Hotch agreed to their trip and Morgan and Reid set off walking to the bus stop. The journey only took a few minutes, but the afternoon sun beat down on them mercilessly.
Morgan wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked around the quiet street, trying to get into the persona of somebody who wanted to kidnap a child.
"Okay, she's twelve years old, pretty, confident, well adjusted. She's not easy prey. So what do I do? I get her isolated somehow, so no one can hear her scream." He frowned. "So why wait until she's at the bus stop? Surely that would be a time where it's most crowded with children catching the bus, parents driving their kids to school?" he muttered to himself.
"Maybe she got there late?"
"Still, it's an exposed, suburban street, plenty of nosy neighbours." Morgan looked around. "The police interviewed the residents and they all saw nothing. How could a street this close not notice a screaming child being dragged into a car?"
He and Reid looked at each other. "Because she didn't scream." Reid answered.
"She knew him."
Morgan suddenly noticed they were being watched by a young boy playing with a basketball in the front yard of his house. The kid was just standing there holding the ball and looking worried.
"Hey kid!" Morgan called. The boy dropped his ball and ran back into his house.
"You'd make a terrible child molester." Reid blurted out. He then slapped his forehead and looked mortified. "Oh God I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking!"
Morgan laughed and slapped Reid on the back.
"Don't worry, I'll take that as a compliment." He said. "D'you think that kid got spooked cos we're cops or because he knows something?"
They went and rang the doorbell. Nobody answered.
"Looks like mom and dad aren't home." Reid smirked. "Don't go breaking down his door now. Honestly I'm starting to think it gives you some kind of twisted sexual release. You're like a sexual sadist for doors."
Morgan dignified that response only as far as raising his eyebrows and giving him a sharp elbow in the ribs.
"Door pervert!" Reid hissed, clutching his side.
Morgan looked through the letterbox. The boy was standing in the hallway, trembling.
"Hey kid, don't worry, I'm from the FBI, I won't hurt you."
"Are you here to arrest me?" the boy asked nervously.
"Arrest you? No. Why would you think that?"
"It's a secret."
"Okay…listen, could you please open this door? We don't have much time. There's a little girl in trouble and I think you might know her."
"You mean Lucy?" the boy bit his lip and opened the door. He was skinny and tall for his age, with blonde hair and a deep freckled tan. He wore a basketball jersey which looked too big for him, and denim shorts which had holes at the knees.
"Yeah." Morgan said. They walked through to the kitchen and sat down. "So what's your name?"
"Joseph."
"I'm Derek, this is Spencer. We're here to catch the bad guy who took Lucy away. Are you friends with her?"
Joseph smiled proudly. "She's my girlfriend. We love each other and we're going to get married one day." He said matter-of-factly.
"Cool." Morgan tried not to laugh. "How do your parents feel about that?"
"Dad laughed and said we were too young." His face fell. "So we're saving up our pocket money to run away. That's why…" he stopped himself.
"Why what?" Morgan asked.
"It's a secret. She said she would break up with me if I told anyone."
"If you know where she is you have to tell us Joseph." Morgan looked at him seriously. "She could be in real trouble right now, and you could be the only one who's able to save her."
Joseph looked torn. "Okay...she saw this ad in the newspaper we were using in art class. It was looking for pretty blonde girls between 10 and 13 to be models, like for TV commercials and stuff. She said she was going to apply in secret, to raise enough money for us to get married. Today was her audition."
Reid and Morgan exchanged glances.
"Do you know have a copy of the newspaper?"
"Um…I think Lucy took it with her. But I remember the name of the agency I think…yeah it had a real funny sounding name. It was called 'Little Nymphets'."
"That's great, thanks." Reid stood up and pulled Morgan into the hallway.
"That's him! And that's an obviously fake name too!" he said in a low voice.
"What?"
"It's a reference to a book by Vladimir Nabokov, called Lolita. It's about a paedophile called Humbert Humbert, who marries a woman in order to get close to her 11 year old daughter. He calls the prepubescent girls he thinks are sexually awakened in some way 'nymphets.'"
"I'll call Hotch." Morgan said. Just then, there was a key in the door and a tall blonde man with deep set wrinkles walked in wrestling three bags of groceries.
"Who are you?" he demanded. They quickly flashed him their badges and explained what was going on. Joseph came out of the kitchen.
"I'm coming with you." He said, sticking his chin out. "It's my job to save her. I'm her boyfriend."
"That's brave of you, but-"
"Please! It's my fault she got taken! She never would have tried to get that modelling job if I hadn't asked her to marry me! She was so smart, she wanted to be a vet, not a model!" he blinked and big tears plopped out of his eyes. He wiped his face with his arm angrily.
"I had no idea you felt so strongly about her." His father said, bewildered.
"Excuse me sir but we have to hurry. You and Joseph can probably wait with the Davies if you'd like?" Reid said.
"Okay. Get in the car Joey, I'll drive you there." His father said.
Morgan and Reid hitched a lift back with Joseph, and Morgan phoned Hotch on the way to let him know what they'd discovered.
