Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: Thanks to my beta Taomerline and to your reviews. Sorry for the delay.
They didn't let it show until they had left the interrogation room, but Hotch and Morgan were equally frustrated after their interview with Carter. While they waited for his attorney to arrive, Hotch and Morgan joined Rossi in the case room for a quick briefing before their next confrontation with the suspect and his lawyer.
"JJ, Reid, and Prentiss are still processing Carter's house," Rossi stated. He could tell that the interrogation hadn't gone well at all.
Hotch was about to call JJ when Cal quietly entered the room and turned on the TV.
The newscast showed footage of Hotch and Morgan escorting a handcuffed Carter into the Police station, but it also showed a picture of Marquez under a large headline: "The FBI's key witness is the head of a local gang of drug dealers." Hotch turned off the TV and took a deep breath. Before Hotch could say anything, Cal announced, "It's not all. An old friend of mine called me to tell a incident involving Marquez and Carter."
"What kind of incident ?" Morgan asked a little afraid of the answer.
In his early years as a beat cop, Cal had patrolled Marquez's neighborhood. After a few months, he started to sympathize with Simone Laurens who ran the community center and he stayed in touch with her even when he became a Homicide Inspector. Though he still considered Simone a friend, it had been a long time since he had talked to her; and when she called him to reveal news about his case, he was extremely puzzled.
As she explained on the phone, Simone had been surprised when she learned that Zadig Carter had been arrested for multiple murders. He had partly financed the rehabilitation of the community center and also gave free computer classes. Simone was even more surprised to learn that Tony Marquez was the prime witness against Carter. Simone has known Marquez since he was a kid. Despite the fact that his parents had raised him well and ensured that he got a decent education, Marquez had been wild in his teens and started a local gang. Simone had many conflicts with Marquez, but she distinctly remembered one of those conflicts which also involved Zadig Carter.
Eight months ago, Marquez had learned that a multimillionaire regularly visited the neighborhood community center. Marquez contacted Carter and tried to extort him $10,000 for protection. Of course, Carter refused to be blackmailed and kicked Marquez's ass right in front of his gang. Feeling like a fool, Marquez fucked up Carter's car and swore that he'd get his revenge. Simone also knew that Carter didn't file any complaints against Marquez; so she was sure that the police didn't know anything about that incident. Knowing that Cal was working on the Vigilante Killer case, Simone had called to fill him in on this important piece of information.
"So you think that Marquez lied to set up Carter?" Hotch asked.
Rossi squeezed the bridge of his nose; he wasn't quite convinced that Carter was guilty. Still, he said, "Reid's theory is that the Unsub dumps his victims where criminality is high, right? But what if Carter dumped them where he had issues with the local gang … just in case he got caught."
Hotch agreed with Rossi's theory, it fits Carter's meticulous and organized killings. Before Hotch could voice his thoughts, Lt Esposito approached him, "Agent Hotchner, can I have a word in private?"
Hotch followed the Lieutenant into his office where ADA Kate Rooney was sitting on the edge of a table and knew that there was a problem.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," said Esposito, looking a little embarrassed, "The Chief requested that we take back the case immediately, and your boss agreed. It's not official yet, but it will be … in a few hours."
"How many hours are we talking about?" Hotch asked. He knew it was unrealistic to believe that his team could solve the case in only a few hours; especially now that Carter asked for his lawyer, but he wasn't willing to give up until his Director ordered him back to D.C.
"I don't think it's matters," said Kate Rooney. "Apparently, Marquez and Carter had a common past. Carter's lawyer convinced a judge to dismiss Marquez's statement. Without it, we have no warrants and no case. We have to release Carter once his lawyer gets here."
"So, what's happening now?" Hotch queried.
"I've ordered my people to leave Carter's house and we're setting up a joint press conference scheduled for the morning," Esposito paused. He continued while extending his hand to Hotch, "It's not the outcome we all expected, but it's been a pleasure working with you and your team."
