CHAPTER 6 – Memories
Carla and Nicholas are probably alone right now, without food or water...
And if Paulie and Cole don't tell us where they are soon, they may not be found until it's too late.
"What's in Cole's file?"
PRENTISS: Sorry, Hotch, we didn't mean to ignore you. Nothing much to share, though. Cole was released on probation in 2010, then only showed up for one appointment with his probation officer before he disappeared. All his known associates are accounted for: either dead, in prison, or a couple are meeting regularly with their probation officers.
MORGAN: And these last guys are not into kidnapping, they're into false IDs and white collar crimes.
"Still, you should have them checked out. They could have an accomplice watching over Carla and her son, maybe even in their home, or..."
Maybe I should ask them about a boat...
Maybe my brain 'swaying' is making me think of waves and I'm wrong about a boat.
I'm starting to feel sick just thinking about it...
I felt sick, too, during the captivity... I was dizzy, the boy was bleeding...
"They asked me to tend to the boy. Gave me gauze and bandages, to stop the bleeding."
MORGAN: Who did?
"Show me Cole's picture."
Yes. He had a mask, but I think it was him: high forehead, long dark wavy hair; he wanted the boy to survive...
"Cole opened the door and threw a first aid kit and a bottle of water, saying to take care of the boy. He was armed. His hair was longer than on that picture, and he had a dark beard. He was wearing a mask, but too small to cover the beard."
PRENTISS: Let's use that! If we put his face, with a beard, and Paulie's picture on TV, and ask for anyone who may have seen these men to call in, we might find where they've been yesterday, or where they live... I'm on it!
Could work! Hopefully someone saw them, and maybe Carla and Nicholas?
"What now?"
MORGAN: Okay, Hotch, it's you and me. Let's do this a bit differently. When you came to, you were alone with the woman and the boy?
"I guess. I don't remember when I woke up."
MORGAN: What's the first thing you remember?
"Tending to the boy. The bullet was in too deep, I couldn't remove it, but I banged on the door, asked for help, supplies. Cole threw me some stuff. I managed to stop the bleeding and cover the wound. I knew he would develop an infection, though, if the bullet was not removed, and soon."
Soon... How long can the boy survive without help?
God! Just can't believe we've been able to follow all that's happened, but he could still die in the end.
No! Prentiss' plan will work. It must.
MORGAN: Do you remember what happened next?
"Total blank. I may have passed out again. I was pretty dizzy."
MORGAN: No, actually, you were pretty busy.
"What do you mean?"
MORGAN: You escaped, remember?
They took an FBI agent as a prisoner... Even if they didn't know who I was at first, they probably found out soon enough...
"They took my credentials, my guns, they knew I was FBI."
MORGAN: We didn't find your things, they took everything with them.
"They were arguing! I could hear them fight if I put my ear to the window pane! They didn't see me because of the paint over the glass. They were trying to decide what to do with me. One of them wanted me dead, the other liked the leverage, just in case. He wasn't worried I might escape from the furnace room."
MORGAN: You're starting to remember, good!
"Yes, I can see the room, now. The door was massive, the window was too small and too far from the door lock—even if I could break it—but I could hear them fight. Then they left, to get some food..."
MORGAN: Not so fast, slow down! Okay, close your eyes, and take a breath.
Let's try again...
"Wait! The other guy, he wanted to separate us. He wanted to put Carla and Nicholas in a cage!"
MORGAN: A cage?
"He said it would be safer if I didn't know where they were, I'd be more compliant. The other man felt that it would be too dangerous; they, Carla and Nicholas, could be seen, or heard—"
MORGAN: Did they say where they'd take them?
He used a word, maybe a name? Something important.
"..."
MORGAN: What about the cage? Do you remember what they said?
"He said that the neighbors were too close and even if they were in the cage, their cries could be heard. But the other man said something that I couldn't hear and they continued to talk more quietly. I missed the rest of their conversation."
MORGAN: What else?
Carla was crying, calling for Nicholas, but the boy never regained consciousness. It was difficult to hear...
