Normal People - Strange Encounters Book Two

Chapter 19

Simon and Gladys stood on the porch as they watched Spencer pace the lawn along the cliffs overlooking the ocean. When they heard the cars coming down the drive they turned to see two black SUVs parking, watching as the four agents jumped out swiftly. Hotch ushered Emily, JJ and Derek over to him.

"I don't need Reid to tell you all the statistical probability of surviving a second abduction." He met each agent's eyes as they slowly nodded. "We know Amelia's odds are not great right now, and we know Reid knows that as well. But we aren't sure of Smyth's end game yet which is in our favor. Now, Reid is staying on this case but.. watch out for him." He turned and looked out to where Spencer was, calling him over to join them on the porch with Gladys and Simon. 

"Alright, walk me through what you know."

Spencer looked at his team. They were all immediately concerned, taking in his red-rimmed eyes and the distraught look on his face. Derek put a supportive hand on his shoulder which he didn't even seem to register. He swallowed, bracing himself to go over the facts. He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists as he spoke.

"I woke up and she.. she wasn't in bed. I assumed she'd gotten up already, as she had yesterday. But as I was getting up I noticed her shoes were here, and her car is still here. There was a shattered glass in the sink, she'd never just leave something like that.. I haven't gotten a chance to search the entire property but I saw two sets of tracks leading toward the woods, one barefoot approximately Amelia's size and the other slender, not much larger, feminine."

"Smyth's" JJ said quietly, watching Spencer nod his head. 

"Alright, JJ and Spencer follow those tracks and check out the woods. Derek and Emily, search the other side of the property. The sheriff is dispatching a few officers here, and has Garcia accessing traffic camera's here and throughout the area."

Derek and Emily swiftly head toward the edge of the property along the shore as Spencer turned without waiting for JJ, heading toward the woods. 

"Spence, wait!" She called out, jogging to catch up with him. She grabbed his arm and held him back, walking in front of him and forcing him to face her. 

"Jennifer, don't.. don't tell me it's going to be okay. Just fucking don't, please?" She bit her cheek, watching tears well in his eyes. 

"I won't. But.. no matter what happens, you have me. You have us."

"I know." He brushed past her, continuing toward the woods until he heard Emily's voice come over their comms. 

"Guys, we've got a body in the boat shed."

JJ's head whipped up to look at Spencer, who lost all color. He met her eyes briefly before dashing towards the boat shed. She ran after him, seeing Derek duck down as he exited the structure, holding his hands out toward Spencer.

"No man, no, it's not her. It's not her, kid." 

Spencer shoved past him, needing to see it for himself. To see the body that wasn't Amelia's, to know for sure. 

He looked into the building, seeing a small lantern lit up to the side. He saw Emily bent over a man's lifeless body. She straightened up and turned to face him, a grimace on her face. 

"I'm sorry, Reid. I should've specified.."

She watched as he slowly backed up against the wall, his legs giving out from under him. He pulled his knees into his chest, his face expressionless except for the tears streaming down it. Emily saw Derek move to come back inside but she held her hand up to him, motioning to give them a moment. She quietly sat next to Spencer, not saying anything as he cried. They sat like that for a while before she knew they had to get the medics inside to examine the body.