Chapter 10

Frost looked over at Emily and saw her biting her
fingernails, “hey, we’re almost there okay.”

“Yeah okay,” staring straight ahead, her phone buzzed as a
text came through. “Just wanted to say, I
love you Em” smiling at the words, she was surprised that the time stamp
was twenty minutes earlier.  Frowning,
she tried calling Hotch again, shocked when the call went through.

“Hotch, we’re on our way to meet with JJ and Derek, did you
get my…yes…no…okay fine…did they call in…good, we’ll radio in when we get
there…”

Hanging up she looked at Frost.  “They radioed in about fifteen minutes ago,
when they got to the house.  Reid and
Rossi are heading over as well, they have more information for us.”  Taking a deep breath, “they found Rodriguez’
car where we arrested Maldonado.  Garcia
is checking to see if any cars were registered in either of their names.”

“Gotcha, we should be there in less than five minutes, just
two more lights.”  Eyes back on the road,
Frost sped up a bit, this whole situation was making him nervous as well.

Pulling up they saw Jane’s car parked at the curb and lights
on in the house.  Getting out they
climbed the steps and rang the doorbell.
After ringing a second time with no answer, Frost called out, “Boston
Police Mr. Rodriguez, we need you to open the door.”  When no answer was forthcoming, he nodded to
Prentiss, and tried the door.  It was
unlocked.

Pushing the door open, they went in weapons drawn, Frost
went in first, clearing the entry, Emily followed and moved ahead toward what
looked like the living room.   Sweeping
the room, she saw no one, Frost walked past the entry to start clearing the
rest of the first floor until he heard Prentiss call out.

“I have blood…” looking at the bottom of the doorframe and
the floor, she could see blood.

“*****” Frost said, “Come on”

Following him down
the hallway they found an open door just outside the kitchen.  Turning on the light, they saw stairs heading
down into a basement.  Leaving Frost at
the top of the stairs, Emily continued past and cleared the kitchen before
nodding at Frost for them to move down stairs.

With Frost facing down and Emily facing up, they walked down
the stairs covering one another’s backs.
What sounded like a moan stopped them cold. “Did you hear that?”  Emily’s voice was harsh and on edge.