A Voice Cries Out

Chapter 17

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and they were just pulling into the hotel parking lot when both of their cells sounded a text. JJ looked at her screen and reported, "Hotch. He wants the team to meet in the in the lobby in 45 minutes."

"Whew," Reid said, in mock relief, "For a second there, I thought it was the Vegas office, wondering if they were ever going to see their SUV again."

"Ha. Well, at least they can know it was put to good use."

"Do you think anyone else has ever….."

"Well, it is Vegas. Who knows?"

Reid shut off the engine and then turned to his wife. "Thanks for coming with me. I needed that….well, and that….all of it." He kissed her in punctuation.

"It was beautiful, Spence. I don't think I'll ever forget what that sky looked like. It was….incredible." Sorry not to be able to find a better word.

"Someday, I want to show it to the kids. I want them to have a sense of how big the universe is, and how amazing it is that we're a part of it. How blessed we are to be aware of it, you know?"

That brought out her sunshine smile. Since the moment they'd learned of William's disappearance, Reid had seemed muted, almost afraid to fully connect with what he was feeling inside. But now, refreshed from their night in the desert, he seemed to have recovered something of himself. The land, and the stars, and the vastness of it all resonated in her husband in a way that almost nothing else did. Of course she would want their children to see it. It would tell them more about their father than she could ever know how to express.

After we find William, we'll bring them out here. Again, and again, and again.

They had time to shower and dress before heading down to the lobby. They knew the others would understand their plans when they saw the two young profilers had come downstairs without their luggage. But JJ and Reid weren't prepared to see that none of the others had their luggage, either.

Hotch motioned the group into a small café off the hotel lobby. "We might as well have breakfast."

Once they were seated, he started in, directing his words to Reid and JJ.

"I know you want to stay to look for William. You've each got some personal time available, so I've taken the liberty to put in for leave."

"Thanks, Hotch." Reid wasn't surprised. Yet. Then Hotch's eyes started moving around the table, looking at the others.

Each of them, in turn, said, "I've got some leave coming, too." "Me too." "Me three."

Hotch's gaze had made it all the way back to Reid and JJ. "And I make four."

JJ's eyes glistened as she smiled at the table full of the best friends in the world. She reached for her husband's hand, and found it trembling.

As was his voice. "You don't have to….you don't…..but….thanks. Thank you." Knowing, from experience, that it would do no good to turn them down.

Rossi defused the emotion. "You're welcome. Now, who wants pancakes?"

They spent the meal planning their next moves. Reid made sure they were all up to date on the recent discoveries in the case.

"The university has to have something to do with it. It's where he was last seen, and where his car was found. One of the professors remembered my uncle from years ago, and, by extension, my dad. But he was adamant that he hasn't seen him since then."

"And we believe him?" Morgan wasn't so sure.

"He seemed pretty genuine to me, but, you're right, I guess we should look into him."

Emily wanted clarification. "Are you thinking that your father's disappearance, and your uncle's death….what, almost thirty years ago?...are you thinking they're connected?"

Reid's voice was filled with the frustration he felt. "I don't know what to think. Until now, I'd thought my Uncle Daniel committed suicide. It sure sounded like that's what my mom thought, too. Although, if I recall our conversation correctly, I don't think she ever actually said."

"Should we look at the police file from your uncle's case, then? Assuming there is one, of course." Rossi knew the file, if it still existed, would be painfully thin. The police would have been involved because of the gunshot wound, but if it was an 'obvious suicide', they would have conducted only a cursory investigation at best.

"I know from the Riley Jenkins case that they hold records for a pretty long while. There might still be something." Reid agreed with the plan.

Rossi sighed dramatically. "All right. Old files for the old guy. I'll see what I can come up with."

JJ smiled at the self-deprecation, and then informed the others. "We've already asked Garcia to generate a list of everyone who was in the department at the time Daniel was there. Then, of course, we need to try to track them down."

"I'm sure she's up to it. Aren't you, Baby Girl?" Morgan had brought Garcia into the conversation electronically.

"Not only am I up to it, but I will have names and addresses for you forthwith. Provided…."

"Provided what, Pen?" asked JJ.

"Provided the university has scanned in records going back thirty years. I'm past their security, and looking….. looking…..look…..argh!"

"No luck, huh?" Emily interpreted.

"They're only back twenty-three years. It looks like some of this was entered recently, so they're still working on it. But….no go, boys and girls."

This time it was Emily who sighed. "Well, if Rossi can dig through old police files, I guess the least I can do is visit the university library. They've got to have copies of all the yearbooks, don't they?"

Over the phone, Garcia shrieked. "Exactly! And they should have the full list of faculty and students from then, shouldn't they?"

JJ wasn't so sure of their plan. "Emily, do you know how many students there are at UNLV?"

"Twenty-seven thousand, eight-hundred forty-eight, last semester," offered her helpful husband.

JJ was used to challenging him. "All right, Big Guy. How many in 1983?"

Undeterred, he responded, "Less than half that number. Eleven thousand, one hundred seventy eight."

