Echos of a Genius | Spencer Reid

Silver Guy

Stephie

"I hate this," I mumble under my breath, watching what has to be the most awkward interaction of my life. We're all on a mission, trying to extract information from Catherine Adams, and Spencer's the bait. He's on a "date" with her, while the rest of us are spread out across the restaurant, ready to step in if things go south. I'm not inside. That was for the best, though it feels silly now, watching this woman try to hug my husband.

Cat talks a lot at first. It took months to set this up—hundreds of emails back and forth between "Spencer" and her. By Spencer, I mean me. I wrote the emails.

"I hate that he's actually good at acting," I mutter to Hotch, who shakes his head as we watch the camera footage.

"He's so cute, though, even if he is talking to another woman. You know—"

"Stepheni," Hotch cuts me off with a glare. "Enough."

I give him a nervous nod, reminding myself this is serious. But Spencer does look cute.

The "date" starts off normal: she asks him questions, they talk. But before Spencer can answer her latest question, she hits him with a new one.

"Tell me about your wife," Cat says with a smile, leaning closer to the table. My heart sinks. It's part of the plan, but it still puts me on edge.

"If you don't mind, I'd, uh, rather not talk about her," Spencer replies, playing the nervous role like he's supposed to.

"Might as well get it out in the open, right? That's why we're here," she presses, her face unreadable. "How long have you been married?" She tilts her head.

"Four years," he says.

"When is she due to give birth?"

Spencer clears his throat. "A couple of months."

I'm not pregnant. We've only been married for 6 months, not four years.

"Should we talk about pricing now, or...?"

"Slow down, tiger," Cat says, toying with him. It's a power move. She wants to hear him say it.

"To have her killed," Spencer finally admits after more prodding.

"Let me see your ring," Cat suddenly demands, shifting the conversation without warning. I glance at Hotch, who's laser-focused on the screen. Cat calls the ring a noose, metaphorically, and insists Spencer take it off as a sign of commitment. I hate it. I hate that he has to do this. Why Spencer? Why not Hotch or Morgan or even Rossi?

In her hands, she holds Spencer's wedding ring.

"If she sticks to her pattern, she'll take him to a secondary location and kill him," JJ whispers into her mic from the bar a few feet away.

"We're not gonna let it get that far," Rossi adds calmly, sitting at a nearby table. Hotch, Garcia, and I are all glued to the security feed.

"All right, we have you over her left shoulder. Do you copy?" Hotch speaks into his mic—something I wasn't allowed to have. Probably a good call.

Spencer glances briefly at the cameras and taps his hand twice, letting us know he's heard. I hate this. Have I mentioned that?

"All agents, stand by. Reid will give the green light. Don't move until we have it."

"24k times...four years... this ring should be dinged up, but this thing's brand new," Cat says, unzipping her purse. I look at Hotch, horrified.

"You're not married," she declares.