Straus hates the fact that she whines when the men come for her again. They drag her back to the room where Rossi is bound and again cuff her up. This time, they leave her so that her feet can touch the ground. It is almost a vicious tease as she barely has the strength to keep her feet under her.
Rossi glares at the men who string up the chief. "Does it make you feel tough to hurt a defenseless woman?" Neither man answers. "Why not untie me and make it a fair fight? Right now all you're doing is hurting someone who can't defend herself. Come on, tough guys, make it a fair fight!" he taunts.
When the men are done, one man leaves. The other one, the one Rossi thought was the weaker link, stays behind. The man looks in the hallway and then back at Rossi. "If they leave again, and I help you get the hell out of here, you'll help me with the cops?"
Rossi nods. "You have my word. Get the three of us out and I'll make sure they know you helped."
The man slowly nods. With a last glance at Straus he leaves the room. Rossi sits back in his seat. He gives Straus a confident smile.
"We'll be out of here soon. You'll see, Erin. Just hang on. Okay?"
A scream echoes through the building. Rossi winces. Hotch was being tortured again.
Rush steps into the room with Hotch. The man paces with agitation though he does his best to hide it from his eyes.
"Your old buddy Rampone died. Didn't know he had a pacemaker. It didn't work so good with my cattle prod. Oops!" he says with a giggle.
"Fucking asshole," Hotch says weakly.
"Not very nice, Agent Hotchner. Not nice at all." He steps closer. "Have you figured out who I am yet?"
Hotch stares into the man's eyes. This time he knows for sure. "I have no fucking clue who you are."
Rush leaps up and pulls off his mask. "Give the man a prize!" He laughs as he slowly circles Hotch. "Rossi and Gideon were the sinners. Their sin was vanity; believing in themselves over the evidence. Your tortured death was to be the nail in their hearts. Now…now, that bitch is the one hurting Rossi. And Gideon? He hides out at Quantico while you suffer. Think he cares? Doubt it. But when they find your body at the gates, he'll know it was all his fault." Rush pulls out a knife. "It will be carved on your chest."
Hotch glares at him. "You're a sociopath. They put you away. Why are you out?"
Rush backhands Hotch. "THEY MADE ME A SOCIOPATH!" He punches Hotch again. "I was innocent. Their profile was made to fit ME! They did it because the police wanted me convicted. They didn't give a damn about the truth and it cost me 15 years of my LIFE! Not to mention the cost my body paid!" He grabs Hotch by the hair and stares into his eyes. "Do you know what they do to men who murder young women? Maybe I should show you."
He grabs Hotch's crotch. The agent stiffens. Rush smiles.
"Oh, no…no they don't do that, Agent Hotchner." He brings the knife close to Hotch. "They do something much, much worse."
"NO!"
Rush turns and stares at Johnny Tambor. The man is shaking. "No, Rush. Don't do that. Geezus, don't do that, man."
Rush stands up and moves to Tambor. "You got a problem with me, Johnny?"
"No…Yes…just…just your methods. You mutilate him…down there…and they find his body they will add on time to the sentence. I'm just trying to protect you."
Rush stares into Tambor's eyes. He sees the doubt and fear. Rush smiles. "Protect me? No, I fear you want to betray me." He jams the knife into the man's chest. "Can't let that happen."
"NO!" Hotch screams. He looks and sees the other man is wide-eyed with fear. "He'll kill you next," Hotch warns him.
Rush spins and looks at Hotch. "SHUT UP!"
He flips the switch on the wall and let's the electricity course through Hotch, smiling as the man screams involuntarily.