"They called van Blerk. They went to meet him. No! One of them did, the other stayed. They argued about that. I tried to entice the guy left behind to open the door: I asked for water, food, told him the boy was dying even, but he didn't fall for it. I shouted for an hour, I think; I was hoping I would be able to take him on, or someone would hear me..."
MORGAN: Nobody could hear you: the buildings around the foundry are too far.
All that shouting just made me dizzier.
"It was a great spot for a hide out. They had a secure place to keep hostages for a while."
MORGAN: You still managed to get out. Close your eyes, let's try again.
"Morgan."
MORGAN: What is it?
Everything's swimming.
"Tell me how I got out."
MORGAN: You're sure? I can tell you, but wouldn't you prefer remembering it?
"Did I break the window pane? No, you said the door was locked when you got there..."
MORGAN: Nothing that easy. Man! You had to work hard at it! Remember the windows about twenty feet above the ground?
"I think I do. Some dim light was coming through them, but they were not see-through. I think they were glazed."
The windows, up the walls, high above the ground.
High up—
My dream! Last night!
Yes!
"The Swashbuckler!"
MORGAN: What? What's that?
"A boat! 'The Swashbuckler'! The name of the boat where they have their cage is 'The Swashbuckler'!"
Finally!
MORGAN: Garcia! Do you have a boat anchored anywhere around D.C. called 'The Swashbuckler'?
GARCIA (o.s.): Odd question, but I'll allow it... Let me see... Hmmh! How big is your boat?
MORGAN: Big enough to live in or to hide two people inside... 30 feet? 30 feet and more?
GARCIA (o.s.): I see what you're getting at... I've got three! One in Annapolis, one in Alexandria, and one is under repair as we speak, in —
MORGAN: Penelope, get the others on phone conference. Who's the owner of the boat in Alexandria?
GARCIA (o.s.): Phoning, phoning... Prentiss and Reid are picking up. Hello all, Morgan asked me to put you on the phone.
REID (o.s.): JJ is busy with the media, Rossi is nearby. You found something?
MORGAN: We think they're on a boat called 'The Swashbuckler'. Garcia is looking for the owner of a boat in Alexandria. Prentiss, did you succeed in putting Cole's bearded picture on the air?
PRENTISS (o.s.): With Garcia's and JJ's help. JJ's passing it to the reporters as we speak, isn't she?
REID (o.s.): Yes, she is talking with them right now. Rossi has been talking to the hostage takers, trying to develop a rapport with them, using his experience in the Navy as a way to relate with both Cole and van Blerk.
This will finally resolve, soon.
PRENTISS (o.s.): I'm on my way back to the room, I just stopped for some coffee!
GARCIA (o.s): The owner of "The Swashbuckler" is John Sharp! I'm looking for info on Mr. Sharp, but I'm not finding anything. Look at this! His driver's license is fake!
MORGAN: Any picture?
GARCIA (o.s.): Yeah. It's Cole, with a beard!
REID (o.s): Rossi! We found Cole!
MORGAN: Garcia, text me the address of the marina! Prentiss, meet me at the SUV!
REID (o.s.): Garcia, send in police back-up and an EMT to that address...
MORGAN: We'll let you know, Hotch!
Here they go!
Now I wait.
NURSE: Mr. Hotchner!
Oh, no.
NURSE: I'm here to change your IV bag. It will only be a minute. There. Would you like anything? Any water, food?
"Maybe some water, please."
NURSE: Just a moment... Here. Take your time. Now, let me help you with your pillows.
No, no!
Huh? That wasn't so bad.
NURSE: Now that you're on your own, you'll be able to catch some rest, hopefully?
Oh, she tricked me... I can feel the meds... kicking in...
...
Only one more chapter to go! And yes, Jack will appear...
I hope you've liked this little experiment, although it's not always easy to process, I know. The lack of progress and the repetitions can be frustrating. You can empathize with the characters... Thanks for the alerts and followers and reviews!