The Elderly Are Suspect

A/N: I apologize for my long absence and unforgivably lengthy gaps in updates, however, I was very much NOT on hiatus :0 My new employment has left me with no time to myself and when it does, I'm entirely too tired to write. I'm sorry. Now that I've somewhat gotten used to my rough schedule, I've found some energy to continue. While this chapter is short, I promise, I plan on adding another this very day, which will lead us nearer to the end of this tale! In any case, thank you for reviews and hopefully I can continue to peak your interest!

"Gideon!" Reid nearly yelled as he pounded on Gideon's hotel room door. He was still in shock about what he had found out from Grace. He hit the door with the side of his fist once more, unbelieving that Gideon could stay asleep with such a racket. Luckily though, the whole team had been placed on one floor, which meant they were all apt to hear the noise he was making. He was right, and soon enough the lights in several of the rooms came on and several, tired and every annoyed FBI agents poked their heads out into the corridor.

"Reid, what the hell are you doing?" Morgan growled from his vantage point, while J.J. and Prentiss joined in seconds later. Finally Hotch came into the hall, ever the camp hall monitor, Gideon right behind him. Reid held up his hands in apology as his colleagues came down the warpath towards him.

"I can explain my behavior," he said, hoping to appease them before they all pummeled him to death.

"Damn straight you will, or we'll have to explain it for you." Morgan replied as he walked into the hall, unabashedly in nothing more then his boxer shorts. Even with the urgent information he had to share, Reid was still put off by Morgan's impeccable physique. When the man had time to go to the gym, Reid would never know, considering the closest thing to exercise he got was running to get more coffee. It was hard to believe Reid had the girlfriend while Morgan continued to stay single, whether by choice or otherwise. Finally, Reid shook his head clear of his superfluous thoughts, Gideon needed to know what he had found out. He looked up just as the man he had been looking for came towards him.

"I—I tried your room, you weren't there." He started. Gideon on the other hand didn't particularly care where Reid had looked, as long as his disruption was worth it. He waved off Reid's questioning look and explained.

"Hotch and I were discussing the case, " Hotch continued, "What's so important you have to wake the entire hotel up?" At this demand, Reid took a breath and began to share what he had learned from his conversation with Grace to the team, as they all stood in the hall, in various states of sleeping attire. As they all began to come to the same conclusion Reid had, the case seemed to make more sense, the pieces of the puzzle that had originally come mismatched, started to slip together, finally a clear picture forming.

"So, the aunt has been poisoning the women—but why?" Prentiss asked, as they delved into the information at hand. Reid's eyebrows pinched together as he thought it through, he snapped his fingers as he had an epiphany.

"Well, what greater insult is there, then to have the four boys you raised as your own, marry women who bring nothing but shame to your family?" he replied, while J.J.'s own eyebrow rose questioningly.

"That may be true, but who would go as far as to kill them? That seems to be a bit much." She asked, hoping to make sense of a very confusing case. In this day and age, not having personal problems was considered out of the norm, these women had average issues and attitudes. To be murdered for it seemed a little ridiculous. Reid had an answer for that as well.

"Eva is obviously a very traditional woman—her house was immaculate, during our talk with her, she seemed very uncomfortable talking about what her family had been involved in in—she—she served us tea." He said, hoping the others would find what he was saying, acceptable.

"Reid, lots of people offer tea when they have guests." Morgan replied yawning, his attention span was waning, considering it was in the wee hours of the morning. He was not entirely convinced an elderly lady like Eva was up to killing three women within forty-eight hours of one another. Reid looked at Morgan in horror. The man obviously hadn't been forced to drink as much as he had while they were interviewing the family.

"Morgan—she wouldn't stop refilling the cups." He said his voice disgusted. Morgan laughed and ruffled Reid's hair, much the nerd's annoyance. Gideon shook his head at Morgan and Reid's antics and then looked at Hotch.

"We need to get back to that house, regardless. As we were leaving earlier today, I noticed the sun was reflecting off of something in the backyard. Now that I think about it, it very well could have been the glass roof of a greenhouse. We'll have a connection if that turns out to be correct." He said, Hotch nodding in agreement as the older man spoke.

"I agree. Whatever is going on, we need to find out what it is and stop whoever is doing this." Morgan rubbed his face with his hands, attempting to wake himself up.

"All right then—what are we waiting for?" he said tiredly, looking like he was going to head straight for the cars waiting downstairs. Gideon looked at him from head to foot and then with one of his famous looks answered him.

"Well, for one—you're half naked." Morgan looked down, growing sheepish as he realized he had forgotten an essential element of walking into public.

A few minutes later they all met in the lobby, much to the surprise of the night concierge. They left in a hurry, heading for the elderly woman's house, the sun just barely creeping over the horizon, its rays stroking at the blue-black of the early morning sky, the bloody red it presenting an all too clear reminder they were dealing with murder.

One could only hope they figured it out in time.