Lockdown

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

04/07/2019. 09:17 hours. FBI Offices, Quantico, Virginia.

JJ glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one had followed her, her blonde locks bouncing against the side of her face. Satisfied that she was alone, she slid her ID card into the lock to the left of the door and punched in the code. She firmly grasped the door handle and pushed the door open. She was met with several computer monitors, both on the desk and on the walls. Penelope was seated at her desk with her face up close to the monitor directly in front of her. She had a headband of blue cat ears nestled on top of her golden curls. Her fingers flew wildly over her keyboard, eyes narrowed in concentration. She was surrounded by multiple colourful and lit up toys. The pen cradled between her first two fingers of her left hand and had a large pink pom pom on the top.

"Hey, Garcia." Penelope almost leapt out of her swivel chair in fright and whirled around, firing a glare at JJ.

"Don't you people know it's polite to knock?!"

"Sorry. You were in the zone." Penelope's features softened. She wore blue frame spectacles to match her dress and cardigan.

"It's okay. What can the oracle do for you, my angelfish?"

"I need a deep dive on someone. The only thing is that this needs to stay between us for now." Penelope shrugged.

"Sure. What do you need?"

"I need you to look into Director John Michaels." Penelope cocked her head in confusion.

"Like, the FBI Director John Michaels?" JJ let out a sigh.

"Yeah. I'm getting a hinky feeling. He knew what Spencer had been through yet still sent him into a prison. A prison where he would have known that the warden would have a score to settle with Reid." Penelope pouted in thought.

"What level of search are we talking about here? Like level one or two? Arrest records, divorce records?"

"As far as you can go."

"So, as far as what underwear he wears?" JJ snorted with laughter.

"As deep as you can go. Just don't let anyone catch on to what you're doing. There's just something amiss. Once I have enough evidence, I can take it to the team. The only ones who know about this right now are me, you, and Tara." Penelope squared her shoulders and gave a determined nod.

"Of course, my sweetness. As soon as I have anything, I'll hit you up."

"Thanks, PG. You're the best!"

"Don't you know it? Now, begone and let the mistress work!" JJ blew Penelope a kiss and turned on her heel to exit the room.

The rest of the team was gathered at the round table in the conference room when JJ returned from Penelope's office. It did not matter how many times they used that room when Spencer was in prison, kidnapped, or teaching. It still never felt right without him going on a rant or spouting out facts. Emily glanced up from the file in front of her. It unnerved JJ to see that it was Spencer's file. Only, instead of it being his profile, it was glossy photographs of his recent injuries.

"Hey, Jayje. Everything okay?" asked Emily.

"Oh, yeah. What are you guys working on?" responded JJ, sliding into the seat beside Emily.

"I'm completing Reid's leave forms. He's being discharged later today. He's staying with Rossi for a few weeks."

"And how did he take that? Bearing in mind, he was tied up and critically injured last time he was there."