Acceptable Risk

Chapter 14

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On the roof top of Vauxhall, Emily and the BAU pair as well as MI-5 team stood before the dead body of the late Sir Fillion Gallows.

"His death could not have been long…I saw him this morning, when I delivered the boxes." Emily said.

"How was his demeanor?" Hotch asked her.

She shrugged, "About the same, stiff and uptight…nothing unusual."

"Omar must not have gotten to him until after you have left."

"Where are the boxes?" Lucas asked.

Emily glanced at Reid who took his phone out, "Garcia…GPS on the boxes."

Well, hello London Reid, very chic and Union Jack of you, and we miss you. Garcia blasted at once on him.

"No time Garcia," Reid shook his head. "We have a serious situation."

Everything is a serious situation, my love…how's Emily and the boss? What is going on? I think there's something's going on…and I'm not talking about why you and Hotch snuck out on us. It's about Beth Clemmons and the boss, although you're not aware of the whole mess…

"Garcia," Reid cut her. "Stop, stop…we need you to trace the GPS numbers Emily sent yesterday."

Oh…of course, let me see…it's hmm….well, would you believe it, you are right on top of it. Why? What's going on?

Reid turned to Emily, "It's still here."

Hello? Reid? Something you're not telling me? Where's Emily? Hotch? Anyone?

"Thanks, Garcia…" Reid hung up on her before she got another word out. "What now?"

Emily turned to Lucas, "It's still here, Lucas."

He nodded, "I'll get the transponder tracer and we'll get down to it…see you in a bit." He nodded to his team and they headed towards the stairs.

"Be careful, Lucas!" Emily waved at him as she smiled.

He turned to her, "Always, you still owe me a dinner, love." And left

Hotch frowned at him and then at her, "Something I should know?"

Emily grinned, "Long story, Hotch."

"Well, I have time."

She chuckled, "Not at the moment. And no, it's not what you think."

He narrowed his eyes and then sighed, "I'm not sure if I should let you out of my sight now."

"Hotch, trust me, will you?"

He nodded, "You know I do." He glanced towards the stairs, "Although I'm not sure about this Lucas North fellow."

She moved close to him, "You're not …jealous, are you?" Her eyes were wide.

"What if I am?"

She was stunned and then she looked at him closely before she saw his expression and realized he was teasing her. "Oh my god! You're such a tease!" She smacked him lightly on his arm.

He smiled at her and lightly held her waist, "Just remember what I said last night."

Her breath hitched, "Oh! Yes…how could I forget?"

Hotch gave her a smile and was about to answer when he saw Reid turned the body of Sir Gallows over slightly. "What is it, Reid?"

Straightening, the young doctor showed him a piece of paper. They gathered to read it; SEIS or WONG dies like GALLOWS, you have two hours.

Reid shook his hands holding the paper, "Emily…we have to find her…two hours…that's not enough time." He began to walk away mumbling, "Just like Maeve…just like Maeve…It's not fair."

Emily looked at Hotch, "We have to get him back in the game, Hotch."

He nodded as he began to follow him while Emily got on her earphone and began to relay the dateline to MI-5 and her team.

…..

Emily, Hotch, and Reid were sweeping the second floor of the building while her team was on the next floor above them. MI-5 was working below. They had an hour to go; so far no sign of Omar bin Laden, Harold Brown or Mei-Lin.

"Emily?" This was from Reid as he closed another door after he made a check.

"Yeah Reid?" She answered.

"Er…what does Omar bin Laden looks like?"

Emily paused as she contemplated his question, "Er…that is a good question." She turned to stare at him slowly.

Hotch came to her, "How did we miss that?" He almost smacked his own forehead for that oversight.

Cell phone in hand, she quickly dialed for INTERPOL in France and began to request for photos.

When she turned back to Hotch she shook her head, "No luck…as far as INTERPOL is concern, no one knows what he looks like, we're SOL."

"So, how are we to ID him?" Reid stood before her.

She shrugged, "Probably, he'll be the one holding Mei-Lin hostage."

Reid nodded despondently, "Yeah…with a gun to her head."

The two senior agents exchange concern looks, "Reid," Emily shook her head, "We'll find her and get her back. And whatever happens, do not give the pendant to bin Laden."

He nodded miserably, "I hope we won't come to that."

"Me too, Reid. Me too."

Soon, they received a call from their team; they had found the elevator in the basement shaft.

Boss, Tomas keyed in, the lift is not in use which is unusual. They are for the workers.

Emily nodded, we'll be right down, Tomas. She then hurried down the stairs with Hotch and Reid in tow. "That's where they must have hold them down there."

When they arrived at the basement, they saw that they were not alone at all, MI-5 was there now but they allowed the INTERPOL and the BAU the lead as they stood behind them.

"All yours, Emily." Lucas nodded at her.

She returned his nod, "Thanks Lucas…what do you see?"

He shook his head, "Not much…" He held out a black box, "Three heat signatures."

Emily nodded, "Okay, we'll proceed as usual."

"Be careful then."

Emily turned to Hotch and Reid, "Okay, we're a go…tread carefully."

They nodded and opened the door.

The first thing Emily saw was Harold Brown, he was standing by a long hallway and he was acting nervous.

"Do you have SEIS? Please tell me you have it…or he'll shoot me too."

Emily shook her head, "No…where is Mei-Lin?"

Brown shook his head, "He has her…give me SEIS…please. I must have it." His hands shook.

"Harold, I don't have it. Why are you doing this? Why are you working with Al Qaeda?"

Brown shook his head, "I'm not…well I didn't mean to. I just want…need the money. And they're willing to pay me."

Hotch and Reid were standing on either side of Emily by now.

"How much?" She asked.

"$200 million."

"You're willing to sell your country and others for that?" Emily hissed at him.

Brown shrugged. "I needed the money."

"And so you shall have it."

Emily, Hotch and Reid turned to the another set of doors and saw a man and Mei-Lin!

"Mei-Lin!" Reid exclaimed.

She turned to him, "Spencer! Don't…you should leave!"

Frowning at her, "What do you mean?"

Emily frowned as well but not at her, "Wait…Mei-Lin! That's…"

The young Asian woman nodded, tears in her eyes as she looked at Emily, "I didn't know! I thought he's dead! You told me he died!"

Emily shook her head, "INTERPOL confirmed his death, Mei-Lin…Oh my god."

Mei-Lin nodded, "I didn't know, Emily…and father didn't either." Her tears streamed down continuously. "We've been betrayed.

Hotch was confused, "What's going on?"

"Dr. Tony Mandell is Omar bin Laden." Emily revealed.

…..

End of Chapter 14