Kept Alive II spencer reid

First Chapter

Spencer Reid loved to teach. He loved the months away from the BAU when he could explain to interested young students the things he was most passionate about. But what he loved even more was the return to his friends. The hug Garcia was always close to giving him before remembering his reluctance towards physical contact. What he didn't like was when things changed while he was gone. Most of the time things were the same when he came back and even if something changed his friends always informed him. But apparently, they forgot this time. He thought so at least. They were distant. Garcia's near-hug was the same but she was a bit more hesitant and Morgan didn't joke as much as he did the past times but they all acted like everything was normal as they sat down at the round table, waiting for JJ to hand out the new case files. Nobody mentioned the empty chair between Hotch and Garcia right opposite from him.

„We're going to California", Hotch says as they each are handed their file.

"Pack your swimsuits, everybody", Morgan whistled.

"The third victim was found yesterday morning. The police didn't think about calling us because, apparently, they didn't know about our Unit but they were informed by the present FBI Agent, Nolan Flinn." JJ turned on the monitor displaying three bodies. Each laid out like a starfish in sand.

„The Unsub displays his victims like this on the California beaches, each the same way but never on the same beach.", Rossi read aloud from his file.

"That's right, until now everybody was found on a different one but always right next to a private beach." Emily agreed.

"He wants to make sure his victims are found. If he displays them there in the early morning he can be sure that the police will be informed only hours later." Morgan added.

„He wants for the bodies to be found. Do you think he is planning on killing one for every beach in california? It seems so." Emily looked up at the displayed pictures.

"That would make 419 bodies. He would have to kill a lot for that. The Unsub would have to be better than Pedro López. That is nearly impossible.", Spencer commented.

"420."

He turned around and stared. It was a woman who had corrected him as she entered the room and sat down between Hotch and Garcia. Sitting right opposite from her, Spencer had the perfect view of her. For a moment, he forgot that she had just pointed out a mistake of his. He didn't like to be corrected. Mostly because he never was. But she distracted him from that for a short moment. Her golden necklaces and rings contrasted from her brown skin and her dark green eyes stared at him for a moment before focusing on the monitor behind her. She was beautiful.

"California has 420 public beaches. And the most successful serial killer, Luis Geravito, managed nearly over 300 kills. It would be impressive if he managed to outbid that. The way he carved their eyes out, I don't think he'll be able to manage that many before being caught or killing himself. It is too personal." Her voice was soft. That was what Spencer noticed before remembering what just happened.

"Right, um, 420 beaches.", he muttered.

„Reid, Agent Tajeswani Hayes.", Hotch gave a short introduction to which Agent Hayes simply nodded. Spencer didn't do anything.

"She showed you, kid." Morgan grinned as Hayes looked down at the file she just opened. He squinted at the pictures on the monitor. How the heck did she notice the carved out eyes without looking at them closely?

"Right", Garcia said, "we don't have much information on the victims because the police over there didn't exactly put a lot of effort in interviewing the families."

"That will be your task, JJ and Hayes", Hotch pointed at the three family pictures popping up, "You will speak to the families and look for similarities. If they could've met somehow in the past, if their families are connected. Wheels up in 10"

Hayes' bag was half the size of the others', Spencer noticed as she threw it over her shoulder as they entered the jet. Most of the time they hoped to solve the case in a maximum of two days so that was what they packed for. But Hayes' bag couldn't contain more than a gun from the size of it. The new agent settled in the far seat of the plane as they all settled down to discuss the case. He watched as she closed her eyes, her hands around a pendant on one of her necklaces.

„Hey kid" Morgan clapped him on the shoulder as he sat down in the seat opposite him.

„Hey"

„What'cha thinking about in that smart head?"

„Nothing." His response came way too quick and Morgan raised a brow.

„Her."

„Ah, yes", Morgan realized, „Hayes."

„How long has she been here?", the young genius asked.

„About three weeks before you came back", he answered.

„Three weeks? Seems like she joined yesterday."

„Yeah, been like that since she joined. Garcia is close to giving up trying to get her to open up."

„Garcia is giving up?" That was hard to believe.

„Close to." Morgan nodded, „But you know her, if somebody gets the woman to open up its Garcia."

„Did you find out anything about her since she joined? Three weeks is a long time. Thank you all for telling me by the way."

„Sorry kid, forgot about that, we didn't want to disturb you while you were away. And no, we didn't find anything. She isn't much of a talker, if you noticed, and her file is sealed."

„Sealed? Even for Garcia?"

„Even for Garcia, yes. Family, everything. No information."

„Irritating."

—-

JJ and Tajeswani walked in silence as they made their way to the first family. JJ remained quiet, not knowing what to say. Tajeswani was comfortable in the silence. The first thing they noticed about the Marys was that they looked exactly the same. Two blondes, blue eyes, white skin and a smile that was nowhere near welcoming. The two Agents shared a look.

"Good Morning.", JJ greeted the parents of the first victim, "I want to express my con-"

"Your daughter turned out to be a drug addict."

JJ stared at her new colleague. That was the last strategy she would have used to approach the parents. They were mourning their daughter. Besides, there was no evidence of Michaela Mary to be a drug addict.

"What does this concern you?" Mrs. Marys voice was ice cold as she stared the two agents down.

„We just want to help," JJ assured, „we want to find who did this to your daughter."

"We will make sure to confiscate everything we find on her and her murderer.", Tajeswani added, gaining another confused stare from JJ.

"You better." David Mary was a man without any facial expression. Whatever he thought had to be expressed through his voice but even that showed no sign of emotion. JJ didn't understand what was going on. Of course she was trained to interact with all kinds of families but this was nothing like any other. These were no parents.

„Excuse us." And JJ was being dragged out by the elbow by her new colleague.

"What was that?"

"They are in."

"What?"

"They are in." Hayes said with as much confidence as one could have.

JJ couldn't continue her Whats as Tajeswani led them back to Rossi, Hotch and Reid.

"The Marys are in.", she said for the third time.

"The parents?" Rossi raised a brow.

"Yes, the parents. They are sure their daughter is a drug addict."

"And what exactly does that tell us?", Reid asked.

"Everything."