"That's great so what's the plan?" Emily asked
"You stay here with Reid and Rossi goes to Los Vegas with Morgan. I don't know what information she has and we need to know more about the Rangers and Reid's time with them." Hotch said
'Makes sense, do you guys have everything have you need before I leave?" Rossi asked
"Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen that I assumed Garcia has fully stocked, a monster TV and a couch, and a gorgeous view. I think we are set, thanks Rossi." Emily said
"You're welcome; I'll see you in a week or two." Rossi said and left
Hotch too said goodbye and left Emily to unpack. The two men said goodbye to Reid was still going through Garcia's bags. He waved at them but barely looked up from what he was doing. Rossi drove to the airport to meet Morgan at the jet and Hotch headed for the police station. He met up with JJ who was waiting for him.
"Chief Donaldson thank you for waiting. Has Ms. Birch said anything?" Hotch asked
"No, we offered her a lawyer she said yes and that she wanted to make a deal."
"Her lawyer arrived twenty minutes ago. They're waiting on you." JJ said
Hotch took her file and Donaldson led him to the briefing room. Holly Birch was sitting at the table with her lawyer next to her; two cups of coffee were in front of them
"Hello Ms. Birch I'm Aaron Hotchner we met a few days ago at the Prancing Pony."
"I remember, listen I am willing to give up my Opium supplier in exchange for parole and a fine no jail time."
"That's not who I'm interested in, though I'm sure the DA would view any cooperation you give on that front favorably. I'm here about Spencer Reid and Richard Lee or as you know him Fire Cat."
"Fire Cat I should have known, I'm too small for a Federal Agent to care about me or my contacts. What do you want to know and what do I get?"
"Probation; monitored supervision in a halfway house if you can help us put Richard Lee in jail and the surrender of your entire Opium supply."
"Deal, Lee has a safe house I need pen and paper" Holly wrote down the address and handed it to Hotch "A few of his friends come there with various injuries. Lee knows I'm discreet and won't ask questions so he brings me in from time to time to treat them."
"Did you know any of them?"
"I've seen a few here and there but the most not really. I prefer to treat the poor, the ones who can't afford the huge costs of the medical establishment. Lee helps keep the lights on."
"Did any of them have a Celtic Cross on them either branded or tattooed?"
"You mean like Spencer Reid's brand. A handful I remember five at least. Fire Cat kept an eye on me as I treated them and hurried me out the door as soon as I was done."
"Do you know anything about them or who they work for?"
"That's enough if you want more information you need to give Ms. Birch a better deal." The lawyer interrupted before she could answer
"We'll be in touch, Ms. Birch it was nice seeing you again." Hotch said and left
"That's it? She was giving you information about Reid's kidnappers."
"She doesn't know much if anything Lee would have made sure of it. But this does mean Lee is in league with Reid's kidnappers."
Hotch arranged with Birch's lawyer a statement about Lee's safe house and the various illegal activities she had seen there. With that Hotch went to a judge and got a warrant for the safe house which was not in Lee's name but was owned by a William Harris. When they got there they found guns, drugs, maps, some dynamite, a few books from the Middle Ages and Renaissance Period. Richard Lee wasn't there but they did get William Harris and four other men. The men were taken into custody and forensics started going over the house. JJ went to the media and put out Richard Lee's photograph and said he was wanted for questioning by the FBI.
Two days passed, there were no signs of Richard Lee and nothing in the house indicated where he might have gone. However the evidence in that house was enough to put William Harris and the other men away for life. Two of the men; William Norris, and David Calton had the Celtic Cross tattooed on their shoulders the same exact spot as Reid. William Norris was from Los Vegas and ran in similar circles as the rangers. David Calton had been in Denver the same time as Reid and had disappeared the same night Reid had. No one from the safe house was talking so Hotch went to the Penthouse Four days after Reid had taken up residence. He found Reid curled up on the couch watching Star Trek
"Hey Reid how are you doing?" Hotch asked
"Fine, Emily's in the kitchen making lunch, I offered to help but she insisted I rest. Is there any news?"
