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Where the Blue of the Night
"Wisdom is nothing more than healed pain."
- Robert Gary Lee
Chapter Forty-Six
November 10th
Reid had moved his chair so it was underneath the window. He had distaste for too much artificial light, preferring it to be natural, or candlelit. Morgan had teased him mercilessly when he had said that once, asking Reid asking who he had to share the candlelight with him. Reid had become defensive at first, trying to explain how candlelight made him feel timeless somehow, and it wasn't to do with romance. He hadn't won the argument; he never did, unless it was about something Morgan had no idea on. But sat there now, under the dim light of the new day, Reid remembered the conversation and felt a slight pang for someone to share candlelight with occasionally.
He knew they thought him impervious to relationships, and he guess in some ways they were right; he didn't have to have a girlfriend, or someone he could call after a long day, but he did like company, and he liked to be liked. It would be nice to be able to meet up with a girl and talk about things that interested them both, and have fun. For him to be able to have someone to look after.
He caught his thoughts and placed them in the back of his mind. Now was not the time to consider them. He had to focus on JJ and where she might be, then they could bring her back to her family. Reid looked again at a house that was bothering him. It had already been visited by one of the search teams, the main building occupied by tenants who had spoken very little English. The house was an old one, built a hundred and twenty years ago, and from an aerial photo taken two years ago, the outbuildings looked to be in a state of disrepair.
But that could have changed.
"Hey, Hotch," Reid said, leaving his window seat and taking the details over to where Hotch was engrossed in his own set of house details. "What do you think of this? The buildings around the main house don't look to have been touched for years from this photo, but what if some maintenance had been carried out?"
"It's somewhere that's already been searched, isn't it?" Hotch said, frowning.
"Only the main house was called on, and it's occupied. There's one outbuilding that has its own driveway, and is set about an acre and a half from the main building. It's detailed as having large basements, and was almost turned into a holiday cottage about thirty years ago. I think I'll have Kevin check to see if any work has been done recently on it," Reid said, making his way back.
Hotch nodded, his eyes having already returned to the page he had been studying. "Fine, Reid. We'll add it to the list for the search team to go back to. See what else you can find. I'd send them now, but they're the other side of the city, and unless we have clear evidence to suggest that that's where they are, we need to do this in a logical order."
"Sure," Reid said, bowing his head to focus on his computer. He missed JJ being there. He'd found her really attractive at first, hand gotten a little tongue tied around her, but that had eased eventually, after they had been out together a few times as friends. She made him feel comfortable, and she'd always been great for giving advice about asking girls out, more so than Morgan. He wished she was there now, and they were just looking for Sophie.
Reid picked up his phone from next to the computer and dialled Kevin. The answer occurred even before the phone had rang once, and Reid momentarily wondered if telepathy did exist. "Kevin?" he said. "You answered that real quick."
"I was just about to call you," Lynch said. "There's a house on your list that was vacated three weeks ago by the tenants – we've just traced them to an apartment in New York – although the lease isn't up for another two months. They've paid up for it, but have definitely left – well, either that, or some major identity fraud is going on. The house is 236 Orchard Lane. Garcia's about to call Hotch to tell him that the body they found earlier has been identified."
"That's great, Kevin. I'll have a closer look at Orchard Lane. Can you run some searches on another property?" he went through the details.
"Sure. I'll call you back as soon as I can. Let's hope this is over soon. Henry's missing his mom," Lynch said.
"Is he crying?" Reid said. "Get him an item of JJ's clothing so he can smell her scent. It will reassure him. And try to be calm around him; babies pick up on any tension, and as they don't understand it, they won't be able to process what it means and deal with it..."
"I gotcha, Reid. Over and out." Lynch ended the call leaving Reid looking at the aerial photograph of Linney Lane and the landscaped garden that would have once been so pretty which graced the back of the distant outbuilding.
...
She sat in the corner, near the door, exhausted. Sleep could not come; its presence was unwelcome, however much her body was demanding it. The past week had taken its toll on every member of the team; secrets had been revealed, private practises exposed, and they'd still had to deal with a case that had twisted like a snake – and with as much venom. But she couldn't sleep, for she knew that as soon as her eyes closed, he would return.
He had a wife, that was clear. They'd been right about that in the profile. And the conclusion they'd reached about his place of work was also correct. They knew him, though not well though. Certainly not as well as he knew them.
Every single one of them.
But she was his target. She was the reason for the things he had done, and she would have to live with that guilt. But she knew that was one of his forms of torture.
She rubbed at her wrists that were still chaffed from the rope. It was possible that he meant for her to untie them, to break free. He could well be expecting her to be lying in wait for him the next time he opened the door.
