The Villain in the Mirror – Chapter 9
Rossi stood in the centre of his room. It was a budget hotel with identical rooms for its guests spread throughout its two levels. Each room had yellow walls that were probably used to lift the mood of those who stayed there, however, due to the lower quality of the paint it had faded into a vomit like colour. The room Rossi was in had one small double bed with cheap linen that had been placed in the centre of the wall nearest to the door. On each side of the bed were older looing bedside tables. The one on the right had a black radio alarm clock and a blue lamp, the other help a magazine and a crocked blue lamp.
"Lovely," He mumbled to himself.
Placing his dark, leather travel bag at the end of the bed he opened it up and pulled out the suit he intended to wear the next day. He was in the process of hanging it onto a closet door when he was disturbed by a knock at the door. Walking briskly across the room he flung open the thin door to find Emily, still dressed in her blouse and business pants, bag in hand and her gun holstered to her hip.
Rossi looked at her quizzically.
"Can I help you?"
Emily lifted her chin, instantly becoming defensive.
"Look, Rossi, just let me in and I'll explain everything,"
Rossi stepped aside as she brushed past him, throwing her belongings onto a small armchair in the corner of the room.
"So, uh, you plan on staying here tonight?" He asked with a small grin.
Emily rolled her eyes and glared at the other agent.
"Don't get any ideas," She warned.
Rossi shook his head, chuckling lightly to himself.
"Why are you here and not in your room?"
Emily held her glare.
"Because JJ isn't in her room,"
Rossi raised a thick eyebrow.
"That doesn't explain why you're here,"
He had a feeling that he knew the reason, but he wanted her to say it. Emily looked around, desperately, and then walked towards her friend.
"Dave, I think someone is watching me in my room. More than that, I think that someone is in there,"
He frowned down at her, concern showing in his eyes.
"Okay, stay here tonight. I'll sleep on the floor,"
Rossi turned from the other agent and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"Morgan," He said when the other agent picked up his phone.
"Can you and Reid check out Prentiss' room?"
Emily heard Morgan reply, but could not pick out his exact words. Rossi looked at Prentiss and smiled.
"No she's fine. She's here with me now," Rossi reassured the other agent.
More muffled words came from Morgan.
"Okay, thanks," Rossi said as he pressed the end call button.
Morgan put down his phone slowly. The very idea of someone trying to hurt Emily made him sick to the stomach. He also frowned at the thought of her running to Rossi for help. He looked across the small room that had only differed from Rossi's in the fact that it held two single beds rather than one double bed. He looked over at Reid, who sat cross-legged on the further bed from the door. The younger agent tilted his head slightly.
"Everything okay?" Reid asked.
Morgan threw up one of his dark hands in frustration.
"Rossi said that Emily will be staying in his room since she is convinced that someone is watching her in her own room,"
A frown appeared on Reid's face.
"What worries you more, the fact that Emily may be being spied on, or the idea of her staying with Rossi?"
Morgan shot the younger agent a sharp glare.
"He wants the two of us to run over and check it out for her," He said, choosing to ignore Reid's taunt.
He caught a glimpse of Reid rolling his eyes.
"Bring your gun, let's go," Morgan ordered.
The two exited the room, searching the bland carpeted hallway for any signs of suspicious activity. They moved stealthily down two doors to the room that had been designated to agent Prentiss. Morgan put his hand on the metal handle, than turning to Reid, they both nodded, confirming their readiness to proceed. Morgan opened the door, allowing Reid to walk past him with his gun held firmly in both hands. The agents scanned the dull room before Morgan gave the clearance to move into the connected bathroom. Nothing unusual was found in the monochromatic bathroom. The small china wash basin, mouldy mirror and leaky taps testified the normalness of the cheap room.
"Nothing," Morgan whispered.
"Closet," Reid said.
Morgan nodded in response. Walking back into the other room Morgan walked over to the old, wooden closet. Reid stepped back and aimed his gun, prepared for the worst. The two agents shared a quick glance before Morgan flung open the doors.
Reid dropped his arms, his jaw going with them.
"What in the world!" He exclaimed.
Morgan felt a chill run up his spine.
"Call in Hotch,"
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