Morgan was dumbfounded. "How do you know that?"

"I'd already thought of looking at the yearbooks, and found some information on line. But, don't worry, Emily. The yearbook lists them by major."

"All right. Penelope, you and I will have a phone date. I'll scan and send you everything I find."

Morgan volunteered to go back to the science building and conduct additional interviews. His focus would be dual: finding out who may have seen William Reid there recently, and who may remember either William or Daniel from thirty years ago.

Hotch turned back to Reid. "What about you?"

"I think I need to go back to my dad's place. I only focused on the journal the last time I was there. I need to look around more. Those notes we found in his files…..they didn't seem related to his business. I need to see if there's anything in his home that can tell me more about that. And I should probably look at his car, as well."

Hotch nodded his agreement. "All right. JJ, why don't you go with Reid. I'll need to work with LVPD to unravel some bureaucracy first, to give us access to both. Let me make a few calls. That should be enough to get you started. Then I'll see if I can work out an…..agreement…with them." One that would allow the BAU freedom of movement, but still keep the integrity of the evidence, should it become apparent that a crime had been committed.

Before the group dispersed, Reid felt a need to say something more. "Guys...I really appreciate this. I know you all have better things to do with your time….especially in Las Vegas."

Several of them chuckled, and Morgan responded, "Our time in Vegas isn't over yet, Pretty Boy. After we find your dad, alive and well, I intend to 'stay and play'."

"Ooh, me too!" said Emily.

"Princess, do you remember the last time we stayed an extra night in Vegas?"

"Morgan, I have no memory of that entire trip. Did I have a good time?"

JJ held her palm out toward her husband. "I'll drive. You think."

She knew a distracted Reid was never all that good behind the wheel. She'd often wondered if that was why he'd relied mostly on public transportation in his single years.

He readily obliged her, wanting to start in on the various puzzles right away. But there was something else he needed to say first.

"Did you know they were going to do that?"

"'Know', as in, had prior information? Or 'know', as in, they're our friends and they love us, so what else would they do?"

He gave a sad smile. "I guess I should have known, too. It's just that I don't like to presume."

She knew that his early life had taught him not to rely on anyone, for anything, at any time. And he often had trouble letting go of that.

"It's not presuming when it's offered. You just accept, that's all."

"I know. Still….. they're great people, JJ. I am so lucky to have them in my life."

"We're lucky to have them. And you're right…they are great people." She chanced a sideways glance at him. "So, do you really think we'll find something at your dad's?"

"I don't know. I only know that I looked through all of his work files for the last six months, and those two notes I found didn't seem related to anything there. It was almost as though he'd accidentally dropped them in, or maybe they got mixed in if he took work home with him."

"Are you convinced they were written by the same person?"

He nodded. "Yes. I'm sure of it. There was too much similarity in the structure of the letters for them to be from two different hands."

"So, it sounds like someone was threatening your dad, then, doesn't it? What did those notes say, exactly?"

"One said, 'It happened before. It can happen again. Remember that.', and the other said 'Leave it alone.'"

Taken alone the first message might have been one of encouragement. But, coupled with the other, it definitely came across as a threat.

"Spence, do you think these messages were about what happened to your uncle? Or do you think there was something else your dad was involved with?"

Reid could only shake his head. "That's why I need to take another look at his home, go through his papers. Dad's being at the university right before he disappeared could mean it's connected to Uncle Daniel, but I can't think of how. So maybe it's something else."

They were pulling into a parking space in front of William's condo, right next to a squad car belonging to LVPD. JJ recognized the officer's face and groaned.

"Oh, joy. Officer Guidry." The man who'd been so difficult when she'd visited the condo with Rossi. "Let's hope Hotch has had success smoothing the way."

The BAU agents exited their vehicle and met Guidry in the walkway.

The three nodded their acknowledgements of each other as Reid asked, "Did you bring the key?"

Guidry took his time extracting the item from his pocket. "I'll let you in."

JJ played him. "Thank you so much, Officer." As she and Reid followed him inside, they exchanged a look. Power and control. The longings of a small man.

Reid didn't care, he didn't have an ego for that anyway. And, if it would let him have access to what he wanted, he would willingly cede control of the key to Officer Guidry.

JJ was more irked about it, having spent much of her early career reigning in just this kind of LEO who, left on his own, could easily hurt an investigation. But she was skilled at knowing just when, and how, to change the balance of power. If the time came when that change was needed, she could make it happen. Until then, she would join her husband in going along.

As he held the door for them, Guidry said, "I'm supposed to observe. The lieutenant wants this run as a potential crime scene. Even if this guy wasn't a part of the desert case, he's still missing, and a potential crime victim."

That was fine with Reid. If something had happened to his father, he would want to see justice served.

"Understood. Just as long as there aren't restrictions as to what we can look at."

Guidry started to open his mouth, but JJ decided to speak for him.

"I'm sure Officer Guidry received his instructions after the meeting the FBI had with his lieutenant. Isn't that right, Officer?" Smiling sweetly.

