Chapter 2
"The letters O.G don't seem to have any significance linguistically," Reid noted on the plane.
"Maybe they're the initials of a singer or dancer," Morgan said.
"This unsub wants to be seen," Rossi explained, "so he probbably feels like a nobody in his every day life."
"And he wants Christine to see him," JJ pointed out.
"Prentiss is gonna meet us at the Opera House," Hotch started, "Reid, I want you to interview Christine and protect her. That's gonna be your number one job."
The team snickered.
"Prentiss and I will talk to the managers. Rossi, talk to the Vicomte de Changy. The rest of you, talk to the other singers and dancers and find out what they know. We'll cover more ground that way."
The Opera Populaire was gorgeous. The décor was lush and the music was spectacular, abeit from Reid commenting on the style every thirty seconds.
"Reid, I could hear you spouting statistics from backstage!" Prentiss exclaimed.
"Emily!" the team exclaimed and they exchanged hugs. After thirty seconds of catching up, the managers, Monsieur Firmin and Monsieru Andre arrived.
"Monsieurs, these are the agents I was telling you about," Prentiss introduced.
"Ah, the B.A.U," Firmin spoke.
"These are Agents Hotchner, Rossi, Morgan, Jareau, and Lewis. And the one staring into space is Dr. Reid."
"So, you are experts in behavior?" Andre asked.
"Yes," Hotch answered, "what can you tell us about these attacks?"
"Well, we've been getting strange notes from this guy for a really long time. Anyhow, once Christine Daae made her debut, it all went to hell."
"In order to make sure Christine even got her debut," Firmin continued, "he crashed the set during a rehearsal. He attempted to kill Carlotta Giudicelli, our leading soprano."
"Probbably to get her out of the way," Reid answered, "what can you tell us about her?"
The agents made their way to the stage and Firmin pointed out where the "accident" happened.
"Not well liked," Andre answered, "she really can't sing. But she's a bit of a diva and wants everything to go her way. Everyone's kind of sick of her."
"He made good on his threats to kill with Joseph Buquet," Prentiss added.
"Yeah. The guy uses a Punjab lasso. Then he put the body on display for the whole audience to see."
"So he killed him during a performance," Hotch stated, "did Joseph make any passes at Christine?"
"Honestly, he made passes at all the female dancers and singers. But I think this guy killed him to get him out of the way, too. It's part of his "plan," Firmin answered.
Suddenly, they saw a man enter the room and walk backstage.
"I assume that's Raoul-" Rossi started.
"Monsieur, monsieur!" a woman exclaimed, "I have a note from the Opera Ghost himself!"
"That's Madame Giry," Firmin introduced, "her daughter's a dancer here. She's the dance instructor."
"What's the note say?" Hotch asked.
"Gentlemen, my salary is due. I expect twenty-thousand francs. Also, leave Box Five empty for me. There will be consequences if you don't. O.G."
"His salary?!" Firmin asked incredulously.
"O.G.," Reid said, "Opera Ghost."
"Great," Morgan said, "so he's an extortionist too. Trying to get money from the managers."
"We just do it to make sure nobody gets hurt," Madame Giry answered, "and I leave Box Five open for him."
"What's Box Five?" JJ asked.
"Where the Phantom sits," Madame Giry answered.
"Phantom?" Morgan asked.
"The phantom of the opera!" Meg Giry sang out.
"The Phantom of the Opera," Morgan shook his head, as soon as the managers were out of earshot, "come on guys. You don't actually believe this place is "haunted," do you?"
"What other explanation could there be?" Madame Giry asked.
"An unsub is targeting this opera house to get to Christine Daae," Hotch answered.
"Unsub?" Meg asked.
"Unknown subject," Prentiss responded, "the killer."
"And he's given himself a name so everyone will know he's out there and hunting," JJ added.
"He's here," Meg exclaimed, "I know he is!"
Then, she ran off.
"The Phantom of the Opera," Morgan repeated, "what a name."
"I think the managers gave him that name and he stuck with it and made it his own," Hotch guessed.
"Well, it fits," Prentiss agreed, "we don't know what he looks like, his name, or anything. He seems to work alone, quite possibly he works backstage."
"You know the Opera House has a lake underground," Reid pointed out.
Everyone looked at him.
"What? I read it in a book. He could be living underground."
"And then what? He sits in his box for the performances?" Lewis asked.
"That's exactly what I'm saying!"
"Well, I don't think any of the managers are involved," JJ spoke, "they seem way too freaked out by the whole ordeal. They're just going along with his orders to keep the peace."
"Madame Giry knows more than she's letting on," Hotch said, "I want Garcia to dig up anything she can on her."
"Meg seems genuinley convinced there's a ghost," Reid observed.
"Her mom may have convinced her," JJ theorized, "probbably coached her, too."
"Both of them might know who the unsub is. But Meg might be afraid to talk," Hotch said, "Reid, I want you to interview Christine and protect her. That's your number one job. JJ, see if you can make any headway with Meg—alone. She might respond better to you."
"I'll go talk to the Vicomte," Rossi offered.
"Good. The rest of us will observe tonight's performance and see what happens."