“Sit tight. We’ll be back later and we can go over what we have. With this potential second abduction, Campbell might be more willing to put this on the front burner.”
Kate could hear Dwight in the background calling for Nick.
“I need to go. See you later.”
On the one hand, Kate was deflated not to have another piece of the puzzle to work on, but on the other, if Campbell decided to prioritize this case for BAU, then they’d want the entire team on board. And that included her.
“What’d he say?” Vasquez peered over top of the partition.
“They’re due back later. He thinks Campbell will make it a BAU priority. But there’s not much more we can do at this point. Thanks for helping me out on this.”
“Any time.”
» » »
Colton leaned toward the sliver of an opening between the wooden slats of the closet doors. He peered into the squalid hotel room. The man had bound his hands behind his back upon entering the cramped, dark closet that was filled with the acrid, ammonia-like smell of mothballs. He tried to garner the attention of the front desk attendant as they checked in, but to no avail. The attendant couldn’t have cared less about either the man, who undoubtedly appeared suspicious, or the boy wearing a hoodie and looking forlorn.
His chances of escaping were becoming fewer and farther between and Colton fought off the sense that he would not get another chance and would die; maybe inside this closet. His parents would never find him and they would never know that they were in his thoughts every second until the last.
The man—who had a name, but Colton refused to think it, let alone speak it—sat on the edge of the bed. The old television, the likes Colton had never seen before, showed fuzzy images of a news broadcast. Maybe his picture would appear. He didn’t know where or even when he was; only that days had passed. The man bore a resemblance to someone Colton had seen on television once, long ago. Although the actor was older than his abductor, he recalled the show because his parents watched it and he noticed it in passing because he wasn’t allowed to watch it. The Sopranos. That’s right. He remembered it now. This man looked like a younger, shorter version of the actor from the Sopranos, but hefty and slightly balding just the same. An old school mobster, Colton thought.
He had a very good memory; eidetic, some people called it. His parents said it was because of his Autism, although Colton didn’t understand what that meant exactly. He did well in school and had friends. He didn’t feel any different from other kids. But his parents said he was on the spectrum, whatever that meant.
Colton shifted his weight and his shoe caught on the tracks of the closet door. The man must’ve heard him because he whipped his head sideways to look in his direction. Colton gasped and stepped back, stumbling on his own feet and falling against the back wall, but he managed to steady himself. He remained still, waiting for the man to open the door and grab him.
After a few moments, Colton realized he wasn’t coming and exhaled. He tried hard not to upset the man. Though he hadn’t struck him in the face, he had put bruises on his arms from squeezing them. There were many reasons Colton didn’t want to face his wrath, and frankly, the bruises on his arm were nothing compared the rest of it.
FIVE
T
he street was
clearing and Nick glanced both ways before walking toward the driver’s side of his SUV. “I know this is tough to hear, but I wanted it to come from me.” Nick pressed the keyless entry; the lights flashed and the horn beeped. He stepped inside.
Dwight entered the passenger side and studied Nick while he spoke to Jake Talbot about this latest news.
“We just met with Fredrick County. They confirmed the girl’s ID and are handling her family.” He paused a moment and started the engine. “This puts us closer, Jake. We know where he’s been and it won’t be long before we find out where he’s at or where he’s going. What about Detective Mason? Anything from her? I haven’t reached out to her yet with this.”
Nick caught Dwight shaking his head out of the corner of his eye. He glanced over to see the troubled expression on his partner’s face. That was pretty much how he felt right about now. Another kidnapping. He could only pray they would find both of those kids alive, even if the odds were stacked against them. “Good. Good. Let’s keep them going on that front. I’ll facilitate the coordination between the two districts. There’ll be some overlap for sure. Listen, buddy, I got to go. We’re on our way back to the shop. I’ll stop by later tonight to check in on you two. Take care, man. Bye.”
“This thing is starting to turn into a real shit-storm,” Dwight began. “We know who we’re after, but no one’s found him; we’ve got two missing kids and God only knows if there’re any more.”
Nick blew through a yellow light, in a hurry to get back. “According to Jake, Detective Mason has received tips from people who say they’ve seen Stroud with a kid, but none have panned out yet. She’s still in the middle of it, though.”
“Someone has to have seen that son of a bitch,” Dwight added. “What’s our next move here?”
“We’ve got almost the entire Commonwealth of Virginia on the lookout for Stroud. It can’t be long before he’s found. But, as far as we’re concerned, I’d like to work with Mason. She’s established a timeline, has a location. I know she’s already checked CCTV cameras in the area, but none of them captured Colton. He had to have been walking along neighborhood streets.” Nick appeared frustrated. “I told Jake I’d stop by tonight. I think I just might head into Springfield to see Mason afterwards. I’d like to find out who they’ve already talked to and get her thoughts on where she thinks Stroud’s going to go. We’re beyond forty-eight hours now. We need something.”
