Paranoia - s.reid

Cat and Mouse

 TW: Implied suicide. 

"I know it's a different agency and all, but couldn't someone have told us that Lindsey left WITSEC?"

Liz shook her head. "No, it's for her own protection. The marshals stay away unless you're in trouble. Even our own case agents aren't told about their member status." Emily entered the room, returning from the prison after a visit to Spencer. "He knows?"

"Yeah. He thinks Lindsey's using her father's gun as a way to carry on his legacy. And I spoke to the warden about putting Reid in protective custody, but he said no."

Her mouth almost fell open as Garcia's computer pinged loudly. "More ballistics literally just came in on Jack Vaughn's gun, and, oh, my goodness, Lindsey has been a busy evil bee. That gun has been involved in 15 murders in the last 5 years."

"Single shot to the back of the head with a modified hollow-point. That's our Lindsey." JJ confirmed. "You guys see the geographical pattern? All of the kills are along the US-Mexico border. And each of the victims have apparent cartel ties. So, Lindsey's been a cartel hit woman ever since she left the program."

Garcia sighed. "Okay, but why is she using her dad's gun? That helps us, and it's risky for her."

Liz piped up. "It's an impulse. Not a choice."

------

Walker and Luke had gotten back from Wisconsin, learning that Lindsey had been looking for the same drugs Scratch uses. The team were in the pantry, Liz refusing to eat anything as she tirelessly read her the same case file.

"Why would Scratch choose Lindsey? I mean, her ties to Reid are distant." Tara questioned, tapping Liz's shoulder as she poured the mother a cup of tea.

"Walker and I, we kicked it around on the flight, and we imagine that Scratch was digging further into Reid's past and he saw that Lindsey had become a contract killer. Realized she could get to him in a way that he couldn't. It may be logistical, too. Scratch has never run out of drugs before, but now he's a fugitive and might not be able to get them."

"Well, Lindsey knows the border. She'd be a good drug mule."

Emily approached them. "Good news and bad news. I am on the books first thing tomorrow with Judge Frost and AUSA Martinez."

"But all we have is a theory and no support from the brass."

"That's never stopped us before."

"I guess we have 12 hours to make an airtight case for you to bring to them."

She nodded. "Yes. Not only that, we also need a paper trail."

As Rossi began making more coffee, her and Liz's phones went off, coercing them to walk up to her office to see Garcia. "Hey, were you able to get Lindsey's print files from WITSEC?"

"I'm close but I need more time. Reid stabbed himself to get into solitary confinement."

Liz gasped loudly, tears pricking at her eyes as slight relief flooded her. "That's great. That's so great."

"What?"

"Well, he found a way to isolate himself."

The blonde took in a shaky breath, handing her a folder. "That's my letter of resignation. If Reid dies, I quit. I'm exhausted, and it's breaking me. I can't stand watching Lizzy tear herself apart trying to care for those beautiful children. This whole year has been an emotional rollercoaster. It's like every time something happens, there's a piece of myself that is being chipped away, and if one more thing goes down, I don't think there's going to be anything left."