"A modelling agency? I suppose you have to give him points for creativity. Any idea which newspaper it was?" Hotch said.
"The kid can't remember, but I'll call Garcia, ask her to do a search for a company website or any other articles." Morgan replied.
He hung up and dialled Garcia's number.
"Hello my lovely, what can I do you for?" she asked in a husky voice.
"Oh you can do me for absolutely nothin' at all babydoll, but if you have the time I need you to look for a newspaper ad published recently about a modelling agency called Little Nymphets. Look for payment details, anything."
"Okay, but this could take some digging, and you know I can't do anything if he paid in cash." She said.
"I know but we gotta try something, and fast."
"Roger that." she replied, sounding concerned. "Be careful." He was about to say he was always careful but then remembered that since he himself had been kidnapped not a week ago he could hardly claim this to be true. She'd hung up by then anyway.
"We're just about ready to give the profile." Hotch said to the cops who were taking notes in the living room.
Morgan stood up. "He's most likely a white male between 25 and 35, who owns a large expensive looking car, while his house, if he has one, is neglected on the inside. He may not even have a house as we know he travels extensively from state to state. He feels underappreciated and victimised by work colleagues and bosses, and as a result finds it difficult to hold down a job. We know he is severely narcissistic, probably works out a lot, takes care of himself. He is confident, even charming with women and children, which is why he chooses this elaborate ruse rather than simply picking off the first child who strays in his direction. He plans and prepares every detail meticulously, it gives him a feeling of control and ensures he can spend all the time he wants with his victim. He probably films himself abusing them in order to relive the experience. We do not, however, believe that he is a typical paedophile, in that he is not innately attracted to children."
"How can you say that, when he rapes them over and over?" a dark skinned female officer asked sceptically. There was a small sob from the doorway as Mrs Davies came into the room with a tea tray.
"Ma'am, I'm really sorry…" the cop started to say, but the she had already left the room. Prentiss went after her.
Reid picked up the conversation, "In answer to your question officer, the extensive marks of torture on the bodies show he is primarily a sexual sadist, meaning he achieves sexual release through torture. The actual act of intercourse with them we believe, is more of a psychological punishment and a way of defiling their innocence. A paedophile is more likely to appreciate the girls unharmed bodies as sex objects, and the killing part would be remorseful for them, only a necessary means to protect themselves. They would tend to want to keep the children for much longer as well. Of course, this is just speculation, but what it all points to, is that he is a sexual sadist with a grudge against somebody who looks, or at one time looked just like the young girls who were taken. By violently torturing them he is vicariously enacting his rage for this person onto the girls." he explained.
The officers nodded and left. JJ re-entered the room with the Davies' sleeping daughter in one arm and her phone in the other hand.
"I've just called the other parents to ask about the modelling agency line. Viola Jackson didn't tell them about any modelling company but when they looked in her bedroom they found a newspaper ad for a company called Teenbabe models, same thing asking for blonde haired blue eyed children, and it listed a telephone number which is now out of service, go figure. Maria Goldmund also said nothing to her parents but an investigation of her chatlogs showed her talking to a friend about modelling auditions the day before she went missing."
"Don't any little girls ask their parents' permission for these things anymore?" Rossi asked.
"You'd think so, but the ads are really persuasive and sneaky. Viola's parents faxed them over. Take a look." She handed one to Prentiss, Reid, Hotch, Morgan and Rossi.
Teenbabe Modelling Agency Looking For New Talent!
Are you sick of being told what to do by your parents because they're the ones with all the money? Are you fed up with being forced to study boring subjects because adults who are jealous of your talent don't want you to be famous? Are you blonde haired, blue eyed and between the ages of 10 and 13? If you answered yes to all three of these, we can help you change your life! We're looking for teenage girls to star in a TV commercial, $500 for one easy day of filming, leading to a possible permanent contract with one of our agents. Call our experienced talent scouts and set up an audition whenever suits you.
"Oh, my God." Morgan said.
"He's profiling his victims to a T." Prentiss said in disgust. "Playing on little girls' dreams of being famous to isolate them from their parents."
Just then, the laptop beeped on the table and Garcia appeared.
"Uh, hey guys, I did some research and found the articles in question. Bad news on that front, he used cash for everything, and the numbers he used must have been disposable cell phones. Bu-ut, I think you should take a look at this."
Sarah Parish 17, escapes from abuser after being held captive for 7 years.
The parents of Miss Sarah Parish had given up hope of ever seeing their daughter alive again after she disappeared at the age of ten. An investigation was conducted into her disappearance and made state-wide news headlines, while several details from the case were leaked such as a link between the missing girl and a fake talent agency named 'Little Starlets' though this was never publicly confirmed by the police. Last Tuesday, Sarah returned home in nothing but a thin blood-stained cotton dress with bare feet covered in blisters and gave her parents the shock of their lives. She is now in hospital being treated for severe malnutrition, dehydration, shock, and anaemia, as well as the numerous contusions and bruises covering every inch of her small body. "It is clear," said Dr Howard, the Chief of Medicine at Adams County Hospital, "she has undergone unimaginable torture during the time she has been missing, she has not yet spoken to any of us, even her parents, she is so severely mentally traumatised." Sarah's father said "To think that any human being could be this cruel to such a beautiful, kind hearted girl…I seriously don't know whether I can believe in the goodness of mankind anymore." and then he broke down into tears for his lost daughter.