Showing that he was intelligent enough not to jeopardize his career, Guidry returned a saccharine smile.

"Right."

Reid began to look around the main living space of the condo as he'd done on his first visit. But his inspection of the room had been cursory that day, as he had been intent on getting to see his mother's journal. Now he perused the bookshelves again, but this time pulled out most of the volumes, looking for loose papers or anything else that might have been slipped in between them. JJ started from the other end and did the same.

"He's as much of a reader as you are, Spence. If we have to start paging through each of these, we'll need reinforcements."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that, then." He pushed the books in his hands back onto the shelves. "I hate to ask this, but would you mind if I looked around the rest of the place? I know it's a mindless task, but…"

"Say no more. I've got it." She lowered her voice so only he could hear her. "Since it's mindless, maybe I can get my friend over there to help."

Before he could respond, she'd raised her voice again. "Officer Guidry…..would you mind terribly if I asked you to help me out with this? Some of these hardcovers are pretty heavy, and I'm afraid I'll pull them right down on my head."

She winked at her husband as Guidry reacted to her appeal, exactly as she'd intended. Reid headed off to the bedroom, careful to suppress his grin until he was past the LVPD officer.

Whew! I'm glad she's on my side!

Reid had no luck in William's bedroom. The box JJ had found, containing the journal, was the only one on the closet shelf. There was nothing under the bed, nothing hidden among the clothes in his drawers. Reid wandered into the kitchen and started opening and closing cabinet doors and drawers, finding only the usual items there. He even checked William's freezer, aware that some people used it to hide valuables. Not a good idea. I think all the thieves know about it by now.

He opened what looked like a steel exterior door, and found that it led to a one-car garage. The condo was built on slab, so there was no basement. In compensation, the garage was overly deep, allowing room for a laundry area, a very small workbench…..and a file cabinet.

The cabinet was old, and locked only with a combination padlock. Without even a thought as to why he knew, Reid worked the numbers of his mother's birthday through the rotating dial….and met with failure. He tried a second time, reversing the numbers. Failure again. Finally, he tried another permutation of the same numbers…..and the lock fell open in his hands.

Each of the four drawers of the cabinet held files. Two drawers held tax returns going back years. A third held the papers for the condo, some medical reports and insurance forms, and an envelope labeled with 'Last Will and Testament'. Reid held the envelope for a long moment, torn about looking inside. Whatever he found there, William's own accounting of who and what he held dear, might tell him everything he needed to know about his father. And yet, in many respects, it felt as though he was going through the belongings of a stranger, one whose private things he had no right to see.

Putting the envelope aside, Reid continued through the drawer. He found his parents' marriage license, but no decree of divorce. There was a deed for a cemetery plot, and a paper acknowledging that the first to be entombed in the plot was Daniel Reid. The plot would hold three, apparently. Reid wondered if his father intended to be buried with his younger brother, and then flashed on a vision of attending that event in the not-too-distant future. And he was surprised to feel sadness at the idea.

The final drawer seemed to be devoted to non-official personal items. His own birth notice, in the Las Vegas paper. A small column about local scholarship recipients, including the name of Daniel Reid. The same picture that was framed in William's living room, of Reid's Little League team. Apparently it had run in the local paper as well. A thick sheaf of papers that seemed to be printouts of all the items he'd googled on his son…..multiple graduations, academic honors, theses, published journal articles, even cut-outs of articles about cases the BAU had been involved with.

I don't think I'll ever get it, Dad. Why did you want a virtual son, when you could have had a real one?

The final items in the drawer, either the first or the last to be put in there, were odd. They were seemingly unrelated to anything else in the entire cabinet and, as far as Reid knew, unrelated to his family. Some were obviously copies made from older newspaper articles, and some were cut from more recent publications. The older articles seemed to tell the story of a breakthrough discovery, a form of lens development, made at UNLV. The breakthrough had apparently contributed to the success of some phase of the Manahattan Project, allowing the correct redirection of the energy of the explosion. The lens was reported to have been developed by a Dr. Claus Albrecht, who, according to the recent articles, had long since retired from UNLV. The creator of the Albrecht lens was apparently quite renowned.

Reid combed his memory, but could not find the name 'Albrecht' anywhere. If this was a friend of his father, perhaps they'd met after William had abandoned his young family. Reid looked back for the dates, and saw that the older article was from a time when William was still with them. Given another few seconds, his brain realized something else.

This must have been not all that long after Daniel died. A few months, at most.

The more recent article mentioned Dr. Albrecht's returning to the university to be honored at the opening of a new lab that had apparently been funded by, and named after, him. It had been published in early December, citing a December 30 date for the dedication.

Right in the window when Dad disappeared.

Deciding to show it to JJ, and to have Garcia start researching Albrecht, Reid brought the papers back inside the home. Once in the brighter interior light, something else became obvious. There was the faint marking of a pencil, underlining a section of writing about Albrecht's major contribution to the world of physics. And an equally faint 'No!' written into the margin.

In a second, it all came together for Reid. He raced into the living room, waving the papers.

"JJ…I think I know what this is about!"