[CM] THE CASE

To live in the heart of the living is to not die. — Campbell

Griffith looked haggard.The policeman poured him a cup of hot water, but he didn't drink it. He held the cup with both hands, like a homeless person who was extremely cold, and warmed up with a cup of white water from a kind shopkeeper.

But the heating in the police station is sufficient, and even a coat is not required.

It was the first time for a female police officer to face an FBI agent. Even though the opponent was a family member of the victim, she was still inexplicably nervous.Not to mention the stalking agents in the office next door.

"Mr. Griffith, I'm sorry, but we need to ask a few questions." The female police officer poked at the notebook, "If you feel unwell, you can always ask for a timeout."

"I see."

"So, when was the last time you saw old Mr. Griffith?"

"Eight years ago, June NO.30." Griffith recalled, "When I got up in the morning, I saw the note he left on the bedside. Because I slept late the day before, I didn't get up until almost noon the next day. He left a message saying he was going to find his family, but I didn't go to him."

"Well, but when he went abroad, he had already divorced his wife." The female police officer said cautiously, "and in the third year, a fire broke out in their house, and Mrs. Griffith and her son couldn't escape. .”

Griffith froze.

"So you don't know where he went, do you?"

"I..." Griffith licked his lips, "I don't know, he never told me about him, I don't know much about him."

"But he is your stepfather?"

"Yes, I was an orphan, and I was under his guardianship when I was a child." Griffith explained, "Later, I was admitted to a university in the United States, and he followed me back. We discussed this and agreed to settle in the United States, and he ran away some relationships ..."

The female police officer wrote down his words: "Do you know why he went abroad in the first place?"

Griffith shook his head.

"Do you still have that note?"

"It's still in my apartment. I don't live here. I can go back and send a fax if I need to."

"Oh, okay." The female police officer closed the notebook, "We will call you if necessary, you..."

"May I know how he died?" Griffith asked. "Or, can I see his body?"

The female police officer hesitated and gave the neighbor a wink.

"Let him go," Gideon said. Reid frowned, looking at him disapprovingly.

"Griffith's specialness may be helpful," Gideon didn't explain much, "if it's convenient for you." He said the second half of the sentence to the police detective on the side, and the police detective gestured to the female police officer. The police officer said softly: "Of course, let me remind you that his body... may only be a skeleton. After all, five years have passed..."

"Five years?" Griffith raised an eyebrow, "But he left eight years ago."

"Yes, we will check his records and see if we can dig out some clues from the past three years." The female police officer packed up her things and got up to open the door for Griffith. Griffith thanked him in a low voice, and when he went out, he saw Reid holding a cup of coffee.

"The forensic doctor still needs to prepare, would you like some coffee?" Reid handed him the paper cup, "Or some bread?"

Griffith had no appetite at all, and waved his hand: "No need, I..." Before he finished speaking, Reid spread his hand, with a peanut candy in his palm: "Then, at least eat a candy? You didn't eat breakfast."

Griffith still wanted to refuse, but Reid looked at him with innocent and worried eyes, and "no" just stuck in his mouth, grinding his teeth and it was gone.

He just nodded.

Then Reid quickly tore open the package for him as if he was afraid that he would regret it, and delivered it to his mouth with thoughtful service. Griffith gave him a helpless look and bit down.

Gideon watched this scene with mixed emotions, and Rossi added fuel to the fire beside him: "They have such a good relationship."

Feeling good……

Gideon smacked these words back and forth several times, feeling a little sour.

The peanut candy was a little sticky to the teeth, and Griffith's cheeks were bulging, and he was wriggling slowly and with difficulty.While eating, he habitually touched the bracelet with his hand, but it was empty.He froze for a moment, the ominous premonition pushed the adrenaline soaring all the way, and the unspeakable heart palpitations hit him like a bolt of lightning.

"My bracelet..." Griffith murmured, pushing Reid away and rushing back to the office.

Reid followed closely behind him: "What? Need help?"

"Bracelet," Griffith said curtly, "I'm missing my bracelet."

Reid squatted down and searched with him: "Do you remember when you lost it?"

"It was still there when I got out of the car," Griffith said. "I didn't remember it when I got into the police station."

There is nothing in the office, because it is dedicated to interviewing the families of the victims, only tables, chairs and cabinets.They searched the office until Gideon knocked on the door and told Griffith to go to the morgue.

Griffith supported the table and stood up: "Yeah." He also pulled Reid up from the ground and comforted: "Forget it, lose it if you lose it."

