Hotchniss - Bonds, Deals and Running

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Hotch stood at the head of the table in the jet, his gaze sharp and methodical. He tapped a few pages on the case files spread before him. "Alright, we need to split into teams and cover all possible angles."

He looked at each member in turn. "Rossi and Reid, you'll handle the Morgan family. They're known for their high-profile connections in Philadelphia. Approach this delicately but look for inconsistencies."

"Got it," Rossi nodded, the lines on his face deepening as he took in the challenge.

"Morgan and JJ, you'll take the Harris family. They have the most straightforward image, but that makes me suspicious. Push gently but don't let them sidestep you."

Morgan exchanged a look with JJ. "Understood," he said, determination firm in his voice.

"Emily and I will talk to the Ortiz family. There's something off about their background, and I want every detail," Hotch concluded, catching Emily's eye with a knowing glance. She returned it with a subtle nod.

JJ stepped in to introduce the victims. "The first girl is Emma Morgan, 17, daughter of Senator Daniel Morgan. Perfect grades, swim team captain, deeply involved in charity work. The Morgans maintain a spotless public image."

Reid added, "That level of engagement often comes with immense pressure. We need to explore what's beneath the surface."

"The second girl," JJ continued, "is Chloe Harris. Seventeen as well. Comes from a family of prominent lawyers. Academically inclined, member of the debate team. Parents, Bethany and Richard Harris, have refused to speak to the press."

Morgan exchanged a knowing glance with JJ. "Closed off is never a good sign."

"The third," JJ said, pausing as the jet hummed softly, "is Mia Ortiz. Her family runs a series of successful businesses. Her mother, Elena, is known for her social influence, and her father, Hector, is a retired pro athlete. They claim she had no reason to run or be taken."

Emily's jaw clenched subtly at the mention of a household with immense expectations. It was all too familiar.

At Morgans' House:

Rossi and Reid stood in the opulent entryway, greeted by the senator's wife, Katherine, whose practiced smile barely touched her eyes.

"We've already told the police everything," Katherine said, her voice tinged with irritation.

Rossi leaned forward slightly, adopting a calm yet firm tone. "We're here to find Emma, and that means we need every detail, even those that seem insignificant."

Ultimately the woman let them in, Reid noticed framed photos on the mantel, a particular one showing Emma in her swim gear. A barely noticeable bandage on her wrist caught his eye. "Was Emma prone to injuries?" he asked, with casual curiosity.

Katherine's eyes narrowed. "She's a swimmer; it happens," she said, avoiding eye contact. Reid felt the tension heighten.

At Harris' House:

The Harris family's house felt suffocating, a fortress of polished furniture and pristine surfaces. JJ and Morgan entered the place. Bethany Harris's voice was clipped. "We've raised Chloe to be disciplined. She's always been... obedient."

JJ exchanged a glance with Morgan, sensing the tightness in the room. "Can you tell us about her recent friends or activities outside of school?" she asked.

"She's had no time for distractions," Richard Harris cut in, his voice severe. "Our daughter knows better."

Morgan noted the way Bethany's hand trembled as she held her coffee cup. There was fear there, but not just for Chloe, it was deeper, tied to something unsaid.

At Ortiz' House:

The Ortiz home was less guarded but spoke of curated appearances. Elena Ortiz welcomed Hotch an Emily, eyes darting with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

"She had no enemies," Elena began, her voice brittle. "Mia was... perfect. Always perfect."

Hotch's voice was steady. "Sometimes perfection can be difficult to maintain. Was there anything Mia was struggling with that she didn't share?"

Elena's silence was telling, a pause. Emily caught the brief flicker of anguish on the mother's face before she smoothed it out. The memory of her own mother's constant reminders to "maintain appearances" haunted Emily.

Hotch's brow furrowed as he pressed on. "We're not here to judge, Mrs. Ortiz. We just want to know what Mia was going through."

Elena's lips thinned. "There were moments where she'd disappear into her room after a fight. But that's normal for teenagers, isn't it?"

Emily noticed a family photo nearby. In it, Mia's eyes were bright but distant, a hint of something beneath the surface. Emily's pulse quickened, knowing that image all too well.

As the teams regrouped later, details started piecing together. JJ reported, "The Harris parents are guarding their image tightly. There's more than meets the eye, but they wouldn't budge."

Morgan added, "There's definitely fear there. We need to dig deeper into what Chloe's relationship with her parents was like."

Reid shared his findings about Emma, "There's an inconsistency with how her mother responded about potential self-harm. It might be worth looking into."

Emily, feeling the weight of her own resurfaced memories, said, "The Ortiz family is hiding something too, likely rooted in family pressure and expectations."

Hotch nodded, gaze sweeping across the team. "We need to find out what connects these girls beyond the surface perfection. Their parents are telling us what they want us to see, but we need to understand who these girls were when no one was looking."