Scars

Chapter Eight

"Garcia, tell us more about Andrew Rittz's upbringing." Some clacking on the other end of the line and then a beep.

"Let's see. Andrew Rittz was born to a single mom who...oh god. She took her own life when Andrew was 4. He sat with the body for hours until a neighbor came by. He was sent to live with a grandma who, get this, belittled him for having mental health problems and would starve him for days. When Rittz was 18 he left Allenbrook to go to college but came back after graduation because grandma got sick," Garcia said.

"Why would he come back to take care of a woman who abused him?" Rossi asked.

"Guys, 2 months ago, after he was fired, he went home and found grandma dead in her bedroom. She had passed while he was at work," JJ said.

"That must have been the trigger," Prentiss said.

"Thank Garcia," Hotch said and hung up with her. "Alright when we get there, I want Rossi, Reid, and Morgan to go around back. Prentiss & Michaels, you'll be with me in front. Local PD is on their way."

We pulled up to a big brown house with a wildly overgrown yard. The blinds were drawn, and mail was piled on the front porch, falling out of the mailbox. We got out and went to the house. Hotch kicked down the front door and we raided it. We found Rittz in the basement. Julie was hanging from handcuffs from the ceiling. Hotch started down the stairs and part of me flinched. He looked so bad ass, but I know abuse cases always got to him.

"Andrew Rittz. F.B.I." Hotch announced. Rittz turned around and took the knife he was holding up to Julie's throat. She screamed and started to cry more.

"Get out! I need to do this! She's a pig! An unhealthy abomination to the world! No wonder people are starving in the world. She's eating all of it!" Rittz said. That hit home for me as I was made fun of in high school for my weight.

"Yes she is," I said. I holstered my gun and took a step towards him. Hotch was behind me and I could feel he didn't like this one bit. "I understand, Andrew. I used to be like her. How could I do that to those starving people? But look at me. I'm better now. Don't you think there's a better way to make her stop eating than by doing this?" Andrew blinked and looked from me to Hotch.

"How did you do it?" he asked.

"A healthy diet and exercise. But I didn't starve and dehydrate myself. I made myself get off my fat ass and go out there. She can do it too. But not like this, Andrew," I said quietly.

"If I let her go, you promise to make sure she gets healthy? There's a boy who needs her and she can't be unhealthy," he said. I nodded.

"I promise, Andrew. I will make sure that Julie gets the help she needs," I said to him. He lowered the knife and looked between Hotch & I again. He finally dropped the knife to the ground and Hotch rushed him. Morgan came downstairs and helped me get Julie down.

"We are right here Mrs. Grine. You're safe now," I said to her.

"I need paramedics down here!" Morgan yelled. I watched as Aaron put Rittz in handcuffs and took him up the stairs. He gave me a look that said we'll talk later, and I was not surprised. I knew he would be upset that I put my weapon away. But I got the unsub to go and the victim safe. That's what mattered.

*I know I've been behind on updating so I wrote two chapters for you guys! Thank for all the love!*