Chapter 35
"Agent Rossi, you and your team were warned repeatedly not to get involved in this investigation by Section Chief Strauss," Downer stated matter-of-factly as he and his partner both stared at the older profiler with disdain, all the while Rossi's face remained unreadable. "But you can't seem to stay out of it. When Chief Strauss hears about the flagrant disregard of…."
"Agent Downer," Rossi said calmly. "Before you start throwing around accusations and threats, I suggest you both sit down and hear our proof proving beyond a shadow of a doubt Agent Hotchner is innocent of these charges and you've arrested the wrong man."
Crown and Downer both found themselves studying the evidence boards behind Rossi, Reid and Morgan, when they gaped in surprise at seeing Anders photo taped on one of them.
"What is Agent Anders' photo doing up there?" asked Crown as he and his partner sat down.
"His photo is up there because he is the UnSub," Morgan replied. He noticed both IA agents exchange shocked looks and were about to start an argument, but when they saw Morgan's expression, decided to shut their mouths instead.
"You can't be serious?" asked Crown. "Agent Anders was instrumental in the information he gave us regarding Agent Hotchner's behavior."
"Of course he was," Prentiss explained. "He was the one calling the shots. And as long as he was, you both had no recourse but to believe what he told you about Hotch."
"An UnSub will often project him or herself into an investigation," Reid explained. "That way they are aware exactly what the police are doing because all the information is coming directly from them. So they are, in fact, controlling the investigation."
Downer folded his arms across his chest and crossed his legs casually as he considered what Reid had said. He then looked directly at Rossi whose face remained unreadable. "And suppose, Agent Rossi, you tell us why you think Agent Anders is the UnSub and not Agent Hotchner?" Downer stated.
Rossi crossed his own arms. "Because a few hours ago, Agent Anders was shot by one of our agents after he had kidnapped the wife and son of Agent Hotchner, and after raping her, tried to kill her when he was shot."
While Crown's eyes widened like saucers, Downer jumped angrily up from his seat, his face darkening. "What! You shot him? Are you out of your mind? Why the hell would you shoot the man? Because he exposed your Unit Chief as the child molester he is? And how do you know he raped Haley Hotchner?"
"Easy," Reid said, his own face turning a deep shade of crimson, but not from embarrassment but from growing anger. "Because I'm the one who shot him when I entered a room and found him kneeling over Mrs. Hotchner's body holding a knife stained with blood, and her with stab wounds to her shoulder and abdomen. Also, she was partially naked on the floor. I ordered him to drop the knife and he refused; so I shot him. If you check with the hospital, they'll tell you she was raped at least three times. As for her stab wounds, one nicked her spleen and another lacerated her liver. The one to her shoulder caused soft tissue damage. Physically, her doctor expects her to recover, but that recovery will come a lot quicker than recovery from the rape."
"Also," Morgan started picking up from where Reid left off. "Agent Anders suffered a stab wound to his own abdomen perforating his small intestine. He's being treated with heavy antibiotics because some of the bacterial fluids leaked out and he's now fighting an infection which could kill 'im if they can't get a handle on it. Apparently Haley had managed to get hold of the knife at some point, and stab him in an attempt to get away, find her son, and get them both to safety." He wrapped his arms around himself and waited.
As Downer paled and slowly sank back down onto his seat, his partner paled as well over this new information. Could they have been so wrong about Darren Anders? Both agents looked at the evidence boards behind the agents again with a more open mind.
"Perhaps you'd better start at the beginning," Crown requested looking at Rossi, completely shaken now.
"That's why we asked you and Agent Downer here," Rossi said with a slight smile as he turned to the first evidence board.
Two hours later, with each agent explaining a portion of what they had uncovered, both Crown and Downer exchanged resigned looks between each other before getting to their feet and approaching the BAU team, a look of defeat on their faces.
"Is Anders ex-fiancée willing to testify should it get to trial?" asked Crown.
"Absolutely," said Rossi, both hands stuffed in his pockets. "And knowing Haley as we do, so will she as far as the kidnapping of her and Jack, her rape by Anders, and his trying to kill her." He watched Crown nod his head.
"What about Jack Hotchner and Jessica Brooks?" asked Downer suddenly.
"What about them?" asked a wary Morgan.
"Is there anything either of them can tell us?" Downer asked.
Morgan slowly scratched his chin as he talked. "I doubt it. Jessica never saw her attacker as he grabbed her from behind. And Jack's only five-years-old."
"Although…." Reid hastily interjected. "Children Jack's age have been know to observe things around them and with the proper line of questioning, can often give useful information."
Downer and Crown just stared at the young man with raised eyebrows. Then, Crown looked at Rossi. "What about Anders' former employer?"
"He's available to answer any questions you may have," Prentiss assured them.
"And what about the pornography sites we found on Agent Hotchner's home and work laptops? Can your tech analyst prove beyond any doubt the information found was sent from Anders' computer?"
Morgan folded his arms. "Without a doubt," he said looking Crown in the eye.
"Can Anders be questioned?" asked Crown.
"According to his doctor in ICU, not for seventy-two hours," Rossi explained. "It'll be at least that long to determine if he'll survive the infection."
