Chapter 11
Parson Plantation
Grindstone Island
St. Lawrence River
New York state
October 2011
"Hello." The woman at the desk said. "Are you a friend of Teacher? The other Teacher I mean, the schoolmaster."
"I am." Emily nodded. "I'm Emily."
"Oh." The woman beamed a smile and stood. She barely came up to Emily's shoulder. "Emily who speaks Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic and Russian, who's lived all over the world and who lives on her own with a cat named Sergio? That Emily?"
They were right about the friendship at least, "That Emily."
"Oh! It's good to meet you; the schoolmaster said you were family. Is it time to go then?" She started collecting books and items off her desk into a basket.
"It is. I'm sorry, you can't take anything. They haven't gone through this building for evidence yet."
She looked at Emily very calmly, but very firmly. "These are my belongings, they go with me." She swept a few things into a basket and came around the desk, her indigo blue apron swinging against her bare ankles. "Are we going to the schoolmaster?"
"Yes, we are. We're parked at the bottom of the hill."
Ft. Drum Military Reservation
New York State
Emily and Andi decided to take Teacher to get her into the system before they brought her back to the hotel. When she entered the building they were greeted with many friendly calls and more than a couple of hugs. These were a small people, a hallmark of less than optimal nutrition, but even with that she was the smallest one here. "Okay, have a seat." Emily said, guiding Teacher over to one of the tables where they were trying to identify people.
Teacher sat rather primly, her toes just scraping the floor. "Okay, let's start with your number." The registrar said.
"2711." She replied.
"OK, if you'll put your hand here we can check fingerprints." Teacher obligingly placed her hand against the screen for a scan. "Is there anything you like us to call you?"
"Teacher is fine."
"I'm going to guess your occupation is schoolteacher then?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And your age?"
"Twenty-one."
"Okay." The registrar looked. "We have you in the system; would you like to know your name?"
"I know my name, thank you. I also know the one my mother gave me. I don't mind if others know that name, it is a good description of me. And I know you prefer I use one. You may, if you like."
It was clear that her legal name held no more meaning for her than her number, but perhaps another name meant a great deal. "All right," Emily nodded and looked around at the screen. "Talitha Jensen, aka Tally Jensen, age 21, from Pasadena, California. Your parents are Monica and Berjur Jensen, also of Pasadena. Stranger abduction when you were seven. Would you flag that file for our tech, please." Emily asked.
"Sure." The registrar nodded. She turned back to Tally. "Do you have any children?"
"No."
"Is that common?" Andi asked.
"At her age. We're not finding anyone under 22 with children."
"That's because you're not an adult until you're 21." Tally replied. "You're a child until you're seven, a youth until you're fourteen, an apprentice until you're 21 and then you're expected to be about your adult work. Including motherhood."
"At least there's that." Andi said.
"Any chance you could be pregnant?" The registrar asked.
Tally's cheeks turned pink. "I could be. I don't know if I am though."
"All right."
"So your students are between the ages of seven and fourteen?" Emily asked. She was trying not to think of the possibility of being pregnant.
"Yes, that's right." Tally replied.
"Are you married?" The registrar asked.
Tally, so open and friendly a moment ago, pulled back as if stung. "It's all right." Emily said. "Couples can be together now. We just want to make sure we keep you two together if you want."
Tally looked at the registrar, and then up at Emily, before looking out at the others in the room. "Excuse me." She said, before she got up and headed in to the crowd.
"Now what is that all about?" Andi wondered.
Emily tracked Tally as she made her way through until she found Housekeeper. A hug was exchanged, and then a conversation, one with some looks back at the table. After a moment Tally made her way back to them. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you understand that I had to be certain."
"Of course," Emily said. "I assume that if the overseers found out you were married you'd be punished."
"And then split up, one of you sold off. You can't be too careful." Tally turned to the registrar. "Yes, I am married."
"And the other party's number?"
"9544."
The registrar typed it in, and then stopped. "9544?"
"Yes."
"You sure about that?"
Tally gave her a quizzical look. "I know who my husband is."
"What's wrong?" Emily asked. She stepped around to check the screen
Number: 9544
Last name: Reid
First name: Spencer
Note: FBI
"Oh boy."
"We're going to need a DNA sample and to check to see if you are pregnant." The registrar said. "Right this way."
Andi looked over her shoulder. "Don't take this wrong, but I'm glad it's not my unit."
"Thanks." Emily replied as she pulled out her phone.
Candlewood Suites
Watertown NY
Outside Ft. Drum Military Reservation
Now Hotch had to get involved. But Morgan stopped him, indicated that he should keep some distance. "Reid." He said. "They found the school teacher." He watched his friend collapse further within himself.
"She said you two are married." Hotch said.
"We are." Spencer said after a long pause. "I'm going to make it legal as soon as I can. I knew her, I've known her for years, I loved her since I met her we were just too young..."
"Reid you couldn't have known her for years." Morgan said. "You haven't been gone that long."
But Hotch was looking at that file. "Her parents are professors at CalTech." He said. "Is that when you knew her?"
But Spencer had covered his face. There were too many questions, they could see his walls crumbling, all the things you can live with if you just don't think about them were pouring out. "They made me hurt her." He said. "She was screaming. Why are you even still talking to me? Why aren't you arresting me? How is it that she can even still look at me?"
"Spencer." Hotch said gently. "Start at the beginning. What happened the night you and Seaver were taken?"