Prologue
My name is Simon Reese Turner, the only son of Diane Turner. I don’t know my father, though I know he’s still alive. I have a baby sister named Emma. She’s two months old. I’m eight years old. Even though I’m only eight, I have an intelligence higher than most teenagers. My mother knows, of course. It makes her angry, so I dumb myself down around her. Last time I showed any promise intellectually, my mother beat me within an inch of my life. That was before I understood the reason. Now, I do. She’s jealous of a genius in her field, Maeve Donovan. Mother now hates all geniuses, even me.
As it is right now, mother is holding Maeve Donovan hostage. I am to stay in my room and stay silent the entire time she is there or risk another beating. I try to resist the urge to sneak to check on Maeve, but in the end, I give in. I reason with myself that I’ll only take a peek and see how my mother is treating her.
So, I head down the hallway that leads from my bedroom to the main room. I guess this would be a good time to mention that we live in an old warehouse of sorts. It’s in the main room that Maeve is being held. I catch sight of Maeve tied up in the center and notice that my mother is nowhere to be seen.
I go to stand in front of Maeve. She looks up at me, her eyes showing surprise at my appearance and fear at what my mother has been putting her through. Maeve has a gag covering her mouth. I loosen it so she can speak. “Who are you?” She asks as soon as she can speak.
“My name is Simon Reese Turner, son of Diane Turner. I’m afraid I can’t do much to help. Mother would beat me if she found out. If there’s a way for me to help in secret, though, then tell me now,” I respond.
“Grab a phone and call Spencer Reid. His number is 703-555-3219. Please, hurry,” Maeve tells me.
“Okay. Now, I need to replace the gag so mother doesn’t suspect anything. I’m sorry,” I inform her before replacing the gag. I then grab a cordless phone and head towards my room to make the call.
