Hotch looked around at the members of his team. "Where is Rossi?" he noticed that the senior agent was missing.
"Visiting with Sister Edie," Reid filled him in. "It appears they both enjoy cooking."
"I think they are busy trading recipes," JJ added, smiling at the memory.
"I suppose I had better speak with Sister Sharon about our spending the night," Hotch decided. "I hate to think of the questions that will be asked about my expense report, but I don't think there are any other lodgings around here."
"You're right about that," Sister Laurie told him. "We're the only place to spend the night in this area. Let me walk you over to the office and help get your people signed in. The New Life Yoga Center probably isn't what you are used to, but I think we can make you comfortable."
"Ma'am," Morgan smiled at her. "Believe me when I tell you, this place is a heck of an improvement over a lot of the places we stay in."
"That's for sure!" Garcia chimed in.
As Sister Laurie led Hotch and the team out of the dorm building and into the courtyard, they noticed that the fog was growing denser by the minute. Across the courtyard, they could see Sister Sharon walking toward them, accompanied by a Virginia State Police trooper.
"I hate to tell you this, Agent Hotchner, but it doesn't look like you will be going anywhere any time soon," Sister Sharon told him when they got close enough to speak. "This is Trooper Michael Travers of the Virginia State Police. He and his wife live in the house across from our entrance."
"You're married to one of the former Sisters?" Hotch remembered.
"Yes, Yvonne," the trooper confirmed with a smile. "Best thing that ever happened to me. However, what I need to tell you now concerns the fog that is starting to move in."
"Meaning?" JJ asked.
"When the fog gets too heavy in this area, the state police start restricting traffic on the mountain roads," Trooper Travers explained. "While we don't exactly close the roads, we do recommend that people only make trips that are absolutely necessary."
"Which means, we are probably stuck here for the duration," Morgan concluded.
"As you are unfamiliar with the roads around here, I would strongly suggest you stay put," Trooper Travers advised.
"We'll try to make your stay as pleasant as possible," Sister Sharon repeated Sister Laurie's assurance. "When you are ready, why don't all of you, except for Agent Blake, of course, come over to the office? We'll get you set up."
