Aaron Hotchner and Jason Gideon's case had slowed to less than a crawl. Over the last two months three couples had been murdered in their hotel rooms, 'The Maple´ being the site of the first. Hotch could remember the briefing now, it was still at the front of his mind.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Gideon had hobbled into his office (having the weak before fallen down the steps of his cabin and broken his foot.) and sat down quickly, passing a brown file over to Aaron. Gideon's face was somewhat angry and pale; he dropped his crutches to the floor and huffed.
"Jason, what happened?" Hotch flipped the file open. "Oh."
Gideon gave Hotch a few moments to read through the file before he began.
"Six people Aaron. In the last two months three couples have been murdered in their hotel rooms. It started in 'The Maple Hotel' down in Chicago with the deaths of fifty-three year old banker Thomas Ryder and his thirty year old partner Ethan Wyle. Mr Ryder had been bound and stabbed forty-two times."
"Some are shallow." Agent Hotchner added forcing Gideon to breathe.
"Yes. Mr Wyle had his jugular almost completely cut in half, but nothing else."
Hotch closed the file and took a quick intake of breath before asking. "Was he raped?"
"No." Gideon replied. "And nothing was stolen." Silence filled the air for a few moments
"The second was at 'The Jefferson' David O'Connell forty-nine and Nicholas Urban twenty-eight then Lewis Daniels fifty and boyfriend Kasper Sparks twenty-seven at 'The Redwood'. Gideon was forced to stop again for air stupid lungs he thought. "Matthew Shaw a fifty-one year old investment banker and his twenty-four year old partner Duane DeMarko where discovered yesterday again at 'The Maple'."
Aaron leaned forwards in his chair. "How have they not called us sooner?" He asked. Gideon nodded knowing Hotch's frustration.
"You know how it is; different departments they don't talk to each other. It was only the discovery of Shaw and DeMarko that made them notice the pattern.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They had been with the task force for two weeks now and had Strauss breathing down their necks. She had given them an ultimatum, solve the case in the next week or she would replace them with Carson's team. Neither Hotch nor Gideon wanted to accept defeat and go home without catching this monster.
Sleepy after another day of catching no one and no leads they drove to their hotel and got in the elevator. Hotch leaned against the mirrored interior of the elevator and with a slight chuckle said. "Maybe we should send someone undercover."
"Yeah," Gideon smiled looking down to his bandaged right foot. "…that would be you then."
The elevator reached their floor and the doors opened, Hotch quickly stepped out only to be grabbed by Gideon. "Wait we could send you undercover. 'The Rochester' is in the comfort zone and you haven't done much fieldwork since we got here." Gideon paused.
"Yes, but there are no other agents young enough to fit the age gap needed, I'm only thirty-eight." Hotch replied pulling his arm away.
"What about the task force officers?"
"There are maybe six years tops, still not enough. What is your plan Jason to pull some poor kid out of the academy?" Hotch chuckled, but seeing the look on the other agents face quickly stopped him. He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I know a young doctor, he is a genius and would fit the age gap."
The two men stood in the hallway of the hotel silently debating it.
"Do you think he would agree? He won't have been in the field before." Hotch said almost dismissing the thought.
"Yes he'll do it." Gideon replied almost instantly.
"Then call your doctor friend." Hotchner said leaving Gideon alone in the hallway. Gideon stood still for a few moments, then like Aaron disappeared to the safety of his room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hello, Dr. Reid?" Gideon said quietly as he sat down on his bed to rest his foot. "I know that it's late but I was wondering if I could have a word." There was silence for a moment; Reid was most likely trying to wake himself.
"Do you know what time it is?" Reid replied quietly.
"Yes sorry but it is important."
"Then what can I do for you, sir?" Reid asked rubbing a hand over his face.
"We have little time so I will be blunt. Would you be willing to come down to Chicago and work an undercover case?"
Silence again.
"What? Why me?" He asked in shock.
"We need someone who knows what they are doing but is young enough to fit an age gap. The only person we can think of and have quick access to is you."
"Er, okay when do you need me?"
"Now, I will have the jet sent for you in an hour. Thank You."
"Your welco-"
Gideon cut him off as he hung up and set the cell phone on the night stand.
