The Shadows We Dance With

Ch4: Unraveling Threads

The sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the Las Vegas skyline as Hotch, JJ, and Garcia arrived at the Las Vegas Police Department. The building was a stark contrast to the glitz and glamour of the Strip, with its plain, utilitarian architecture and the constant bustle of officers coming and going. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of stale coffee and the murmur of hushed conversations.

They were greeted at the entrance by Chief Robert Hayes, a tall, middle-aged man with a weathered face that spoke of years of experience in law enforcement. His handshake was firm, and his expression was one of grim determination.

"Agent Hotchner, welcome," Chief Hayes said, his voice gravelly but respectful. "We've set up a room for you and your team to use as a base. If there's anything you need, just let me know."

"Thank you, Chief Hayes," Hotch replied, his tone professional and clipped. "We'll need access to your case files and anything your officers have gathered on the victims."

"You'll have it," Hayes assured him. "We're all hoping you can help us stop this guy before anyone else gets hurt. We have a lot going on right now, it's a big city we need the help."

Hotch nodded, and with a brief exchange of glances with JJ and Garcia, they followed the chief down a corridor to a small, windowless room. The walls were bare except for a whiteboard at the front, and a large TV screen was mounted on the wall beside it. A table in the center of the room held a stack of files, a laptop, and a few notepads. It wasn't much, but it would suffice.

Garcia immediately set to work, unpacking her laptop and connecting it to the TV, her fingers flying over the keyboard with practiced ease. Within moments, images of the three victims—Ethan Caldwell, Ryan Whitaker, and Liam Hawthorn—appeared on the screen. JJ moved to the whiteboard, pinning up printed photos of the boys alongside their basic information: names, ages, dates of disappearance, and locations where their bodies were found.

As they worked, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier. The victims' faces, so young and full of promise, stared back at them from the screen and board, a stark reminder of the urgency of their task.

Chief Hayes reappeared at the door, ushering in the families of the victims one by one. They were a disparate group, united only by their shared grief and the loss of their sons. Hotch had seen this before—parents struggling to maintain composure, caught between the need for answers and the raw pain of their loss. Each family was brought into the room separately, their interviews conducted with care and precision.

The Caldwell Family

Ethan Caldwell's parents were the first to arrive. Mr. Caldwell was a stern-looking man in his early forties, his expression hard as stone, while Mrs. Caldwell clung to her purse, her knuckles white. They sat across from Hotch and JJ, tension radiating from them both.

Hotch began gently. "We're very sorry for your loss. We just want to ask a few questions that might help us understand what happened to Ethan."

Mr. Caldwell's jaw tightened, but he nodded curtly. "Go ahead."

JJ took the lead, her tone soft and empathetic. "When was the last time you saw Ethan?"

Mrs. Caldwell's voice trembled as she spoke. "It was about a week ago. He... he ran away. Again. We tried to stop him, but he just wouldn't listen. He was always so rebellious, so... difficult."

JJ noted the words carefully. "Can you tell us why he ran away?"

Mr. Caldwell cut in, his tone sharp. "Because he was confused. He didn't understand that we were trying to help him. He got these ideas in his head, and they led him down the wrong path. We did everything we could to set him straight."