Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds; it belongs to someone far brighter and richer (sniff!)than I.
A/N: Your reviews and PMs continue to be a bright spot in my day.
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Alumni from the 2002 Mount Pleasant High School class started to filter in to the hotel. The doorman, dressed in the same black pants and white shirt as the team with the exception of a burgundy blazer and black necktie instead of the vest and bow tie, greeted them warmly as they arrived. He studied them closely. Officer Mitch Crawford had a picture of the man he was looking for in his breast pocket. This was the most exciting thing to happen in Lancaster in, well, ever, and he had eagerly volunteered to be part of the plain clothes contingent supplied by the LPD to assist the FBI in capturing Daryl Kullman. Greeting these people at the door with a smile plastered on his face was not what he'd had in mind. He wanted some excitement! He looked over at the desk where the hotel desk clerk, Sean O'Shea, and his 'assistant', Detective Hollis, were talking. Hollis looked in the officer's direction and Mitch shook his head.
The desk phone rang and Sean O'Shea answered courteously. He spoke to the guest on the phone and said, "Yes sir, I'll tell him right away sir." He hung up the phone and pressed a button, then spoke into his headset. "Andy, Mr. Pritchard in Room 311 called, he said he promised you a tip when he had some money. You can go to his room and pick it up then you might as well go. Your shift is over in ten minutes anyway."
"Does that happen often, somebody calling to offer the bellboy a tip," Hollis asked?
"No, not often, once in a while, it's usually little old ladies and they feel bad that they didn't have any cash to give the nice little bellboy. Most times it's the opposite; they tell you they have no cash and they'll find you later to get out of giving you a tip. I know all about it. I was a bellboy before I got the job as desk clerk," Sean explained.
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Andy Reiser got off the elevator on the third floor and sauntered down the hall to room 311. You just never could tell about people, he thought. He'd been sure that Mr. Pritchard had been lying when he told him he'd catch him later. That just proved there were still honest people in this world Andy thought as he knocked on the door and it was opened by the blond haired Mr. Pritchard. He thought the blue eyes that surveyed him through the wire rimmed glasses looked cold and dead. That was the last thought he had before he felt a sharp pain and blackness overtook him.
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The distinctive pop sounded as the cork was released from yet another bottle of wine. Rossi didn't know how many bottles he'd opened now, but enough to hope that his career as a bartender would be as short as possible. Gary Lovett was in a bit of a snit. He was an excellent bartender. He was quick and his drinks were good. He'd never had any complaints. He didn't know why he suddenly needed an assistant. Sure they expected a good sized crowd but he'd tended larger crowds. He could handle it. Did the hotel suspect him of something, he thought as he polished some glasses? Is that why this Dave guy was here, to watch him? Did they think he was going home with more than just his salary and tips? The guy was no pro, any fool could see that. He'd have to be careful around him he decided.
JJ stared out at the tables as memories of Saturday nights and sore feet flooded back. Scholarships only provided so much. Unlike Emily, whose parents' wealth had provided everything and Reid, whose genius allowed him to tutor to supplement his scholarships and avoid the manual labor most students had to resort to to get through college, she had waited tables. Oh well here goes, she thought, as she hefted the tray full of bottles of champagne with a groan and began distributing them to each of the tables so they were ready for the toasts.
Hotch and Morgan, like JJ, were placing champagne on the tables. Emily and a couple of the other waitresses were doing the final touches on napkins and place settings. One waitress moved from table to table lighting candles just as some of the alumni started to arrive.
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He looked at himself in the hotel room mirror. He was right. Andy Reiser's uniform fit him perfectly. Well, he'd had to use his own white shirt. Andy's had blood on it but luckily for him the vest was burgundy and the pants were black. Any blood on them was unlikely to show. He looked at the boy on the bathroom floor, a pool of blood beneath his head. He felt bad about that, he really did. He had nothing against the kid. He just needed the uniform.
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Reid and Allie were sitting on the couch in the hospitality room, holding hands. "You know, don't you, that as much as I wasn't looking forward to this, I wanted it to be nice for you. I'm sorry if my weird brain picking up on the oddities of those deaths spoiled it for you."
"I know that. Do you think I don't know you'd never intentionally hurt me you idiot?" She laughed, "I bet people don't ever call you that." Her face became serious. "I know once the realization hit you that something was wrong with those deaths you couldn't ignore it. You wouldn't be the man I love if you could." Reid blushed bright crimson and Allie giggled. "After all we've done together," she raised her eyebrows and elbowed him in the ribs, "I didn't think I could still make you blush. I'm sorry too; I was being a selfish bitch."
Reid looked deadly serious. "Hey, hey there, don't ever speak that way about the woman I love."
"Or what, what are you gonna do about it bucko?" Fortunately, or unfortunately for Allie, Reid knew her ticklish places. Her laughter carried out into the hotel hallway.
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The hotel's Imperial Ballroom was starting to fill. The BAU team had seen no sign of Daryl Kullman and neither had any of the police or security staff stationed throughout the building. Rossi was filling an order for scotch on the rocks when he saw Reid and Allie make their appearance. He quietly informed the others that the couple had arrived. Allie spotted her friend Karen Ross and pulled Reid over to their table. At least this evening there wasn't the baby to contend with, Reid thought with relief. They greeted the couple, Karen in a black one shouldered sheath with a high slit and Craig in a black suit. The women spent time commenting on each other's clothes and finally sat down. Reid headed for the bar to get the drinks and check in with Rossi.
As Reid gave his drink orders, Rossi informed him quietly that there had been no sign of their suspect. Reid nodded heading back to the table with the drinks. He reached the table just as Chantal and Mark arrived. The periwinkle dress with a fitted sequined bodice and a chiffon skirt of varying lengths and layers did an excellent job of attempting to conceal Chantal's pregnancy. Her strawberry blond hair was worn in an up do and adorned with some periwinkle flowers. Mark wore a gray suit. The three women were babbling excitedly. Reid was glad to see Allie enjoy herself while he kept an eye out for Kullman.
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He checked his pockets to make sure he had everything he needed. He gave himself another cursory look in the mirror. He picked up the yearbook and looked at the picture one more time. "It's time for you to pay little girl." He whistled as he hung the Do Not Disturb sign, closed the door to room 311 and headed for the elevator.