The door was a secure one, and it looked new. She had figured there were about five different bolts, which accounted for the time it took him to unlock the door. A dagger of pain flicked from her kidneys and she winced. He would know about her propensity for infections there, he would have read it in her file.
A strong sense of hatred and indignation sprang from her, enough to provide another boost of energy. That was all she was running on; the emotions she could conjure up from her situation, from her friends' situation, from Sophie's.
It was a cruel act, to take her, after everything she had already been through. But he knew that of course, knew every detail about the case in Calverville Point, and although he had no desire to hurt Sophie directly – they knew he empathised with her – she was the perfect bait and the most faultless way to cause pain for Emily. Emily – someone else he blamed.
She stiffened her back, trying to block out the agony that was threatening to double her over. If she could just wrong foot him, just catch him off guard, then maybe she could slip through the door and get out of there.
But would he then use that remote control and detonate whatever cruel plan his brain had been devising over the past five years?
She waited. Right now, it was all she could do.
...
Emily looked around her and frowned. Everyone's head was down, studying details of houses and intermittently phoning an officer to instruct them where to check next. Something didn't sit right with her on this. She stood up and sat on the old wooden desk that looked like it had been brought over on the Mayflower.
"Guys," she said, noticing Hotch look at her with curiosity. "We're profiling each house to see if it's somewhere Clark could hide JJ and Sophie. Let's do it the other way round for a moment. Clark's recently divorced after his wife had an affair; he's confident and overly self assured with a narcissistic personality type. Where will he feel safest to take Sophie and JJ? We know it has to be somewhere that his comings and goings won't be noticed, but let's think on his level."
"If he perceives JJ to be 'the one', he would take her to a place of significance, a family home. He already had one of those with his ex-wife, and it's a place that does have land with it. She inherited it from her grandparents, and she's out of the country at present with her new partner. I suggest we go over it more thoroughly now it's light," Rossi said.
"What about his childhood home?" Reid said. "It's perfect for hiding someone as it's secluded, and it would have the emotional safety that his married home doesn't have. There is an outhouse that was renovated thirty years ago into a holiday cottage, and work was done on it last year, including a new roof. By taking JJ there, it would be as if he was introducing her to his parents, I guess. Like a formal meeting."
Hotch stood up now and walked over to Emily. "So we've got two key places. Is there anywhere else?"
No one responded.
"Then we'll head to the old family home as we're nearer. I'll send one of the other search teams to his ex-wife's. Get ready to go."
They all began to move, sleep scattering with the last curtains of night. Then a phone rang, her phone, flashing JJ's name.
...
He'd reached the mall just as it had opened, meaning he'd have more space to move around and he wouldn't have to queue. He'd decided to buy JJ some underwear from a boutique where his ex-wife used to shop. The feelings of animosity he'd had towards her had gone, particularly when he'd seen JJ's face as he'd pretended to speak with his wife. She'd looked jealous. They'd been something in her eyes that told him she was already becoming his. He'd have to confess later that he was divorced at that the pretend call had just been to test her feelings towards him. But she'd passed that test perfectly, just as he knew she would.
The boutique was called Frilly's, a ridiculous name he'd often thought, and it was empty of any other shoppers. A shop assistant came over to him almost immediately, and he gave her a smile he knew to reassuring.
"Can I help you, sir?" she said, smiling back.
"I'm looking for a gift for my girlfriend. What can you suggest?"
"What does she like?" she smiled again.
He shrugged, looking helpless. "I think she'd like something... sheer maybe. She has an amazing figure."
She directed him over to a stand containing sheer white baby doll dresses, with matching suspenders and stockings, and a tiny pair of panties. It would leave little to the imagination, and he felt his heart rate sore. Later would be beautiful, a meeting of two people who needed to be together. Today could only be a good day. "One of these would be amazing. She'll love it."
The shop assistant just smiled.
He paid with cash and then headed to the jewellery store that was directly opposite. He knew she would like whatever he got her, so it would be best to choose something that he would like to see on her. A pendant on a long chain caught his eye; it would sit exactly between her breasts, and the image it conjured in his mind was enough to make his pants feel tight. He paid for that quickly, then decided that a coffee and some breakfast was needed before he made his phone call.
He chose a table away from the counter, mouthing to the waitress that he wanted a latte, then he dialled a number from the shiny cell phone he had in his pocket. Emily, the number was identified as. No surname, just Emily. It annoyed him slightly, this friend of his JJ's. She had too much influence. He'd have to see about her being transferred, get her out of the way. Or, he could see it that one of his back up plans did come into fruition later. That was always an option.
