Disclaimer: I still don't own Criminal Minds, (sniff, sniff)
A/N: Thanks to all who read and reviewed. Your reviews are a highlight of my day and never fail to put a smile on my face.
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When Allie awoke Friday morning she noticed the sun filtering under the curtains pulled across the hotel room windows, her mind registered that the clock on the nightstand read 8:15 and she realized she was alone in bed. She frowned. Allie liked waking up with Spencer's comforting warmth beside her. At that moment the bathroom door opened and the object of her thoughts strode out dressed in jeans and a grey tee shirt. "Good morning," he said good naturedly.
"Good morning to you," she smiled. "You seem to be in a good mood."
"Yeah, I got an idea last night. Who in your class did drugs," he asked abruptly, sitting on the side of the bed to put on his cross trainers and tie the laces.
Allie looked bewildered at his question. "Drugs, what do you mean by that?"
"Well, you know who in your class took drugs, or I'm sure you have a pretty good idea. You know, who smoked a little pot, sniffed coke, injected. I need to know so I can contact their dealer."
"Why do you want to contact a drug dealer, honey?"
"Just an idea I had about Darcy. I need to find out where she got her drugs." Reid explained but Allie still looked confused.
Reid continued to look at her expectantly, "Okay okay, Greg Morrison and Mickey McDougal were kind of known around the school as dopers."
"Are they at the reunion," he continued to enquire.
"Yeah, I saw them last night at the meet and greet. I never talked to them; we never hung out together. I talked to Becky though; she used to be really into Mickey, nice girl, lots of tattoos. It always bothered her that Mickey was into the drug scene." She watched as Spencer affixed the holster holding his glock to his right hip. "They used to go to Gino's that's a pool hall on Baxter," Allie told him, still unsure of where he was going with this.
"Okay, thanks, I'll see you later; we got that luncheon today, right?" He grabbed the black leather jacket he'd worn the night before, shrugging into it. He grasped Allie by the shoulders, kissing her soundly and headed for the door, reaching for his cell and pressing speed dial. Allie heard him say, "Hi Garcia," as the door to room 421 was closing.
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The team had just arrived at the hospitality room when Morgan's cell rang. Garcia told him she was faxing the results of the gun registration search. A few of the students had those hunting rifles registered. She ended the call quickly. She told him she was working on some things for her sweet boy for an avenue he was following. Morgan relayed this to the team.
"What's that mean," Emily asked?"
"I don't know, Garcia didn't elaborate," Morgan replied.
"He's gone to find Darcy's drug dealer," a voice said from the doorway. The team turned to see Allie standing there, dressed in an emerald green sundress and carrying a box of donuts.
"Darcy's drug dealer," Morgan repeated, "Why?"
"It was some idea he had during the night. He didn't share it with me." She went on to tell them about the conversation she'd had with Reid that morning.
"So he went to this pool hall frequented by dopers, looking for Darcy's dealer," Rossi stated for clarification.
"Yes, I already told you…"
"Alone," Hotch asked, dismayed that the team's youngest member would be out alone amongst drug dealers.
"Well, there wasn't anyone with him. He had his gun though," Allie responded. "Why, you don't think he's in danger do you?"
"Morgan, Prentiss, get over to that pool hall in case Reid needs back up," Hotch ordered. Allie gave them directions and they headed out.
Hotch was pouring himself a cup of coffee and Allie approached the table setting the donuts down, saying, "I'm sorry for my behavior last night. I guess I overreacted. I just don't like to think about people I care about being in danger. I apologize for questioning your authority.
"Allie, I know you care about your former classmates and we'll do everything in our power to get this guy and I think the best way to do that is to not let him know we're on to him."
"Yeah, I understand, it's just that I hate being helpless."
"You aren't helpless. You've been helping us put together our profile. That's something useful," Hotch said encouragingly.
"But, are we any further ahead?"
"Come on, Garcia just sent over some information. Let's see what it tells us." Hotch said, reaching into the box for a donut which he bit into eagerly. "Great donuts, thanks Allie."
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Reid was in the back room of Gino's pool hall on Baxter Street. He had talked to Mickey McDougal, saying he'd heard from Allie that he might be able to get him some action. He was running low on his "product" but he didn't want Allie to know. Well you know what she's like, miss goodie two shoes. Mickey had nodded and turned him on to Nick Morelli, who did business in the back room of the billiards establishment.
When they were alone, Reid flashed his ID at Morelli. "Hey man I don't want any trouble here. No drugs have been mentioned and no money has exchanged hands so you got nothin' on me," Mickey protested.
"Exactly, Mr. Morelli. Let's keep it that way. I have no intention of disrupting your "business." I only want a little information." Morelli thought about the wisdom of this for a few moments and then nodded, "Okay, I'll tell you what you want to know but you never heard it from me."
"Deal," Reid said.
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Morgan and Prentiss were driving through the streets of Lancaster, hoping that their friend had not gotten himself into some kind of trouble. "What was Reid thinking, going to a place like that alone? I don't think he's ever been in a pool hall in his life. He'll stick out like a sore thumb." The concern was evident in Morgan's voice.
"Maybe it'll be okay, who knows maybe he decided against it once he got there."
They made a right on Baxter Street like Allie had directed and two blocks up they came to Gino's. They exited the SUV and were about to enter the pool hall when Reid came out. "Hi guys, what are you doing here?"
"Allie told us that you'd come here alone and Hotch figured you might need back up," Emily responded.
"Sorry you made the trip for nothing but I'm fine."
"Well," Morgan interjected, "You know you got that Professor Peabody look going on and we thought you might kind of stick out down here."
Reid looked down at his jeans, tee shirt, leather jacket and cross trainers. "Do I look like Professor Peabody to you?"
Morgan and Emily shook their heads. Morgan said, "We were a little concerned, you know with you trying to pull off something like this. You really haven't done any undercover and aren't a great actor so we just thought it would be best to be on hand in case you needed us."
"Morgan, you have no idea how good an actor I am. I have acted almost every day of my life since I was a young child. To save myself a lot of trouble and pain in school, I acted not as smart as I really am. I acted like I had a mother who looked after me and our home so no one would take me away to foster care. I did it so well no one knew that a ten year old was in charge. I acted like I didn't care that my father had left, that it didn't hurt like hell. When the bullies attacked, I acted like it didn't hurt nearly as much as it did. He moved toward his SUV and turned back to his partners. Sometimes I act so well you have no idea I'm acting. Let's get back to the hotel. If Garcia's found what I need, I think I have the answer."