Chapter Nine - Reunited
Derek drove his hire car through the streets of New Orleans, through a bustling neighbourhood.
"Nearly there," said JJ, staring at the GPS, then looking in the rearview mirror, checking that no one was following them.
"This is it," said Derek, pulling up in front of an apartment block. "Anywhere you've been before?"
JJ shook her head. "No, but it's where Will arranged to meet us. Must have his reasons."
Larry was in the back seat, his hands bound together. "Wonder if you'll ever get to leave," he said, with a laugh.
Derek got out of the driver's door, and pulled Larry out, while JJ left the car, looked around one final time, then walked to the apartment block entrance.
"It's open," she said.
"Good," said Derek, hurrying Larry along.
They all entered and started to climb the stone stairs. The heat of the day boosted the pungent smells within the building.
"Nice place you've dragged me to," said Larry, as Derek jostled him along.
"Just keep moving," said Derek, as they all headed to the apartment number Will had supplied.
When they arrived, the door was unlocked. They made their way into a small room, and Derek tied Larry to a chair while JJ turned on a fan, in a vain attempt to cool down the hot room. Couldn't Will have chosen somewhere with air conditioning?
That was when her missing husband walked in.
JJ didn't know what to do? Whether to scream at him or to kill him. Instead she ran over to him and hugged him.
"How are the kids?" he asked.
"They're okay, the BAU protected them."
"For now," snarled Larry.
Will looked over at Larry, and then marched over to him, raising his fist. "Why, you..."
Derek pulled him back. "Don't, Will, he's not worth it."
Will stood there, staring at Larry, then at Derek, then back at Larry, then at his own fist.
"Calm down," Derek stated firmly, standing between Will and Larry. "Besides, I think you owe JJ some answers."
Will lowered his fist, then looked at JJ. "You're right. I should tell you how it happened. What happened to Sally."
"She deserved to die for what she did," said Larry. "You both do."
"Wish I'd punched you now," said Will. "And it's not too late."
Spencer looked at Emily as they boarded the plane. "Think we'll be able to keep this under the radar?"
"Hope so, but I doubt it. All I know is that I can't reach Derek and JJ."
"Maybe they're flying under the radar too," suggested Spencer.
"Maybe," replied Emily, " or maybe this John Lavigne, after failing to kill their children, has been more successful against Will and JJ. All I know is, I'm not prepared to wait around to find out. JJ needs us, and I'm not going to let protocol get in the way."
Spencer nodded.
"Wheels up."
Will pointed at Larry. "This guy's not Larry," he said. "He might dress like him, and have the same long hair, but when I look into his eyes I know who he is… I'll never forget those eyes."
Larry snarled. "I'll never forget your face. You and Sally ruined our lives. Now we're here to ruin yours."
"It wasn't anyone's fault," said Will. "It was self-defence. We might have been rookies, but we didn't do anything wrong. Sally did nothing to deserve…"
"She deserved everything" said Larry. "We killed the real Larry before her eyes, made her see a loved one die just the way we'd had to. Then we dragged her to Virginia, drugged her up, put an explosive squib on her stomach, and aimed her at your door. The rest's history."
Tears filled Will's eyes. "I brought her in, tried to help her, but couldn't save her."
"We wanted to tear your life apart the same way you'd torn ours apart, when you pressed the gun's trigger. We pressed an explosive trigger, but it was as close as we could get."
"You're insane," said JJ.
"It worked, didn't it?" said Larry, a smile on his face. "And now you're together again, I get to tear your lives apart once more."
"Don't worry, JJ, he's helpless," Will said. "You've removed any devices he might have had that could lead his brother here."
"Maybe you missed one," said Larry. "If we could implant an explosive squib into Sally's stomach, don't you think we could put a tracker into mine?"
"You're bluffing," said Derek.
"You'll see," said Larry, and started laughing.
"So what?" said Derek. "If Johnny shows up we can handle him. Even if he sends some bad guys."
"Who said anything about bad guys," said Larry. "With cop-killer Will here, he'll be sending in the good guys."
Will rushed to the window, peering through the curtain, looking at the rooftops. It was then that a gunshot smashed the window to smithereens next to him.
Will dropped to the ground.
"Looks like you're public enemy number one," JJ said. "The cops are out to get you."
"If they were, I'd be dead," said Will. "That was a warning shot. Looks like I've still got a few friends on the force. Now, let's get out of here."
As Will finished his sentence, a canister came flying through the window, filling the room with tear gas.