In Hiding (Final Book in the Boss's Niece Series)

I Thought You Didn't Know

*Reid's POV*

I walked into the local coffee shop, deciding to grab a coffee before work. Over a week without Mel. Who knew it'd be this hard?

I told the woman at the counter my order and waited. As I did, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation going on at one of the tables.

"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" a male voice hissed.

"I mean exactly what I said. I seen her once, but at that point I didn't have the tools to kill her. I've been watching for her, honest, but I honestly can't find her at all." said a female voice. Wait, I know that voice.

I looked over my shoulder to see Debra sitting at a table with a man who was back on to me wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, completely covering his face.

"I'm paying you to do this job and now you're telling me you can't?!" snapped the man.

"I'm not saying that." Debra replied. "I'm trying to do my job, I want that money. I just can't find her. Maybe I just haven't been looking in the right places."

I wasn't sure how to feel. Clearly, she was talking to whoever hired her to kill Mel. Either Debra was a really good actress or this whole time, she was lying to both Mel and I and the whole BAU and didn't care about meeting Mel again. I held back my urge to find out who this guy was then and there.

"Well look harder. I want Melanie Hotchner killed as soon as possible. That scum doesn't deserve to be on this planet." said Debra's client.

"She's not scum." Debra hissed, which gave me a little hope.

"What'd you say?"

I looked over at Debra again to see her hesitate. Her eyes wandered to me and they widened in fear and surprise. But, she continued talking.

"There's something I haven't told you." she said, breaking our eye contact. "You see, Melanie is my biological daughter."

Her client was silent. I was so engrossed by the conversation that I didn't hear the woman at the counter call my order until the fourth or fifth time, when she began getting aggravated.

"I can take you off this, you know." said the client. "I can hire someone else if this is too hard for you."

Oh, now he's sympathetic.

Debra looked at me. She knew I was listening to the conversation. I shook my head, telling her to say no. If she stayed on this, it was less likely that Mel would be killed.

"No." she said, sharp and firm. "I can do this."

"Good." the client said. "I won't give you a time table, but let me know when the task is done. Don't make me take matters into my own hands."

And with that, he got up and left. Debra sighed and looked at me. I advanced to question her.

"I thought you didn't know who he was." was the first thing out of my mouth.

"I didn't." she replied. "Not until he came to my hotel randomly and began yelling because I haven't killed Melanie yet."

"Do you know why he wants to kill her?" I asked.

"No, I honestly don't. He hasn't told me. He just says he wants her dead. No reasons why."

"Do you have a name?"

"Yeah. His names Jason. He didn't give me a last name."

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Hotch, signaling to Debra that our conversation was over. I exited the coffee shop, making my way to the nearest pay phone.

"Hello?" Hotch answered.

"I just caught Debra talking to our UnSub. I didn't get a good look at his face, but I did get a name. Jason. I'm gonna call Mel and see if that name rings any bells. I'll get back to you with what I find." I told him.

"Okay. I'll get Garcia on the search right now to see if we can find him beforehand. Thanks Reid." Hotch said and we hung up.

I came up to the pay phone, pulled out some change and quickly dialed Mel's number. The phone rang three times, as per usual, before she answered.

"Hello." she said in a rather cheery tone.

"Hey, it's me." I said.

"Hey Reiders. What's up? Isn't it only early up there?"

"Yeah, but I think I have something and I need your help. I was just talking to your mom. She was meeting the person who hired her to kill you. She doesn't know much other than a name. Jason. Does that ring any bells?"