Chapter 11
Everyone in the room looked at the two FBI profilers. Matt looked at the hotel security chief. "You've got to have video in that area."
Owen Martin shook his head as it hung a bit. "The system re-boots for the security cameras at certain times for certain areas. The kid's pool outside closes at eight…"
Matt just shook his head, looking at all the officers gathered. "Same thought tomorrow night if all of you don't mind. We'll keep your chiefs and sheriffs apprised of a meeting time." They all shook their heads and headed out the door. The BAU team wasn't far behind. But while the deputies and officers were going home, the team was headed to the White Wolf property with Jess Hardin and Chief Dancer. Hotch had tried to convince Tim to go home but it didn't work.
"I'll sleep when we catch this bastard."
As they drove to the site, Hotch called Garcia. "We're on our way to a new crime scene and I'm sure we'll have plenty for you to dig up. But in the morning Garcia; Matt or I will send you an email of what we'll need. Go home and get some rest."
"Thank you sir," she said. "Garcia bids you all adieu. Please get some sleep OK guys." Everyone in the Bureau vehicle wished her a good night as well. They all got out at a side location and were escorted by the hotel security chief to the area. The hotel staff already had curtains up to keep the area from the view of hotel guests and had large portable lights in place.
One of Chief Dancer's officers looked at him. "I think the Crime Lab people should just get a hotel room," he said shaking his head. The body was still in the water.
Reid bent down to look at it closely. "Reid," Hotch said. "Look like the same type of wound?"
"Without a microscope or knowing the specific gauge of wire used, I'd say it's pretty close compared to what JJ and I saw at the ME's office." JJ looked closely as well and nodded her assessment.
Dancer and Martin both looked. "How in the hell did this guy know that the cameras would be off?" Dancer asked.
Martin said, "A former employee?" he said looking at Matt and Hotch.
Matt shook his head. "Our technical analyst would have found that connection." Matt noticed Dave making some notes on his always present black leathered-covered notebook. He was thinking the same thing and made a quick note on his phone.
"The victim," Prentiss said, joining Blake to look at the body "is Oriental."
"Cob, Chief Dancer," Blake said, "Can you take a closer look? Could he be Hmong?" They both did and nodded their head. "I trust our profile, but is this a message to the workers or former workers of the hotel properties?"
"It's a ruse Alex; trust me," Dave said. "Our profile is spot on. He's using this to throw the investigation off while he's plotting his ultimate revenge. He's got a list of people he wants to specifically target, and my bet is if we don't catch him, he'll start slipping those people onto his victim list; and probably soon."
"I'll call mama," Morgan said.
"In the morning," Hotch and Matt said together. Morgan was in the other vehicle as they drove to the crime scene.
"I sent her home for the night," Hotch said. Morgan pointed at Hotch with a small smile.
JJ looked at the rest. "Still; how does someone know the video cams for this area get rebooted after the pool closes down?"
Dave smiled. "It's a hotel Jayje, not a casino. It was probably a hack job; and if I'm right, probably pretty easy. Matt and I already are on it," he smiled.
Matt looked at the security chief. "There is no video whatsoever of this guy getting into the building?"
Martin shook his head. "We only video the public areas; as the other agent said, we're not a casino."
Matt looked at Dave, who shook his head and the rest of the team and then Hotch. "Not much more we can do here for the night."
Tim Dancer looked at them. "I'm heading out as well. Sounds like you folks have a lot on your to-do list in the morning. Why don't you do the same?" he smiled
Hardin did the same, shaking her head, pointing to a muscular man coming at them. "This is my partner in crime," she said, using quote marks in the air. "Detective Josh Insler; he just got promoted from deputy on patrol six weeks ago." She smiled. "And my out for the night."
"Josh earned it," Chief Dancer smiled making the introductions to the BAU team.
"Pleasure to finally meet all of you; this is my Monday." The team all smiled. "I've got this; I'll stand around and wait for the state crime scene peeps from Madison. Take a break." He looked at Jess. "I'll send you my report when I have it."
Jess nodded at the BAU team. "Include Agents Hotchner, Taylor and Rossi on that. I'll text you how to contact them." He nodded.
Matt looked at him with a smile. "You played some football."
Insler smiled back. "Yeah; I was on the 2007 team at UW-Whitewater that won the national D3 championship. It was my senior year. I was starting inside linebacker." He smiled again. "Law enforcement, however, was my degree and my passion."
Matt lightly slapped him on the shoulder. "Glad to have you on board." He handed Insler a card. "Send your report to me; I'll take care of the rest." He shook his hand. "Have fun."
Insler sadly shook his head. "The joys of being the junior officer."
Matt shook his head. "I know them well," he smiled. The team moved to their vehicles.
Tim Dancer looked at all of them. "See you in the morning," he waved, getting into his vehicle.