"Good, now we may get somewhere." Gideon said to himself leaning back on his bed before drifting off to sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
By the time Agents Hotchner and Gideon reached the task force office the next morning Spencer had already arrived and was helping himself to coffee, well the best that cops could offer at least. Hotch set his briefcase down before being quickly grabbed by Gideon (this was becoming a regular thing) Jason spun Hotch around and gestured to Reid, who was now sat by the lead detectives desk. Aaron Hotchner's eyes widened revealing the hazel tint around their edges, he was beautiful, and that came as a shock to Hotch, he wasn't expecting that. Spencer Reid wore tight fitting black jeans and a white shirt that was all finished with a light grey waistcoat that hugged his body. His brown hair curled slightly and cuddled his head. Hotch emerged from his trance with the help of Gideon's voice.
"SSA Aaron Hotchner, this is Doctor Reid." He was now stood in front of Hotch looking up at him with his bold eyes. Hotch held out his hand to greet him, he took it quickly. His soft lips curled into a smile as he said. "It's fantastic to meet you, your work fascinates me."
Gideon shuffled away to a large chestnut table and sat. At the end of the table stood a large board covered in; times, dates, crime scene photos and even the victims.
"Thank you." He relied, reluctantly releasing his soft hand as he spoke. "Has Gideon Explained?"
"Just that I fit an age and that it's some undercover case. Am I the bait?" He asked. He still stood very close to Hotch.
"It seems that he's told you very little." Reid nodded in agreement. Aaron turned to the table and pulled a chair out before gesturing for Reid to sit. What a gentleman he thought to himself as he sat. Hotch then leaned against the table with his back to Gideon, quickly he noticed that his angle was perfect to look the doctors kissable neck.
"Well" he began "Over two and a half months four couples have been murdered in their hotel rooms. Always a homosexual couple that has at least a fifteen-year age gap. I know it can be deemed inappropriate but we need to do something to stop this man, we are asking you to go undercover with me as a couple on vacation at 'The Rochester'." Hotch paused awaiting his refusal. He giggled under his breath and said.
"Be the boyfriend of SSA Aaron Hotchner? How could I possibly refuse?"
Gideon stood and as he hobbled away said. "Good I'll inform Roy."
"Jason, his name is Ronnie." Hotch corrected but it was too late Gideon had turned a corner. Agent Hotchner turned his attention back to the beauty that had just agreed to be his boyfriend (even if it was only for a while).
Suddenly, thoughts of Haley filled his mind. Sat at home without him and what she would say if she ever found out about this case. But now he didn't care, he had a job to do and it wasn't his fault if involved a twenty-year old man who was completely gorgeous and had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
"Come with me Dr Reid." He gestured for him to follow.
"Just Reid, please Agent Hotchner."
"Oh, I hate being called Agent Hotchner, don't tell anyone but it makes me think of Strauss." He giggled at his quip. "Call me Hotch." Reid nodded and followed him down a light green hallway. Hotch opened the door to one of the interrogation rooms and stood aside for Spencer to enter first, he's being a gentleman again Aaron walked to the table which was covered in all sorts that showed their fake lives. He picked up an ID card and handed it to Reid.
"This is you. You'll be taking the name Sodi Campbell, the twenty-year old partner of prosecution lawyer Charles Campbell. Your mother was Israeli, hence the first name." He paused to pick up his own ID card and looked down at it. "Charles is forty-one." Reid filled the room with gentle laughter. "What's so funny?" His stern and serious trademark face took over. "It's just; you don't look forty-one."
Calming Hotch said. "Maybe that's why you started dating me at eighteen." They both giggled.
Ronnie entered the room followed slowly by Gideon. Ronnie was the lead detective of the task force and impossible to miss in a crowd. He was at least six-foot-four and had bright blonde hair.
"So you must be the academy agent I heard rumours about."
Spencer simply nodded.
"Nice to meet you, I'm detective Ronald Yates but everyone just calls me Ronnie."
"Reid."
"I know you don't have much field experience but don't worry, my team and I will be outside the hotel at all times."
"I'm not scared, but thanks anyway." He giggled.
Ronnie nodded and left the room, sliding past Gideon in the process.
"Well," Gideon began. "It's off to work we go."