"Hello Missy!" Laurel greeted the petite, dark-haired, woman in the parking lot behind the Downtown Diner the next day. "It's good to see you again. It has been awhile."
"It's good to see you, too," Missy replied. "And, this must be Paige." She smiled at the girl.
"And my fiancé, Aaron," Laurel confirmed.
"I want to thank you for doing this," Hotch told Missy. "We really appreciate it."
"My pleasure," she replied. "Now, I don't think the Mercers are here yet, so let's go in and find a seat. When they get here I will explain to both of you how this is going to be handled."
"I understand you ice skate," she commented to Paige as they walked across the parking lot.
"Yes," Paige confirmed. "I really like it."
"What are you working on?" Missy asked.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"We know you are here for the money," were Mr. Mercer's first words to Laurel and Hotch upon his arrival at the diner.
"And, there's no way you are going to get it," he stated emphatically. "So don't even think about it!"
"Where is our granddaughter?" Mrs. Mercer demanded. She looked slightly cleaner than the previous day and her hair had obviously been combed, but a cloud of cigarette smoke enveloped both her and her husband.
"She is over there with the designated observer for this visit," Laurel replied. "I understand you have already spoken with her on the telephone."
"Crap and more crap," was the reply as the two people rudely pushed past Hotch and Laurel and headed towards the booth where Paige was sitting with Missy.
"Mr. and Mrs. Mercer?" Missy stood up and looked them in the eyes. "If you will sit down, please, I will explain how this is going to work."
"What about them?" Mr. Mercer gestured towards Laurel and Hotch. "Don't they got to listen too? Or doesn't this apply to them?"
"We are pulling chairs over," Hotch replied, matching actions to his words.
"Now, let's listen to what Ms. Chancellor has to say," Laurel suggested.
"As I told you on the telephone," Missy began. "This first visit will last two hours. It is a get acquainted visit and I need to make sure that all parties are comfortable. You two will be here speaking with Paige and I will be seated over there." She pointed to a table a short distance away. "I will be able to see what is going on, but I won't be able to hear anything. I am not here to eavesdrop, just to observe."
"What about them?" Mrs. Mercer spat out. "They going to be 'Observing' too?"
"They will be leaving," Missy glanced over at Laurel and Hotch. "And, they will be back when the two hours is up."
"Any other questions?" she asked.
"I think everything is perfectly clear," Hotch responded. He glanced at his watch and then at Laurel. "Ready to take a walk?" he asked, standing up and holding out his hand.
"We'll be back in two hours, Sweetie," Laurel kissed the top of Paige's head. "Don't worry. Missy is right here."
"Okay," Paige looked over at the Mercers. "Two hours?" she asked fearfully.
"Exactly two hours," Hotch promised her as he looked over to glare at the Mercers.