They felt like they were scrambling and Aaron knew it. They were trying to dig up everything and while he understood that Garcia needed rest – something Emily had taken to reminding him often – he felt like it was her part that was the most crucial at that moment. He knew his temper was growing thin and he could tell, but as time ticked by, he knew Jason Huxley’s chances were waning.
“I feel helpless,” he’d confided to Emily the night before as he paced in an uncharacteristic fit.
He knew the team could tell his patience was wearing thing, a notion that really bothered him. They were more careful, cautious, and while ideas and theories flowed as usual, he could tell each agent was thinking carefully before speaking. He knew the censorship wasn’t just for his benefit. Exhaustion was obvious in everyone’s faces, though Emily, JJ and Morrow had the added advantage of makeup to try and hide the signs. They were bound to snap at each other and thinking prevented unfair offhand comments.
“I know this case like I know my lifestory,” Derek lamented. They’d been in Nashville three days now.
“We’ve got Garcia checking for security guards,” Emily said, trying to stay optimistic.
“She’s an insomniac,” Derek groaned. “Why hasn’t she gotten back to us?”
Emily and JJ exchanged a glance. They hoped not. Penelope couldn’t afford to be an insomniac for another three months or so.
Hooper poked his head in, as if cued. “Line three for you guys,” he said. “Your tech. And she sounds pretty triumphant.”
Derek dove for the phone. “Tell me something good, Sweetness.”
“First of all, you’d be surprised at how many security guards have worked at all four malls,” came Penelope’s disembodied voice, skipping the preliminaries.
“What about-“ Emily began.
“Ah, Madam Prentiss, I am not finished yet,” the tech interrupted. “I narrowed the search field. Catastrophic event in the last six months as defined as close family death, loss of job, nasty transfer, yada, yada, yada… I’ve got six names.”
“Let me guess, already sent to us?” JJ asked, a smile playing about her mouth.
“I do pride myself on staying at least one step ahead of my superheroes,” Penelope agreed.
“Oh, you’re a superhero yourself, Goddess,” Derek praised.
“Don’t thank me yet. I have a bone to throw into your celebration,” she said apologetically.
Aaron felt the muscles that had started to relax tense up again. He thought they’d been so close. They hadn’t had any news from their sentries at the mall Jason Huxley had been snatched from and then Penelope’s breakthrough… “What is it?”
“There are other staff members, sir, and members of loading crews that also match the search criteria,” Penelope answered, her voice shifting with Aaron’s clipped words. “Twelve in all.”
“Thanks, Baby Girl,” Derek said.
“Always. I’ll let you know if I can narrow it down further.” Then she was gone.
“We’ll stick to the security guards,” Aaron said, feeling his spirits pick up slightly at the notion of being on a hot new trail.
The team nodded. Security guards would have better access to the necessary knowledge to the camera information anyway.
“JJ and I’ll head out now, start asking questions,” Emily suggested.
“Isle home, here we come,” the blond agreed at her boss’ nod.
It wasn’t more than an hour later that the news came through. Derek and Morrow had been preparing to head out when a young female officer stepped fearfully into the room to deliver the shocking revelation.
They had another body.
Emily had to admit, out of all of the moments on cases, one of her absolute favourites was driving with JJ. Even when subdued, her company, the company of one of her best friends in the entirety of the world, was always a helpful, calming experience. She just loved driving with JJ. And, if she was honest, she needed to get out of that precinct.
She adored Aaron, but the pressure of trying to keep him calm without flaunting their off-hours relationship in front of Strauss was taking an incredible toll on her. She hadn’t realized how much she took their relationship for granted on cases, nor had she realized how co-dependent they were. There were times she relied on him to stimulate her thought processes and others where he relied on her to pick up the control he inadvertently dropped.
The distinct line they’d had to draw for this case was taking a toll on JJ too. Emily had woken not only to her own nightmares but to the sounds of JJ’s. Both women had been up together that night and both had wandered off to find chocolate. They’d been lucky that Emily had a trashy magazine in her bag – a guilty pleasure she’d bought on impulse the last time she’d been grocery shopping. They’d been able to distract themselves well enough.
“We’re losing it,” JJ murmured, her eyes out the window at the passing scenery.
Emily didn’t have to ask what she meant. “It happens.”
“Did it have to happen now? This case?” JJ replied.
“We’re all over-stressed,” Emily said calmly, rationally. “Strauss’ presence isn’t much of a help, I’ll admit, but it’s not like we haven’t dealt with worse.”
“We’ve had mechanisms to deal with worse,” JJ groused. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to resort to chocolate and reading to distract myself from nightmares.”
“I know the feeling,” her brunette counterpart commiserated. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt on the outside.”
“Eh, you’re more in Hotch’s head than you know,” JJ contradicted.
“Even so,” Emily said, turning onto a quiet residential street. She blew out a breath. “It’s always the normal ones.”
“Because that doesn’t sound jaded,” JJ quipped, her eyes fixed on the ascending numbers. “Got it.”
They pulled into the driveway and hopped out almost at the same time. They took to the walkway together, Emily knocking on the door. “Melinda Isle?”
“Yes?” The woman was a redhead, probably around forty, dressed in jeans and a sweater.
“Is your husband home?”
The woman sighed. “I’m afraid not. What is this about?”
Emily flashed her badge. “We’re with the FBI, ma’am. May we come in?”
“Is something wrong? Where’s Peter?”
“We were about to ask you the same thing,” JJ responded as she followed Emily into the foyer.
Melinda Isle sighed. “He’s been acting strange. We’ve been worried.”
“We?” Emily inquired as she followed the other woman into the kitchen.
Melinda Isle settled in a chair at the kitchen table, waving out the window to the backyard. “Mary and I. And Jemma. She’s been asking where her father is every night.”
“Mary and Jemma are your daughters?” JJ asked, watching the elder teen play with a very young child.
“Yes. They’re all I have left now that Peter and Robbie are gone.”
“Gone, ma’am?” Emily inquired.
“Robbie, he was our six-year-old son and Peter’s pride and joy,” Melinda explained, tears coming to her eyes.
JJ and Emily exchanged a glance. That would be pretty traumatizing, and the boy’s age fit with the ages of their victims.
“He was coming home from school. Austin had picked him up with Mary. I’d asked Mary to drop by the mall for a few things, pick up some cough medicine for Jem since she’d had a cold.”
“What happened?”
“Robbie was hit by a car crossing the street. Drunk driver, but Peter blamed Austin. Mary hasn’t talked to Austin in months. Nothing we could say or do would make him feel less responsible, or make Peter change his mind.”
“Where is he now?”
“I don’t know,” Melinda repeated. “He’s gone a lot more since Robbie died.”
“How long has he been gone?” JJ asked soothingly.
“Three days.”
“And you haven’t filed a missing persons report?” Emily inquired calmly.
Melinda shook her head. “I did the first three or four times, but then I found out he’d bought a ranch outside of Nashville. He says he’s trying to fix it up for us, give us a place to rebuild our family. He comes home every two or three days for dinner, but then he’s gone again.”
Emily could feel the thrill of a lead hooking her in. “How long has this been happening?”
“Since Robbie died, but he bought the ranch about two months ago.”
Right around the time the boys first started disappearing.
“Do you have a picture of your son, Mrs Isle?” JJ asked.
Melinda nodded, ducking into the next door family room and bringing back a framed photo. “His school picture. He’d just started grade one.”
JJ and Emily only had to glance at the picture to see the resemblance to their victims.