CHAPTER TWO

(Boodikka is a fictional character featured in comic books published by DC Comics. Boodikka is a tall, well-muscled humanoid alien female with pink skin and reddish black hair. Her name is a play on the ancient British warrior-queen Boudicca.(Wiki)

Hal Jordan—(Green Lantern #2) He was given the power ring and battery (lantern) by a dying alien named Abin Sur, whose spaceship crashed on Earth. Abin Sur used his ring to seek out an individual who was "utterly honest and born without fear" to take his place as Green Lantern. Jordan became a founding member of the Justice League of America and as of the mid-2000s is, along with John Stewart, one of the two active-duty Lanterns in Earth's sector of space.(wikipedia)

"We've been placed on administrative leave." Dave told the rest of the team. "Hotch's personal vehicle was found around three this morning. Blood on the interior, no sign of Hotch. DC police want to question all of us, then Strauss has given the orders for us to vacate until he's found and this is resolved."

"So we're just supposed to twiddle our thumbs? What about…" Morgan demanded angrily.

Dave interrupted. "I think the best thing we can do right now is make sure Emily is getting over her flu, her and Jack. And wait with them. Morgan, you first with the police. Then Garcia, Reid, and JJ."

Morgan nodded, Dave's unstated orders understood.

Two hours later, Hayley Hotchner opened her front door to find five Bureau agents on the front steps of the house she used to share with Hotch. Dave quickly explained the situation, and the BAU team commandeered Hotch's former dining room table. Fifteen minutes after that Will—and baby Henry—rushed in.

JJ immediately took her son and cuddled him closer. Then briefly explained what they knew to Will. The rest of the team waited impatiently for Garcia to finding something.

"Baby girl." Morgan said, as he watched over Garcia's shoulder. "Isolate the intersection, then go aerial."

"Sure thing, sugar." Garcia's fingers flew over the keys and a schematic of the neighborhood appeared on the screen.

"Now, highlight Monument Drive, Monument Palace Apartments." Morgan ordered. The building in question flashed with bright orange light. "Shit. He was two blocks from Emily's condo."

"He probably went there for help." JJ said, eyes frightened, as she burped little Henry.

"Garcia, any chance you can get us any footage for either the intersection or Emily's building?" Dave asked.

Ten minutes later she'd managed to bring up the intersection in question, and the life traffic cam. She backhacked into the older data until finding Hotch's vehicle. They watched as Hotch was sideswiped and pulled from the vehicle. He fought hard, but it was apparent these bastards weren't weekend warriors. They were used to fighting, and they fought dirty. It was only determination and a passing car that gave Hotch the chance to slip away down an alley.

Everyone was grim when the segment was done playing.

"What about Emily's building?" Dave questioned. Nobody wanted to voice the possibility that those same bastards who'd done such a number on Hotch had gotten their hands on the smaller, more vulnerable Emily. She wouldn't have stood even half the chance. Especially after as much stress as she'd gone through just a few weeks ago with her friend dying and that priest being responsible. She'd lost weight, been more jumpy than usual.

"I can get you in Emily's building. I noticed the system was a common online digital system before. Will just take a few minutes." Garcia's face was grimly determined as she set about her task. Ten minutes and they had the hallway outside apartment 305.

They watched, breaths tight and drawn, as an obviously injured Hotch staggered from the elevator near Emily's door. He leaned his head against the wood for a good two minutes before pounding on the door.

It took an infinitely long time for the door to open. Only part of Emily was revealed, showing her dressed in boxers and a white tank top. She pulled Hotch inside and they both staggered. Then they saw the shadow of the door shutting.

"So then what?" JJ asked. "Why didn't they call for help? The police, the Bureau, one of the team, even?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure they had good reason. " Dave said. "Fast forward. See if they left—or anyone else showed up. Make sure he wasn't trailed to Emily's."

Four hours of tape-time passed quickly as Garcia ran through the tape. At approximately a quarter before seven a man and woman left Emily's apartment.

"There they go!" Garcia said, drawing the room's attention. "Look! Where's Boodikka taking the Green Lantern? And what is she doing with her hand?"

"Those two weren't exactly peaceful toward each other—Hal Jordan cut off Boodikka's hand," Reid commented, leaning closer to the screen. "And it's numbers, I think. Play it again."

"Yeah, but those two were a bit hostile to each other for a while there. It seemed to fit." Garcia rewound the footage. "Watch."

"1. 4. 7. What was that?" Reid asked, as the camera-Emily gestured.

"I think it was the sign language for P." Hayley said, from where she sat quietly beside Dave. It was obvious the blond didn't know what to think of the invasion of her home. Jack was still sleeping, his mid morning nap.

" 147 P. Then 5274, and…?" Reid looked toward Hayley for confirmation.

"X."

"147P5274X." Garcia said. "That's a case number. An older one. PX Cases were from at least five years ago, if not more."

"Long before Emily joined the BAU." Morgan added.

JJ handed the baby to his father. "Emily must have known we'd break into her building's security."

"My girl's a smart cookie. One of the smartest women I've ever met." Garcia said, grimly proud.

Morgan nodded. "So why that case?"

Garcia turned toward the unacknowledged leader of their rogue case. "Agent Rossi, sir. I can access the case, but it'll leave a definite trail."

"Don't do that." Dave decided. "And Garcia, erase that tract of Emily giving us the numbers."

"You want me to tamper with evidence?"

"Circumvent. There's a reason why Hotch and Prentiss didn't contact us any other way. A reason why they didn't call the police or Bureau for help. Just erase it temporarily if possible. Buy them some time." Dave tapped his pen against the table. "As far as accessing the file, can you possibly hack Hotch's laptop?"

"Yes. I'm the one who designed his safeguards." Garcia turned back toward her screen. "Why?"

"Because Hotch keeps a master folder on his hard drive of all the cases he's worked on since joining the BAU." Dave said. "We need that information without being traced back to us."

"Gotcha. And in the meantime?" Garcia asked.

"In the meantime…we wait. Ball's in Hotch and Emily's court." Dave said.

"I just hope they know how not to drop it." JJ said