Chapter 7

Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart and his friends can only read the title. ~Virginia Woolf

Hotch opened his eyes, saw that the ceiling above him was moving and closed his eyes again. He was sore and groaned in pain when he tried to move. Then he opened his eyes again. This time the ceiling didn't move and despite his aching body, he made the effort to sit up. He had no idea how long he had slept, but he hoped he hadn't wasted a day or even more while out there in the desert the young woman's head was becoming a victim of the crows.

He struggled to get out of bed, but he had to fight to keep his balance and realized he was completely naked. He pulled up the sheet to cover himself and with his free hand he rubbed his face. The curtains were closed, but he could hear voices from outside. He also heard steps behind the only door that seemed to separate him from the world.

He looked around. The bedroom he was in was well furnished and painted in light colors. The room didn't make the impression of a prison cell, but the lack of his clothes made him feel trapped.

The steps came closer and one second later he heard a knock on the door.

"Yes," he called instantly and pulled the sheet tighter around his hip.

Hotch had no idea whom he had expected, but he certainly hadn't thought the person entering the room could be Kate Joyner.

"You're awake," Kate stated. She carried a tray with food and he smelled fresh coffee.

"I thought you might need something to eat." She smiled at him and placed the tray on the bed.

"How long have I been here?" he asked.

"Only a few hours. We found you at the stables. You were injured. I did my best to help you."

He followed her eyes that had come to rest on his chest. Aside from the intensive sunburn it was covered with scratches.

"I couldn't risk to apply big bandages on your burned skin. I was afraid it would make things worse," she explained with an apologizing shrug of her small shoulders.

"That's very considerate of you," he said thoughtfully and added. "Kate, please... I need to get back to town. There's a woman in the desert... a new victim. I need to get out of here and..." He looked down on himself. "I need my clothes."

Gideon had dropped off Ashley Seaver in the Saloon and was now on his way back to his office. He had the feeling Erin Strauss was waiting for him and his feelings hardly betrayed him. As expected he found her in his small, sticky office standing near the window, but still far away enough so that she couldn't be seen from the outside.

"It's been a long time since you paid me a visit," he said, skipping the ceremony. "Must be important when our most famous recluse of a citizen leaves her ivory tower."

Erin's only response was a mix between a sour and a dry smile. "I needed to check out my latest investment and when I saw you, I thought I could pay you a visit as well."

"For old times' sake?" he asked, lifting his hat.

"How are you, Jason?" she asked, ignoring his slightly amused tone of voice.

"I'm doing well," he answered. "And you, Erin?"

"I'm fine."

"Really?" He pursed his lips at her obvious lie, but decided to let it go. "So, now that we've passed the stage of unpleasant lies. What is it you want from me?"

"I don't need an agenda to talk to you," she said, after she recovered from the shock of his direct approach.

"So, you want to tell me that it was a coincidence that Rossi and you met in front of the Saloon. The three of us haven't met in this Xanadu in the last ten years and today we ran into each other within five minutes." He gave her a doubtful, almost hurtful gaze. "What is going on? What's behind this, Erin?"

She drew a deep breathe. His eyes lay attentively on her while he waited for her to answer. But, of course, he should have known she wasn't about to do him the favor of making things easy. Easy was for the lucky people.

"What can you tell me about the young woman that moved into the Saloon today?"

To find the corpse Morgan just had to follow the crows. The relentless birds at the horizon told him everything he needed to know. His only hope was, he wouldn't find his partner out there in the desert. He wasn't ready to replace Aaron Hotchner and he wasn't ready to face this killer on his own.

Ignoring the heat and the awful knot in his stomach, Morgan led his horse across the dusty, dead ground and to the place where the birds were enjoying their feast.

Elle had covered Jason's meal with a piece of cloth so that the merciless flies wouldn't ruin it, before he could enjoy it. Every time he was in his office over lunch, Elle prepared something to eat and brought it herself. She knew people were gossiping about them, but she had learned not to care for other people's opinion.

