The next six weeks moved slowly. The abductions appeared to have stopped, and Hotch's team was taken off the case and assigned newer cases and consultations. On their own time, all seven members continued searching for leads, but their investigation seemed to have hit a brick wall.
Christine's landlord contacted the FBI wanting to know if her apartment was considered a crime scene. The rent hadn't been paid, and he wanted to know if he could rent the unit to another tenant.
Reid attempted to visit the apartment to check on what needed doing, but halfway up the stairs he broke down and couldn't bring himself to go further. After that, Rossi took the responsibility of contacting Christine's family to ask what was to be done with her belongings.
When Christine's brother and sister-in-law arrived, it quickly became apparent that they wanted nothing to do with the situation.
"I am Charles Nielson and this is my wife, Nadine," her brother announced when they met Rossi on the front porch of the old Victorian home that housed Christine's apartment.
"You are David Rossi, I believe?" he continued holding out his hand.
Rossi immediately was glad that he had already done a walkthrough of the apartment and had confiscated several items. He fingered the box in his pocket containing the diamond earrings Christine had only rarely worn.
"Yes," Rossi shook hands. "Christine lived on the third floor here. Why don't we go up?"
After climbing the three flights of stairs to get to the apartment, the first thing Christine's sister-in-law did was look around and sniff. "With all her fancy education, you would think she would be able to afford something better than this!"
Charles glanced around. "It seems – comfortable," he ventured. "Is all this stuff hers?"
"Only the two bookcases under the window, the kitchen table and chairs, and the mattress. As well as her books, clothes, and other personal items," Rossi explained.
Nadine disappeared into the bedroom and quickly reappeared. "Where is her jewelry box?" she demanded.
"I don't know if she has one," Rossi replied.
The woman disappeared again, and shortly emerged holding a velvet jewelers box. "What was in here?" she questioned loudly.
Rossi recognized the box. "That was a necklace Christine received as a Christmas present," he told her. "She always wore it, so I assume she had it on when she disappeared."
"Just like her!" was the reply.
"So, she's really missing?" Charles questioned.
"Missing – Yes," Rossi confirmed. "Although we still have hopes of finding her. Why do you ask?"
"Well, there is the issue of their parent's estate," Nadine declared. "We don't know how to proceed."
"Your parents have passed away?" Rossi questioned. "I am sorry to hear that!"
"Not yet," Charles pontificated. "But we do need to plan ahead. When the time comes, we don't need the estate sitting in probate because Christine can't be found."
Rossi took a deep breath. "You probably need to speak with a lawyer," he advised the pair.
It wasn't until after they had left that Rossi realized that at no time during their conversations with him had Christine's brother and sister-in-law referred to her by name.
Christine's meager belongings, along with the diamond earrings Rossi had wisely concealed in his pocket, ended up being stored in Rossi's basement. The bathrobe with his initials monogrammed on it and the body wash Christine had bought him went to Reid, who began sleeping wrapped up in the robe.