[The night before the Tactical sim]
Elle stopped the car before her apartment.
The after-work drink had stretched longer than planned. She lived only three blocks away from the bar, so she stayed a bit longer. She killed the engine and grabbed her bag, ready to head inside and collapse into bed.
Then she noticed the sedan.
It was parked just before the alley alongside her apartment building, its engine and headlights off. Through the passenger window, she could make out a small figure in the back seat.
'A kid?!' She narrowed her eyes.
He looked no older than seven or eight, sitting perfectly still. The sight hit her like cold water.
She looked up and down the street. The sidewalks were empty. There wasn't a single person walking around, and only a few parked cars were in the side parking lane. The closest place, either a convenience store or a bar, was three blocks away. That felt too far for a parent to leave a child alone, even for a quick trip inside. Something about the whole situation just felt off, triggering every warning signal inside her.
Her right hand slid down to the Glock tucked at her hip as she got out of her car. The cool night air still held the hint of rain from earlier. She moved forward cautiously, trying to keep her steps light on the pavement, her eyes scanning the shadows in the alley and behind the car. Everything was still. The only sound was the distant hum of traffic from the main road.
It felt like a trap, something just wasn't right. A kid left alone in a car at eleven o'clock at night in a neighborhood where people kept their doors locked? It didn't make sense. Still, the thought of just walking away never even entered her head. She couldn't just ignore a child who might be in danger.
She walked over to the side window and tapped her knuckles against the glass.
The boy turned his head toward her. His face looked pale in the low street light, eyes wide and strangely calm. He reached over and lowered the window a few inches with the automatic button.
"Are you my new mommy?" he asked in a small, hopeful voice.
The words he spoke felt strange, definitely not what you'd expect from a child out in the dark by themselves.
Elle was about to answer, to ask about his parents and tell him she was there to help. But then, out of nowhere, a wave of dizziness hit her hard. The street seemed to tilt beneath her. Her vision narrowed, the edges blurring as all the colors ran together into a messy gray. Her knees gave way right then.
She tried to hold onto the car door to steady herself, but her fingers just slid down the metal, uselessly. The Glock strapped to her side felt ridiculously heavy. She struggled to keep her eyes on the boy. He was watching her, not blinking, his face showing no change at all.
Elle crumpled onto the pavement, her knees striking the ground first, followed by her palms. A sharp pain shot through her legs for a brief moment. She twisted her body, trying desperately to get a clear look and to either shout or grab her weapon. The world began to spin rapidly.
Hands clamped around her ankles.
She felt herself being pulled backward across the concrete, her jacket bunching up near her shoulders. She fought to lift her head, hoping to catch a glimpse of the face belonging to the hands holding her. All she could make out was a blurred shape against the dark sky before everything faded to black.
...
[Location unknown] [Morning]
Elle felt cold as she slowly opened her eyes. She shot up and found herself sitting on the bathroom floor. The place looked clean and bright. She reached for her gun, but it wasn't there. She checked her pockets, but her phone was also gone. She stood up and looked around the place.
The first thought that came to her mind was, 'Ray will find me, but till then, I have to stay alive.'
She walked over and peeked out of the little window. It was sealed tight, and there were iron grills outside, making it impossible for her to escape. She tapped the glass. 'Reinforced glass,' she thought.
Then she walked back to the door and tried to open it. It was locked.
From outside, a man's voice came. "Take a bath. There are new clothes inside the cupboard. Put them on. And kindly, don't try to fight, scream or run away. If you do, I'll be forced to kill you."
"Who are you? What do you want?" Elle asked.
Silence for a beat.
"You have ten minutes."
Footsteps moved away.
Elle stood there, listening until the sound faded completely.
She thought for a moment, 'Ten minutes. He wants compliance and cleanliness... Ritualistic and control fantasy. There was the kid... He asked me if I was his new mommy. This bastard is trying to find a replacement for his wife, who is either dead or divorced and he needs someone to take care of his child. He's seeking a mother figure for his child. And the way he planned everything by using his child as bait, says he has done this multiple times before. If so, then he must have killed them before searching for the next victim. A serial killer... Darn it!'
...
[The day after the Tactical Sim] [Nine Nine]
After the briefing of the day, Ray looked around for Elle, but she was not there. Yesterday, she did not come to work and missed the tactical simulation. Ray thought she was sick and called her, but she did not pick up or call back later.
Now, today, the same thing. Elle did not come to work again. He called her number, but this time it was out of reach.
Ray knew Elle very well. She was not the type to skip work or not pick up her phone when he called or call back later.
He felt a knot in his stomach. Something was wrong.
He walked straight to Holt's office area.
Holt was standing near Terry's desk, hands behind his back, speaking with Terry. A file lay open between them.
"This biker group is expanding into Crown Heights and we are getting many complaints," Holt said calmly. "How's the investigation going?"
Terry nodded. "They are recruiting young guys fast. Terry does not like that."
Ray stopped a few feet away. "Captain."
Holt turned. "Officer White."
Ray took a breath. "Has Elle submitted any application for leave? She hasn't shown up for two days now. Yesterday she missed the tactical sim, and today she wasn't at roll call either."
Holt frowned. "No, Officer Greenaway has not filed any leave request. I tried to call her before the briefing this morning. Her phone was out of reach. I was about to ask you about that since you two are partners."
Ray narrowed his eyes. "This isn't like her at all. Elle never misses work without telling someone. She always picks up when I call, or at least calls back later. Something is wrong."
Terry crossed his arms. "Maybe she had an emergency."
"Maybe," Ray replied. "But I want to check her apartment. She could be sick. Or she could have been in an accident and is in no condition to call."
Holt was silent for a few seconds.
Then he nodded once. "Very well. Take Detective Diaz with you."
Ray gave a small nod. "Yes, Captain."
"If you find evidence of foul play," Holt added, voice firm, "you will contact me immediately. Do not attempt to handle it alone."
"I will," Ray said.
Terry stepped closer. "We hope it is nothing."
Ray's jaw tightened slightly. "So do I."
He turned and headed for the bullpen.
"Rosa," he called.
She looked up from her desk. "What?"
"We are going to check on Elle."
Rosa was already standing. "Thought you would never ask."
...
[Outside Elle's apartment]
Ray and Rosa noticed Elle's car parked in its usual spot outside the apartment building. They walked upto the door and knocked, but no one answered.
Ray knocked again, louder... Still nothing.
"Elle?" he called loudly. "You alright?"
No one answered...
He pulled out his phone and dialed her number once more. This time, he placed his ear on the door, straining to hear if it rang inside.
No ring from the apartment.
Instead, the familiar chime of her ringtone came faintly from the direction of the car.
Ray's head snapped toward the vehicle. Rosa was already moving toward the car.
They hurried over. Ray tried the driver's door. It was unlocked.
The door swung open.
There, on the driver's seat, sat Elle's phone, screen lit from the recent call attempt. Next to it lay her service weapon, the Glock she never left behind, and her bag.
Rosa leaned in beside him, scanning the interior without touching anything yet. "Her stuff's all here. Keys in the ignition too. She never even made it into the building."
"She was kidnapped," Ray said in a low voice as he quickly dialled a number. 'No time for grudges. It's been over 24 hours. I'm gonna need help to find her as soon as possible.'
After a couple of rings...
"Hotch, I need help. Someone kidnapped Elle... and we've less than 24 hours to find her."