77A/N: well here goes. This is my first attempt at a Criminal Minds story so if anything seems OOC, please chalk it up to my inexperience. This story is intended to be AU and as such there will be changes to the show's universe. Many thanks to all of the authors on this forum who have inspired me to attempt my own story. Mega thanks and Hugs to my beta Charmony, for without her encouragement and assistance, this story would have remained simply a word document on my computer.
I don't own Criminal Minds. All rights to CBS and the Mark Gordon Company.
Chapter one – Welcome to Vegas
Jason Gideon sighed as he stepped off the plane in Las Vegas. The afternoon sun shone brightly overhead in contrast to his somber mood. He glanced over at his companion as they both emerged from the tarmac. David Rossi slipped on his sunglasses as he hefted his duffel bag onto his shoulder.
"I forgot how hot it gets out here," he muttered under his breath.
"Yes, but it's a dry heat." Gideon replied, earning an eye roll from the other man.
"Bull. Hot is still hot and this is hot." Rossi answered, loosening his tie. His friend smiled faintly as they both heard Gideon's name being called. A young man came hurrying toward them, his hand outstretched.
"Jason, it's good to see you again," he said as he reached them.
Gideon returned the handshake firmly. "You too, Jarod. I just wish it were under better circumstances," he said with a grim smile. "This is Dave Rossi."
"Nice to meet you." Jarod Marshall led them through the mass of people gathered around the baggage claim. "So tell me about this profiling thing. Is this some new idea of the Bureau?"
"It's using behavior to predict actions." Rossi explained as the trio climbed into the black SUV. "We look at victims; where they live, who they are; in addition to evidence at the scene, to try and get inside the head of the suspect. At least, that's the idea."
"We're just starting out. All of this is new for us too. And profiling is an educated guess at best; sometimes we're wrong or we miss things." Gideon added.
"Sounds a lot like a glorified hunch to me," commented Jarod. "No offense intended."
Rossi snorted. "That's a lot nicer than some of the things we've heard so none taken." He leaned forward slightly. "So tell me about this case."
Jarod sighed. "This one's a heart breaker. Four boys have been found dead so far. All between the ages of five and seven and all showing signs of abuse, both physical and sexual." He swallowed hard. "We believe that there is at least one more victim still missing. But that's not what had our boss call you. Two nights ago, another little boy went missing who fits the same description of the other victims. The difference is that the father was killed and the mom was seriously injured."
Gideon frowned. "None of the other parents were harmed?"
Jarod shook his head. "Nope; all the other boys were taken from parks or their yards when the parents' backs were turned. This is the first time that one has been taken from inside a house and the first time someone other than the child has been killed." He sighed. "Even if the mom survives and we find the kid alive, I'm not sure the boy will be able to go back to her."
"Why not?" asked Rossi's baritone.
Jarod ran a hand through his short blonde hair. "The attack caused her to have a psychotic break. She's been hearing and talking to voices ever since she woke up early this morning." He met Rossi's eyes in the rearview mirror. "I know what you're thinking; paranoia is normal after this kind of trauma. Believe me, I know that, but this is something entirely different. She's already been diagnosed with schizophrenia and the attack has apparently aggravated the condition; a consultant called in from Bennington Sanitarium doesn't think that she'll recover enough to be a fit parent."
Gideon swore softly. "And this boy has no other family?"
"Not that we've been able to locate, no."
"The two boys that are still missing, what are their names?" Rossi asked as the car pulled into the police station lot.
"Riley Jenkins and Spencer Reid," Jarod replied. "Spencer is the one whose parents were attacked. The only connection we can find between the boys is Little League. Spencer's father William was the coach and Riley played on the same team as Spencer." He held the glass door for the two agents. "Welcome to LVPD."
"What the **** where you thinking? You killed that kid's parents and now we're gonna have Federal heat coming down on us!" Christopher Porter glared at his partner. "You just couldn't wait to grab him, could you? Well I hope he's worth it."
Gary Michaels snorted. "Oh he's worth it; trust me. That boy is absolute perfection. Besides, we've stayed one step ahead of the cops this entire time. They're not going to catch us now."
"I'm not talking about regular cops. They've brought in some sort of FBI experts from Virginia," Porter snapped.
"Feds can't find their own *** with both hands," Michaels answered dismissively. "We're smarter than they are and they'll never catch us." His lips curled into a predatory grin. "In the meantime, let's go have some fun with our newest trophy." He strolled across the room to a locked door as he retrieved the key from his pocket. Porter watched for a moment then followed as the thought of the little boy on the other side made the blood race in his veins. He paused in the doorway as two pairs of frightened eyes, one blue and one hazel, stared back at him. A shudder of fear went through the smaller of the two and a soft whimper escaped his lips. Michaels was already towering over him as he ran a hand over the boy's messy hair. "Now, now, now, Spencer, don't do that," he said softly as the child tried to pull away. "You're going to make me angry and you don't want me to be angry, do you?" Spencer shook his head then yelped as his hair was grabbed in his captor's steel grip. He was blinking back tears as his face was forced upwards. "Answer me," Michaels demanded harshly. "Do you want me angry with you?"
"No….s..ir," he whispered brokenly, straining as the ropes around his wrists dug into his skin.
"That's better," the man said calmly as he drew his prize against him. Spencer whimpered again as the rough hands began to move across his trembling body.