Heurism | Spencer Reid¹

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: SAVE THEM

"We must protect children, who have inalienable right and should be loved, should be taken care of physically and mentally, and should not be brought into the world only to suffer."

     — Indira Gandhi

—

When we pull up outside the school, a few black SUVs are already parked outside. "Hotch," Elle shouts as we approach him, "you already got him?"

"I told you to stay out of the field."

She nods, quickly shifting the focus, "I know, but Reid said that you wanted us here."

"What? No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did."

I groan, "Jesus, you two sound like a couple of bickering kids."

Hotch lets out an impatient sigh. "I'm sure you didn't, Reid."

"Thanks," she retorts with an annoyed smile.

He seems to decide that there's no use in sending her away now, not that she would go. "The school district has given us permission to search Rawlings's office."

"I'm on it." The second he's out of earshot, she pokes Reid in the arm. "Nice one."

—

Since it's the end of the school day, most of the kids are out by now. That certainly makes our job easier. We enter the office of our next suspect, a man who Hugz has led us to — Hayden Rawlings, screen name: Mehtevas. Leading the way into his office, Elle grimaces. "Principal of a school."

"That's as much access to children as possible."

I pause, noticing two pictures framed by the doorway, showing a child at the beach. "His or just something to look at?" I mutter.

Elle, too, notices a book sitting on a side table. "'Growing Up Guide for Parents.'"

Heading around to the desk with Reid, I notice the family photos. "He's got a wife, two daughters and a son. And look." Pointing out the multiple photo frames all around the office, I say, "He's got his family on display. Probably so he can feel better about himself. The ones that do that, that can bear to look at their own kids after what they've done, usually have some kind of fantasy. They'll convince themselves that what they're doing is right or necessary."

"A paedophile with hero syndrome? Brilliant," Elle scoffs. She pauses to look at the tall bookshelf stacked with all sorts of books. "Well, he's got a library of child psychology."

Reid looks up, a framed certificate on the wall catching his eye. "He's got a doctorate in it."

"Well-prepared paedophile with hero syndrome."

Coming beside him, I crouch down to look through the drawers but find nothing. He seems to have realised the same as I have, glancing around. "Elle, you notice anything missing?"

"Computer." He crosses the room to search a dresser covered in trophies, plants and even more family photos while she joins me instead. "Considering the big family, I'm assuming he's not keeping Peter at home if he has him."

He starts to pull the drawers one at a time until one doesn't budge. "This one's locked."

"Here, move."