Pretty Boy

Chapter 2

Spencer's POV
Morgan and I discussed the case on the drive to the hospital.
"Chess pieces signify many different things, the one in the victims mouth was a queen. Queens signify women, and are the most powerful pieces in the game."
"So maybe the unsub sees women as valuable or powerful."Morgan says.
"If he sees them as powerful then why does he kill them to show it."
"Maybe he wants people to notice women and he feels the only way to get the public's attention is death." I sit in silence with thoughts scurrying through my brain.
"What's going on Reid?"
"What? Nothing." I lie.
"I know somethings going on you might as well tell me."
"Honestly, I don't even know." He looked at me with a confused look.
" I had this nightmare, it was exactly like the case," my voice shook.
"One of my chess pieces were missing this morning."
" Don't even go there, you did not do this, you hear me?"
"Well what am I supposed to think? I could've killed this girl, and now I'm on my way to question Nathan about it." My voice cracks. We've arrived at the hospital and Morgan pulls into one of many empty parking spaces. He looks at me with a concerned face. I can tell he's trying to come up with some stupid explanation.
"You just had a nightmare, you probably read something about the case somewhere."
"I haven't Morgan and I would remember, you know that." He sighed.
"This wasn't just a nightmare, I could feel the blood on my hands. I could feel the grass beneath my feet. This was real and I remembered it." I'm on the verge of crying once more but I hold back my tears.
"We don't know anything for sure, not without proof. I refuse to believe anything until there is proof." Morgan says. He almost sounds angry.
" Let's just talk to Nathan," I get out of the SUV and slam the car door. I can handle this. I can handle this.
-
"Excuse me, we're here to see Nathan Harris." I say. The dark haired women behind the desk spoke into a phone, and told us he's in the cafeteria. Morgan followed as I escorted him there since I knew where everything was. I hesitated to walk in but forced a smile, and approached Nathan. 
"Hey Spencer!" He seemed happy to see me since I usually only visit once a month.
"What's going on? Twice in one week?" He asked. He looked at Morgan and then at me with a worried look.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"We just need to ask you a few questions." I say. 
"Why?"
"There was a murder yesterday, and we were wondering if you knew anything that could help us." Morgan answered.
"How could I know anything? I've been here and only here for four years."
"It'll only be a few Nate." I say.
"Do you promise?"
"Yeah."
"It's only a promise if you say it out loud, remember..." he says with a smile.
"I promise Nathan."
Morgan and I sit down and he asks the first question.
"Have you made any friends in here Nathan? Anyone who might've seemed a little off in any way."
He shrugs, "Everyone in here is a little off."
"Right, sorry."
"I have made one friend his name is Cameron, he plays chess with me sometimes."
"Has he ever talked to you about escaping." I ask.
"No, he actually doesn't mind living here since he never really had a place to live before."
"Nathan, we're asking you these questions because there was a murder recently in the hotel room you... tried to commit suicide." I say.
He hesitated to speak. I knew this was a hard subject for him but we had to bring it up.
"And you thought I had someone do it?"
Morgan and I exchange looks.
"I didn't! Please, you have to believe me, I've been having less violent dreams and my medication's been working." He was tearing up.
"Nathan I believe you." Morgan looks at me like I've lost my mind, which I'm not so sure I haven't.
"You do?"
"Yes. Thank you for answering our questions Nate. We should really get back to the BAU." I walk out of the cafeteria and Morgan follows. I regret ever coming here I knew he didn't do it and now my friend feels like I've doubted him.
"You're sure he doesn't have something to do with this?"
"Yes Morgan. I know him and I know he would rather die than do something like this to sabotage his progress."
We leave the institution and call hotch as we drove back to the BAU.
"He didn't do it." I say.
"You're sure?" He asks. I really wish people would stop asking me that.
"Yes I'm sure."
"Alright, when you get back meet us in the conference room."
-
Morgan and I return to the team as they examine the crime boards.
"What did the M.E. say?" I ask, dreading the answer.
"It was weird, the body had no sign of DNA or contact from the killer whatsoever. It was like he never touched her." JJ says.
"He's obviously intelligent and knows how to cover his tracks." Rossi says.
"There were scratch marks on the chess piece, though it looked like letters or a brand of some sort, I sent an image of it to Garcia to see if she can clear it up and find out if it has any connection to the victim." JJ informed.
I looked at Morgan in a panic and he pulled me out of the conference room as if he read my mind.
"What? Does that mean anything to you?"
I hesitate to answer and it just worries him more. I stuttered, I was barely able to get the words out. 
"Gideon- uh- used to carve his initials on chess pieces every time he won." I almost start to let my tears fall out of fear, but I force them back. Every little detail was pointing to me.  Morgan looked as if he were about to cry as well.
"We have to tell the team Reid." I look at him blankly. I don't even know what to do at this point and honestly I just want to run. Every single muscle in my body wants to run out of this building, but I stay here with all the strength I have left.
"They won't know any more of what to do than we do right now. It'll just worry them." I knew it was the right thing to do. Tell them. But I don't want to relive the same reaction Morgan had five more times.
"You know that's not true, you're family and we will do anything and everything in our power to protect you." I nodded in agreement and we walked back into the conference room. Everyone stared at us and knew something was wrong.
"Um, is everything ok?" Emily asks as she examines our faces.
"No." I say.
"I know who the unsub is."
"Who?" Hotch asks with his voice raised in confusion.
"Me."