A/N: I am including this here because the person involved has disabled their PM, so I cannot contact them personally. This person used the review page of one of my stories to belittle, abuse, and attack another author who is not only a friend of mine, but no longer writes for this site, and I resent it. A review page is to be used for comments by readers to say what they like or dislike about a story/update, not to bash somebody. If you have problems with someone, do it personally. I have taken steps too hopefully put a stop to this foolishness, and hope I don't see it again. I am adding this to each of my stories because not everybody reads all three of them.
Chapter 36-Strategy
A smile slowly appeared on the older man's face at what Morgan had told him.
"Is everybody all right?" he asked, worried. "Any injuries?"
"We're all fine," Morgan explained. "But one of the suspects, Chris Hayes, refused to go quietly. He pulled a knife, lunged at Detective Brandeis, and cut 'im on the arm. He'll need stitches but is gonna be okay."
"Good. Get back here as soon as you can. And Derek, tell everybody I said nice work. Aaron would be proud."
"I will, Rossi. We'll see you as soon as we can." The minute Morgan hung up, Rossi got Garcia back on the phone and told her the news. He winced as he held the phone away from his ear at the ear-piercing scream. He chuckled sensing the tech analyst was ecstatic over the arrest.
"Calm down, kitten."
"Are all my furry friends all right? Please tell me they're all right. I couldn't handle it if anybody else…"
"They're all fine, Penelope," Rossi interjected knowing Garcia was about to ramble. "But I have to go. They'll be bringing them in soon. I'll keep you updated as much as possible. But rest assured, kitten, this nightmare will be over soon."
Garcia let out a deep breath. "Sir, this part might be over soon. But our fearless leader will still be gone."
"What now?" Jessica Brooks asked herself as she hurried down the stairs as the phone continued to ring. After her sister and nephew had gone out to the park, she had decided to do the laundry. She had been busy folding and putting away Jack's clean underwear and pajamas when the telephone rang. "Hello?" she huffed a bit out-of-breath.
"Jessica? It's Dave Rossi."
"How are you, David? If you're looking for Haley, she took Jack to the park. Since Beth Clemmons is in jail, she figured it would be safe to go out." Rossi stopped himself from asking a question. He recalled how Jack had been so angry with his mother since Aaron's death, almost as if he were afraid of her. What had changed all of a sudden? Maybe JJ could find out when she picked the boy up and brought him to her home tomorrow.
"I'm fine. I'm calling with news for you and your sister."
Jessica's heart beat a bit faster. "What news?"
"We got 'em. We got the trio who, along with Beth Clemmons, killed Aaron." There was an audible gasp on the other end telling Rossi Jessica was overjoyed at the news.
"Haley's going to be thrilled, David. And as thrilled as I am, I do have a question I need to ask."
"I know what you're gonna ask, Jess. The answer is yes. Chris Hayes was one of the three we arrested."
"Oh My God!" Jess's voice shook with emotion. Tears started to build in her eyes. "Haley's going to feel so guilty when she learns this Chris Hayes used her to gain access to Aaron."
"I understand. Please be sure to tell her. I have to go as they'll be bringing 'em in shortly. We'll try and keep both of you informed of what we find out from them."
"Thank you for calling, David. And I'll be sure to tell Haley when she comes home."
"Anytime, kiddo. Try and hang in there a little bit longer. This nightmare's coming to an end soon. But I have to go. Goodbye." Jessica slowly hung up the receiver, buried her face in her hands, and wept. She remained that way until the living room door opened, and Jack ran inside followed by his mother. The little boy stopped and studied his aunt curiously.
"Why are you sad?" Jack asked. Jessica knelt down so she could look her nephew in the eyes directly. A smile appeared.
"I'm not sad, honey. I just go something in my eye and I was rubbing it, that's all."
Jack reached out and touched her cheek. "Your face is wet."
"Sometimes crying is nature's way of cleaning something out of your eyes. But I promise you I'm not sad." She smiled. "Did you have a good time at the park?"
Jack nodded his head enthusiastically. "I went on the swings, and mommy push me high, but not as high as daddy used to push me. Then I wents on the slide. Later mommy and I fed the ducks, and we stopped and had hotdogs and soda for dinner. Then we had nilla ice cream. "
Jessica ruffled her nephew's hair. "You mean vanilla ice cream."
"That's what I just said. We had nilla ice cream."
Jessica chuckled as she glanced up at her sister, and a silent understanding passed between them. Haley leaned over and put a hand on her son's shoulder.
"Jack, sweetie, why don't you go upstairs and get ready to take your bath. I'll be upstairs in a little while."
"Okay, mommy!" Jack turned away and raced up the stairs as fast as his short legs would move. Once he was out of hearing range, Jessica stood and faced her sister.
"While you and Jack were out, Dave Rossi called. He had news."
"What news?" Haley listened as Jess repeated what her sister had been told. Her jaw dropped. "Is he sure? About Chris I mean?"
