wooden bar. His hands were shaking as the time to utter the words of betrayal got closer. Images of Aaron flashed before him, and in his heart, he cried for him.
"What is your specialist skill with regards to your evidence today? And please explain what this is"
"I have an eidetic memory." he said. "This means that I can recall anything that I have ever read or seen in writing with perfect accuracy."
"And are you prepared to demonstrate this skill for the court."
"Yes Your Honour."
"Please show the witness exhibit 14."
A book was taken from the exhibit table and shown to Spencer. "Do you recognise this book?"
"Yes, it is the book I was given to read two weeks ago for the purpose of this demonstration. " He turned the book over. "I have signed my name on the back cover." He gave the book back to the clerk, who took it to the Judge.
"I am now going to open the book at random." He opened the book. "Dr Reid, please tell me what paragraph two on page eighty six says."
Spencer closed his eyes briefly, and began to recite the paragraph verbatim. The Judge nodded. "That is perfectly accurate." he said, and passed the book to the clerk. "Please show the book to the jury."
The Counsel for the prosecution stood up. "Dr Reid, please tell the court how you came to have the injuries to your face and hand."
In a trembling voice, Spencer explained what had happened the previous day, and the threats that had been received. As he gave an account of Aaron's kidnapping, his stomach knotted, and his heart raced.
-0-0-0-
Garcia re-read her computer screen. She picked up her phone and called the conference room. "I think I might have something."
Rossi Prentiss and JJ ran across the walkway to Garcia's bunker.
"What have you found, Garcia?" Rossi was leaning on her chair, looking at her screen.
"The known associate of Joshua Scarson who is listed as deceased, well, he might not be!" she turned to face her colleagues. "No body was ever recovered. Nate Hudson allegedly died when his car drove into the river. But the car was recovered empty. It was assumed that his body was washed away."
"So he could have faked his death!" Rossi immediately became animated. "What do we have on him?"
She turned back to her screen. "We have a last known address, and also the address of his girlfriend. She moved to Boston after the inquest."
"Then that's where we are going then." Rossi said."We'll take the jet." As the remaining three team members left the office, Rossi called Morgan.
Morgan felt his phone vibrate, and took it from his pocket in annoyance. Spencer was in the middle of giving his evidence, and Morgan really didn't want to leave the court house right at that moment. But when he saw the call was from Rossi, he hurried out of the court room and took the call in the corridor.
Rossi was calling him back to the BAU. They had a promising lead to follow up, and he was needed. He had no way to let Spencer know, so he wrote a quick note for him, and asked a security officer to give it to Spencer when he had finished. He ran to the car and as he drove away from the court house, he thought about the trauma Spencer was going through.
Go, Spence, Kiddo. You know what is the right thing to do. You know Hotch would want you to be truthful. Do what is right!
But as he drove, he wondered how Spencer would deal with the aftermath.
-0-0-0-
"And so Dr Reid, can you tell the court the wording of the letter that you saw, which was subsequently allegedly destroyed by the defendant."
Spencer read back the letter from memory, but his mind was elsewhere. He glanced across to where Morgan had been sitting, and was distraught to see that he was no longer sitting there. He suddenly felt faint, and he swayed and grabbed hold of the bar to stop him falling. He reached for the glass of water that was on the side next to him, and raised it to his lips with trembling fingers.
"Dr Reid, do you wish to sit down to give the rest of your evidence?"
Judge Farron's voice seemed far away and muffled. Spencer looked towards the Judge. The water slipped from his hand, and he heard the distant sound of glass breaking. His eyes rolled upwards, and before anyone could reach him, Spencer collapsed onto the floor
The Judge called for medics to help Spencer, and called for a recess.
"We will resume in an hour." Judge Farron swept out of the court room, as Spencer was carried out by the medics.
-0-0-0-
"Dr Reid, are you alright?"
Spencer's eyes flickered open, and he tried to sit up. "What happened?"
"You fainted, Doctor. Drink this."
Spencer took the cup of water from the medic's hand, and sipped it. "I think I would like to go outside for some air before I go back in."
The medic helped him to his feet, and held his arm and they walked to the door. "How long do we have?"
The medic opened the door, and they stepped out into the sun. Before he could answer Reid, the gunshot split the air. The bullet hit Spencer in the chest and his eyes widened in shock, his hand went to his chest, and he looked at the blood on his finger in surprise. The medic didn't see what had happened, and as Spencer fell, he reached his hand out to steady him. Spencer collapsed onto his knees and fell forwards onto the paving with a sigh. The medic knelt down beside him, and carefully turned him over. There was a growing blood stain on the left of his chest. Spencer was breathing quickly and blood was beginning to show at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh my god, he's been shot!" He pulled back Reid's shirt, and put pressure on the hole in his chest.
"Dr Reid? Dr Reid!" He looked up as a security guard ran out of the building. "Inform the court, and call an ambulance please. Dr Reid has been shot."
The medic lifted Spencer's head onto his lap. "Stay with me, Dr Reid. You are going to be fine. Just stay with me."
Spencer was lifting his head, trying to speak. The medic leaned closer.
"P-please...tell Aaron...tell him...I'm s-sorry..." He started to cough, and blood ran from his mouth and into his hair. "I'm so...s...sorry...Aaron..."
In the distance, a siren wailed as the ambulance got closer. Spencer stared up at the medic, who took Spencer's hand in both of his and held them tightly.
"The ambulance will be here soon. Hang on, Dr Reid, and stay with me now."
The sounds of the siren was closer now, Spencer could hear it, but he couldn't hold on. Colours seemed to get brighter then they faded to grey as his eyes lost focus. There was so much he wanted to say, but his lips no longer were able to form words.
Aaron...where ever you are, Babe...please forgive me...
The medic watched as Spencer's eyes stopped focusing and closed. His head rested back onto his lap, and the medic felt Spencer's hand go limp as he lost consciousness. He saw a single tear forming in Spencer's eyes, and it broke away and ran slowly down the side of his face.