Gideon shook his head. “The only prints we’d find on here is Aida’s and yours, and now mine, and we’re all in the database so..”
“Ok, great. I’ll scan them and fax them over to Natalie and you can explain to them what’s going on.” Freeman glanced at the clock behind him. “Damn, Amora is probably wondering what’s taking so long. It’s already noon.”
“Are you going to be spending the entire day over there?”
“Well, I thought I’d get Jaymie acquainted with Rubes and go through some of the techniques.. But yea. I mean… Amora loves being over there and it’s better than facing my Mother right now who will be showing up in about an hour give or take twenty minutes.” He sighed. “Besides, I need to wait for Christian and tie up loose ends before our court date.”
“Damn, is that time already?”
“Yup.”
“We’re all rooting for you.”
“Thanks,” he chuckled. “I just want to know that both of my girls are safe and happy. Knowing Sophia isn’t and that she’s suffering… it literally kills me everyday. Christian thinks I could get temporary custody of her within the next 14-24 hours. He’s actually supposed to be filing for temporary custody right now.”
Gideon whisteled, causing the dogs to start barking at him and him to jump. Freeman laughed. “Well, then lets get on our way.” He said, pushing the papers past him and standing. “I’ll head to Quantico now and text Valdez to keep an eye on her email.”
“Thanks Gideon.” Freeman stood and walked him to the door, shaking his hand before he climbed into his car and drove off.
He turned, walking back inside and clapped his hands. “Who wants to go for a ride?” He asked. Ruby and Bishop started barking and Buns around and hid under the couch. “What? You chicken!” He called to her, shaking his head. He never knew a dog more cowardly than the cowardly lion. He walked over and grabbed the dishes and threw them in the trash before he grabbed the letter and pictures and walked upstairs to scan them. Once that was done he e-mailed Natalie, their tech, everything and a brief summary of what he wanted her to do and to talk to Gideon about the rest before he closed his laptop and tossed it onto his bed.
He headed back downstairs, into the dining room, grabbing the manila envelope and placing the contents back inside. He then reached for his keys and his wallet and his cell phone that was already buzzing and put them in his pocket. He grabbed his jacket and Cowboy’s leash and whistled. “Load up!”
He walked them outside and opened the passenger door for them to jump into before closing it and running back to the front door and inside to close the sliding glass door. “Don’t pee in the house, Buns.” He said before walking out the front door and locking it. He walked back over to his jeep and climbed inside, having to push Cowboy out of his spot and into the back before he could get in all the way and shut the door. He started the ignition before buckling his seat belt. “Okay guys, hold onto your collars.”
He backed out of his driveway and headed towards Jaymie’s house to introduce her to her newest family member.
Freeman stood at the self serve mini bar inside the private Jet the BAU team he was assigned to used whenever they needed to travel out of state.
He was watching the tea swirl around as it became one with the hot water he had in his cup when he felt someone step up next to him. He didn’t need to turn to look to know who it was. He could tell by the aftershave he used that it was Gideon Curbain. “Stalking is illegal in all fifty states.”
“Only if I’m caught.” He snickered, grabbing a mug from the cupboard and pouring a cup of coffee and reaching for the sugar and creamer. “Why do we never have milk. You’d think we could afford to have milk.”
Freeman shook his head as he discarded the used tea bag and reached for the sugar, “How’re things going with.. What’s her name? Valerie?”
“Victoria.” Gideon took a sip of his coffee, wincing. “And it’s not.”
He raised his eyebrows, placing the spoon he used to stir his tea in the sink, turning his body towards Gideon’s. “No? I thought things were hot and heavy with you two.”
“It was hot, but..” he shrugged. “She was getting heavy with someone else.”
“Rodriguez, Curbain.” Their team leader called from his seat a few feet away. “Go ahead Natalie.”
As they listened to their technical analysis list the details of the case that they would be heading in Tennessee, he could see that his friend didn’t completely have his head in the game. He really liked Victoria and knew he was ready to settle down. He watched him with Amora when he came over and could see he was definitely the family man type, but Gideon was also not one that would settle with just anymore, still the disappoint was very real for him.
“What is your take, Rodriguez.”
He was pulled back to the case at hand, Freeman took a deep breath before sitting up straighter. “I think that he’s practicing before going after the object of his true obsession. And each kill is going to be more intense and more escalated than the last.”
“Agreed.” Gideon chimed in. “These woman.. They’re just a means to an end for this guy.”
“Ok. So, how is he taking them?”
The discussed the case all the way until they landed, since it was late, they checked into their hotel. Freeman sat his bag on the single queens size bed before plopping down next to it, rubbing his hand his head, sighing. He pulled out his phone and tweeted Jaymie, then messaged Amora before sending her a request to facetime.
“Hi Daddy!”
“Hey baby, I just wanted to let you know I made it safely and I’m in my hotel.”
“We’re at Auntie Mads house.”
“Oh?” It was late there, he wasn’t sure why Jaymie would have driven over there unless something happened. “Is everything ok?”
Amora shrugged, “Yea.”
“Can I talk to Auntie JJ or Mads?”
“Auntie Mads left for work, but Auntie Jaymie is here. She’s feeding Brooklynn.”
“Ok.. well, have her call me when she’s done.”
“Ok!”
“Alright, well, I need to go eat something and shower, but how are you holding up.”
“I’m ok, Daddy. Go eat and go nigh night!”
“Ok, I love you.”
“I love you, too!”
There was a knock on the door, followed by Gideon calling his name. “Ok, Gideon’s here, so I’m going to go. You be good and remember you can call Abuella or Uncle Carlos any time and they’ll come get you. Ok?”
“I will, Daddy! Bye!”
Freeman stood and walked to the door, opening it. “Hey.”
“Let’s go eat.”
“Are we eating?” Freeman raised his eyebrows.
Gideon rolled his eyes, “Yes, we’re eating. Quinn’s coming with us. So is Andrews if he ever gets his ass in gear. The rest are too tired to come with.”
Freeman nodded, grabbing his wallet, cell phone and his hotel key before walking out of the room, shutting the door behind him. “So where we going?”
“The Italian Cottage.” Gideon said, rubbing his hands together. “It’s got great reviews.”
