Heurism | Spencer Reid¹

CHAPTER TWENTY: A REAL RAIN

"I object to violence, because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary. The evil it does is permanent."

     — Gandhi.

—

The day passes without much to remark on, aside from the growing pressure, which I can almost feel weighing down on us. The whole team rendezvouses at a nice Chinese restaurant Elle insisted that Reid try as part of the 'New York Experience'. It feels strange to sit and share a meal with them. We have done it before, in diners and break rooms, but this feels more personal. It's a part of Elle that she's sharing with us, albeit in the middle of a heavy case. I try to hide the strange warmth it brings me; a knot in my chest as I look around at everyone.

I'm grateful for the distraction as Hotch speaks up, "So you know there was a big hole in the profile you presented back there."

Gideon barely spares him a glance, pointing to the dish next to me. "Can you pass the moo shu, please?"

I pass it across, JJ taking it the rest of the way. She hastily swallows her mouthful to ask, "Uh, what's the hole?"

"I left out the possibility our UnSub might be a cop."

Morgan's lips pout in a brief gesture of agreement. "Well, they do know the system. They're definitely overworked and underpaid."

"They see so much injustice every day, they can easily take matters into their own hands."

Once again, my attention is drawn to Reid. Sat on my left, he is still struggling to figure out how to get the noodles onto his chopsticks. As he speaks, they slip off again. "When someone like our victim is killed, police refer to the murder as a 'public service murder'."

Elle sighs, "You know how many rapists I saw walk during my Sex Crime days? And either the victims, they didn't want to press charges, or the juries... they said that she was asking for it. It was enough to make you explode."

I nod grimly. "I'm with you on that. One of the worst things with Crimes Against Children was seeing kids suffer and knowing I couldn't do a thing about it because the arrest couldn't be made or the courts wouldn't pass a sentence, for whatever reason. I mean, I've seen parents take it into their own hands before. A part of you can't really fault them for it."

"Well, it's a long way from feeling like that and actually committing murder, don't you think?" JJ tries.

"No." My response is quick. Too quick. Gideon's eyes meet mine from across the table. I clear my throat and force a smile, taking another mouthful of noodles.

Seeing a waitress pass by, Reid timidly flags her down. "Excuse me. Could I get a fork, perhaps?" Morgan starts to laugh but I kick him under the table. Not seeming to notice, Reid fumbles for something to cover up the embarrassing moment. "Did you know that experts credit Confucius with the advent of the chopstick? He equated knives with acts of aggression."

"You don't know how to use them, do you?" Morgan teases, holding out the chopsticks for him to take.

"It's like trying to forage for dinner with a pair of number two pencils."

I roll my eyes. "Jesus. Here, let me help."

Startled, he looks to me. I grow impatient with his flustered staring, so take his chopsticks and put them in his hand, taking care not to touch him too much in case I make him uncomfortable. I then pick up my own and slowly demonstrate how to hold the chopsticks and gather the noodles without them falling. He learns quickly. I mark his success with a cheer and clink my glass with his. A slight flush has formed on his cheeks as he reciprocates my grin, but it's probably just the warm light playing tricks.