The following chapter contains mature contents that can be found triggering (physical violence, psychological abuse, mentions of sexual assault). Readers be advised.
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The desperately expected police effort had made their arrival loudly announced, sirens illuminating the barely-lit boulevard, circled around a large SUV, bent, and abandoned. The barely hanging car door remained wide opened, police officers making their way through the crooked entry, pushing aside the deflated airbags and retrieved a phone from the floorboard of her car. "Here you go, sir", one of them rushed to hand it to his superior. "Gun and purse are all bagged."
Detective Julian Berner of the MPD's Investigative Services Bureau, only nodded, took one short glance at the phone, pressed a few buttons to check its last conversations, then tossed it away in an evidence bag. By his side, Aaron Hotchner's concern hasn't sunk in. "We've established road blocks. There's no way they're getting out of the city," Detective Berner announced authoritatively, though Hotch was still focused on the shape her car was left in, the call he had with her replaying in his head now came to life. "I don't think they're trying to get out of the city," he mumbled slowly, making Detective Berner lean closer in hopes he'd catch any of the words that'd come out. "What was that?"
"He said that they don't intend on leaving the city." Derek Morgan had accepted the role of becoming Hotch's shadow, as he knew Hotch would take it upon himself to make sure the investigation is being carefully led. In hindsight, Derek didn't intend on giving the MPD too much free hand, the preliminary aspect of the abduction scene already leaning into a carefully organized scheme.
"Look at the aspect of the car." A few feet away, David Rossi had found himself in the middle of the officers. "They hit from the opposite side, so they can make sure they injure, but not kill her. Then they can easily substract her. We're talking at least three people here." He turned his head to find Hotch around the busy area, slightly raising his voice. "Was she able to identify them?"
Hotch's gaze remained fixated on the aspect of the car, though something else had been bothering his thoughts. "No," he responded inadvertently. "She offered vague descriptions of the two. She did say something though..." Rossi took it as a sign to move closer, looking around to summon the rest, some easier to reach than others. In the distance, JJ wrapped her hand around Spencer's back, gently stroking the side of his arm, though his presence seemed long gone.
"About the attackers?" Penelope's high-pitched voice pushed Rossi's attention back on the conversation. "Sir, the car was a rental." He rapidly turned his head from her, back to Hotch who pensively shook his head long before words would come out of his mouth. "No, not that," he finally uttered. "She said to call Corine Trudeau."
Derek switched his attention on Rossi, confusedly checking if that was someone he was supposed to know of, though he'd found the same disorientation on his team mate's face.
