Chapter 12
Dear Dr. Reid,
I am so glad to hear from you again. I admit I was afraid you wouldn't be interested in this odd alien project. Now that I've had a chance to settle in with the idea I admit to being fascinated by the whole thing. I don't know anyone else who's been infected, do you? And if so and you can share, have they met their life mate and how has it affected them?
You have not disquieted me. If anything you've fascinated me, I cannot imagine a life that can be so calm, but then have these short but intense periods of excitement and fear. I've come up with all sorts of imaginings, trying to picture why. I admit to my curiosity, but if you cannot or will not share I do understand.
I am in a very safe situation. If I am assuming what you mean by that my living situation is secure and comfortable, my work pays well and offers me very little in the way of stress, and I have no abusive people in my life. I do hope you can say the same, if not I am more than willing to help in any way I can.
Yours,
J. Rivers
Dear Dr. Rivers,
I am also fascinated by this alien project. I know a number of people who have been infected, including someone I am close to. But perhaps it's best I get to that in a moment.
Those short, intense periods of excitement and fear directly relate to my work. I'm an FBI agent. I work with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. I could spend several pages talking about my work, but it would be easier to refer you to the work of Dave Rossi. He used to be a member of our unit and has written a number of books on his experiences. I will warn you, those books might be disturbing.
As far as people that I know who are infected, my partner here at the BAU has been, and she has met her life mate. They seem to get along quite well, in fact are hopelessly in love, even though their relationship is a long distance one. Her life mate is also in law enforcement, and they text back and forth whenever either is actively making an arrest, to reassure the other that they're all right. It's a bit nerve wracking for both of them, at one point one was in a situation that caused emotions to run so high they briefly became telepathic, but they're making it work.
While I can't say my work offers me little in the way of stress it does pay well, my living situation is also secure, and outside of criminals everyone in my life is supportive and loving. I consider my teammates my family.
Now it's my turn to admit to curiosity, what do you do that is so calming during the day? And doctor, what is your field?
Yours,
S. Reid.
Dear Dr. Reid,
FBI. That explains so much. I'll be heading out to pick up some of those books in the morning. Now I am afraid you'll find me dreadfully dull. But I am glad to know that you have good people at your side and back, as I've heard them say, so I shall not worry. Although perhaps we should have a way to contact each other more quickly, in case I should, how to put it, feel something stronger?
I'm glad to hear that this has gone well for your partner. But she and her life mate became telepathic? How did that happen? I've never even heard of such a thing. But then I don't know anyone else who's been infected, I'm the youngest at my workplace by many years and I don't generally socialize outside of work.
I'm the head of reader services at the Folger Library in DC. This means I manage the reading rooms and the reference desk. It is very quiet and for me very enjoyable work. I studied medieval and renaissance literature at UC Berkley, spent a year at Oxford, and am very lucky to have this position at my age. My current plan is to eventually become the Director, if all goes well, and then never leave. I love it here, but I'm sure you would find it quite dull.
I'm afraid I'm a bit of an introvert, or more than a bit. I prefer quiet evenings with a bit of classical music and a good book. Sometimes I'll catch a lecture or a foreign film, but otherwise I'm a homebody, I admit it. Although someday I'd love to learn how to cook, I rather rely on take out. But since it's just me it's not a great expense.
If it's not too forward to ask, is it just you?
Yours,
J. Rivers.
BAU Headquarters
Quantico, VA
November 2005
"Hey, Junior G-man." Penelope's voice brought Spencer back to this time and place. "What are you drooling on over there?"
Spencer looked up and blinked. It was a note card, once more ecru cotton. But this came in an envelope lined in mustard yellow tissue and was trimmed in red with an embossed red rooster. Every letter had come with a different design; he could only assume Dr. Rivers collected note cards.
Also, she was wonderful. "Um, a letter from my, um, life mate."
"What?" Penelope came over and peeked over his shoulder. "Oh my god, she contacted you? She released her contact info?"
"Yeah." He grinned at the bit of paper in his hand. "She's a librarian." Oh, but he could picture it now. Going to really good cinema together, checking out new restaurants before or after lectures, curling up in front of his fire with some Bach playing. He could cook for her. He could meet her at work. Those reading rooms were so romantic.
"Seriously? Okay, I can totally see that. Did she say why it took her so long?"
"She was afraid she'd be too boring for me."
Penelope laughed at that. "So, what's her name then? I want to see what she looks like."
What she looks like. Actually it was a lot more than that, Penelope could look up everything about her. "No." He said quietly.
"Huh?"
"I don't want to rush this. I want her to be able to reveal what she's comfortable with at her own pace."
"But don't you want to know what she looks like?"
"It doesn't matter what she looks like. I can already tell she's beautiful." He looked down at the letter again. "Um, can I give her your number? In case, you know, of emergency."
Penelope smiled. "Of course you can."
Dear Dr. Rivers,
A way to contact me in case is an excellent idea. I'm enclosing my number at the end, although you're more likely to reach me by text that way then by phone, we turn the ringers off in the field except for teammates. In case it ever feels emergent I'm also enclosing contact information for our tech analyst, Penelope Garcia. She runs our systems here in Quantico, and is always in contact. If something happens she'll expect your call.
Based on my research telepathy only presents in the most dire of circumstances. He was in New Orleans for Katrina, which was a large part of what triggered the event. I can't imagine it ever happening between us. If it did I would likely be the one to trigger it. If so please call Garcia right away and tell her, so she can send help.
Don't be so certain about what I find dull. I did some research at the Folger when I first arrived in DC, although given that the Director of the reading room then was a much older woman I believe it must have been before your time. No wonder you enjoy your work so much. I studied at CalTech, mathematics, chemistry and engineering, with degrees in each, as well as a few minor degrees along the way. But I appreciate the humanities dearly; I was steeped in medieval literature as a child. Have you ever read any of Prof. Diana Reid's work? She's done a fair amount of work on Arthurian legends, especially the development of the side works in the 12th century. Mother also likes to refer to me as Percival, and is tickled by the fact that our conference table at the BAU is round.
Outside of work I'm an introvert myself. Do you ever catch lectures at Georgetown? If so, and you're at all curious about what we do, look up Alex Blake. Her work on forensic linguistics is extensive and she is an excellent lecturer.
It is just me. Unless you count Mom, but she resides in Vegas, still.
You don't have to share your contact information if you don't want to.
It might be too early to ask, and if you say no or not yet I thoroughly understand, but have you ever considered actually meeting? Perhaps for coffee?
Yours,
S. Reid.