willow, criminal minds [ 1 ]

010. spencer

Penelope, JJ, Luke, and Molly are all by JJ's desk.

"What's wrong?" JJ asks, noticing Emily and Rossi's expressions as they walk up.

"Reid is in jail." Emily states.

"What?" Molly asks.

"Jail?" Penelope asks.

"In Mexico." Emily adds.

"Why is he in Mexico?" Molly asks.

"I don't know. I didn't talk to him." Emily says. "The call came in to Cruz from their lead investigator."

"What's he being held for?" Luke asks.

"Drug possession." Rossi informs making Molly's eyes widen. "With intent to distribute."

"What type of drugs?" Luke asks.

"Cocaine and heroin." Rossi states.

"Oh, my God." JJ mutters.

"This can't be happening." Penelope says.

"We need Lewis and Walker here ASAP." Emily states.

"Yeah. I can call them. I can do that." Penelope says.

+++

"This has got to be Scratch." Tara states. "He was laying low. Now we know why."

"Crossing the border as a fugitive is a huge risk." Luke says.

"The reward is greater." Emily says. "He's been punishing the team. Now his target is Reid."

"Peter Lewis dropped off the map after attacking Tara's family." Stephen says. "Maybe he's been hiding in Mexico this whole time."

"We also have to consider this isn't related to him." Emily says.

"Who else would it be?" Rossi asks.

"Drug cartels." Luke says. "Could have threatened Reid and used him as a mule."

"Agreed. This could simply be a case of bad luck." Rossi says. "Reid was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Spence's mom is okay. The home nurse he hired said all is stable." JJ assures, walking in.

"Oh, thank the stars." Penelope sighs in relief.

"How long did he tell the nurse he'd be gone?" Luke asks.

"Uh, 3 days." JJ says.

"That sounds reasonable. After the Palm Springs case, Reid said he had to get back to Houston to talk to his mom's doctor." Emily says.

"Well, Houston is only a 5 hour drive from the border." Tara says.

"Usually I can read him. I can't believe I didn't pick up on any of this." JJ says.

"He didn't want you to, and there's no way you would have guessed he'd end up in Mexico." Stephen says.

"The question is, why did he go down there?" Tara questions.

"And why does he have narcotics?" Rossi asks.

"Yeah, exactly. That-- that-- he wouldn't-- he wouldn't do that. I'm not gonna share any secrets I'm not supposed to, but those drugs were planted on him." Penelope states.

"Absolutely. But there's something bigger in play." Stephen says. "That's why he crossed the border and kept it a secret. There's something he didn't want to share with any of you."

"Okay, so what would make him risk everything?" Emily asks.

"His mom." JJ states.

"Yeah, but she's here, and she's safe." Penelope says before her computer beeps. "Oh, wait. Cruz just sent me the arresting report. Hold, please. Translating now. O... kay. It says here that Reid was involved in a high speed chase."