Murder in the Forest, Chapter Sixteen
The agents and the sheriff's crew debated what to do with this knowledge. Was ordering restraints and buying lingerie alone enough evidence for a search warrant?
Jareau and Morgan argued, "yes", but Sheriff Ford was less sanguine. "Judge Willett is a liberal who likes the cops to have good, solid evidence before he signs a warrant. I can try him with this, but if we can think of anything at all else that would cast suspicion on this guy, we need to have it. Also, if he has the girls, where's he keeping them? Let's check the computer for his address and drive by casually and check out the property and see if it looks like it has a likely storage area where he can sequester them. A basement might do, but if there's any housing out back, that might qualify, I want to know. Aaron, please assign an agent to ride with one of my patrols and we'll do that this afternoon, before it gets too dark. Hell, I'll come, myself. And let's bring cameras and try to get subtle photos without being seen. We'll enlarge and study those and see what we think."
"Sheriff," argued Jareau, "those girls are in danger right now. The sooner we move on this, the more likely we are to prevent them from being harmed or further abused."
Grant Ford remembered her nickname. "Look, JJ, I know that. I've been doing police work for quite a few years now, and I'm mindful of our responsibilities. But I also know that if we muff this and get a warrant and don't find anything, that'll set off some serious trouble for the young ladies. They might be killed before we get any closer. As-is, we can hope that those messages about them being held as continuing sex slaves and captives for ransom will protect them from immediate harm. The creeps who have them are probably having too much fun with them to kill them unless they see us moving in toward them. Aaron? "
Hotchner nodded. "It's a tough call, JJ, but Grant is probably right. Morgan, get Garcia on the phone and get her cracking on anything that she can dig up on this guy Bamka and any property he may own other than his house here in Elk Pass. We'll head over with cameras and see what we can get that way. I may send someone to shop that hardware store and get a feel for it."
"You don't want to go to the store and brace him and demand to know why he has that fancy women's underwear and those chains?" Morgan was eager to aggress, as usual.
"No, Derek. That is the last thing I want just now, when we probably don't have enough to hold this man and might set off his partners, who'd kill the girls and dispose of the bodies if they see an investigation closing in on them." Hotchner hoped that Morgan wasn't going to have a tantrum at this crucial point.
Ford looked at a deputy. "Ted, get us an unmarked car and you, Aaron and whoever he wants among his staff and I will take a casual drive by the house as soon as we locate it. Winston, I'm guessing that you can find that out before their Miss Garcia back in Virginia does. Get on it."
Winston Hso nodded, and they were discussing what to do other than what had been discussed when another senior deputy stuck his head in the room. "Sheriff," he said, "I think we need to talk, right now. Something's come up that may affect what you do next."
Ford stepped out into the hall to confer with this man. Morgan took the opportunity to go to a corner of the room and call Garcia and outline what they needed from her. Hso went to his computer.
After a few moments, Ford stepped back into the room and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a complication that may or may not be connected to this kidnapping. A couple of German tourists hiking in the forest about 30 miles from here have found a body that was ravaged by what they think may be a bear. But, and this is the real doozie here, they report seeing large hominid tracks by the body and leading away, back toward the stream where they were going to fish.
"This is obviously a bad time for this to happen, while we're so busy here. Peter, I want you, Dick Travis, and the ME's team to beat feet up there and see what you can find out. Take some good, sharp photos of these tracks. See if your scientist friend can join you. Stay up there overnight if you have to until he can arrive and give an opinion. Keep any animals or gawkers away from those tracks and the crime scene. Better pack some gear in case you need to stay a day or two or pursue any indicated suspects. In fact, take food and whatnot for at least three days. You're an experienced outdoorsman. I don't need to tell you what all to take. I just hope this will be a break in this case. By the way, the body is male, so it isn't one of the missing girls. Dispatch has already sent two units there to find the tourists, who are understandably pretty shaky. They're afraid to be there alone, and I can hardly blame them. See Dispatch for the exact location, as close as the tourists could describe it. By the time you arrive, our advance units can radio you how to get there, once you're close. Aaron, are you sending any agents? They can carpool with us to avoid getting lost up there. That's pretty wild country. "
Waters raised a hand. "I'd like to go. I'm an experienced hunter and I can track, and the idea of this Bigfoot thing intrigues me. "
Hotchner thought quickly. Waters was the logical agent to send, but he wanted some of his own team there.
His quandary was quickly solved when Seaver asked to go. "I can stay with Peter and learn what this is, and we work well together. He can tell me what to bring. Please, Hotch? This is getting really exciting."
Hotchner nodded, and told Reid to accompany them. "You can go, too, Bill. We'll man the fort here with me, Rossi, and Morgan. Chances are, you'll be back before we get a warrant and make any plans to raid that property. Take care. JJ, you can stay here, too. I don't want you exposed to any bear attacks." He smiled to show that he was teasing.
But Jareau was thoughtful. "Sheriff, is there any reason to think that this was definitely a murder? Maybe it really is just a bear attack."
Ford shrugged. "Could be. That 's why I'm sending my best man to determine that and sending a wildlife biologist, too. And Agent Waters is also going to be able to help determine just what we have there. Bill, I'm glad you're along on this trip. Remember, you guys: take lots of pictures. Okay, let's get this show on the road. Aaron, if you'll come with me, we'll see if Hso has found that address location yet and any other suspicious land holdings. Good luck, everyone. I think things will move forward now, whether these other murders and the girls' kidnappings are related or not."
They rose and JJ Jareau noticed the look exchanged between Ashley Seaver and Peter Blacklaws. It seemed to include both anticipation and a certain anxiety about what was to come. Then, both smiled and Blacklaws gestured to Reid and Waters to join them as they left the conference room.
As he went out the door, Reid looked at Jareau and quipped, "I'll try to bring you a bear rug, JJ. Think if you want to hang it in the living room or your bedroom at home."
"Whoa!" exclaimed Rossi on seeing JJ's reaction. "Now, THAT was an unladylike gesture!