"Hey, Spence," JJ announced as she approached Reid who was looking over maps of the island in the backroom behind the bar at The Paradise Hotel. "I just got done speaking with the staff, there have been no girls reported missing, at least from this hotel. Also, any of the girls staying here by themselves have been accounted for. Bruno is keeping an eye on them."
"That's good to hear," he looked up from his notes. "However—"
"However, you wonder if Sloane is still in business?" JJ finished his sentence.
"Yes, we haven't found any sign that he is selling women. We have seen the girls with the tattoos, but it could be justified as a textbook narcissist." Reid continued to look over the maps.
JJ took a seat next to him, "Morgan and I are going to the village today. We are going to see what we can find out, if they have noticed any girls going missing."
"Just be careful, we don't know who may be on Sloane's side, and we don't need him knowing we are onto him." Reid cautioned. "I suggest you take Beni with you."
"The bartender?" JJ asked.
"Yes, he is a local, the people will trust him more than an outsider."
JJ nodded, "that's a good idea."
"Emily! Emily!" Garcia called out as she scurried to Prentiss who was lying out in the lounge chair poolside.
Emily stayed perfectly still as she soaked up the sun. "You are way too perky for me right now." Garcia plopped down at Prentiss' feet, getting into her direct sunlight which forced Prentiss to sneer as she reluctantly sat up and leaned back on her elbows. "What is so wonderful that you have decided to interrupt my quiet time?"
"Lachlan and Ethan wanted to take us on a boat ride around the island, just the two of us," Garcia squeaked in excitement.
"Great, so we can end up dead at the bottom of the sea," Prentiss gave a sarcastic retort. "Wait," she lifted up her dark glasses, "a boat ride… around the island. We might be able to get a better view of the dock that I was at, and maybe find out some other information."
"So, does that mean we will go?" Garcia bit her lip.
"Yes, we will go. Let them know and I will fill in the team," Prentiss got up from her relaxing afternoon and took off into the hotel.
Rossi stepped out to the sparse pool area where he heard a familiar song playing in the distance. He walked down the wooden stairs where it was now very clear that the deck speakers were playing Rags to Riches. He saw that Sloane was sitting in the chair and smoking a cigar.
Sloane took notice, "Ah, Mr. Gambini, care to join me?"
"I was lured here by Tony Bennett and the smell of a fine cigar." Rossi took a seat next to Sloane. "So, you have been doing some research, found out my name." He commented on the name he used on the hotel reservation.
"I do as much research as possible on people I might go into business with." Sloane reached into his travel-size humidor and pulled out a new cheroot.
"Grazie," Rossi took the cigar and nodded to Sloane.
Sloane then poured another glass of Cabernet for his new friend and handed it over.
Rossi held up the glass, "salute."
"Will you be attending the gala tomorrow night?" Sloane asked.
"Oh, I'm not so sure. What is it, some kind of aquarium theme or something?"
Sloane let out an amused chuckle. "It is actually a Save the Mermaids Gala."
"But um…" Rossi appeared confused.
"It's just a fun party where the champagne flows, people dress up and enjoy themselves." Sloane kicked back, and took a long drag from his cigar.
"Sounds like the kind of thing you would bring a date to," Rossi hinted.
"It usually is. I could assist you with that if you were interested."
"What would that entail?" Rossi questioned.
Sloane sat forward, "Mr. Gambini, I am not in the business of providing escorts if that's what you're thinking. But I have been on this island for a while and know quite a few women and I can get you in touch with a lovely lady who would be happy to be your date for the evening, if you were interested."
"I might just take you up on that," Rossi's wheels were turning.
Sloane's attention shifted as she watched Alex walk past them down the beach. She crept up behind Hotch and jumped on his back expectantly. The couple laughed and collapsed onto the balmy sand. Hotch crawled on top of her, stared into her eyes and kissed her as Sloane guzzled down his glass of wine.
Alex caressed his face with her hands and then nibbled on his ear. "Do you think he is enjoying his front row seat?" She snickered.
"He's definitely has us in his sights," he stared into her eyes.
