Home (Spencer Reid)

Chapter 19

"What do we know?" The lead detective asked as we walked into the police office. "Woman was Clara Thompson, husband tried to reach her on the cell phone and she didn't pick up.She to the department store, her car's in the parking lot, but she's not inside." The police officer said.

JJ looked over. "Is that the husband?" She asked. "Yeah."

"JJ, take Strauss with you." Morgan said.

"I had the store uplink the security footage to your analyst in Quantico." The detective said. "My desk is over here."

"G, footage?" I asked once she picked up. "Coming your way. Keep my on speaker." She said as security camera footage showed up on the computer. "Who's the kid? Did she have a son?" I asked, referring to the little boy who had just approached her. "No, a two year old daughter." JJ replied.

"Looks like the kid's lost" Spence said. "Garcia that's all you got?" Morgan asked. "That's it, then they turn down a hallway with no security camera and we lose 'em."

"Oh damn." I said. "What?" Spence asked. "Hotch said all the disposals were timed around school he said he thought that the unsub might work in the school system and I thought the unsub might have a kid in the school system. What if this guy's using his own child to help with the abductions?" I asked.

"You've been communicating with agent Hotchner?" Strauss asked.

"Yes?" I said, in an I-just-said-that tone.

"Tor." Morgan warned. I just looked back at the screen.

I stood staring at the map of the city. "I've tripled patrol in the area." The detective came up behind me. "We're approaching this the wrong way." I said, still staring at the map. "What do you mean?" Spence asked. "We're zeroing in on the unsub but if he's using his son in the abductions the trauma would manifest more clearly on the boy." I said, turning to look at everyone.

Strauss dialed Garcia's number on the speaker phone as I took a seat at the conference table.

"Talk dirty to me." Garcia's voice came over the phone speaker. I bit my lip to hold back a laugh.

"i-eh-mmm." Derek put his head in his hands.

"This is section chief Erin Strauss." She said. I think I was turning red trying not to laugh.

There was a pause.

"Ma'am. I think it goes without saying I was expecting it to be someone else." Garcia said quickly.

"I need a list of every grade school in the third ward and wawatosa." Strauss said.

"Yes. There appears to be one public school and 4 private schools in the third ward."

"And Wawatosa?"

"There appears to be 9, ma'am."

"And how many students?"

"3200"

"Can you also get me a list of every guidance councilor that jails with a student body in that area." Strauss asked.

"Certainly, ma'am. And again i'd like to ap-" Strauss ended the call. I looked at her. "Well that was rude." Spence grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed it as a warning.