"What do you have?"
"I have located an address where a large shipment of Eszopiclone, otherwise known as Lunesta, was sent to. Get this, over the past six months various types of medical paraphnelia and equipment have been sent to the same place. Everything from syringes to ECG moniters. I guess they felt that if they did it over time, no one who would notice. Ha ha, didn't count on yours truly, did they," Penelope said with a satisfied smile.
"That's wonderful, Garcia," Hotchner said.
"Was there ever any doubt? But why do I detect a hesitation?"
"There have been a series of murders in the Chicago area. The victims are pregnant teens or single mothers in their early twenties. The fetus's have been cut from-"
Penelope held up her hand as if Hotchner could see her over the phone. "Okay, you can stop right there," she said quickly. "What does this mean?"
"It means that Rossi and I are going to Chicago. And that the agents from the Boston division will be taking over this case."
"But-"
"Yes Garcia, you have to give them the evidence including the surveillance footage we have of Dr. Reid and Agent Jareau. I trust that you can handle both cases."
"I can't do that."
"You have to, Garcia. Imagine how bad it would look if we disrupted the investigation." Penelope said nothing. Eventually, Hotch continued, "The jet takes off in two hours. But I'm nearby your location. I'll come to brief you before we leave."
"Okay, I'll be here, Hotch," she told him.
As soon as Hotch hung up with Garcia he called Morgan.
"I wish I had good news for you Agent Morgan," he said as soon as the call was answered.
"My news is probably just as bad. You go first," Morgan said.
"As we anticipated, Rossi and I have been pulled. We're leaving for Chicago soon. You know we have damning evidence against Dr. Reid and Agent Jareau. Agents from Boston are set to take the case and I have given permission to Garcia to cooperate with them."
"So that's it?"
"Yes. I've been over this possibility with you, Agent Morgan."
"Yeah," Morgan sounded less than pleased by the exchange.
"I don't like it either but what are we going to do?"
"I'll go tell him," Morgan said hanging up the phone.
Derek removed the battery cover from the cell phone. He took the battery and the sim card from the back and slipped them into his pocket. Then he tossed the shell into the trash. He returned to Spencer's room and shut the door behind him.
One fifteen am.
Spencer stepped cautiously from the room. He glanced around but no one seemed to notice him. He was that the elevator was maybe fifty feet away. He stared at it in dismay, the prospect of getting there was daunting. He went towards it a few paces before glancing behind him. A nurse was at the station but seemed to be preoccupied with some paperwork. For once in his stay here he was glad for the incompetence of the graveyard shift. He started moving again despite already feeling winded.
The doors slid open. He forced himself to move quicker. Finally, he made it inside. He fell back against one of the walls and slid to the floor. He stayed there for sometime fighting fatigue. Eventually, he did look up.
"Ethan," he said astonished.
"Been awhile, hasn't it? Ready to disapear?"