"We'll talk after lunch." Hotch said and went to the kitchen
Emily was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and an apron, her feet were bare and she was swaying to music as she stirred a pot of soup.
"Isn't it dangerous to cook in bare feet?" Hotch asked
"Maybe, but I like going around in bare feet especially in this place, the carpets are so thick and full it's like walking on clouds. You said you had news about Reid's kidnappers." Emily asked turning down the music
Hotch filled her in on the events of the proceeding days. As he talked she put the soup on to simmer and had him cut up cheese and tomatoes for grilled cheese sandwiches. Hotch actually cooked the sandwiches while Emily got out fruit salad and bowls, plates and other utensils.
"So how is Reid doing?" Hotch asked as he watched the sandwiches
"He's recovering slowly, he's still taking Vicodin twice a day and he takes a sleeping pill before bed. His wounds are healing but his back and shoulder are still heavily infected. Reid insists on sleeping with a knife on his bedside table and he keeps one behind the Dalek pillow on the sofa. The three times he's fallen asleep without a sleeping pill he wakes up crying." Emily said putting some of the huge bowl of fruit salad into smaller bowls
"He needs to see a therapist, but he can't do that yet. What does he do is relax; Rossi said that Reid made him watch a whole bunch of B- science fiction films that the hotel provided. He did say Reid eventually showed mercy and put on a couple of Vincent Price movies." Hotch said flipping the sandwiches
"Reid does read some but he mostly watches TV he's seen the Star Wars films, then the Alien trilogy, a few episodes of old Dr. Who, and is now watching Star Trek. He spends an hour outside on the balcony every day. I'm worried though; he seems more relaxed here outside of the knives but he also spends a couple hours each day in his room writing in a notebook he tries to hide from me." Emily said putting the bowls and other dishes on a tray
The sandwiches were done Hotch put them on a plate, while Emily turned off the soup and ladled it into huge soup bowls. They carried it into the family room where Emily put it on the coffee table and dished everything out. Spencer got a tray and Hotch propped him up with pillows which Reid objected to too no avail. Reid was silent as they ate, and tried to eat quickly. He finished half of the food Emily gave him but Emily insisted he finish all of it. Reid did so, the others finished soon after and Emily and Hotch cleared things away once they returned Reid pounced
"Hotch what's going on, you said you had news about the case?"
"I do, the FBI located and raided a criminal safe house three days ago. We found enough evidence of criminal activity to put away the five men we caught there for life. That's actually why I'm here: two of the men we caught have the same brand you do in the exact same place. One of them David Carlon was in Denver the same week the team was and left Denver the same night you were kidnapped. I want you to look at his picture and tell me if it's one of your kidnappers." Hotch said producing a file from his brief case
Reid nodded and Hotch showed him pictures of the two men.
"That's him, I saw him in the alley I fought him. I woke up with him holding the brand to my shoulder." Reid said pointing to David Carlon with a haunted look his face and his hand clenching his left shoulder suddenly he leaned over and threw up.
Emily leaned over to support him, while Hotch went swiftly to the kitchen and returned with a bucket and a glass of water. Reid took the water and slowly drank half of it. He then asked the question Emily and Hotch had been dreading
"The safe house it belonged to Fire Cat didn't it?" he asked slowly drawing out each word afraid to confirm the knowledge he already knew
"Yes, it did. Spencer I am so sorry." Hotch said
Reid stood and picked up the Dalek pillow and then walked to the bathroom. He was almost to the bathroom when Emily who had been scanning the couch sprang to her feet
"Hotch we have to stop him, he has a knife." Emily cried out
Reid heard her and hurried into the bathroom. Hotch and Emily ran over, they tried to open the door but it was locked.
"Spencer open the door." Emily said "SSA Reid I order you to open this door." Hotch said at the same time
"Stay back." Hotch ordered Emily and kicked the door open.
The pair both gasped at the horrible sight that met their eyes.
A/N We will catch up with Morgan and Rossi next chapter. As always Review and tell me your thoughts, critiques or just Favorite, Subscribe.