"So, what do you think?" asked JJ throwing a strand of her blond hair over her shoulder. "Is it enough to convince you Hotch was set up from the beginning and that he's innocent?"
Crown and Downer looked at each other; Crown noticed his partner nod before they again faced the team. "It's enough," he said slowly.
As the BAU team broke into smiles and silently congratulated themselves mindful of the fact things were not over yet, it was Prentiss who suddenly brought everything back to the present. "What about Strauss?" she asked nervously. "Besides being pissed that we investigated after being warned of reprisals if we pursued this investigation, she'll still try to find someway to use this against Hotch even though he's innocent."
Rossi smiled a devious smile. "I wouldn't worry about Erin," he said. "By the time Agents Downer, Crown and I are done, Erin Strauss will be begging Aaron to forgive her for doubting him." He looked at the two IA agents with a smirk. "Won't she?" he asked.
Downer smiled in defeat. "That she will, Agent Rossi," he replied smiling himself. "Because of your team a grave miscarriage of justice was averted. Even Chief Strauss can't argue against that. Also, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong." He held out his hand. "No hard feelings, I hope?"
Rossi shook the man's hand with a smile of his own. "None whatsoever. We know how it is to follow the evidence even if it leads where you don't want it to. In this case, we're just grateful where it led you was wrong. Aaron's a good man."
Crown extended his hand as well at the older profiler. "Your team has my apology as well. The BAU does excellent work. Mort and I are just grateful in this case that, despite being warned to stay away from this case, your team persisted and were able to find the truth before, as Mort said, a grave miscarriage of justice allowed a child rapist and murderer to remain free. We're grateful you and your team are so stubborn in your beliefs."
Rossi patted the agent on his back. "Blame that stubbornness on Aaron," he joked. "Now, I think it's time we all visit the hospital and tell Aaron that his nightmare is nearly over."
"Wait a minute, Rossi," Morgan interjected.
Rossi looked over his shoulder. "What?"
"We forgot something," Morgan said.
"What did we forget? We covered everything…."
Morgan smiled. "We forgot to tell Garcia we're going to the hospital to see Hotch. You know she'll want to come. She's the only one who hasn't had a chance to see him yet since this began."
Rossi smirked. "Then call her, Derek. Have her meet us in the parking garage as soon-as-possible."
In the ICU, Doctor Caster was busy making notations on the chart of Darren Anders following his recent examination as the man in question lay in this hospital bed, beads of sweat on his face. Anders was watching Caster closely.
"How is he, doctor?" asked the young nurse after she finished checking the IVs pumping fluids, painkillers, nourishment and antibiotics into his body. She had just finished checking the heart monitor as it beeped its normal signal in a steady series of beeps.
"About the same," Caster replied. "But at least he hasn't gotten any worse, so the antibiotics seem to be working. We'll keep him on them for now and continue to monitor him just as we have been."
"Yes, sir," she replied.
"Hey, doc…." Anders hissed through the wave of pain he felt in his abdominal area.
"Yes?" Caster asked while continuing to write his instructions.
"Is Haley Hotchner on this floor?"
Caster looked at the man this time; his eyes narrowed. "That is none of your concern, Agent Anders," he said.
"She is, isn't she," Anders said with a devious grin which looked more like a grimace.
The nurse looked from Anders to Caster, puzzled. She had never heard a physician speak to a patient that way or in that tone of voice before.
When Caster didn't respond, Anders chuckled. "She's my wife, you know. We belong together."
The nurse's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "But you said her name is…."
"NURSE!" Caster's tone of voice stopped her instantly, and she shut her mouth. Anders' eyes immediately focused on the young nurse. "You are not to engage in conversation with this man. Is that understood?" the doctor ordered.
"Yes, doctor. I apologize."
"Very well, then." The doctor hung the chart on the hook attached to the foot-board of the bed before tucking his pen in his breast pocket. "Get some rest, Agent Anders. I'll check on you later." Both he and the nurse started to leave.
"She's going to have my child, y'know," Anders said with a chuckle. "I spilled my juices into her so she'll get pregnant. And she will. She'll have my spawn and that bastard husband of hers will want nothing to do with her. You'll see." He started laughing as Caster and the nurse left the room, closing the door to the room behind them, each thinking independently that the man inside was crazy.
"Boss-man!" Garcia cried as after entering Hotch's room, she launched herself at the bedridden Unit Chief who barely had time to get his arms up to return her embrace as she gave him the biggest bear hug she could. He groaned from the pressure on his still healing shoulder. Hearing Hotch groan, Garcia pulled back with a look of absolute horror on her face. "I'm so, so sorry, sir, I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I mean, I forgot your shoulder…" She stopped when Hotch held up a hand and smiled, his dimples prominently shown.
"Garcia, stop. It's all right. You didn't hurt me. I just wasn't prepared for such a greeting." Hotch smiled as his eyes took in the sea of faces standing before him, including the two IA agents who were standing guard outside his room. Allowing his eyes to scan the small group, they finally noticed and focused on Crown and Downer in the back. "Jared, Mort, what's going on? What's happened?"