Hotch looked at the date of the article. "She must have been his first victim."
"The only one who escaped." Reid remarked.
"He never kept them for so long after that." Morgan said grimly.
"Do you think she escaped? Or did he let her go for some reason?" Prentiss asked.
"Well you can ask her yourself." Garcia said. "I did some digging on Sarah Parish and found a current address for her. It's only a couple of hours away from you guys."
"Thank you Garcia. We'll head down there now. JJ can you warn the local newspapers not to run any ads for talent agencies? But don't let them publicise that we know that's how he's getting the girls, he'll be following the investigation rigorously trying to find out if we're onto him. Tell them the little girl's life is at stake."
"Sure, right away." JJ nodded and handed the baby to Rossi, who cringed visibly as if he'd been given a tarantula, and passed it to Morgan, who jiggled it uncomfortably for a second before trying to give it to Prentiss, but she just laughed at him.
"What, do you think just because I'm a woman I'm happy to just stand around holding the baby while you go and do the real work?"
Morgan looked at the child. It began to cry.
"Shhhh…shhh please. Aww come on Prentiss! What am I meant to do with her? Don't you ladies have some sort of instinct for this kind of thing?"
Prentiss looked at the baby warily. "I must have missed that particular class at Woman School." She said sarcastically. "Along with the flower arranging, knitting and faking headaches to get out of having sex." She smirked. "Never needed any of them so far."
"I bet you haven't." Morgan laughed.
"I would strongly recommend supporting the head, as infants are born with under-developed sternocleidomastoid muscles and if held incorrectly you could permanently damage the muscles and put pressure on the brain or even cut off the air flow in the trachea." Reid piped up helpfully.
"You mean I nearly killed her just by holding her?" Morgan said, so distressed by this that he forgot to be manly and cuddled the baby close against his broad chest, stroking her back. She quieted down immediately and snuffled his ear like a puppy. It was kind of nice, apart from the ever present fear that she would vomit or crap on him.
"Well well boy-genius, you have your uses after all." Prentiss smiled. "Aww this is so cute I'mma have to take a picture. Hold still. Reid, you get in there too." She held her phone up.
"Don't you dare!" Morgan hissed.
"Too late." She grinned. "Don't worry I'll send you two a copy. Along with everyone else at the office."
"Prentiss, Rossi, you come with me to visit Sarah. Reid and Morgan you stay here in case he calls, and Reid see if you can work on getting a location from the three dump sites." Hotch gave the commands and left. The other two followed.
"Great." Morgan sighed. "I'm an FBI trained nanny." The baby squawked softly and Morgan rocked her from side to side.
Reid smiled. "If it makes you feel any better you're going to have even more women throwing themselves at you than usual if Prentiss really does send that to everyone. Women are psychologically driven to mate with men who show good fathering skills, as it increases the likelihood of their offspring surviving."
"Really?" he tried to sound enthusiastic.
Reid looked at him curiously. "I suppose the novelty must wear off after a while." He speculated.
"No…it's not like I'm not flattered or anything, I just…I don't really want a relationship at the moment. Or any…you know."
"Oh." Reid said timidly. "Is that…is that because of…because of what happened with us?"
Morgan didn't know how to respond to that. He didn't want sex with women because he had never wanted sex with women. But he didn't want sex with men either. Not because he was still pining over Reid, (okay he was always pining over Reid.) but more because of being generally unsettled by the thought of being naked and being touched and not having full control of his personal space.
He shook his head and went for the ambiguous reply, "I don't know. Maybe." He sat down on the Davies' sofa as his legs were starting to get tired. Reid joined him.
Luckily Mr and Mrs Davies came into the living room at that point, along with Joseph and his father. Morgan suddenly felt awful for the couple, and felt the need to apologise.
"I'm so sorry, this is your house and we all crowded in and out all day and it must hard enough for you without us invading your home…and oh! I'm holding your baby, is that okay? Would you like her back?" he went to stand up but Mrs Davies put a finger on her lips and motioned for him to stay sitting down.
"She's teething like the devil!" she whispered. "I have no idea how you managed to get her off to sleep but thank you! She must really trust you."
"Oh." Morgan smiled gratefully at the baby. Ha, take that Prentiss!
"She's got good taste." Reid smiled.
It was a tiny soap bubble of happiness, but it was happiness all the same. Talking with Reid on the plane, the few moments he got to lie down next to Reid in his apartment. They all built up. He was still in negative life-happiness points so to speak, but life was slowly starting to repay the debt. Even if his happy moments were decidedly Reid-centric.
He hoped Reid felt the same.
How are you enjoying my little mini episode of criminal minds? I managed to fit in a little classic 'morgan pretending to be the unsub' scene, and a 'Reid gets a clever literary reference no-one else got' scene ;D I could totally write this shit for a living.