I and the public know what all schoolchildren learn, those to whom evil is done do evil in return.
-W. H. Auden
"I've been trying to come up with some sort of mathematical correlation of the crime scenes," Reid said, studying the large map that had been tacked up on the wall.
"I can't even begin to figure out how you do that," Lisa said, clearly in awe and not caring if Reid knew. She'd know and worked with the young genius since he joined the BAU and she was still impressed by his abilities.
"It's not difficult, really," he said, with a shrug.
"All the same, I'm impressed," she laughed.
"How are you doing with the suspect listings?" Reid asked, looking at the folders spread out in front of her.
"There are four men who fit the profile," she said, laying the pictures out for him. "All four are convicted sex offenders and are registered. From what I can tell, these two…" she pointed to two of the pictures, "Andrew Kessler and Walter Graves…both travel along the western Pennsylvania/Ohio border frequently."
"Have you been able to pin down their most recent travel dates?"
"I'm waiting to hear back from both employers," she shrugged, "Graves has the perfect background…" She held the file out to Reid.
He took it and quickly read it's contents. "Text book abused child, in and out of foster care…
"I know, it's almost too easy," Lisa agreed, wrinkling her nose. "We so rarely get those slam dunks…"
"Maybe this is our time?" Reid mused, turning his attention back to his mathematic formula.
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"My money's on Graves," Morgan said, tapping the picture.
"I agree," Prentiss said, looking around the table at her colleagues.
"We can call the local PD and have him picked up," Hotch said, looking at Rossi, who was deep in thought. "Dave, you agree?"
Pulling himself from his thoughts, Rossi turned to look at the younger man, "I still want to talk to Kessler. Something about Graves is just too easy."
"Some times we got the easy ones," Prentiss said, echoing Lisa's earlier statement.
"Sometimes we do," he allowed, "But there's something about the guy…"
He was interrupted as Lisa walked into the conference room. He could tell by the look in her eye that she was clearly excited by something.
"We just heard from the Aliquippa PD," Lisa excitedly said, "The owners of a small luncheonette discovered a large duffle bag behind their store this morning. Inside was one heavily drugged, but very much alive Tara McLean."
"Thank God," JJ said, under her breath.
"Was she injured?" Hotch asked.
Lisa continued, "Preliminary exam revealed bruising and minor cuts. They were waiting for her parents to give consent to any further exams, but she's alive."
"Did anyone see anything at all?"
She shook her head, "The duffle bag is in the crime lab and they'll be checking Tara for any foreign dna. We'll get a call as soon as we know."
"In the mean time, Morgan, Prentiss," Hotch began, "Head out and see if you can pin down Graves. Talk to him, see what's going on."
"And Kessler?" Rossi prompted.
"Dave, you go talk to him. Take Reid with you."
"We're on it," Reid said, standing up.
"I'm going to go talk to the Aliquippa PD," JJ said, standing and following Morgan and Prentiss out of the room.
"You ready, Reid?" Rossi asked, walking to the doorway.
"Let us know what you find out," Hotch said, as the two agents walked out of the room, leaving him alone with Lisa.
"I'm going to head over to the hospital and meet with Tara's family," Lisa said.
"Wait," Hotch called, "Before you go…"
She raised a brow, "What's wrong?"
"I was going to ask you the same question," he quietly said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, knowing he'd see right through her lie.
"When we left last night, I honesty thought you and Dave were going to be able to work together…"
"We are working together," she dismissed.
"And it's all you can do to even be in the room with him," He insisted, "What happened?"
"This isn't the time or place," she quietly said. "Look, we're both doing our jobs. No one said we had to be best friends."
"True, and it's really none of my business."
"I know you're asking me as a friend, not the Unit Chief," she said with a fond smile, "And I appreciate you looking out for my welfare, but…"
"But, now is not the time, I know," he agreed, "I just want to be sure you're okay, that's all. And, obviously, you've done a fine job of making yourself okay."
"I'm trying," she said, then, "I'm heading to the hospital. We'll talk when this is over, okay?"
"Go on, get out of here," he said, watching her walk from the room. He wasn't sure what went on between Dave and Lisa, but whatever it was, it definitely threw a larger wedge between them than the one that existed before.
He knew that both of his old friends were ultimately professional and that nothing that happened between them would interfere with this case. Pushing his concern aside, he walked out of the room to join JJ in consulting the Aliquippa PD.
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.
Author: Samuel Johnson
"So Graves didn't do it," Lisa said, walking into the conference room.
Hotch nodded, "He's not our guy."
"So, now we look at Kessler?"
"I'm waiting to hear from Reid and Rossi, neither of them have called in," he replied, concern creeping into his tone.
As if on queue, JJ walked into the room, "I just heard from Reid, they found pictures and articles of clothing from all of the victims in Kessler's house."
"But did they find Kessler?"
"They're on their way to his office to pick him up now…"
"Hey, Guys," Morgan said, leaning into the doorway, "You need to see this…"
They followed Morgan out into the office and gazed at the flat screen television mounted to the wall.
"And in continuing coverage of the stand off in Aliquippa," the news anchor said, "The Aliquippa PD and members of the FBI have cornered Andrew Kessler in his home. Kessler is a suspect in the abduction of 9 little girls in Western PA. Negotiators have established a dialog with Kessler."
"There's Reid," JJ said, watching as the camera panned the law enforcement agents surrounding the home.
Reid stood to the side of the yard, holding his weapon, watching intently. Out of the corner of the picture, Rossi walked to the doorway of the house.
"What the hell is he doing?" Morgan shot
"Negotiating?" JJ returned, her eyes glued to the screen.
"Walking into the line of fire is more like it," Lisa sniffed.
Hotch stood firm, "He knows what he's doing, watch…"
As they watched, Rossi made his way onto the front steps of the small house and, to their surprise, Kessler walked out onto the porch. The two men spoke calmly for a few moments before Kessler lay his gun at Rossi's feet. Once Rossi kicked the gun out of Kessler's reach, all hell broke loose and what appeared to be the entire Aliquippa PD descended on the porch.
"We need to prepare a statement," JJ said, pulling Lisa's attention from the television.
"Let's go…" she nodded, following JJ into a small office.
"I hate it when they do the heroic stuff," JJ admitted, with a smile. "stops my heart every time."
"I know," Lisa agreed, "That's why I'm where I am. I got tired of watching it and, on rare occasions, doing it myself."
"Yeah, but still, it must have been such a great experience…"
Lisa allowed a smile, "It was interesting, I'll give you that."
"Do you miss it?"
"I like where I am," she demurred.
JJ knew Lisa well enough to know when she was hedging her answers. She laughed and said, "That wasn't what I asked. Don't evade the question."
"I miss it," Lisa admitted with a laugh.
JJ sniffed, "Apparently so did David Rossi."
"I'm sure he's got his reasons," was Lisa's sly reply.
"Oooh, I sense good stories coming out of this…"
"Yeah, next time we go for a drink," Lisa laughed, "Now, let's go draft up this press statement."