"We need to talk, Mister!" It was early evening and Hotch had just walked into the lobby of his hotel, where he immediately found himself confronted by an extremely irate Garcia.
"NOW!" she demanded.
"Of course, Penelope," Hotch instantly responded. "About what?"
"JJ and I stopped by after work," the tech began. "We wanted to check on Lynn and Jacob to see how they were settling in. Hotch, we found them down here in the lobby. Lynn was trying to get information on how to get back to Hutchins Island."
"What?" Hotch was stunned. "Why would she want to do that?"
"While you have been running around all over town for the past three days, what have they been doing?" Garcia asked.
"Doing?" Hotch echoed. "I assumed they have been out and about looking around and shopping and whatever it is that – "
He stopped and looked at Garcia. "Or not?" he guessed guiltily.
"How are they supposed to do any of those things?" Garcia challenged him. "They don't have any clothes appropriate for this fall weather, let alone for this city, and they don't have any money. That is assuming that Lynn understands the concept of money – She's never had to use any. For your information, your pregnant wife and her son have been trapped in that hotel room for the past three days without anyone to talk to and they have been living off the food in the gift baskets that were delivered for you."
"What?" Hotch burst out. "All she had to do was pick up the phone and call room service or they could have come downstairs here to the restaurant to eat."
"Does Lynn even know what a phone is, let alone how to use it?" Garcia pointed out. "And does she know what room service is or how to sign for a restaurant meal to be charged to your room?"
"Jessica said she would be stopping by to help her out," Hotch protested. "I specifically ask her to when I called to give her my new cell phone number."
"I don't know what Jessica did or did not say," Garcia replied. "All I know is that she hasn't been here. And, as for Jack, I haven't been able to get in touch with him all day."
"I don't believe it" Hotch shook his head. "She promised. However, after the way she has been behaving lately, who knows? I should have known better. Now, first things first – I need to get Lynn and Jacob fed."
"That has already been handled," Garcia told him. "JJ and I took them into the restaurant and explained how to order off the menu as well as how to sign for the meal and how to tip. JJ also spoke with the front desk and, while we were eating, Housekeeping made up the suite, bringing in fresh towels and emptying the trash. Then, after diner, we all went back upstairs and JJ explained to Lynn about room service and how to use the phone to call for it. While we were doing that, Reid stopped by to visit with Jacob and brought him some books and toys. Apparently, Lynn has been doing her best to keep him occupied with what Will brought over the other night as well as with what she could find in the suite."
"I need to get up there." Hotch began walking towards the elevators as he pulled out his cell phone. "I also need to call Jessica and see what happened." He saw the look on Garcia's face.
"I can guess what happened," the tech suggested. "Nothing. I don't think she ever had any intention of coming by. And, as I said, we haven't been able to get hold of Jack."
"In my defense, Garcia," Hotch began as slowly turned off his phone. "I spent most of today looking after Lynn's interests."
"Her interests?" Garcia questioned sarcastically. "And what would those be?"
"Hutchins Island is being broken up into four co-ops, one for each farm," Hotch explained as they got on the elevator. "And I spent this morning talking with the lawyers at Trans-Caribbean Development who are handling that. I wanted to make sure that Lynn was listed as part-owner in all four co-ops. She helped design and implement improvements at all four farms so she is entitled to some of the profits from each. Also, she and Jacob both need birth certificates, which the lawyers are also going to handle. Then, I spoke with a Patent Attorney about obtaining a patent for the irrigation system she and The Professor developed. Apparently it is something completely new and there is a potential for commercial sales of it."
"Did you bother to tell Lynn any of this?" Garcia asked as they got off the elevator. "Would she even understand it?"
"And, by the way," she added as they walked towards the door to the suite. "You had better be prepared for JJ. When I left her up here a while ago, she was muttering something to the effect of 'Does he even remember what happened with Haley? She ended up divorcing him.' "
"Thanks for the heads up," Hotch said as he inserted his key card into the door. "I appreciate that."