Jessica noticed the subtle change of expression on her sister's face at the mentioning of Chris Hayes' name. It was something akin to worry.
"Sis, are you all right? For a moment you seemed a little nervous, especially when I mentioned Chris Hayes."
"I wasn't nervous, Jess. I was just…surprised to find out he was involved in Aaron's death." Haley felt she was suffocating and needed to escape her sister's interrogation. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to give Jack his bath." Without waiting for an answer, Haley walked past her sister and headed up the stairs.
Jessica watched Haley's receding back, worried. Something didn't seem right. But this was her sister, after all, so she decided to overlook it.
Haley, meanwhile, was grateful her sister couldn't see the worried expression on her face; worried hearing Chris had been arrested, and even more worried as to what he might tell Aaron's team.
Rossi turned at the sound of voices behind him to see Derek Morgan holding the arm of the man he recognized as Christopher Hayes from the description. Prentiss held his other arm. His arms were shackled in front of him as were his ankles. He had a smug expression on his face. He smirked as Morgan shoved him past Rossi and into an interrogation room. Rossi watched through the one-way mirror as Morgan secured Hayes to the metal table while Prentiss stood nearby, with arms folded. Her face showed total disgust directed at Hayes. Hayes winked at the brunette agent who rolled her eyes before she walked out the door and joined Rossi.
Morgan glared at Hayes once he had been secured. "Somebody will be in to talk to you." He sneered at the look of arrogance on Hayes' face before he walked out of the room.
"You okay?" Rossi asked Morgan seeing the anger in his friend's face.
Morgan faced the older man. "Rossi, it took everything in me to keep from beating his smug expression off his face."
The trio turned when they heard a disturbance further down the hall to witness LaMontagne and Detective Brandeis escorting a shackled and struggling Jared Shelton. Brandeis' right shirtsleeve was ripped and bloody, and his forearm was heavily wrapped with gauze. Their prisoner was mouthing off the entire time as he fought against his captors. Behind them, also in shackles but walking meekly between two armed officers with JJ and Reid behind him, was Michael Cummings. He walked with his head down looking like a scared animal. As the two prisoners were led into separate interrogation rooms, Rossi looked at JJ.
"I can tell Shelton and Hayes didn't go quietly. But Cummings looks like a scared rabbit."
JJ crossed her arms across her chest, while Reid stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Cummings almost seemed happy to see us," Reid explained. "JJ and I got the distinct impression as we were cuffing him that he is afraid of both Hayes and Shelton."
"Did he say anything?"
"Only that he was sorry," JJ added.
Rossi studied Brandeis as he and Will joined them. "How's the arm?"
Brandeis shrugged. "That bastard Hayes got me. It wasn't deep but needed stitches. Shouldn't leave a scar."
Morgan took in the three suspects, then looked at Rossi. "I think we should focus our attention on Michael Cummings. According to Reid and JJ, he seems to be the weak link in the group. We might be able to use him against the others."
"My sentiments exactly," Rossi agreed. He smirked at the others. "C'mon, I'll buy all of you a cup of bad coffee. Let's let the happy trio sit and mull over their fate for awhile." He walked away and in the direction of the break area. The others hesitated for a few seconds and then followed him.
Haley found herself distracted while washing Jack's hair as he sat in the tub playing with the bubbles. She thought about JJ picking up Jack tomorrow and taking him to her house for the weekend. She wished she had an excuse for Jack not to be able to go. But now that Chris had been arrested, she found herself worried what he might admit during an interrogation. She didn't know what she would do if he admitted they were having an affair, which continued even after she and Aaron got back together. But to cancel the plans might appear suspicious. So she would just have to hope Jack wouldn't say anything he shouldn't. But just thinking about being exposed made her worry more.
"Mommy, you hurt my head," Jack whimpered.
Haley let out a deep breath, faked a smile, and cupped her son's chin lifting it so she could stare into his eyes. Sometimes she wished Jack didn't resemble his father so much. "I'm sorry, baby. Mommy had something on her mind and it made me angry." She went about rinsing the shampoo from Jack's hair.
"Why you mad?"
"It's nothing you did, sweetie. It's a grown-up problem." She lifted her son out of the bathtub and wrapped him in a plush towel, and used a smaller one to dry his hair. "You looking forward to spending tomorrow evening and the whole weekend with Aunt JJ, Uncle Will, and Henry?"
"Henry!" Jack repeated excitedly. "I miss Henry."
"Well, when Aunt JJ brings you back home Sunday evening, I want to hear all about what you and Auntie JJ did and talked about together. Can you do that for me, sweetie?"
Jack smiled. "Okay, mommy."
Haley smiled. She hated using her son this way, but she had to know what JJ knew. And as Jack was only five, he wouldn't be suspected even though he probably wouldn't understand a lot of it. And by using Jack, she would hopefully find out if she had anything about which to worry.