the_hastings_way | Hex - Road Trip To Rosewood

She'd paid cash for the tickets, not wanting her parents, or A, to know she was heading home for the weekend. Paying cash meant they'd fly business and not first class, but that was fine. All that mattered was that they got there.

She'd booked a room for them at the Rosewood Inn, under a fake name, and as soon as they'd dropped off their things, they were heading to Mona's via a rental car.

"I managed to get in touch with my friend Caleb. He says Mona's mother hasn't been home in weeks. She's staying with her mother. There shouldn't be anyone home, and the police shouldn't be a problem," she said, her eyes on the road as she spoke.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

just_hex

Hex had been nervous about this whole thing since he'd received the call from A and they'd messed about with Fin's mobile. But he was determined. A was clearly a threat and he had to help Spencer. Fear was present, but he pushed it down.

"That's grand," he said. "We'll have surprise on our side, yeah?" he added, reaching over to give her a reassuring squeeze.

From:

the_hastings_way

"Maybe," Spencer replied quietly. "I don't know. A has this way of being everywhere. It's like they're always one step ahead."

Night had fallen, and Spencer parked out of sight, under the cover of trees down the street from Mona's.

"Mona's garage door is the same model as my friend Hanna's. It's a real pain to unlock once you lock it, so hopefully Mona's mother didn't bother. We should be able to get in from there."

From:

just_hex

"All the houses are so far apart," Hex said, struck by that more than anything. The sprawling front lawns, the large garages, it certainly wasn't like Spitalfields at all.

"I'll follow your lead. And, erm, I've had some experience with breaking in so...I can help with that."

From:

the_hastings_way

Spencer raised a brow, then tutted playfully. "Hex, you bad boy," she smirked, zipping up her coat and making her way towards Mona's.

From the outside she could see there were no lights on, and she checked for Ms. Vanderwaal's car before testing the garage door and starting to push it open.

"It's a bit stiff. Help me get this open? Don't let it go too fast though, we don't want it to make too much noise."

From:

just_hex

As strong as he was, lifting the door was nothing. He controlled it, nice and slow, and soon enough they were in.

"No alarms we need to worry about?" he asked.

From:

the_hastings_way

"I'm pretty sure Mona had her own little security system set up, but it'll be silent, She preferred sneaky over shocking," Spencer said quietly, letting them into the main house and heading for the stairs.

"Mona liked to hide cameras and things."

From:

just_hex

"I'll be on the lookout," he said, walking after Spencer as she lead the way. He was alert, looking to the neighbors and such, but it didn't seem like this was the sort of place where people watched out their windows all the time.

From:

the_hastings_way

Spencer had only ever been in Mona's bedroom twice before, but it looked just as she remembered it. Nervously she made her way over to the computer case beside the desk, pulling on the front of the casing until it popped open, revealing that it was, in fact, a fridge.

"Oh my god," she said softly, fingering one lone vial of blood.

Just then a beam of light shot into the room. A police badge gleamed in the darkness, and it was clear the man had his gun drawn.

"Freeze! Show me your hands!" the man demanded.

Thinking fast, Spencer slipped the sealed tube of blood into her handbag before complying.

The light was pointed at Hex's face, shining in his eyes, but it soon moved to Spencer instead.

"...Spencer?" the voice gasped, the light lowering slightly.

From:

just_hex

Hex was a large man and imposing, even in his posh clothes Spencer had bought him for the trip so he'd fit in. He knew well enough about American police and how they'd shoot anyone they thought was a threat. So he stood stock still, hands where they were visible.

From:

the_hastings_way

"Toby?" Spencer gasped in return, her hands lowering as he turned off the flash light and clicked on the bedroom light instead.

The man stood in full uniform, clearly only a year or two older than Spencer. He had pale blue eyes and short brown hair that had a slight wave to it. He was just over six foot, and though not terribly broad, it was obvious he was quite athletic.

"Spencer... What are you doing here, you're supposed to be in London," he said, managing to sound relieved and scolding at the same time. "Who are you?" he added, lowering his gun as he looked at Hex, a hint of jealousy in his gaze.