“Nick, you know these guys got things covered. I think you showing up to see how Mason’s doing might put her off accepting any more of our help. You said yourself she’s protective of her territory. I understand your position here. Your friend’s kid has gone missing. But second-guessing the work of the local police is only going to add tension to an already tense situation.”
Nick lobbed a vexing glance toward his partner. “Well, what do you propose? That I sit here and do nothing?” His face immediately masked in regret. “I’m sorry. I hear what you’re saying, I do. But time is not on our side here and you know that. I can’t go to Jake and tell him we did everything we could, but we were too late. I can’t do that, man.”
“Time is working against us. I fully agree with you. And it makes all the more sense to approach this from an angle local law enforcement isn’t already handling.”
“I’m listening.” Nick continued through the thickening traffic. “God damn it! Why the hell is everyone going so God damn slow!” He slammed the steering wheel.
Dwight seemed to brush off Nick’s growing frustration, accepting that it had nothing to do with traffic. “I’m saying we take what those guys have and expand on it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Money, transportation, lodging. These are the three main things someone on the run is going to need. He doesn’t know we’re on to him yet. I’m sure he has no idea he left behind his DNA on that cell phone, so he’s probably in his own vehicle still, which would’ve been included in the BOLO that went out with his picture as well as Colton Talbot’s. So everyone’s looking for a man in his thirties and a preteen boy in an old Ford pickup. What if we start by checking out hotels and motels within a hundred-mile radius of where he was abducted? He didn’t go back home, so he had to go somewhere.”
“You think he’d risk being seen checking into a hotel?”
“Who’s going to give him a second glance? He would have no trouble blending. He had no friends; you said Mason had no luck with family, so where’s he going to go? It would be a reasonable assumption that he doesn’t have a great deal of money, nor would he consider staying in a city center or any highly populated area. This guy’s going to be keeping off the grid as much as possible and finding hidden little motels that are cheap and where no one is likely to question him. He’s going to stay on the move, Nick, because he has no other choice.”
Nick considered the idea. “That could work. I mean, it’s still going to be time-intense, but like you said, he’s got to be staying somewhere. He’s on the run and unless he’s saved every dime he’s made over the past year since he left prison or robbed a bank, he’s not going to be flush with a lot of cash.”
“Okay. Let’s get on that.”
“We’ll need to sit down with Campbell and get him up to speed and we can get Kate to help us out on this too. I think she’s itching to do some field work again.”
“I think it’s time you let her.” Dwight kept his eyes on the road ahead of them, purposely avoiding a rebuttal. “It knocked the wind out of you after the Durham incident. Everything you’d just gone through with Georgia and fighting like hell to keep your job. Hey, I don’t blame you.”
It seemed Dwight would get no argument from Nick on this occasion. “We’d better step it up. It’s getting late.”
» » »
Night settled over the WFO as Kate and a few other stragglers clung to what remained of the day. Kate had little reason to go home. The place would still be empty and she’d begun to appreciate the weekends when Mike would visit or vice versa. Kate had truly reestablished her life and it was so far removed from all she had known before, it seemed the Kate of years ago was a stranger to her. There were times, though, infrequent, but there nonetheless, when she would hold Mike and feel Marshall. That wound hadn’t fully healed but was much less painful and she felt less guilty of her relationship with Mike with each passing day. She began to feel as though her transformation had been complete. And with only months left on her probation, her full status meant she could find a permanent place to call home. Buy a house, buy a car, which she still hadn’t yet felt comfortable doing. It was all within reach now. She’d even begun to come to terms with putting to use the money Marshall had left her. She’d accepted that he wanted her to have it and appreciated his putting that kind of faith in her.
But those ideas were for another time and, right now, she needed coffee. It was eight o’clock and she’d been there since seven a.m. Her team would arrive and want to meet with Campbell. And she was not wrong on either count. Minutes later, her two partners stepped off the elevator.
Kate waited for their approach, listening to their conversation behind her. She cast a look to Vasquez, who was also still working. Agent Vasquez—Alicia, although she preferred to be called by her last name—had become the closest thing Kate had to a sister since she lost Sam. It was a space, that while would never be completely filled, was at least partially occupied by this new relationship.
“Kate?” Dwight asked as he approached. “Come on back. We’re going to meet with Campbell.” He looked to Vasquez. “You too, if you’ve got a minute.”
The two quickly parted from their seats, grabbed their laptops, and followed Dwight, who was several steps ahead. By the time they reached Campbell’s office, Nick was already seated inside.
Campbell waved them in. “Take a seat and let’s get started. It’s late and I’d like to get home sometime before midnight.” He turned to Nick. “What’ve you got for me?”