The IA agents eased their way through the small group until they now stood in the very front at the head of the bed. They both had Hotchner's full attention and kept their faces neutral.
"How are you feeling, Aaron?" asked Downer, truly concerned for his friend.
"Okay, I guess," Hotch said with dark eyes going back and forth. He didn't need to be a profiler to sense something wasn't right. "Which one of you is going to tell me what's wrong? Did something happen to Haley or Jack?"
"Your wife is fine and so is Jack," Morgan replied keeping an impassive face. Hotch gave him a brief glimpse before turning back to the two IA agents.
"Jared, Mort, what is it?"
"Just this, Aaron," Downer said reaching into his back pocket and removing a key. Then holding up Hotch's restrained arm, quickly unlocked the handcuff attached to the railing, and then unlocked the cuff around Hotch's wrist before laying his arm on the bed. He smiled at his friend as he attached the handcuff to his belt and returned the key to his pocket.
Hotch rubbed his wrist while a look of confusion crossed his face. "I don't understand," he said.
"We were wrong," Crown admitted sheepishly. "Your team convinced us of your innocence with the evidence they presented. It went a long way to proving you weren't responsible for the rapes of the little girls and about Anders. We're sorry, Aaron."
"So I'm not under arrest anymore?" Hotch asked wanting to be sure.
"Correct," Downer replied. "The bodyguards outside your room will be removed as well, effective immediately. About the only things we still have to do is acquire Anders' confession to the sexual attacks and the sexual attacks, rape and murders of Heidi and Adele Palmer. We'll touch base with this Detective Hopewell in Annandale about the Palmer murders tomorrow. The other being how did Anders behavior escape notice by the Bureau and the BAU in Texas and then here." Seeing Hotchner's puzzlement over mention of the Palmer murders, the agents explained to him what they had been told.
"So Anders has escalated from just rape to rape and murder," Hotch murmured trying to wrap his mind around the news. "My God." He then focused on his team, his gratitude shining through his eyes without having to say a word to them. They understood how he felt, and they all gathered around his bed and smiled down at their boss.
"Wait a moment," Hotch suddenly said looking up at Rossi with worry. "What about Strauss? She's going to know the team defied her orders about staying out of the investigation." His eyes darted between Rossi, Crown, and Downer.
"You let us handle Strauss, Aaron," Rossi assured him with a smirk. "Believe me when I say she will not be a problem."
"Do I want to know what that means, Dave?" Hotch asked.
"Better that you don't," said Rossi with a chuckle.
Crown exhaled. "Aaron, with your permission, Mort and I would like to speak with Haley later today. Who's her doctor?"
"I think his name is Scofield. He operated on her. But if he says it's okay to talk with her, I would like to be there as well. Haley might be a bit calmer with me there as opposed to seeing you alone."
"We have no problem with you being there," said Downer. "We'll make arrangements with her doctor to speak with her later today. When we do, we'll make certain to come and get you first so we can all go together."
"Okay," Hotch agreed. "But can you do it before evening visiting hours? Jessica promised to come to visit Haley, and since children aren't allowed in ICU, he's being left with me here."
Crown looked at his partner. "I don't see why that can't be arranged, Aaron," Downer replied. "We'll try and do it later this afternoon. For now, try and get some rest. We'll talk later." He and Crown turned, and followed by the other two IA agents, left the room leaving Hotch alone with his team.
"I guess we better let you rest," said Rossi patting his friend's shoulder. "Congratulations, Aaron. Your nightmare is almost over."
"Thanks, Dave, for everything. Thank you all of you."
With a smile, Rossi and Morgan were the first to leave the room; Reid smiled at his boss and patted his arm before he left. JJ smiled and gave Hotch a 'thumbs up' sign before she exited. Prentiss gripped Hotch's hand tightly and covered it with her other.
"Hang in there, Hotch," she said with a smile before she released his hand and left.
Now alone with her boss, Garcia smiled broadly and gripped Hotch's hand in both of hers. She patted his hand. "I'm so happy for you, boss-man. I never believed you were guilty. You are a good man and I'll defend you against anybody who says otherwise."
She swallowed the building lump in her throat as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "But I think I should go before I start blubbering and end up drowning you."
"Thank you, Garcia," Hotch said. "Especially for taking care of Jack when Haley, Jess and I were all incapacitated. I won't forget it."
Garcia reached a hand up under her red-framed glasses and wiped at her eyes while smiling. "No need to thank me, mon Capitan," she said. "It was a pleasure taking care of my mini-Hotch for a night. He was no trouble at all except he missed his mommy and daddy." She exhaled deeply and put Hotch's hand back on the bed. "Well, I'd better let you rest, sir," she said slowly getting to her feet. Leaning over the bed, she pressed her lips to Hotch's forehead lightly. "I'll come back later and visit. I promise. Take care, sir." On that note, Garcia turned and was gone.
Now alone, Hotch exhaled the deep breath he had been holding and his lower lip trembled. He ran both hands down his face as he sought to gather himself together. It was a few minutes later when he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. Removing his hands from his face, he looked in the direction from where the sound came and was surprised by who he saw standing in the doorway.
"Can I come in?" the man asked hesitantly, not knowing what to expect.