"Likewise," Hotch replied sadly, as they shook hands. "I'll brief my team and prepare a settlement. Miss Rooney," Hotch tipped his head at the ADA and walked out of the Lieutenant's office. He hated having to give up like this, but he had no other choice than to accept how things turned out.
As soon as Reid arrived at the ER, he rushed to the nurse's desk. Showing the nurse his FBI credentials, he said, "Excuse me, they just brought in Emily Prentiss. She's a Federal Agent. Can you tell me where she is?"
The nurse consulted her computer for a moment and replied, "She's on the second floor." Pointing to the double doors not far from the nurse's station, she continued, "The elevators are through that door, on the left."
Reid rushed from the elevator into the waiting room. Spotting JJ, he dropped heavily into the seat next to her. Anxiously, he asked, "Have you heard anything yet?"
JJ noticed how extremely tired and pale Reid looked. She knew why he was so worried, but it wasn't the time nor the place to start questioning him about his relationship with Emily.
JJ told Reid what little she knew, "She regained consciousness in the ambulance. When we got to the ER, the doctor did a blood culture; and because she hit her head on the floor, he also prescribed a scan." Full of worry for Emily, they sat silently and waited.
A few moments later, the ER doctor approached them, "You're both here for Emily Prentiss?" JJ and Reid nodded. "I'm Dr. Grant. We ran a few tests on your friend. Her iron level and hemoglobin count are extremely low. We hooked her up to a plasma drip and gave her a booster shot of iron to stabilize her."
"But besides that, she'll be alright?" JJ asked. She wanted to know whether or not Emily was pregnant. If so, then what about the baby. Knowing how Emily felt about privacy, JJ knew that to ask that question would undoubtedly be crossing the boundary of their friendship. Reid should find out from Emily, not in the middle of a waiting room.
Doctor Grant told them, "She'll be fine. We'll monitor her for a few hours; It's standard procedure for head trauma with loss of consciousness. A nurse is in with her right now, but you can go and see her. She's in Room 213."
They thanked the doctor and headed to Emily's room. JJ knocked on the closed door, and after hearing a distant "Come in," she slowly opened the door.
"All done," the nurse exclaimed, as she finished adjusting the IV and plasma bag. She instructed Emily not to hesitate in pressing the call button and said she would return every half hour to check Emily's temperature. The nurse smiled at the two visitors and then left the room, closing the door behind her. Even though she was as white as the sheets, in his eyes she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Reid desperately wanted to hold and kiss Emily, but because JJ was there all he felt allowed to do was to stand there leaning against a table.
JJ, on the other hand, didn't hesitate at all. She gave Emily a loving hug before sitting on the edge of the bed. "Geez, Emily, you scared the hell out of us! How are you feeling?" JJ asked, still worried regardless of what the doctor had told them.
"Tired, but mostly embarrassed," Emily replied, as she continued trying not to look at Reid. She had seen his expression when he entered her room; she couldn't bear his look.
JJ could feel the tension growing. She stood up, released Emily's hand, and said, "I'm going to call Hotch and let him know what's happened." As she walked to the door and opened it, she continued, "I'm sure you two will find something to talk about. I'll be back." As she left the room, JJ gave them a little smile before she closed the door.
The silence in the room was heavy until Emily finally broke it, "Spencer, talk to me."
When Reid had heard JJ tell the EMT that Emily might be pregnant, he had many questions on his mind. He needed time to process things with a clear head before he started demanding answers. "I'm glad you're okay, Emily; but I have nothing to say," Reid lied.
Emily didn't need to be a profiler to know that Reid was lying to her. While she was in the ER, she recalled her earlier conversation with Rossi; she had to admit that it was a lack of communication that kept driving her and Reid apart.
"Just say what's on your mind. I know that something is bothering you," Emily persisted.
Reid sighed loudly. He didn't want to have this talk while Emily was in the hospital, but he also knew that she wouldn't let it go. Taking a deep breath, he looked into her eyes and asked, "Are you pregnant?"