People are left with only bones. Wouldn't it only add to the sadness if we want to think about these old things?

Gideon dismissed the medical examiner and stared at Rossi who had come in with them. Rossi didn't realize it, and asked frankly, "What's wrong?"

Gideon pointed at the door: "Go out and guard, don't let others in."

Rossi nodded, turned around and urged Reid: "Don't go soon?"

Gideon sighed. "Dave, I'm talking about you."

Rossi looked as innocent as possible: "Me?"

"Dave," Gideon warned, "get out."

Rossi couldn't get away with it, and patted Griffith on the shoulder, leaving a questioning look.

Griffith had never touched a body like this, and the evidence had been lost over time, leaving only scars on the bones.There was too little useful information. He put on his gloves and wanted to observe carefully, but his outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

It was the last thing a loved one left for the world, and Griffith's heartache was still there, and Reid could see the trembling of his fingertips.But Gideon didn't make a sound to stop it, and Griffith mustered up his courage and picked up a rib.

"Sword wounds." He said tremblingly, "Multiple stab wounds, some of which show signs of healing. No, most of them, some of which have healed." He shook his body and saw some deformed leg bones.

"His leg...wasn't a knife wound." Before Griffith finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain coming from his leg, his face contorted, and he almost couldn't stand up.

Calm down... pain is hallucination... hallucination...

Griffith blinked desperately, trying to tear himself away from the hallucination. Reid immediately took a step forward, and Gideon stopped him with his hand.

"Wait a little longer." Gideon whispered, "I know the measure."

Reid clenched his hands into fists, and finally retreated silently.

He could feel himself lying in bed and could see a shadow standing beside him like silent death.But he was too weak to resist—or rather unwilling to resist.When the cold blade came out, he even closed his eyes, like... like...

It's like a scarred believer leaning over and kissing the idol, all sins are redeemed.

But what was James guilty of?

Griffith knocked over the equipment on the table, and Gideon rushed to support him: "Griffith! Look at me!"

The young man raised his head slowly, his eyes clear.

Gideon froze for a moment, a smile slowly emerged from the corner of his mouth.

"You did it," he said slowly, like a stern professor praising a student for the first time, "Well done."

Griffith woke up fine, but he didn't have much strength.With the help of Gideon, he cleaned up the messy scene and didn't speak immediately.

Gideon didn't urge him, Reid didn't dare to speak, only the air conditioner was "humming" in the morgue.

"Mr. Rossi, is that right?" Griffith asked. "He's a friend of James'? I have something to ask him."

When Hotch received the call, Garcia's voice was trembling: "Then what, boss, it's me."

Hotch sighed deeply, feeling that the vacation would come to an abrupt end again - which is probably why the first batch of false approvals were so happy.

"What's the matter?"

"It's okay, no, it's a problem, of course it's a problem," Garcia said. "It's not about the bureau, it's a case. Um, do you remember that Griffith had a foster father?"

Hotch frowned: "Remember, what's wrong?"

"Did you know Gideon's flight went to Las Vegas last night? Griffith and Reid were there too, by the way."

Gideon went too?

Hotch rubbed his forehead: "What happened to Griffith?"

"His adoptive father's body was found, it was murder, Gideon went to follow up and investigate... No, I didn't hack Gideon's phone! It's just that you need to report to me about your whereabouts. I just saw the email. I just came to inform, Because Gideon is dispatched, I don't think it will be easy. JJ received a call from there and is coordinating."

"Well, Gideon has a measure. If we really need our help, he will call me directly." Hotch said, "You tell JJ to ask her to help me get permission to participate in the case, just let Gideon participate, Griffith needs to avoid suspicion."

"Ok."

"Also, keep this secret in advance. If nothing happens, don't tell Morgan and Emily."

Garcia nodded: "Well, I understand. Then I won't disturb your vacation, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."

Haley leaned against the door, watched Hotch hang up, and walked over to give herself a kiss.

"The phone number in the bureau?"

"Well, don't worry, I'm not leaving." Hotch rubbed his wife's face with the stubble. Haley laughed at his childish behavior: "Okay, it's time for you to shave. Jack is asleep and your dishes haven't been washed yet."

"Washing the dishes, do I still have unorganized storage room?"

"That's right." Haley rewarded him with a kiss, then pushed the man away, "Come on, work on it."

Hotch watched her go upstairs, finally showing a hint of guilt.

This vacation may never end again.

The author has something to say: It’s a holiday~ I will try my best to repay the debt~