Disclaimer: See chapter 1
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A pall hung over the BAU team as they disembarked from the plane in Topeka, Kansas and it was more than the heavy storm clouds that blanketed the city. It was the hopes of Topekans that rested heavily on the shoulders of each member as they alit in single file down the jet's metal stairs. The words the unsub had sent to the newspaper rattled around in each agent's head.
They may not survive tonight
Gone their smiles so warm and bright
A tooth for a tooth
The team was met by Detective Zeke Townsend, a tall African American with direct brown eyes, his usually amiable manner somewhat constrained due to the seriousness of the situation. JJ extended her hand, "Jennifer Jareau, we spoke on the phone." She turned to the team, "Unit chief Hotchner, SSAs Rossi, Morgan, Prentiss and Dr. Reid."
"We're glad you folks could make it," he said as he shook hands with the team with the exception of Reid who simply waved.
During the silent ride to the precinct, the profilers were alone with their thoughts. Morgan couldn't wait to get his hands on this guy. Rossi wondered what had caused the unsub to take these three little girls. Prentiss wondered how the parents were handling the situation. JJ was concerned with keeping control of the media that, because of the note, had now become a player in the story. Hotch hoped the officers would be willing to listen and not let outrage at the unsub affect their judgment. Reid thought about three little girls whose parents prayed they would be able to hold them again like he wanted to hold his beloved Joanna.
The precinct was a hive of activity. Detective Townsend brought them up to speed on all they had done to try and locate the girls. Hotch started giving out orders, "Morgan, Prentiss, talk to the parents. See if they can remember anything from the time the girls went missing. Dave, you and I will go over police reports and see if anything twigs. JJ, talk to the press. Try to find out if anyone saw anything when the guy delivered the note. Reid, you dissect the families, see if you can find any pattern among them."
"Isn't that a waste of precious time?" Sergeant Tillman, a stocky man in his forties whose black hair was receding, asked. "Why waste time going over stuff we've already done?"
"You'd be surprised what a fresh set of eyes can sometimes uncover," Rossi replied.
"Besides," Morgan added, "we might ask a question you didn't ask or in a different way that could trigger something."
"All I'm saying," Tillman continued, "is we don't have any time to waste. He said in the note he's going to kill them tonight."
"Then let's not waste time standing here talking and get to work," Hotch suggested.
The team scattered to complete their assignments. Reid placed pictures of the three families on a bulletin board and wrote notes on a chalk board. He looked at his completed list, one doctor, one minister, one social worker, two lawyers and a judge. He circled the two lawyers and the judge. Angelo Ramos was an estate attorney. Lori Sangstrom worked for the firm of Wiley, Penner and Goldman but had only been doing the odd pro bono case for legal aid, preferring to concentrate on her daughter. Not much chance of their paths crossing. He wasn't getting anywhere, he thought as he paced in front of the board. He speed dialed Garcia.
"Speak ye who seek the truth."
"Garcia did you get anything in your search? Were there any malpractice suits against Dr. Sangstrom?" Reid asked without stopping to breathe.
"Sure sweet pea, lots of them, suing doctors is a national pastime. None of his lawsuits involved anyone from the other families."
"Of course not, that would be too easy. Thanks Garcia." Reid closed he cell phone and stared again at the list.
Hotch entered the room. "We couldn't glean anything new from the police reports. Topeka PD did a good job. Have you got anything here?"
Reid shook his head, "I can't find anything that would link the three families in the unsub's mind but he obviously feels they've taken something from him, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth… a child for a child. Reid pulled out his cell again. "Garcia, check with Topeka mortality records. Has a child that Dr. Sangstrom operated on died from the surgery?" He could hear Garcia tapping on her keys.
"Negative sugar, Dr. Sangstrom has had two deaths, both adults," the computer tech said sadly.
"Thanks Garcia," the tech could hear the dejection in his voice. He closed his cell phone and began to pace again. "He took their little girls," he mumbled. "An eye for an eye, he lost a little girl. He had to Hotch. He's very specific in his communication. I will take from you what you took from me."
Hotch could see Reid was more on edge than usual but he didn't like to interrupt the young genius when he was pacing and mumbling to himself. It was usually followed by some insight that led to the answer. He watched him for a few more minutes, then said, "Reid, are you alright?"
"Yeah Hotch, I'm fi…How do you do it?" he suddenly asked. "When I look at those little girls," he pointed to the bulletin board, "all I can see is Joanna. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her. Before…before when we had cases like this I never knew…knew what it really felt like for the parents but now I know. Hotch, tell me it gets better"
"I know how you feel Reid. Remember that case we had in LA with that unsub enacting his psychodramas. All I could think of when he was going after those kids was Jack. It's hard Reid. I won't tell you it isn't. Most times I can compartmentalize. That time I couldn't. It happens to all of us. I can't tell you it gets better. Maybe you'll learn to handle it better. You're still pretty new to this fatherhood thing but your child will always be the most precious thing in your life."
"I'm sorry Hotch; I shouldn't have brought this up, especially the way things are now and you not being able to see Jack all the time. I don't know what I'd do if some judge decreed when I could see…" He looked at Hotch, his eyes huge. "That's it! We've been looking at this all wrong," he said reaching for his cell phone, once again hitting speed dial. Hotch was curious but knew better than to interrupt Reid when he was in this mode. "Garcia, look up court documents involving a divorce proceeding where Lori Sangstrom was the lawyer for the wife, Maria Ramos testified on behalf of the wife in a custody battle and Judge Adderly ruled against the husband."
Garcia tapped the keys of her computer and a few moments later announced. "There's only one case that fits sweet boy, Wilton v Wilton. Heather Wilton fought for custody of their three year old daughter Tiffany. Lori Sangstrom was her legal aid attorney. Maria Ramos testified that after doing home visits and talking to the couple, she felt that Heather Wilton should be given sole custody of Tiffany with only supervised visitation with her father and that's how Judge Adderly ruled." Reid could hear more tapping. "The husband's name is Myron Wilton. He lives in apartment 3B 1532 Linden Avenue. He works for the city of Topeka public works department."
"Garcia you're the greatest," Reid said.
"Don't you ever forget it, sweetcheeks, Garcia out."
Reid closed his cell. "We got him Hotch, Myron Wilton," he yelled behind him as he ran for the door. "I've got his address. Let's go get those little girls."