From:

just_hex

"Spencer's mate Hex," he said, then thought he should be clear with law. "...Thomas."

From:

the_hastings_way

"...Mate?" Toby echoed, looking uncomfortable.

"As in room mate," Spencer clarified sharply, clearly not feeling she had to explain that to Toby, but doing so for Hex's benefit. "Hex is a friend of mine from London."

Toby frowned slightly, though he was clearly past the 'mate' thing. "You brought your room mate to a breaking an entering? You didn't think to maybe take him sightseeing instead? Spencer, you absolutely can't be here. The police are already trying to build a case against you, this doesn't make you look any better."

Spencer glanced at the computer case again as she shook her head. "We weren't breaking and entering... Wait, the police are building a case against me?" she gasped.

"You were absolutely breaking and entering," Toby assured her. "And yeah, Tanner wont let me do anything but fetch coffee and stay out of her way, but yeah... She's still looking into you. All of you."

Spencer fingered the vial of blood in her purse, then wet her lips. "I just thought maybe there would be something on Mona's hard drive that might prove Ali didn't..."

Toby sighed, shaking his head. "The computer is in evidence. That one there doesn't even work. The tech guys said it was just an empty fridge."

Spencer shot Hex a look- A look that begged him not to tell Toby anything. Toby didn't seem to notice though, putting his gun away and glancing around the room to make sure nothing had been disturbed.

"You should get out of here before the neighbours notice anything is going on," he prompted, hesitating a beat, then wetting his lips. "I was going to call you," he added.

"Yeah, but you didn't," Spencer replied coldly, heading for the door and gesturing for Hex to follow.

From:

just_hex

Hex followed along, casting Toby a sweet look and a smile...and a shrug. THen he darted after Spencer.

"That was close," he said. When they were further away he added, "If the tech's found an empty fridge then di A put that blood in there to be found?" he asked. "Or Mona? Or...I'm out of ideas."

From:

the_hastings_way

"I don't know," Spencer said honestly, leading the way back to the car. "I don't even know what to do with it. I can't take it back to London."

From:

just_hex

"Is there a hospital?" he asked. "We could at least type and cross it...unless you think giving it straight to the police or maybe a lawyer would help."

From:

the_hastings_way

"Unfortunately my lawyer happens to be my mother- Who's also very connected with the Rosewood PD," Spencer sighed. "She'll kill me if she learns I'm here. Besides, I don't trust the local police- Or the hospital. I'd say we could break into the high school and test it there, but I don't think type is enough. I need to be sure this is definitely Mona's blood. ...I hate to ask, but- What about your FBI friend? Do you think he could make a call? Connect us to someone who could id it as Mona's without alerting the police?"

From:

just_hex

"I can ask," Hex said with a nod and pulled out his mobile. He calculated the time difference and then called Spencer, praying he'd pick up.

From:

dr_spencer_reid

Spencer answered on the third ring.

"Reid here," he greeted, not having looked at the caller ID.

From:

just_hex

"Spencer, it's Hex. I'm in a spot of trouble and I need your help. I'm in America. In Rosewood. And I need...this is going to sound so odd...I need maybe the FBI to help me identify some blood to help solve a murder we think was faked," he blurted out, knowing he needed to be right to the point with the man.

From:

dr_spencer_reid

Spencer- The one with breasts who was currently at his side- looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"Um... I don't- I don't know, Hex. Can't you just take it to the police?" Reid asked, "Faking your own death is a serious criminal offence..."

From:

just_hex

"Not my death. And the police here are...it's complicated, but they're too close to the case, yeah? They won't believe us. Please, Spencer...you're our only hope. We think it's worse than that. We think maybe her death was faked and she might be abducted," Hex pleaded.

From:

dr_spencer_reid

Spencer was silent for a long moment, then sighed.

"I don't know anyone out there who can have it checked without alerting someone, but I do know someone who can get it to London for you. I'll text you an address."