The Agent's Temptation

2. The Case

Special Agent Aaron Hotchner stood at the head of the table in the meeting room.
His team was filed in, opening the folders in front of them as Garcia turned on the screen.

"What do we have today?" Rossi asked, unbuttoning his jacket as he sat.

"Cult?" Emily asked as she skimmed the first page in her hands. "In Colorado.. again. Great."

Reid who had just sat down grimaced, memories of an old case coming back.

"Yes but slightly different today." Hotch said. "This time, there seems to be a pattern on who is being kidnapped and why. The kidnappings have been consecutive. One a week."

Garcia clicks on her remote and four pictures of four women fill the screen.
"Tanya Corwin, 28. High school volleyball coach.
Ginny Young, 21. Baby sitter.
Alice Runner, 26, Registered nurse
And finally Florence Desley, 27 runs her own dog training company."

"There is no physical connection between all four women. One is a brunette, two blondes and a red head. Two are white, one is Asian and one Black," Derek started. "Two are physically fit and tall, one is short and the other is between them."

"Not to mention, they all come from different parts in Colorado and do not share the same profession," JJ added.

"Yes," Rossi said, "but they are similar."

"What do you mean?" Emily asked.

"All four women are in a position or profession that requires them to either work with people or provide some sort of care for others-animal or human," Rossi said.

"Exactly, and the fourth victim falls onto that category too." Hotch said. He nodded towards Garcia who pulled up a picture of you on the screen.

"Y/N, 25 and secondary school teacher. She was the last to go missing 48 hours ago." Garcia said frowning.

"48 hours?" Derek questioned.

"I know it seems to be a stretch, but with the other four women there has been no ransom, no calls, no bodies found or threats made," Hotch said.

"Then what makes you think it's a cult?" Emily asked furrowing her eyebrows and clicking her pen.

"There have been sightings of women who appear to look just like them in Estes Park. However, they're all in old clothing, hair tied back, speak to no one and keep their head down. No harm or abuse is visible and a group of hikers reported an old cabin being occupied by over 20 people; and who they presumed to be these four women." Hotch said rubbing his forehead. "The hikers reported seeing a large cross made out of wood placed in the front of the house with yellow flower crowns and everyone dressed in pastel colors."

"Sounds familiar.." Reid mumbled.

"Are there children involved? New , old or young?" Derek asked.

"A few kids, around 10 or so."

"So this girl, Y/N, she's with this group?"

Rossi scratched his chin, "It would be best to assume so."

"There have also been reportings of creepy crawly things being found on dead animals in different parts of the Rocky mountains. Ritual like, almost as if they were offerings." Garcia said scrunching her nose. "About three months ago when the sightings of the 20 plus family started."

Hotch looked in his folder, at the face of the young woman who had just gone missing. There was kind but mischievous glint in her eyes; not exactly childish but ...alluring in a way.

He had seen enough cult related cases and the consequences of when someone tried to break that cult apart. The other four women seemed to have bought into the family idea, but he had a feeling the new victim wouldn't.

"Why are we being called in now if these women are technically found? Has there been any violent crimes tied to them?" Derek questioned leaning back in his chair.

"Not directly no," Emily said skimming over the other pages in the folder. "But it seems that for the past 30 years, 5 young women disappear every decade. All within a week apart. They all fit the same description."

"Young, from Colorado, in some sort of care-giving line of work and at what some would say in the perfect age to start bearing children." Reid added.

"Who says that?" Rossi asked.
Reid looked at everyone in confusion. "Well, men."

Derek and Emily chuckled but Hotch continued to look at the picture of the recent victim. He had seen pictures of her with students, friends and family. There was something about her that gave him hope she'd be ok when he found her.

Sorry, when the team found her.

"Here is a video of the last time she was seen," Garcia said pulling up a video and then looking away immediately. "It's from a bar that she walked past."
The team watched as the young woman walked down a street, hands in her jacket pockets and eyes straight forward.

"She's not on her phone or listening to music," JJ said speaking up. "She's aware of her surroundings."

"Which means this wasn't an abduction of opportunity. It was planned." Hotch stated.

As the victim turned the corner away from the camera the video shuts off.

"That's the last time anyone saw her," Garcia repeated.

"Wheels up in 30." Hotch told the team.
Everyone stood and took their things with them.
However, Rossi stayed behind as Hotch gathered the documents on the table.

"Is everything alright Aaron?" Rossi asked.

"Yes. Why?" Hotch replied.
Rossi raised a thick eyebrow. "You seemed a bit off during the meeting. Like your head was somewhere else."
Hotch didn't say anything, he didn't feel he was acting any different.
"Are you sure everything is ok?" Rossi asked again.
"Of course." Hotch replied.
They both looked at eachother for a moment until Rossi nodded and looked at the picture of the victim on the screen.

"She's young. All of them. Do you think we'll find them in time? You know cult leaders have a way with people; and we don't even know who the leader is."

"I know," Aaron said turning to the picture too. The young woman's eyes still having a strange effect on him. "But from what I've read nothing violent has been reported. No bodies, theft, robberies or any other missing peoples. Just them."

"Let's just hope Y/N is smart enough to stay alive before we get there." Rossi said as he walked out. "We could save them all."

Hotch nodded.
And deep down he knew Y/N would be smart enough to stay alive.
He had no doubt about it.