Reid stood out on the sand doing yoga and was far from relaxed.
The team gathered in the backroom of the bar at The Paradise. They sat around the table chatting with each other until Reid entered the room. "Okay, what do we have?"
"Garcia and I sailed around the island today with those Aussies this afternoon," Prentiss started.
"Wait, you did what?" Morgan glared at Garcia.
"Shush," Garcia held up her finger against her lips then looked back to Prentiss.
Prentiss continued, "There was nothing that stood out to me around the island other than what we already know. I did focus on that broken down dock and the adjacent building. I didn't see any boats nearby, nothing to show that there was any activity going on in that area."
"What about the tire tracks?" Morgan asked.
"I could tell from the water that there is a road that goes from that building that will lead to the main road. If there is something that is going on there, they are very secretive about it," Prentiss explained.
Reid nodded with his arms folded across his chest. He glanced at Alex who was remaining very quiet. "What else?"
"Morgan and I took Beni with us to the village to see if they were aware of anyone missing from the area," JJ informed.
"They didn't want to talk with us," Morgan looked to Reid, "even with Beni there. They know something but they are too scared to talk about it."
"I even told them I was looking for my sister," JJ was solemn, "trying to gain sympathy, but that still didn't work. I don't think it's any of the local girls, though. They didn't present any signs of being personally invested in the girls that are missing."
"But then when would he be taking the tourists?" Garcia asked.
"Maybe it's when they are leaving. Most people come in and off this island on a small charter plane like we did. Perhaps they didn't show up to the departing flight," Rossi suggested.
"Or the plane is part of the abduction," Hotch surmised.
The team mutually agreed that would be a plausible scenario.
Hotch turned to Rossi, "I noticed that you have been getting pretty chummy with Sloane."
"Yes, he wants to get me a date for the gala tomorrow night."
Reid looked excited, "I think you should take him up on that." The team stared up at him. "Seriously, talk with her, see if she has a tattoo. Maybe she might know some information."
"Okay, I guess I can do that. It's not like I am looking for the fourth Mrs. Rossi at the moment."
The team snickered and started to break up their pow-wow.
Alex got up and went directly to the bar for a drink. Reid watched and started to follow as Hotch put his hand across his chest to stop him.
Reid turned to look back at Hotch, "What?"
"I think you should give her a little bit of space at the moment," Hotch suggested.
"Excuse me?" Reid scoffed.
She confided in me today that this is really taking its toll on her, and the fact that we are finding evidence that he is in business is confirming her fears and compounding her frustration."
"You don't think I understand what she is going through? I was the one that helped her through it after the mission was over in the first place," Reid snapped. "Do you think you are being completely objective at this point?"
"What are you implying, Reid?" Hotch glared at him.
"I saw you two on the beach today. It didn't look like anyone had to twist your arm to have that little make-out session today."
"I am going to head back to my hotel room. I suggest you cool off and stay focused on your job and not in your assumptions." Hotch left Reid alone in the backroom.
Rossi turned to Hotch as he brushed past, "Hey, where you going?"
"I'm turning in for the night."
Rossi headed back into the room. "Do you want to talk, kiddo?"
"No."
"Okay, then I will." Rossi pulled out a chair and took a seat. "You are leading a mission for the first time. You have asked us all to put our faith in your leadership. We have. We are in this together. Most of us doing things that we wouldn't normally do in our line of work. But it is important, we all know that, so we are doing it. Some of the sacrifices are bigger than others for some of us. For two people in particular."
Rossi watched as Reid purposely avoided eye contact with him. "First there is Hotch. This is the furthest thing from comfortable for him to do. He is doing it. He has put his trust in you and in Alex. And let's not forget about her. This entire mission is eating her alive, but she's doing it too." Rossi stood up. "What she needs from you is understanding and support, not jealously. So pull your head out of your ass and do your job! If you can't do that, then we better call this quits, right now."
"Rossi, I—"
"I know, kid." Rossi took a few steps back toward the door, stopped and turned to face him. "Besides, everyone can see that she only has eyes for you."