Normal People - Strange Encounters Book Two

Chapter 2

Amelia sat in the middle of a wooden floor, slurping ramen, surrounded by large pieces of paper with her writing all over it, arrows flowing to words in a haphazard map.

"Are you sure your people are gonna be okay?" Tommy asked, peering over her.

Amelia studied the notes and plans she'd been writing out. If she was sending the right signals, Spencer would know where she was without Christopher's cohort knowing, but she'd hoped they'd also been able to lead the BAU in the right direction.

"I sure as fucking hell hope so dude." She leaned back on her hands, letting out a sigh as she rolled the cricks in her neck.

Tommy started pacing, hands on his hips looking toward the ceiling.

"Alright, one more time. Let's go over this, talk me through it Liza girl."

Amelia closed her eyes, her mind having been so consumed planning this that she could see it play out in her head. She spoke with clarity.

"You planted the breadcrumbs within my case file that will trip the tech analyst's radar. She'll know that she was hacked, and that the new info would have been planted. It won't take her too long to trace it back to you, she's just too good. Tomorrow, you're gonna get on that boat and head up the coast to your brother's." She opened her eyes to look at him, waiting for him to confirm. He set his mouth in a line, but nodded. She closed her eyes and continued.

"I mailed my dad the letter a few days ago, he should be getting any day now. He'll.. he'll tell the agents who had originally worked the case. I know that. They'll decipher the letter, because I know whoever Chris had after me will be watching my dad." She took a breath, praying she wasn't putting him in harms way. "Sp- uh, one of the agent's has a genius level memory, and that unit is astounding. I know they'll connect the dots. Then, they'll know I'm here but hopefully they'll also have caught the person by then."

Tommy settled on the floor across from her, the paper's between them. "I've gotta be honest, I don't get the cloak and dagger, kid. If you're giving up your location, why not just go to them."

Her eyes opened slowly, looking at the man in front of her. "Chris himself was a murderer, but he wasn't as.. well, smart as whoever he had watching me last. Whoever this is.. They'll do it. They'll hurt my family, my friends. It needs to be like this."

Tommy reached across the space between them, grabbing her hands. "Liza darlin, I hope you get home."

She gave him a tight lipped smile. "I wouldn't have been able to do this without you. If it doesn't work, I'll see you up in Canada in two weeks." Of course, as confident as she was in this plan, she had a backup one too. In case this completely backfired and she put her loved ones in the path of a psychopath, and she had to run more permanently.

"Girl, you have given me the most thrilling few weeks of my life and you have this planned down to the detail, I have no doubt this is gonna work. Now I can add government hacking skills to my repertoire. Just, uh, make sure that FBI team of yours lets me in the clear once you get the other thing straightened out."

She chuckled, playing with the gold pendent hanging around her neck. Man, she really fucking hoped this worked. She also really hoped everyone wouldn't be too mad at her.

♡

Spencer held his breath, waiting for Edgar to walk out of the elevator. He hadn't seen him in a couple of months, both of them being too reminded of what they lost. Spencer would send him books sometimes that he thought he'd like, and Edgar would write an email saying pleasantries. As much as they reminded one another of their girl and it hurt, it also made them still feel connected to her. Spencer also knew she would want him to check in on the man.

"Hijo." He turned around, feeling like he was punched in the gut. Edgar's hair had more grey to it, but he was reminded how much of a spitting image his daughter was of him. Knowing Spencer wasn't a man of physical contact, he twitched his hand back after extending it to him. Spencer, surprising them both, pulled the man into a hug. Edgar hesitated before wrapping the younger man in a tight hug.

"It's good to see you."

"You too, kid."

Spencer led him to a chair he'd pulled up to his desk.

"I am going to have to present the letter to the team, but I thought we could go over it together first?" Edgar nodded. He pulled an envelope out of his pocket.

"It's signed from a 'Cousin Maria' which I don't have, and it's very obviously her handwriting" Edgar said adamantly.

Spencer took it from him, holding his breath as he looked at the loopy handwriting on the envelope, taking notice of the lack of return address, knowing that Edgar was right. She'd probably signed it from a different name in case someone was still watching Edgar. He could picture her, tongue poking out the corner of her mouth as it often did when she hand-wrote letters. He slid the paper out, unfolding it gently as if it would disappear once he laid his eyes on it.

"It, uh, made no sense to me but I felt like that may have been on purpose" Edgar said as he watch Spencer struggle to bring himself to read the letter.

Edgar,       
  
     It's been ages! I've wanted to write sooner, but the winter hit hard and I found myself busier than I could've imagined. I heard a song the other day which made me think of you. It reminded me of that summer when you were 20 and I was 19. That was probably my favorite summer, except for having to break up with that nasty guy John Smith. Remember how instead of breaking up with me himself, he had that girl he cheated on me with do it? That was a low point. Anyway, hope you're doing well, being cautious, and staying safe. Please give your cat, Doc, all of my love. Let him know I miss him.

Your cousin, Maria

Spencer stood up, looking at Edgar. "Uh, follow me." He turned to face his coworkers. "Guys, conference room."

He walked in, re-reading the letter while the gears in his mind turned. Penelope was already seated at the round table.

"Garcia, can you scan this to the screen?"

"Your wish is my command" she responded, quickly projecting the document to the screen.

Spencer sat next to her, looking at the original. Edgar sat next to him, the team filling the rest of the seats. They all took a moment to read it.

Spencer spoke first. "John Smith. She's talking about Christopher."

"How do you know?" Rossi questioned.

"He was the mayor of Philadelphia in 1840. We.. one of the first times I, uh, went on a factual tangent around Amelia was about how he brought squirrels into the city. I just.. know it's him."

"I reminder that" Derek mumbled, thinking back on the day.

"Okay so if John Smith is supposed to be Christopher-"

"Oh my lanta" Penelope said, quickly hitting a series of keys on her computer. "Holy shit." She quickly jumped and ran out of the conference room, everyone exchanging a puzzled look before quickly following her down the hall to her office. They found her standing in front of her monitors, staring. She had a stunned look on her face.

"What is it Garcia?" Spencer ask, holding his breath.

"I have absofruitinlootly no idea how, but I think.. I think Amelia hacked my system."

Spencer's stomach felt funny, like he was on a rollercoaster that had just had it's first big drop. He didn't know what Amelia was doing yet, but he knew she was setting gears in motion and trying to come home.