Nick retrieved the picture of the girl and tossed it on Campbell’s desk. “This is Emily Aldrich, eleven years old, missing since April 23rd from a suburb of Fredrick County, not far from where our suspect lived. We found her picture inside of Stroud’s locker at the dairy farm.”
Campbell held the picture between his index finger and thumb, then eyed Nick. “Well, you got what you wanted.” He set the picture back down and pushed it toward Nick. “This is your next case. Let’s get on it.”
The team continued to fill in ASAC Campbell and when he felt comfortable with the status of the investigation, he concluded the meeting. “Scarborough, I’ll let you delegate as you see fit, but make sure you’re working with Detective Mason. This multiple abduction case may now be federal, but I don’t want the local authorities side-stepped.” Campbell stood up and reached for his carrier bag, which hung over the back of his chair. “Now I need to get home and hopefully get a chance to say goodnight to my kids.” He looked at the team with a fatherly gaze. “It wouldn’t hurt for you all to do the same, although I suspect you won’t.”
Campbell was approaching his mid-forties and hardly old enough to act the surrogate dad to any of them. However, the team took their cue and left his office.
Kate caught up to Nick. “So, you’re heading over to see the Talbots tonight?”
“I have to keep them up to speed. I know it’s getting late, but trust me, neither of those parents are sleeping right now.”
“I’m sure they aren’t. Dwight mentioned the hotels. Should I get started on that?”
Nick stopped in the hall and turned to Kate. “You should go home, get some rest, and come in first thing in the morning. You’ll need a fresh pair of eyes. It’s a lot of information.”
“I just don’t feel right stopping. We have to find those kids.” She followed Nick as he continued walking again.
“We aren’t the only ones looking for them, or for Stroud. Mason’s done a good job and we’ve just doubled our efforts. You’ll be better off with some rest and will be less likely to make a mistake. We can’t afford mistakes.” Nick stopped in front of his office. “I’ll see you in the morning. I’m going to head out.”
“Good night.” Kate knew he was right but felt thwarted nonetheless. However, the feeling loomed that neither of those kids would make it through the night, if they even made it this far.
» » »
Shadow from the porch light cast down upon Nick’s face as he knocked. His expression remained solemn but displayed resolve when his friend, Jake Talbot, opened the door of his home.
“You made it; come in.” Jake stepped aside while Nick entered the quiet and sparsely lit home.
“I’m not disturbing you am I?”
“No. Scott’s asleep, but Rachel’s still up.” Jake closed the door. “Can I get you a drink?” He already had one in hand.
“Absolutely.” Nick followed him into the kitchen. “Evening, Rachel.”
“Hey, Nick. Thanks for stopping by. I know it’s late and you must be exhausted.” Her appearance suggested she was the one who was suffering.
“I’m all right.” Nick sat down at the table while Jake approached with a drink. “Thanks.”
“Hope you don’t mind gin.” He took a seat next to his wife.
“Not at all.” Nick sipped on the drink, then set it down and got to the business at hand. “So, as you know, I interviewed Stroud’s co-workers this afternoon and shortly after that was when I phoned you about the picture I found.”
“Emily something?” Jake added.
“Emily Aldrich.”
“Did you find her?” Rachel’s eyes suggested she didn’t want to know the truth but felt compelled to ask.
“No. I’m afraid not. Not yet.”
“So, everyone’s looking for this piece of shit who’s taken two kids, and he’s been able to stay hidden.” Jake tossed his drink back.
“Not for long, I promise you. We just got the okay to take this on—officially, as a federal investigation.”
“What does that mean for us?” Rachel asked.
“That we’ll be able to pool our resources with the other jurisdictions and take a much more proactive approach, meaning we’ve just been put in charge.”
“Well, I sure as hell hope you have a plan, my friend, because it’s been going on four days.” Jake’s eyes reddened as he reached for his wife’s hand. “It’s been too long.”
“My team will be working with Detective Mason and her chief to coordinate our efforts. Our first task will be to supplement the detective’s search by identifying lodging Stroud would likely be housed in. A man on the run still needs a place to stay.”
Rachel slowly rose from the table. “Whatever you need to do, please, Nick, just do it. Just find our son.” She shuffled from the kitchen and up the stairs, leaving the men alone.
“I’d better let you get some rest.” Nick stood up. “I’ll keep you updated.”
“I know you will. Thank you for coming by tonight. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes—I did.”
» » »
Kate arrived to the usual solitude of the small home she still rented from the old lady and her son. The time would come soon for her to again decide if she would stay. The son had already sent a couple of reminder emails stating that she needed to give them ninety days’ notice if she was not intending to renew her lease. Well, that ninety days would be up next month. She still had no idea if she wanted to stay here and being so close to official permanent designation, she hesitated on a decision.