DISCLAIMER:
I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS! Nor do I own any other copy-righted things mentioned.
Reid flipped through the file and said, "This is the fifth house fire on the block?"
"Yep, all started with some sort of accelerant," Prentiss said.
"You want to know something else?" Garcia asked.
"What?"
"Clarice wasn't living with her mother, or Perdita's father," Garcia said. "She wasn't living with the father's parents either."
"What you're saying is…"
"Sean Levy isn't her father and the Levys aren't related to Clarice."
"Then why was she staying with them?" Emily asked. "Why wasn't she with her mother? Or the father of her child?"
"Perdita said he left them," Spencer said. "Dita didn't seem to like her father very much…as a matter of fact it's why she hates being called Perdie. She didn't exactly talk about her family. It was as if…"
"As if what Reid?" Derek asked.
"As if I was her only family…." Reid said looking at them. "She every time she talked about her family she always mentioned me first…before her mother."
"Reid…you might be the only person who fully understands her…" Garcia said. "You and her are so alike…I swear to god she was reading the entire way to your place. She barely talked to me, she was absorbed. She's not the most social person…and well…Clarice seems like the exact opposite."
Reid stared at Garcia, his face twisted with confusion. He clearly wanted to know how she knew this.
"I talked with Clarice's friend Vivian…" Garcia admitted. "She was with Perdita when I first got the call to pick her up. I've counseled Clarice before. She has issues with her mother, which is probably why she wasn't living with her mother, but Clarice told me they'd worked it out. Vivian said that Clarice was outgoing and bold. No offense Reid, but you're real self-conscious. Vivian said Clarice didn't know the meaning of that word. She never had a problem speaking to people, her mother being an exception. She was always upbeat and people, especially kids seemed to like her."
Reid was silent as he mulled it over. He nodded now understanding. Clarice might not have done it on purpose, but she probably alienated her child. He then asked about Sean Levy.
"Was Sean in the house?"
"No his parents were," Hotch said. "Why?"
"I want to talk to Sean," Reid said. "I want to know what things were like around the house."
"That might be problematic. He won't leave the hospital," Emily said.
"So?" Reid asked. "I'll go see Clarice too. I want to see my sister."
"Well before you do that I want you to talk to someone," Rossi interjected. "I need you to talk to January Allgost."
"January?" Morgan said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Ms. Allgost thinks her brother March might have seen something. They live across the street from the Levy's," Rossi said.
"Hold up!" Morgan said. "January, March? How many of them are there?"
"All twelve," Rossi said with a slight smile. "January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. March and April are twins, along with October and November."
Reid looked at him and said, "Are you serious?"
"Yes Reid. Take Prentiss with you."
Reid nodded and got up. Emily grabbed the files and followed him out the door. Morgan looked at Rossi.
"Are you kidding me?"
"No I'm being serious Morgan. Garcia, look them up and tell him."
Garcia typed away and said, "January Marie Allgost, 21, lives with brothers and sisters in the Quantico area."
"Wow…" Morgan said. "Hate to have that name."
Reid was quiet during the drive. Emily looked over at Reid and asked, "How do you feel? About Clarice and Perdita I mean?"
"I guess I'm happy. I adore Dita, no doubt. She's sweet and reminds me…"
"Of yourself. I've seen the way she looks at you. She practically idolizes you. I've noticed. She copied the way you carry your messenger bag. She's happy around you."
"I-I hadn't noticed she was copying me really," Reid said. "I just noticed she seemed attached to me."
"She is. She loves you Reid. You're what she needs," Emily said.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"Ever heard the saying 'Birds of a feather flock together'?"
"Of course—"
"You two are two of a kind. You're both smart and sensitive. You both need that one person to understand…and I think Perdita is your person who understands you the best."
They both sat in silence for the rest of the drive. They came to the house a few minutes later. Reid walked up to the house, Emily following right behind him. They knocked on the door.
A young teen opened the door. Her hair was a rich auburn color, her eyes a golden brown. She looked no older than thirteen.
"Hello?" the girl said.
"Hello, I'm S.S.A. Prentiss, this is S.S. A. Dr. Reid, we're here to speak to your sister January," Prentiss said. "Is she home Miss…."
"October. She's home. I'll go get her," she said. "November come over to the door for a minute!"
A boy, identical to October, came walking over to them. The girl ran off yelling, "January! January! Someone's at the door!"
November simply stood there staring at them. A hassled looking man came to the door and said, "Come on in! November, stop glaring!"
November nodded and walked away from them.
"Hi I'm February," the man said extending his hand. "Jan will be right down. December's been giving her a run for her money."
"I'm S.S.A. Prentiss, this is S.S.A. Dr. Reid," Prentiss said taking his hand.
A boy came running down the steps screaming that he didn't want to brush his hair. More like he didn't want January brushing it. A tired looking woman trudged down the steps and handed the hair brush to February.
"YOU can brush his hair!" January nearly cried.
Feb patted Jan on the back and looked at December.
"Get over here now!" he said running after his youngest brother.
"Hello you must be Agent Prentiss and Dr. Reid. March is upstairs with April. Just to let you know March doesn't really talk. He whispers stuff to April, and she's usually very good about translating it correctly," January said. "We don't know why he won't talk…he doesn't even talk to us."
The two agents exchanged looks and followed the woman up the steps.