BETRAYED

Chapter 4

Nothing in Aaron Hotchner's stoic demeanor reflected the silent panic he felt as he listened to Morgan. His family was slipping away and he felt powerless to stop it. He had suspected for months that Haley was cheating on him. It didn't take a profiler to pick up on the clues. There were long calls on her cell bill to numbers that he didn't recognize, and frequent hang-ups whenever he would answer the house phone. When he came home from work, she would be on the internet, only to quickly log off when he walked into the room. My God, Haley, he thought, miserably, so now you're meeting strange men in bars? How could you? Even if I don't matter to you, how could you do this to our son?

As Morgan's story progressed, he became increasingly alarmed. Everything Derek was telling him sounded like the man with Haley was strong suspect in their case. And then, the realization! Suppose the unsub knew where Haley was living? She and Jack could be in mortal jeopardy. "Morgan, we need to set up security…"

"It's already done."

In spite of the angst he was feeling, Hotch smiled, ever so slightly. He should have known he could trust Morgan. "Good. I'll call Haley. Take Reid. Go over and talk to her. See what she knows. Don't alarm her unduly but let her know that she needs to be on guard." He reached for his desk phone to make the call. "I gather you already have the address."

"Garcia found it for me. Queen's Court in Dumfries." Morgan hesitated. "Uh, Hotch, maybe you could send someone else? I'm working on a profile for the Illinois State Police…the car bombings in Peoria. I, uh, promised to get it faxed out to them this afternoon."

Impressed with Morgan's competence only a moment ago, Hotch scowled, clearly annoyed. Why was Derek trying to weasel out of the assignment? He studied the younger agent, and his instincts told him there was something Morgan wasn't telling him.

"Peoria can wait," he said, curtly, pushing his wife's number on speed dial. "You're the best person to interview her since you've actually encountered the suspect." Haley's phone began to ring. "And, confiscate her hard drive…laptop, too… whatever she's used to communicate with this guy. Maybe Garcia can track him through the IP address." His wife answered on the forth ring.

"Right." Morgan said, standing up. God damn, he didn't want to do this. He hadn't talked to Haley since he dropped her off at O'Reilly's to get her car on their infamous 'morning after.'

"Thanks for you help, Derek." She'd told him as simply as if he'd helped her carry in a bag of groceries. Maybe it was just a damn dream. If only it was, he thought, sourly, as he approached Reid's desk, knowing his feelings had been far too intense for it to have been a fantasy.

"Yes," Haley said to Aaron, icily. She must have checked the Caller ID.

Hotch spoke to her matter-of-factly. He didn't comment on her transgression, but simply said that Morgan and Reid were on their way over to talk with her about the man she'd met in the bar. "He's a suspect in the case we're working on," he said, emotionless. "They'll need to take your computer, too. We may be able use it to trace him."

She replied, quietly, "okay." He thought he detected a hint of shame in her voice.

"Could you put Jack on the phone?" He asked his wife.

"He's not here. Jessica took him down to the park."

Unconsciously, he emitted a small sigh of disappointment. "Just as well," he conceded. "It would be better for him not to be there when you talk with my agents. I'll call tonight."

He hung up the phone and rubbed his eyes. He was beat, physically and mentally. He hadn't been sleeping well. He went out to the kitchenette and poured a cup of coffee. Reid and Morgan were just stepping into the elevator.

Back at his desk, he sipped his coffee. It tasted like mud, but at least it would keep him awake. He picked up his cell phone and began to flip once more through the pictures of his son.

zzzzz

Haley closed the door behind Morgan and Reid, and bolted it, relieved that the interview was over. It hadn't been as awkward talking with Derek as she was afraid it might be. His professional behavior put her at ease. Besides, she'd never meant for anything to happen between them. She was just so drunk that night, and so damned lonely. It felt good to sleep with a man beside her. When she pleasured him, she didn't even realize it was Derek. She thought she was in bed with her husband until the alarm went off. Hopefully, they could both forget it ever happened.

Damn, damn, damn you, Aaron! Why do you have to be so pig-headed? If Jack and I meant half as much to you as your stinking job, nothing would ever have happened between me and Derek, or with any other man. All I've ever wanted was a nice, normal life with you. Being a superhero was one thing before we had Jack. I was supportive for a long time, but now it's time to settle down. Why can't you see that?

She was fuming when went into the kitchen to brew a cup of tea, trying to calm down. While sitting at the table sipping her drink, she began to shake, as the horror suddenly hit her. My God! Scott could be a serial killer? I could have been murdered that night if Morgan hadn't been there. She remembered what he and Reid told about the women being stabbed and dumped, and a wave of emotion swept over her. She couldn't control the tears that spilled down her cheeks. She wept until all of the emotion was out of her, and then went to the sink to wash her face with cool water. By the time Jessica and Jack came in the back door, she'd regained her composure and managed a smile.

Her voice was a little raspy when she asked. "Hi, Honey. Did you have a good time?"

Jack nodded happily, as he let his mother help him pull off his sweatshirt. "An' Jess-ca push da swing, Mom-ee…real high." He gestured with his small hands.

"Put this away for Mommy, and wash your hands. I'm going to make your lunch." She told him, handing him the shirt.

When Jack was out of the room, she looked, urgently, at her sister. "Jess, we have to talk."

xxxxx

"Leave it alone, Reid," Morgan said, angrily, as he put the car in gear and backed out of Jessica's driveway.

"I'm just saying…I'm glad she was able keep her hands off you."

Morgan was so pissed, but in spite of himself, Spencer relished another opportunity to needle his partner. After the years of teasing he'd taken from Morgan about everything from his lack of gun skills to his social ineptness, and what Morgan referred to as his "pathetic body," he couldn't help himself.

They had talked with Haley for almost an hour. After the first few minutes, Morgan relaxed and put his guilt in its place. He conducted the interview as he would any other. They had several pages of notes on Haley's interaction with the unsub, and she turned over her hard drive for examination.

He was relieved to learn that Haley had never told the suspect where she lived. Scott's only communication with her had been on the internet and one phone call early on the evening they met. Garcia was already checking phone records, and with the computer, he hoped they could solve the case fairly fast.

"I guess she was too drunk to remember what she did with you." Reid continued, trying to sound serious.

"Y'know, Reid. Drop it! I know it's a big, fucking joke to you. Do you know how shitty I feel about what happened? Do you really think I would do anything to hurt Hotch?" Derek's tone was pleading. "I don't want to hear anymore about it…PLEASE!"

"I'm sorry." Reid was almost sincere.

They were so preoccupied with their banter, that they never noticed the late model white pickup truck parked down the side street. A bald man with a well-trimmed goatee and steely blue eyes, watched as they pulled out of the development.