"Hello?" There was tension in the greeting. She was trying to remain calm, he could tell, but could quite hide her panic.
"Hello, Emily Prentiss. We finally speak," he said. "Well, I say finally. We've spoken quite a few times before, but you've always been too high and mighty to pay much attention to my feelings. Anyhow, we shall discuss this later. Can I speak with Agent Hotchner?"
"Hello Dan," Agent Hotch said. The use of his first name startled him. He'd expected more respect.
"Agent Hotchner, I'm calling to discuss terms."
"And what terms will those be?"
Dan sighed. "I should have been in the BAU years ago, when you gave the job to Penelope Garcia. But you made a mistake by employing her, although I suppose you had to, what with her being female and having a Hispanic surname. Anyway, I know they'll be no problem me transferring to that team now. JJ and I have quite a gift together; that will only benefit the work that you do. I'll expect my position to be fairly senior too..." He heard Agent Hotchner saying his name. "Yes, Agent Hotchner?"
"That won't be possible, Dan. We can't just move you into the unit like that."
For a moment he felt elation. There was no one saying that they didn't want him, no one saying that he had to bring JJ back. Then he felt a little flattened. "Why not. You've noticed me now. You can see how good I am. How wrong you were to not appoint me in the first place."
"Dan, Strauss is away for another week on vacation. When she's back we'll put it to her, but in the meantime why don't you and I meet up and discuss what sort of role you want to play in the team," Agent Hotchner said. "Then we'll sort the formalities when Strauss returns. You know what she's like; she hates anyone to be appointed without her agreement."
Dan saw the waitress staring at him, looking at him just like the girls in high school had when they'd been laughing. He knew then that Agent Hotchner was lying. He was good at lying. But Dan knew he was better at working out the lies. Strauss didn't control that team, Hotchner did. It was only Emily she'd appointed.
"Meet me at Lobelia Avenue, number twelve. I'm house sitting for my wife while she's on vacation. JJ will be there too. She's concerned that I come out well in this, you know. She can see how good I am for the team and for her," he said. "You need directions?"
"No," Agent Hotchner said. "We'll be there. What time?"
Hotchner sounded sincere. "One pm. Just you and Emily Prentiss."
And that would solve those problems. Dan hung up. Maybe he should buy JJ something pretty to wear.
...
Sophie wasn't exactly certain how long she'd been unconscious for, but she was pretty sure it hadn't been too long. Her head ached, and she could feel a bump where she's banged it against the wall when she'd fallen, but it could have been worse.
She sat up slowly, taking deep, slow breaths, and found that she wasn't too dizzy. Gradually she stood, holding onto the low branches of a tree she'd narrowly missed, and looked around.
It was truly the middle of nowhere.
The ground was muddy and she struggled not to slip, thankful she had chosen to wear the one decent pair of sneakers that she had. She headed towards the stone steps that led out of the sunken garden, and then walked around the side of the house, keeping close to the shrubbery. She would hear him if he came back, but she'd rather have somewhere close to hide.
The thought of being caught made her feel a little chocked, her skin tingling with worry. She had two choices; to flee quickly and get help, or to get JJ out of there first. The second option had been the one she'd picked, although there was now the issue of how to get back inside.
The front door was new and looked too secure to try and break down. She wasn't sure either if she'd have been able to break down any door, but it was worth a thought. The windows however, weren't as sturdy, and she considered herself something of an expert now in getting in and out through windows. Another good thing was that they were bigger than the one she had exited through, and therefore she wouldn't need to take as much care, or end up falling on purpose.
There was a large tree branch or root that had been left nearby, either by the wind or an animal, and it looked heavy enough to do the job. She picked it up, wincing when she saw a beetle scuttle from under it, but she didn't have time to be squeamish right now. Using both hands, she grasped the stick, holding it over her right shoulder, and rammed it into the window using her body weight. The glass shattered instantly, and keeping hold of the stick, she climbed up onto the windowsill and levied herself inside what was a living room.
Not pausing to look round, she ran through the room and into the hallway, finding the stairs to the second basement easily. She knew roughly where it must be, having had the time to give it a lot of thought, and she almost fell down them in her haste.
There were seven bolts on the door, each one new looking, but there was no lock – her first real bit of luck. Sophie undid them, shouting JJ's name, and hoping and praying that she would be okay.
The door opened as if by itself, and Sophie saw the familiar figure of Agent Jareau. She looked pale and tired, smaller than what Sophie remembered. Then Sophie realised that there were tears trickling down her cheeks and she couldn't speak. Arms fell around her, a soft voice telling her that it would be okay, and Sophie felt herself being guided back up the stairs, everything finally blurring into a nightmare that might almost be over.