"𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁. 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁. 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱"
-𝗚.𝗞. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻

-----

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 - 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀

"Hey Noah, I'm sorry that I haven't visited you in a while. Just been really busy with work and everything" Valentina mumbled as she took a seat right in front of his tombstone with some flowers in her hand "But we all miss you, it seems quieter without you around. Gabby misses you even though she doesn't quite understand but she just wants her older brother back" Her phone then started to ring, it was Garcia they had a case and a bad one.

"Duty calls" She smiled weakly leaving the flowers resting up on his grave "I love you Noah" She kissed her hand and touched the top of his gravestone before walking back off to her car to meet the team at the mall.

"Jim" Hotch called out to the agent.

"We've been in lockdown for almost 20 minutes. My team's already in motion" He got them up to speed as well as handing Hotch and the team a radio each.

"Another female, same age, same time of day, taken from essentially the same location"

"What makes you so sure Katie Jacobs is still in the building?" Derek asked.

"The mall's got cameras installed at every entrance and exit. Surveillance video confirms Katie entering the building, but no sign of her leaving. Security paged her over the intercom, and their initial sweep came up empty" You could still hear the sound of sirens pulling up outside the building as Jim talked. The mall had been in complete lockdown for about twenty minutes and almost everyone looked panicked.

"Whoever killed Jessica Davis last week left that mall with her because he wanted time with his victim in privacy" Spencer said.

"Assuming it's the same offender, he wouldn't stray from his M.O. He wouldn't leave here without his victim" Hotch continued.

"Meaning if Katie's still under this roof, so is her abductor" Valentina agreed as her eyes scouted around the place

"Garcia, report to the mall security office. Reid, Morgan, Ortiz, I want you to find the Head of security. I need all data from every search team" Hotch ordered. He then looked at the two female agents "You guys start with Katie's parents. We'll treat the mall like a neighbourhood and we'll separate into areas of control. Come on" He referred to Jim as they walked off with SWAT behind them.

It was now utter chaos in the mall. Everyone was rushing around everywhere, SWAT was posted at every corner with hope they were going to find this little girl alive and well "117 stores, 69 storage closets, 73 dressing rooms, six men's rooms, six ladies' rooms, access to the rooftop via the north and south stairwells. Seven restaurants, each with a separate kitchen, and four elevators" The head of security, Marie Samuels, told the three agents. Pointing to each place on the map which was spread onto a table in front of them all.

"Every teams going to need a copy of this" Derek told her as she nodded. So after countless copies were made, officers began to hand them out to each search team while they studied the original map. 

"Well, aside from the stairwells, storage closets and hundreds of shops, there's a whole underbelly beneath our feet. A subterranean level, air ducts, boiler rooms"

Marie sighed "Realistically, it'll take at least three hours to cover this place"

Valentina looked over at her "Realistically, we have less than half that time"

"How do you figure?" The woman frowned as Spencer then explained "99% of abducted children who are killed die within the first 24 hours, 75% within the first three hours, and what only law enforcement knows, Jessica Davis joined the 44% of children who are abducted and killed within the first hour"

Derek's phone then rang indicating Garcia had something "Yo, what do you got?" He asked her before walking away to the security office.

Valentina's eye were still going over the map when Marie came walking back over "Your tech analyst found Katie's last known location"

Valentina looked over at Spencer who had a small smile of hope on his face "Okay then, let's go"

-----

"So, she and her cousin came in here about thirty minutes ago, and that was the last time anyone saw Katie?" Spencer asked, walking into the arcade with Derek and Valentina behind him.

"That's right" Marie confirmed.

"Ten minutes after the assault is generally the molester's lowest point in self-esteem" Spencer told her.

"He could be panicking right now, realising he left a witness" Derek added.

"Richard Allen Davis strangled Polly Klaas just to prevent her from identifying him"

"A single abduction like this would normally be classified as a snatch and grab, but with the Jessica Davis abduction, it's more likely we're dealing with a preferential offender" Valentina said.

