How Dare You [ReidxReader] - 2nd Edition

(32) Burning Pile

„What the...?" Morgan whispers.

You stare at the woman in pure disbelieve.

You've seen the pictures. You read the report.

This woman was buried. They carried this woman to her grave.

As soon as you realize who it is, you turn your head to look at Spencer. He stiffly sits in the chair next to you, not saying a word.

Then you understand why JJ and Hotchner kept checking the time.

"You knew?"

Hotchner looks at you for a second, it's enough to confirm that you're right.

"Hi." Prentiss finally says.

Isaacs reenters the room and hands you your coffee.

"What's going on?" He doesn't recognize Prentiss at first. Then his eyes dart between her and her picture on the whiteboard. "Holy shit."

You swallow hard. You're overwhelmed and don't know what to feel. Surprise? Relief? Anger? Everything hits you at once. They faked her death so that she could hunt Doyle without him suspecting it.

Prentiss walks over to the whiteboard and explains: "I was following Doyle back into the States when he realized that someone was hunting him. He still doesn't know it was me."

You see that Spencer isn't listening at all. His eyes dart around the room and his hands are clenched into fists. When put your hand on his thigh, he turns his head, and you see everything you feel in his eyes as well. He appears so hurt – devastated.

"You're alive?" He mumbles.

It's barely audible but everyone heard him.

"It was a decision we needed to make in the moment. We sent Prentiss to Paris to recover and then she started to track down Doyle." Hotchner explains as if he were talking about the weather.

Everyone is way too stunned to ask more questions.

ɤɤɤɤ ɤɤɤɤ ɤɤɤɤ

The next few hours you keep working like it were normal to see and hear Prentiss in the same room. You notice Spencer repeatedly raising his head to check if she's still there before looking back at the files. It's the most bizarre thing you ever witnessed.

Now that you know that Hotchner and JJ knew, their behavior makes a lot more sense. What you do not understand, however, is how Rossi and Morgan are seemingly so okay with being lied at. They don't appear one bit upset. On the contrary, they are only focused on Prentiss being back. Sure, that's great, but how...Why is no one angry?

When you have to step outside for a moment, Prentiss follows you.

You shook hands earlier but didn't exchange a single word.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" She walks down the stairs with you.

Good for her that she's not dead and instead went on a blues-clues tour through the world, following Doyle. Meanwhile, it completely destroyed Spencer; furthermore, how did she not know about your case? Did she and just did not intervene?

Lips pressed together tightly, you turn to her.

Prentiss is standing close to you, her eyes darting over your face as if she hopes to find answers in your expression.

"Be my guest."

"Doyle sent you to destroy the team?"

"That's what he stated in the interview."