My First Love [Spencer Reid Fanfic - 1]

Chapter 43 - Open Season

"One man's wilderness is another man's theme park." - Unknown

Spencer and I went to a diner for breakfast. He was really dedicated to make things right between us. Everyday he would bring me coffee and he even offered to do my paperwork. My Spence was back.

"You're really hungry." Spencer noted.

I pointed my fork at him and finished swallowing my waffles. "Starving!" I grinned.

He laughed slightly but then his demeanor changed. He was serious. "Agent Cramer was in your apartment the other night."

My blue eyes widened in shock and I nearly choked. "He wasn't in my apartment. I mean, inside." I bit my bottom lip. "He walked me home after we talked about his job offer."

"Are you considering it?" Spencer asked softly.

"I wasn't until he mentioned you." I replied truthfully. "The thing is, if I didn't work at the BAU, we could have a normal relationship instead of pretending we're just friends."

Spencer held my hand. "Cassie, I don't want you to leave the BAU. We can make it work."

I shook my head. "After what happened, I know for sure I can't be professional around you."

Spencer was about to speak when our phones started buzzing. "It's Hotch." He said.

"Another day, another case."I grabbed my purse and followed Spencer to my car. Hotch had the worst timing ever.

___________________________________________________________

"We're going to a wooden area, kids." JJ joked before pressing the button. "Alex Harrison was found in the forest after being reported missing nearly a week ago." She clicked the button again. "Last year, Courtney Jacobs and Shane Everett were killed in the same area."

I grabbed a photo. "So we're looking for a seasonal killer?" I asked in confusion.

"The killings happen before hunting season." Gideon stated. "Which means the unsub is a local and knows when hunters start roaming the area."

"Or unsubs." Spencer chimed in.

I nodded in agreement. "The Boise National Forest is huge. It would be easier for a team to cover more ground, assuming the victims are being hunted."

"If they're being hunted, we're looking for a sadistic unsub who relishes on the thrill of the chase." Emily suggested.

"Prepare a go bag with hiking gear." Hotch requested. "Wheels up in 30." Hiking? I'm not a hiker. Hopefully, I get to stay at the station.

We arrived in Boise and the station was minuscule. "Porter and Reid, I need you to try making a geographical profile."

"Guess we're not hiking." I chuckled and high-fived Spencer.

Spencer sigh in relief. "I was not ready for that at all."

I patted his shoulder. "Me neither, Spence."

"So where should we start?" He asked.

"We have to go back in time and figure out where other victims were found." I suggested.

"Most of their bodies had been mangled by wild animals." Spencer pointed out. "It's going to be hard to pinpoint the exact location."

"You're right but we can do it." I grinned. "What's the point of having two geniuses if we're not able to do our job?" I winked at Spencer and he looked away blushing.

_______________________________________________________

News of Bobbi Baird's disappearance, helped narrow down the search. "Highway 2 is the starting point." I said. "It's a very isolated route."

"Perhaps the unsubs used some sort of ruse." Spencer suggested.

I glanced at the map. "We need to start over. This isn't making any sense."

Spencer groaned. "Right. So the unsubs abduct their victims from Highway 2. How?"

"What if they came into contact with the victims before they were on Highway 2?" I suggested.

"What are you thinking?" He asked.

I pulled up various maps. "There's a gas station about 5 miles away and a junkyard. The unsubs could've stalked the victims."

"Of course. And they chose people traveling alone." Spencer added.

"They're trained hunters so that means they have the right equipment, they're patient, know the area cause they're local and they would choose a place that's familiar to hunt." At this point, I was just spitballing.

"It would help if we knew who they were." Spencer claimed. He wasn't wrong. We had no idea who these unsubs were.

As if reading our minds, Gideon gave us an identity. Paul and John Mulford, siblings. I called Garcia. "Genie, tell me everything about the Mulford family."

"Okay Sugar." She started typing. "Paul and John Mulford went to live with their uncle Joe after their parents were killed. Joe Mulford was drafted in the military in 1968 but was discharged after reports of delusions. This guy was a lunatic." Garcia commented. "He got arrested for assault and battery and after his release bought a service station that was passed on to his nephews."

"That's how they choose their victims." I grinned. "Thank you Garcia." I disconnected the call.

Spencer made circles on the map. "This is the Maulford service station." He pointed to the blue circle. "This is Highway 2." Again, pointed to the green circle. "This circle represents the places where the bodies were found."

"Assuming they're hunting on a familiar area, it could be this." I pointed to the spot where all three circled overlap. "It's still a vast area."

"It's better than nothing. I'm gonna call Gideon." Spencer left the room to call our mentor. These boys are sick.

______________________________________________________________________

The Mulford brothers died in the woods and got no sympathy, to be perfectly honest. I hated hunting with all my might.

Spencer decided to stop by my apartment so we could talk. I was pretty nervous. He sat on my couch and couldn't stop rubbing his hands together. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm still having some issues but I'm not taking Dilaudid, promise." He spoke with such certainty.

I held his hand and cupped his cheek. "You can talk to me, Spence. What's going on?"

"After Tobias took me, the only thing I could think of was if you were safe." Spencer admitted. "I had no idea if he had killed you but then Raphael asked me to choose and I heard your name. I knew you were alive." He cleared his throat. "I never felt more scared in my life and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

"Spence, I felt the same way." I furrowed my eyebrows as I stared at his moist hazel eyes. "I lashed out at everyone for not moving their asses to save you." I stated. "I yelled at Hotch."

Spencer laughed a little. "Tobias would inject me with Dilaudid so that I could escape what Charles was doing to me. In a way, he protected me."

I hugged my friend tight. "I'm so sorry Spence. You don't have to worry about that anymore." He rested his head on my shoulder. "I'm here with and I promise, I will always have your back." His hands gripped my back and I could tell he was crying. Spencer bottled everything up and really needed to vent right now. I'm glad he chose me to listen to him.

"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself." - James Anthony Froude