Anthophile (Spencer Reid)

Chapter 8

They had spent most of the night talking, and playing card games. Spencer won all of them, in hindsight he probably should have let her win a few times. He left her apartment around one in the morning, almost falling asleep on the metro on the way home.

He strolled into the BAU, his usual bags under his eyes and coffee in his hands, a small smile on his face. He had been in a noticeably better mood since meeting Iris, and his coworkers had noticed. But they would have never guessed it was because of a girl, Spencer wanted to keep her a secret for a while. Keep her to himself.

"Good morning pretty boy!" Derek Morgan said from his desk, "Some one is in a good mood this morning." Spencer set down and nodded.

"Is there a reason not to be?" He asked being coy.

"Somethings going on with you..." Derek said pointing to pen at his hand at him. Spencer shook his head.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." He said starting to look at the file on his desk.

Morgan rolled his eyes. Soon Emily, and Rossi walked in. They said their hellos, of course Hotch was there before all of them.

Garcia made her wait through the bull pen, "Conference room my pretties!" She said with files in her hand.

"Already? We just got back!" Emily groaned standing up, they all begrudgingly made their way to the conference room, sitting in there usual seats.

Garcia handed them their tablets and Spencer his paper file. "Okay, good news is you get to stay home for this one. Bad news is there have been two killings around the D.C area." She pointed to the screen showing the pictures of two women, they looked really similar to Iris. His brow furrowed.

"The women were taken and found three days later. They had their hair dyed and cut and they were all strangled with a...branding on their left shoulder." She said turning away from the screen as the pictures of the bodies popped up.

"Why would the unsub dye their hair...why not just pick a victim with the hair color." She moly said looking up from her tablet.

"Maybe they are trying to change the person...into their ideal partner? Maybe they are trying to get someone they lost back..." JJ said looking up as well.

Spencer tried to focus, but his mind kept drifting to Iris. He was worried about her, "Reid!" He looked up at Morgan.

"You here with us?" Morgan asked looking at him concerned. He nodded.

"The branding is interesting, and the strangulation. Both could indicate trying to control and place ownership over the victims. And actually, so could the dying and cutting of the hair. They are showing the victims who has the power..." he looked over the file again, "no sexual assault was noticed...they could be trying to replace a pivotal figure in there life. Someone who would have had control over them...a mother perhaps..."

Hotch looked up, "Let's get going. It's been three days since the last body was found and if the unsub keeps their pace up we have a day before he strikes again." He stood, "Emily and Reid you go to the first crime scene , Morgan and I will head to the police station and JJ touch base with the media. They are already asking questions and we need to keep this quiet until we know more details."

They all walked out, Spencer grabbed his bag and followed Emily to the car. He pulled out his phone to text Iris.

Spencer: hey, hope you have a good day. You doing anything special today?
Iris: hey! You too :) and not really. No deliveries today so hanging around the shop.
Spencer: I have a case, but it's in DC so maybe we can see each other later?
Iris: I'll be here :)

Spencer sighed and leaned back, Emily looked over at him. "So, who is she?"

He whipped his head to look at her, "what are you talking about?"

"You're happier then you've been in a while, looking at your phone more..." she looked back to the road, "I'm taking a guess it's a girl..." she said.

He thought for a moment, deciding how much he wanted to share. "We..we have been seeing each other for a couple of weeks..." he looked out the window, "she...she matches the unsubs victim type..." he said softly.

She turned to look at him, "Reid...I'm sure she will be fine..." she said, hoping it was true.

"The sooner we catch this one the sooner I don't have to worry..." he said, then looked over at his friend and co worker, "I would prefer this...um this stay between us for now..." he said his lips forming a line.

"Of course..." she said nodding.

••••••••••••
They had looked over the crime scene and headed back to the station. It took them a few hours but they finally came up with a profile; white male in his forties or fifties. He would be friendly at first but very socially awkward. Likely had issues with his mother and was trying to take the control he always wanted.

It was 8 and Spencer knew he wouldn't be able to break away to see Iris tonight. He knew the quicker they captured this man the quicker he would be able to put his mind at ease. He got up from the table and walked into an empty conference room, deciding to call her.

The phone rang and rang. She had never not answered the phone for him before. He held his cell phone in his hands and thought for a moment, worried. It wasn't like Iris to not answer the phone. He waited a few moments and called again, still no answer. He needed to know she was okay.

"Emily!" He said walking into the room that held Emily, Morgan, Hotch, Rossi and JJ. She looked up, worried. The tone Spencer used was filled with concern.

"Reid, everything okay?" She asked. His team looked at him. He had wanted to keep Iris to himself longer, but his concern for him outweighed that want.

"Iris...s-she isn't answering the phone..." he said looking at his phone again.

"You sure she just isn't busy?" Emily asked.

"She...she always answers..." he said looking at her with pleading eyes.

"What's going on?" Morgan asked leaning back.

"My...my...my girlfriend Iris...she lives in DC, close to the other abduction sites and isn't answering. She fits the unsubs victimology..." he said softly.

The team wanted to tease him about this woman, but they could see the concern on his face. "I need...I need to go check on her...". He said looking up from his phone.

"I'll drive you..." Emily stood up and walked over to him. She touched his shoulder, he nodded and they headed towards the car. He felt like his heart was going to break out of his chest, his foot tapped the entire ride as she gave Emily directions.

Finally they pulled up to the shop, the lights were still on. He broke out of the car and rushed to the door, he pushed for a moment and used his jacket sleeve to try the door, it was unlocked. He stepped inside and yelled her name with no answer.

Then his blood ran cold, on the floor was a broken pot, and a few drops of blood. Iris was no where to be found.

••••••
Oh! I'm excited about this one! Sorry to leave you guys in a cliff hanger! I'll get the next part up soon!