The Story of Us

Chapter 9- To Save A Life

The BAU was stumped with this case. None of it made sense. So far all they knew was that they had gotten the team's information after Penelope's computer system got hacked and the body that lead the Jamaican police to Elle matched with the head sent to Gideon. Luckily, Garcia comes running in with a lead to the man that had hacked her computer system. The team rushes to the crime scene only to find their suspect dead with a medieval sword in his chest and a message above him in Middle English.

It isn't until Reid arrives that they actually find anything. There is a small box in the wall, a music box to be exact. Above the lock, they find what appears to be a string but is actually a lock of hair leading the false top to fall and reveal a disk with the words 'A Quest' written on it. They sit in the car on the way back to Quantico in silence. Feeling the weight of this case already haunting them. As soon as they get back, they all head into the conference room to watch the tape.

JJ queues the video up and they all fall silent. They watch as a man whose silhouette is all they can see tells them that he is holding a young girl hostage. He tells them that the only ones allowed to help are their team and one other person. He shows pictures to clarify their team before flashing one more that surprises everyone but Spencer. A picture of Amanda in a CalTech cheer uniform pops up on the television as he says her name. The man then says that no outside help is allowed once more before the video ends, leaving the team reeling.

"We need a way to contact Amanda. I can call the director he has to have her number or a way to reach her and maybe she has a missing piece or..." He trails off as he sees Gideon get up and begin to leave the room. Hotch stands to follow him but both men stop when the door opens and Amanda walks through, making everyone look at her in relief.

"What? Why are you all looking at me like that? Please stop," she commands and Spencer speaks up.

"The unsub left us a message. He said that we aren't allowed to use outside help and he's holding a young girl. She looked late teens from the clip. He said that you were the only person outside the team allowed to help. All of us received some sort of message, besides Derek. I got a key, Elle got arrested for murder, Garcia got hacked, Gideon received a baseball card of his favorite player, JJ got a butterfly, and Hotch got a phone call. What did you get?"

"What makes you think I got anything?" She questions, not really wanting to admit the significance of what she got.

"You said you thought the unsub sent you something on the phone."

Amanda scowls, acknowledging the fact that a girl's life is more important than what she's about to admit. "Fine. I did get something but I don't see what it has to do with the case." She reaches into her duffle bag and pulls the box out. "It arrived yesterday morning and was addressed to me with Langley's address. They forwarded it to me in Italy," she explains before opening it and removing the tiara.

"A tiara?" Derek asks in confusion. "Why a tiara and why send it to you?"

"I imagine it's because it has a connection to me. The baseball card was of his favorite player and I'm assuming that JJ collected or still collects butterflies?"

"Yeah, that's how I knew what kind of butterfly it was," she answers and Amanda makes a 'see' gesture that makes Morgan frown.

"So how is the tiara connected to you?" He wonders before grinning. "Don't tell me, you were homecoming queen. No, prom queen," he jests and Amanda frowns.

"If you laugh I will stab you in the eyeball with a pencil," she threatens before clearing her voice. "I used to do beauty pageants," she says so quietly almost no one hears but sadly, Morgan was one of them. He immediately bursts out laughing.