"Whose victims fall into a particular type" Spencer agreed with her "He came to this mall knowing what he was looking for, because he feels safe here, familiar with his surroundings"

"And if this was some normal guy, we would've found Katie by now" Valentina looked to Derek "We need to talk to her cousin"

-----

You and Spencer were sat in front of Jeremy while Derek was stood technically next to him "Jeremy, I'm Valentina and this is Derek and Spencer. We asked your mom and dad if we could talk privately. We thought it might be easier that way"

"Because my dad thinks this is my fault" Jeremy said, not looking up from his hands "Well I can promise you he doesn't. He's just really upset right now and in times like this, people say things they don't mean"

Derek bent down slightly to be at the same height as Jeremy "Hey, kid" The boy looked up "The moment right before a kidnapping like this are the most important. You gotta understand, you're the only one who can help us with that"

"But, but I can't remember"

"Jeremy, all we need is the last thing Katie did or said before you realised she was gone" Jeremy began to shake his head at Spencer's words and his breath was growing shorter.

"Jeremy? What? What is it?" Derek asked in concern "Talk to me. What?"

"I can't breathe" Derek's hand was on his shoulder as he tried to stand up.

"Jeremy" Valentina stood up, crouching down in front of the boy "You're having a panic attack. Just sit back down, you're okay" She instructed as he slowly listened "Now put your head between your knees and just breathe. There you go, you're doing amazing kid"

Derek had his hands resting gently on the boys head to assure him they were there and that he was safe. Valentina then looked between Derek and Spencer in concern because there was something that Jeremy saw that he didn't want to remember.

-----

Derek, Spencer and Valentina were in the arcade with Jeremy. They had orders from Hotch to do a cognitive interview to see what happened moments before Katie went missing.

"So, what are you youngsters playing these days?" Derek asked him with a smile.

"I like DOA" Valentina nodded "And what do you like about it, Jeremy?"

"The close combat. It's all about timing. How well you know your enemies. Plus, I'm really good at it" The boy smiled.

"Yeah, I bet you are, kid" She smiled back at him "So, what was the first game that you walked to when you came in here earlier?" Now standing in front of the same machine from earlier "I'm going to ask you to close your eyes for a minute, all right?"

Jeremy took a deep breath before closing his eyes "I want you to go back to when you first walked in the arcade a little earlier. Can you remember that?" Derek asked.

"Yeah"

"You're doing great, my man" Derek reassured him "In your mind I want you to try and picture what it sounded like in here. Picture what it smelt like. Was it crowded?"

"It was loud" Jeremy said.

"Were the people loud, or were the sound effects loud?" Spencer asked.

"Both" He replied "Some kid was yelling at his game. Katie started crying when I was playing, said she wanted her mom"

"What was she crying about?" Valentina asked "I don't remember. I couldn't hear"

"Okay. Jeremy, go back to the video game" Derek gently instructed.

The boy smiled slightly "I was winning"

"And how'd that make you feel?"

"Awesome. Proud of myself. Kind of embarrassed" He suddenly said "Embarrassed, why? Who was watching you?"

"I could smell her shampoo" The three agents shared a look "Katie's?" Val asked in a soft tone.

Jeremy shook his head again "Katie was asking for ice cream?" Derek asked once he told them what happened.

"Yeah"

"Is there something else?" Spencer asked as they all saw the way he bit the inside of his cheek again.

"No" Jeremy replied after a few seconds.

"You did good, kid"

-----

Morgan and Valentina walked into the security office to meet with Hotch after he rang them to say they found Katie's necklace in the trash "The clasp is damaged like it was ripped off of her neck" Val stated as she examined the jewellery that was encased in a plastic bag.

"Then they tossed it in the trash?" Agent Jim asked Hotch.

"An abductor just wants to fulfil his urge and move on. He wouldn't take the time. This is motivated by rage. It's personal" Hotch spoke.

"David Westerfield kidnapped Danielle Van Dam out of revenge when her mother rejected him" Morgan pointed out.

Valentina's eyes widened in realisation "Hotch this isn't related to last week's abduction at all"

"We've got permission to search the house" Hotch told the two agents as they all rushed out of the security office, Morgan and Valentina meeting up with Spencer before they all got in SUV.

Pulling up at the residence Valentina was the first to get out as she went and unlocked the door before walking in, her coworkers behind here "Somebody lit a fire last night" Spencer called out, looking at the fire place.

Morgan and Val then came out from the kitchen "Well, there's dirty dishes for three in the kitchen, so they eat together as a family"

"Hey, my favourite movie from when I was a kid" He smiled before handing the DVD over to Morgan who then passed it to Val.

"So, they watched movies together, too" She hummed.

"By a fireplace in a house that's in a cookie-cutter neighbourhood. Norman Rockwell couldn't have painted this any cosier" Spencer turned his attention back to the house.

