Wildest Dreams

Chapter 15

tw// brief mention of self-harm

Spencer's POV:

I walk into the police station with a pain in my neck and a cup of weak coffee, both complimentary from the hotel JJ booked us at.

I pass through the bullpen and give every person that makes eye contact with me a polite 'good morning'.

I walk up to Emily, but I don't realize she is on the phone with Garcia until I receive a dismissive wave as a greeting. I nod at her and continue walking.

Morgan is leaning in the doorframe of the viewing room and I tap his shoulder to get his attention.

"Morning, Reid", he says.

"What's going on?", I ask, looking past him into the room where I can see Y/n in the chair across from an annoying Hotch.

"She's not talking", JJ says. I move past Derek so I can have a better view through the glass.

"Did she lawyer up?"

"Nope, she's just not cooperating", Morgan says.

"How do you explain this?", Hotch asks, slamming a picture down on the metal table.

"I told you, I don't want to talk to you!", she yells. I can tell she's equally frustrated with Hotch as he is with her.

"Either get a lawyer or talk to me!"

"I only want to talk to Spencer! I'm not going to tell you anything!"

My eyes snap up to Derek's and he looks as confused as I feel. After the initial shock wears off, I slide my bag off my shoulder and shuffle out of the door.

I crack open the door to the interrogation room hesitantly, not wanting to be on the receiving end of one of Hotch's frustrated outbursts.

"Come in, Reid", he says.

Anxiety rushes through my body as I push the door open further. I feel self-conscious now that I am standing in front of her, even though she saw me yesterday.

"H-hi", I say shyly.

Fuck, I'm supposed to be professional.

"I'm... I'm Dr. Spencer Reid", I say as I sit across the table from her. Hotch waits by the door for a moment before leaving, most likely going to the room behind the glass to watch.

I look through the files on the desk so I have an idea of what I'm talking about. First is a picture of multiple bags of a tan powder, next is a picture of frayed rope, and lastly, a picture of a journal page with a list of names. Then, I go through the autopsy files and the lab results and compare the two.

"Multiple samples of Strychnine were found in your house, and the same poison was found in the victims' bodies", I tell her, trying to keep my voice neutral.

"Stry- what? I've never even heard of that", she says.

"Strychnine is a highly toxic poison that is used as a pesticide for small vertebrates such as rodents and birds. In 1988, the US government prohibited the use of it, and all products that contained Strychnine were discontinued. It is difficult to obtain in the US but if you have the right connections overseas, it would be fairly easy to get", I say.

I hate that I have to do this. She told me she was innocent and a part of me believed her. I didn't want her to be a killer, I wanted her to be my soulmate. I guess Morgan was right; I'd never find the woman from my dreams.

"I have never been out of the country", she says, pulling me from my inner turmoil. "I don't even have a passport! I know you can check that in your records. This is so fucking ridiculous."

"There's more evidence", I say meekly.

I take out the picture of the frayed rope and slide it across the table to her. Her brows furrow as she looks at the picture and she seems genuinely confused.

"This rope matches the ligature marks on each of the bodies and they all appear to be tied in the same manner. As you can see, it is frayed where the knots were tied", I say, pointing at the picture with the tip of my pen.

"That's not my rope", she says.

"It was found in the back of your closet."

"But it's not mine!"

I sigh as I take out the last pictures of the evidence and place it in front of her.

"Is this your journal?", I ask.

"Yes."

"Is this your handwriting?"

"Yes", she sighs defeatedly.

I take the picture back from her and clear my throat before reading aloud.

"August 13th, Leora met with Inez at the park again today. She told me they had a good time and they even kissed. I know I'm not supposed to be jealous, but Inez isn't good enough for Leora. Inez has had so many partners and now she wants Leora. It's not fair! When will it be my turn? I wish Inez would go away so I could take care of Leora the way she deserves. I would do anything to get her to love me back. I'd carve her name into my arm. I'd kill for her. My purpose is to belong to Leora, and I'm going to fulfill my destiny one way or another."

I feel my throat tightening as I read from the picture. It's beautiful in a demented way, like a macabre love story where Juliet is homicidal and obsessed and Romeo is oblivious to her desires. My heart skips in my chest as I face my reality: I have a crush on a serial killer.

I blink away the hot feeling of tears in my eyes and put the paper down. I scan Y/n's face, looking for any signs of anger or even pride, but I only find a deep hurt in her eyes.

"I didn't do this", she whispers.

"All the evidence stacks against you. You murdered Eleanor's significant others because yoy=u were jealous."

"Call it what you want, Spencer, but I didn't do this. I'm innocent and she's setting me up. You have to believe me!", she cries.

"I'm sorry", I say, my voice cracking slightly.

I hear the door open behind me and I see Hotch storm into the room. He pulls Y/n up from the chair and takes hold of her handcuffs. He roughly pushes her out of the room and I scramble to follow them. I yell for Hotch to get his attention, but he either does not hear me or chooses to ignore me.

"Wait! Please let me talk to her!"

I am met with silence and the view of Hotch's muscular back.