"We know about Martin Wright, Ethan." J.J leaned into the table, lacing her fingers together and looking Ethan Andrews directly in the eye. "We've got a team picking him up right now. So, now's the time to start being honest here."
"You have no reason to believe my client has been anything less than honest." Amanda Forsith, the Andrews' attorney stated.
"We know that you and Martin Wright worked for the same company, and we know you were both at the holiday party." J.J told Ethan. "Somebody introduced him to the other victim's husbands, and I am willing to bet it was you."
"All you know is that your suspect was at the party." Forsith contradicted. "You have nothing to even suggest he and my client met."
Ethan swallowed, his jaw tightening as he looked from his attorney to J.J.
"What happened, Ethan?" J.J asked gently. "Why was Gao so different from the others?"
Ethan didn't answer.
"We know that your marriage was in trouble." J.J said. "And Gao wanted to work things out."
"Yeah, right." Andrews muttered under his breath.
"Ethan, be quiet." Amanda Forsith urged.
J.J tilted her head. "Wright held meetings in the sauna at the country club, but you never made it. Why is that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Andrews insisted.
"Did you think that because you hooked him up with business, he could cut you a deal?" J.J asked quietly.
"Don't answer that." Forsith ordered.
"The funny thing is, Ethan," J.J said, sitting back. "You were the only one who got what you paid for. Gao is the only woman Wright killed."
"What?" Ethan frowned.
"This has nothing to do with you." Amanda Forsith warned her client under her breath.
"Wright was fleecing everyone." J.J raised her eyebrows. "His plan was to sell the women to traffickers, but... well, thankfully we got to them first."
Ethan Andrews' eyes widened.
"Now imagine what all those women will say, when we start asking them questions." J.J mused. "Do you think Wright told them their husbands were trying to have them killed? Maybe that was part of how he convinced them to trust him."
Ethan shifted uncomfortably.
"And when all that comes out," J.J continued "who do you think those men will say recommended Wright? Those are a lot of charges. A long time in prison."
"You don't have anything." Forsith shook her head. "If you did, you wouldn't be fishing."
The color drained from Ethan Andrew's face as something over J.J's shoulder caught his attention. J.J turned. Through the window, they had a clear view of Morgan and Rossi leading a handcuffed Martin Wright through the station.
"Maybe you're right." J.J conceded. "But maybe Wright will be willing to deal."
J.J stood, turning as if to leave.
"Wait." Andrews called after her. "Agent Jareau..."
Spencer stood in the small room off the interrogation room, listening to the confession. The door opened behind him.
"We got Wright." Rossi said. "He's not talking now, but that can change. Cruz wants to hand this over to the CRU. Seems we've tapped a vein in a trafficking ring they've been trying to follow for some time now."
"He's a master at reading his victims." Spencer said contemplatively as he watched J.J continue her interview with Andrews.
"He knows what to say as long as they follow script, too." Rossi nodded. "But Gao didn't want to be rid of her husband. Wright panicked."
"Her love for him is what got her killed." Spencer mused. "The other couples each resented each other... ultimately, it's what kept the women alive."
A silence passed between them, as they both felt the weight of the case settle on them.
"Do you think the CRU will ever actually find the women?" Spencer asked.
"I don't know." Rossi said at length. "I know they'll keep looking. Minneapolis PD is bringing in the husbands now."
Spencer said nothing, but left the room, taking out his cell phone as he closed the door behind himself. He walked down the hallway, toward the now-empty conference room, staring at the phone as if willing it to give him some form of direction.
Finally, he pressed the send button and held the phone to his ear. He swallowed, his throat dry as he listened to the ringing. Spencer jammed his free hand into his pocket nervously.
"Hello?" Avery's voice on the other end of the phone filled him with anticipation and trepidation.
"Hi." He did his best to sound casual. "It's me."
"...Hi." Avery answered.
Spencer cleared his throat.
"I miss you." He said earnestly.
"I miss you, too." Avery said. "What's wrong?"
"Wrong?" Spencer asked "Nothing, why?"
"Something's wrong, I can tell." Avery insisted. "You're getting all tense."
"I've barely said anything, I -" Spencer began "I really want to see you. There's something we need to talk about. Can you come over when I get back?"
"Yeah." Avery said. "Yeah, of course."
"Okay." Spencer said. "It'll be a while, but I'll call you."
"Okay." Avery agreed.
There was silence on the line.
"I'll talk to you later, then." Spencer said. "Bye."
"Bye."
The next day and a half seemed to go by in fits of speed interrupted by long stretches of endless minutes. Arrests, bookings, press conferences, and piles and piles of paperwork seemed to happen around the team rather than to them, before finally they found themselves once again on the jet, headed back home.
"CRU is casting a nationwide net, and have alerted Canada, in case they were smuggled over the border." J.J was telling Hotchner.
Spencer stared out the window, the details of the case replaying in his head. Rossi slid into the seat across from him.
"Figured out what you're going to say?" Rossi asked nonchalantly.
"I think I have, actually." Spencer turned his head, looking at Rossi.
"Good." Dave Rossi nodded. "Are you... feeling good about your decision?"
Spencer thought carefully. "Yeah." He answered finally, returning his gaze to the clouds outside the window.