The team got in and made the drive to their hotel. As they pulled off the freeway, Morgan called Matt. "I agree; totally," is all Hotch, Rossi and Blake heard. Instead of following the "main drag" to the fast food restaurants and their hotel, Matt took a right at the sign that pointed to the Business District.
Hotch looked at him. "Partner, I don't care about you right now. Morgan and I are a quart low. We need a beer. And this team needs some down time."
Matt pulled the Bureau SUV up to the curb of the first building he saw with a beer logo neon sign. Two older guys, noticing the license plates, walked in. Morgan saw their looks. They had left their third vehicle at the Lake Delton police station. Hotch dealt with budget issues; and while the team initially needed the third vehicle, saving on gas was going to get Hotch a quicker sign off on their expense reports.
They all walked in and bellied up to the bar. An older man approached them. "Good evening agents; you here working on the case up in the Dells?" Matt looked at him. "Word gets around the area," he smiled.
"Yeah we are," Matt smiled. "But we need a break."
The bartender stuck out his hand to Matt. "Andy Doogan; I own the place," he smiled.
Matt's face lit up. "And a fellow Irishman to boot," Matt said with his Irish accent. "Pleasure to meet you Andy; Matt Taylor" he said, shaking the bartender's hand. "I need the coldest bottle of Miller Lite you have in the house," with his usual voice. Andy beamed.
Hotch, loosening his tie and collar button, held up two fingers. Andy put coasters down for the two of them, pulled a cooler door open and pulled their order, setting the clearly cold bottles in front of them. They both took a tug as Andy looked at Rossi.
"Hey Andy, this is dad. He's the one with the cash and buying. Treat him right," Matt winked.
"You got it," Andy smiled back.
Rossi looked at Cob. "You always carry cash, and I've got a five that says Andy doesn't do plastic.
Andy smiled at Dave. "You're buying dad."
"Then Andy," Rossi said, "you better have a bottle of 18 year old scotch finely hid away."
Andy pulled a bottle of Glen Livet off the back shelf and grabbed a glass. "Straight or on the rocks?" he smiled.
"Straight," Dave smiled.
Blake sitting next to Dave ordered a Bombay Sapphire Gin and tonic. Dave burrowed an eye into her. "Et tu Brute?"
Blake just smiled. "Thanks dad," she smiled.
Rossi looked at Cob. "You've created another damn monster."
Matt held his hands up in the air. "The boss man said I was supposed to be nice to the new agent. Sue him; or her," he smiled with his Irish smile.
Andy laughed and moved to Morgan, setting Alex's drink in front of her. "I'll have a Coors Light Andy," he smiled.
Andy looked at him. "Son this is Wisconsin."
Morgan gave Andy his megawatt smile. "And I'm a Chicago boy. I could have ordered a Bud product, but I knew that'd get me thrown out of here." Andy laughed as Emily added a finger and JJ as well. He lined up the three beers, looking at Reid.
"I'll have a vodka tonic."
"Any preference on the vodka," Andy asked.
Spencer shrugged his shoulders as Andy looked at Matt. "He's young and still learning," Matt smiled. He and Dave clinked beer bottle to glass as Andy put Reid's order on the coaster. Andy moved to his register. "That's nineteen seventy five dad," he smiled.
"A wonderful year, if you didn't mind Nixon resigning," Dave smiled, looking at Andy. "You sure?"
Andy smiled. "Law enforcement discount," he winked. Dave pulled out a twenty. Hotch pulled out a five for the tip.
Andy smiled. "You guys always do it right. Why you get the discount," he said as he took Hotch's five off the bar top. Andy looked at them and being the bar owner that he was, left them alone to move to other end of the bar. He knew how to read his customers.
"I've always said a bartender would make a great profiler," Dave smiled at Matt.
"Yup, Big Dog. They can read people just about as well as us. And they don't need the classes. It's in the genes." Dave nodded at him.
The team all sat pretty silently, taking in their drinks. Matt was standing. While the liquor drinkers were still nursing their drinks, Andy noticed the beer drinkers had polished off their round. He moved back to their end of the bar they all were sitting at. Matt waved a finger in the air for the second round for the beer drinkers, pulling out his own twenty dollar bill from his wallet. Matt smiled at him, pushing the change from his bill back at Andy. "Thank you Andy," he smiled.
"Get that SOB agent," Andy said.
Cob raised his beer bottle in a salute. "You'll be the first to know," he smiled.
The team finished their drinks and then headed to their hotel with a wave at Andy. They all were in bed by midnight.
###
A/N: The UW-Whitewater Warhawks played in the same US football conference that my alma mater college UW-RF did. They were a powerhouse back then.
D3 is Division 3 of the NCAA tier. It's the small colleges with less than 7K in student population.
Bud, as in Budweiser beer, is big in Chicago. Miller products, as in Miller Lite, are brewed in Wisconsin. It's a home state beer. Morgan's allegiance to his home city is true. It's a regional thing. What can I say?