"That's what worries me"

The three agents then moved upstairs into Katie's bedroom "Katie's been wetting her bed" Spencer lifted up the mattress.

"Well, a lot of six-year-olds do. It could be bad dreams" Morgan replied.

"I don't think this is just bad dreams" Valentina turned around to face the two with a very abused doll in her hands "It was in her laundry hamper meaning she didn't want it found. When I was a little girl, I hid my secrets in the hamper"

"Most girls covet their dolls, like an extension of themselves" Spencer informed.

"Reid, Val, I know these signs. Acting out on her toys, wetting the bed, she's obviously covering up something about that necklace" Morgan said, his eyes on the doll "Her cousin may be holding something back" Spencer added.

"Katie's in a lot of pain and not telling anybody, and I think we all know why. I'm gonna call Hotch" She took a deep breath before dialling his number and putting it on speaker "Yeah?"

"Hotch. We think Katie's being molested, and we both know the odds"

"Most likely by somebody under the same roof"

"Hotch, if Mr Jacobs bought his own daughter a necklace, nobody would think twice about it. So, why would Katie lie?" Derek said.

"She didn't. Because her father didn't buy her the necklace. Get back here as soon as you can"

-----

Valentina found herself walking over to JJ and Morgan while Spencer was questioning Jeremy. Something Susan had said to Emily earlier "I don't think the aunt is telling us everything, and this could get dicey" She whispered to the two agents who quickly caught on.

"Susan, I need to speak with you" She said sternly, guiding the woman away as JJ and Morgan held back the parents "Did you used to work in retail?"

"I'm sorry. How is that..."

"You mentioned it earlier to one of my coworkers"

"So what?"

"What you didn't tell her was you used to work in this mall years ago. You know this building like the back of your hand. Earlier, you made sure to separate from the group" When the woman went silent, Val knew "Come on, let's go"

Valentina felt sick at the shouting from her parents as she lead Susan into a makeshift interrogation room and telling the woman to sit down "What did you do with Katie?"

"Why would you ask me that?" She said it so calm making it very hard for Valentina to keep her cool "You and Richard have been playing the happy family, when the truth is, you've been separated. Why else didn't you realise he hasn't had a cigarette in over a month? He has no use for a new lighter"

"Richard and I have been trying to work things out"

Valentina couldn't help but scoff "Did you really believe that getting rid of that innocent little girl would take away his sickness?"

"You're not making a bit of sense" Susan came out with while shaking her head.

"Did it occur to you last week? After you saw on the news that a little girl was snatched from a local mall and found dead three days later? Did you duct tape her mouth, too? You know you do that to someone with asthma, they can die? But I guess you already figured that, didn't you?"

"This was not supposed to happen to my family" Her voice cracked as she spoke.

"It didn't just happen, Susan. You took her" She slammed her hands down on the table as she looked at the woman in anger "A six-year-old, vulnerable child who trusted you. Who trusted your husband. You need to tell me where she is"

"I don't know what you're talking about" She kept her eyes trained to the floor as Valentina grabbed the battered doll from another table. She held it right up to Susan "This is how Katie sees herself. Self-loathing. Dirty. Disgusting. Your bastard of a husband did that. This is what he made her feel. Those nights that she would stay at your house and he would sneak into her bedroom and tell her not to make a sound. Do you remember that?" She ignored the woman's pleas to stop as she continued "Do you have any idea how terrified she must have been? How confused? While you lay awake protecting an animal who will always have these urges and always has! There's nothing left for you to protect, Susan. Instead of shielding her from more pain, you blamed her for your own! And don't say you didn't because you have robbed Katie of her childhood. Are you going to steal the rest of her life from her too?"

Valentina didn't stop yelling at the woman even when she was in tears and begging the agent to stop "Where is she?!" It was a few seconds later when Val's phone rang and she was quick to pick it up.

It was Morgan "We've got her Val. We have Katie" She looked over at Susan for a second as she sighed in relief "Good"

Putting her phone away, she then grabbed her handcuffs from her back pocket before forcefully standing the woman up and harshly slipping the handcuffs onto her wrists "Susan Jacobs, you are under arrest for the kidnapping and attempted murder of Katie Jacobs. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?" Susan nodded.

She then walked the sobbing woman out of the mall giving a sad smile to Derek and Jeremy before ducking the woman's head into a police car and slamming the door as she got in.