𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝙂𝙊𝙀𝙎-ˡᵘᵏᵉ ᵃˡᵛᵉᶻ

twelve

THE TEAM WAS GEARING UP FOR
their next case, and Sadie was focused on her desk work when Rossi strolled over. "How are you doing, kid?" he inquired, his tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

Sadie glanced up, a touch of confusion in her eyes. "Rossi, I'm good," she replied, though her forced smile didn't quite convince him. With a discerning gaze, Rossi pressed on. "I noticed Reid's giving you the silent treatment. What's going on between you two?" he probed.

Sadie hesitated, not eager to delve into personal matters. "It's... complicated," she offered vaguely, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere.

Rossi nodded understandingly. "Fair enough," he conceded, sensing her reluctance to discuss it. "You're coming with us on this case," he declared, a hint of reassurance in his voice.

Surprised and grateful, Sadie's eyes lit up. "Really? But what about Hotch?" she queried, a mix of excitement and concern in her voice.

"Don't worry about it," Rossi dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. "Get ready; we're leaving in ten," he instructed before sauntering off.

On their plane, Sadie stood next to Emily's seat as the team discussed the case. "Lisa Barclay lived a low-risk lifestyle. She and her son moved to Boynton Beach after her divorce four years ago," Spencer relayed, glancing up from his file.

"So, is this the work of a jealous ex?" Prentiss pondered.

"Unlikely. It appears the divorce was amicable," Rossi interjected. "The ex-husband remarried and lives in Texas," he added, providing context.

"And he sends child support checks like clockwork," Luke chimed in. "She worked as an assistant bank manager. If she was known as a whistle-blower, this could be a way of silencing her," Jj suggested.

"Yeah, what bothers me is how the unsub disposed of the barrel. I mean, there's no way he lifted that sucker up. It must weigh..." Luke trailed off, pondering the logistics.

"Five hundred and forty-two pounds, give or take, depending on factors like moisture content of the concrete, the victim's body weight, and the law of displacement," Spencer supplied, offering his usual precise insight.

"Which still begs the question, how did he lift it?" Luke queried.

"Maybe there are two unsubs?" Sadie suggested, offering a fresh perspective.

"Guys, I hate to interrupt, but a second drum has been found with a woman's body encased in concrete inside it," Penelope interjected, drawing their attention.

Sadie closed her eyes briefly, exhaling a sigh of frustration. "Where?" Jj inquired.

"At another illegal dump site, not far from where Lisa Barclay was found," Penelope replied.

"Two women in literal dump sites. He must view his victims as garbage," Emily remarked, her tone reflecting the severity of the situation.

Rossi, taking charge, looked up. "Prentiss, you and I will check out the latest crime scene. Jj, set up at the local PD. Spencer, Sadie, and Luke talk to the M.E.," he instructed, glancing at Sadie with a subtle, reassuring smile that didn't go unnoticed.

The car ride to the M.E. felt tense and uncomfortable. Luke, behind the wheel, tried to break the silence by striking up a conversation with Spencer, who sat stiffly in the passenger seat. However, the atmosphere remained strained, with Spencer's responses terse and clipped.

In the backseat, Sadie felt the throbbing in her head intensify. She closed her eyes, hoping to alleviate the pain, but it persisted. Each passing moment only seemed to exacerbate her discomfort.