Garcia flinched and spun around. Rossi remained in his chair, gripping her hand and the knife a little tighter. He stood slowly.

"It's okay, Kitten. Take a breath. Panicking will only encourage them."

Garcia nodded, but her hands still trembled. The walkie crackled.

"Did you enjoy our trip down memory lane? That interview was where you failed. Sarah might still be alive if you had taken a second to listen. Even that, we could forgive you because you're a decent man who made a mistake. But then, if you had any decency, you wouldn't have used her story to line your pockets."

Rossi's knuckles whitened around the knife. "Eric, I did everything I could to bring her home safe to you. I know you're listening, and son, I can promise you if you let my partner go, I'll give you all the answers you want."

The voice was calm. "You failed, David. I know it, Eric knows it, and now knows it. But you're getting a second chance. Let's see if you can do better this time. You'll see a trap door if you look to the floor."

For the first time, Rossi and Garcia paid attention to the floor. Indeed, a set of hinges belonged to a small door. Garcia gasped and backed up, hitting the bookshelf. "Okay, absolutely not. We are not going down there."

Rossi put a hand on her arm. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Garcia shook her head. "You don't know what's down there."

"Tik tok agent Rossi. She can go with you, or she can come with me."

Rossi lifted the door without any other option, and they entered the darkness.

Back at headquarters, Kevin was hard at work. "I think I found our location."

Morgan was leaning over his chair instantly, breathing down Kevin's neck.

"Walter Beckett has a cousin. Lives deep in the woods, way off grid. No phone, no internet, but he goes into town yearly to renew his hunting and fishing license, but not this year."

Hotch checked his watch. "How far?"

"About 30 minutes."

"I can be there in 20," Morgan said, heading out the door.

"Let's move," Hotch said.

JJ frowned, staring at the screens. "Something doesn't feel right about this."

Hotch stopped. "What is it?"

"Reid says Beckett has been planning this for years. Hotch, if we go to that property, he's not just gonna let them go."

Reid's brow furrowed, "He didn't have a partner before. Callahan is out for revenge. He probably doesn't even want to hurt Garcia."

"But Beckett did," Hotch says, "She fits his victimology."

JJ shook her head. "We already broke their rules by investigating. Why haven't they killed Garcia yet if she's nonessential to them?"

"Because Garcia is how they're keeping Rossi in line," Reid said, "Without her, they can't play their game with him."

Emily inhaled sharply, "So we should get there quickly before they decide Rossi's paid enough for his crimes."

Rossi and Garcia stepped into the underground room. In front of them, a single folding table with a folding chair stood. A padlock and a VHS tape were on the table.

"This one is simple enough," the voice said, "Leave Penelope down here. I want you to go back upstairs and watch the tape."

"Oh my God, "Garcia whispered, "No. Rossi no. Please don't leave me down here."

Rossi shook his head and spoke into the walkie. "That is not happening."

"Tsk tsk agent Rossi. Defiance will get you nowhere."

A quiet, shaky quiet, shaky voice came from the speaker in the room. " ," it said. I'm sorry you got wrapped up in all this. Please stay downstairs. I promise we aren't gonna hurt you, ma'am."

Garcia's head snapped. "That's the man from the van. The other one."

The walkie chuckled. "See? Your girl will be fine. Go upstairs, agent. Play the tape."

Garcia gripped his arm. "Please don't leave me down here."

"I don't want to," he admitted, "But we don't have a choice."

With a shuddering breath, he brought Garcia's hand to his lips, it softly. He looked into her eyes, and for the first time, Garcia was sure she could see fear behind them. Before he could leave, Garcia hugged him and whispered something in Rossi's ear.

"They want to scare you. Don't give them the satisfaction."

Rossi took the tape and the lock and stepped out of the cellar. He shut the door and locked Garcia inside, hoping he had made the correct decision. He removed the old tape and slipped the new one inside, pressing play. Nothing happened. He pressed play again, but nothing happened, and the scream came.

"No! David! Please help!"

The voice on the walkie seemed pleased.

"Looks like I have someone new to play with."

Rossi ran to the door, pounding his fists against it, realizing too late that he didn't have a key for the lock.

"Garcia!"

The walkie crackled.

"Careful, David. You almost sound afraid."

Rossi gritted his teeth. "If you lay a finger on her, I'll-"

"What? Kill me? Hurt me? You're not in control here, agent. You never were."

Rossi's fingers tightened around the knife. He took a deep breath.

"What do you want?"

The voice chuckled. "I want to get to know Penelope Garcia better. For now, sit tight."

The walkie went silent. Rossi pressed an ear against the door. Nothing. They had come for her, and now they were going to hurt her.

"Not on my watch," he muttered.

The SUVs sped down an empty road.

"You should be there in five minutes," Kevin said through the comms.

"We'll make it in three," Morgan said.

Hotch's grip tightened on the wheel.

"Walter Beckett has been dormant for years," Reid murmured, flipping through Rossi's book one last time, "He's not going to give Rossi up, but if we can get to Eric Callahan first, we might be able to appeal to him to at least let Garcia go."

Emily nodded, "Garcia fits his old victimology. That's what worries me."

Morgan's hands clenched into fists. "I'm telling you when I get my hands on that son of a-"

Hotch's phone buzzed.

"Morgan, check what it says."

"Final warning, Aaron. If you step foot on my property, you'll be collecting bodies."

Hotch pressed down harder on the gas.