But today something was not right. The town was sleepier than usual. Less people were outside. She noticed the noble carriage outside the BullPen and was wondering if the Queen had actually left her Castle to have a look at her latest conquest. Or her past, Elle added silently and smirked. In her eyes Erin Strauss was still the biggest whore of all, no matter how rich she had become after her wedding with old Sebastian.

Elle climbed up the stairs to the office. Her hand closed around the door knob, but she never opened the door. She heard voices from inside. An angry exchange between Gideon and a woman. She thought of the carriage near the Saloon and knew it was Erin Strauss, he was shouting at.

It was one of those moments when she knew what she did was morally wrong, but necessary if she wanted to keep her inner peace. She dropped the tray and sneaked around the corner. The window wasn't closed and through the layers of dust and sand, she saw Gideon circling his desk.

"Do you know what you're telling me?" he shouted at Strauss, as he grabbed her upper arms and shook her.

"But I don't even know if my suspicion is correct!" Erin yelled back and tried to shake off his hands.

"I don't care for your suspicions! I want to know why you do this to me! Why are you telling me this? Why? After all those years! A child!"

Elle felt how the blood was sucked out of her cheeks, how her breath was sucked out of her lungs. All of the sudden, she felt numb and hollow.

"I told you, I don't know if it's her," Erin started again, but Elle had already stopped listening. She withdrew and leaned against the burning hot wall. The brightness of the sun forced her close her eyes.

"A child," she repeated and then she laughed bitterly. They had a child together, one Erin had never told him about... Karma was a bitch indeed.

"Here are your clothes. We washed them," Kate said, as she entered the guest room, in which she had placed Hotch. She put the neatly folded package onto the bed. "Is there anything else you need?"

"A horse," Hotch answered. He was still sitting on the bed, only covered by the blanket.

"I thought so," Kate answered with a smile. "You can have mine. Esperanza is waiting for you, but..."

"Yes?" he raised his eyebrow.

"Could I come with you? You can't go there alone. It's too dangerous. You barely survived your last try."

"I can't ask you..." he started, but Kate interrupted him.

"You don't have to. Mrs. Strauss won't even notice I'm gone. She's busy in town and won't return any time soon."

"How can you know that?" Hotch asked suspiciously.

Kate smirked mysteriously and said, "A woman's intuition is more worth than a man[']s eyes."

"I appreciate the offer, Kate, but I want you to stay here. It's safer.

Kate's eyes met his and a fire he hadn't seen in them so far, burned itself into his memory.

"Are you scared for me?"

"I guess I am," he answered and then he closed the distance between them and kissed her.

Foyet considered himself a lucky man. Ever since he had discovered the valley, he had known it was the perfect source to fulfill his needs. It was filled with greed, desperation and mischief. Whores, cheaters, killers. They all had something to lose and less to fight for.

He stood in the door frame of the "Inn". The hotel, in which he stayed every time he and his stage coach had to stay over night. Sweet little Jordan had found her end behind this shack and a little later the ambitious, but foolish Marshall had tried to cross him. He was now with Jordan in the desert. And with the birds. Foyet grinned and pressed his hand over the bulge in his pants. The presence of the Marshalls fueled his need, but he couldn't quite bring himself to think that Jordan's blond friend was the next. Everybody expected her to be the next and being called predictable was the very last thing he wanted.

The Sheriff had already transferred the bitch to the Saloon, so where was the fun of killing her?

Foyet had set his eyes on someone else instead. A much more challenging and much more interesting target.

His grin widened when he watched Elle Greenaway walking down the street straight to the Saloon. He smelled the desperation and the fury when she pushed the door to the BullPen open. How would it smell once fear was added to the mix?

A drink. Erin Strauss needed a drink. Something strong, something to forget the last hour, in which Jason Gideon had sent her to hell and back and since she owned a Saloon, she knew where to get it.

She ignored Emily Prentiss arrogant and Ashley Seaver's curious looks, when she ordered a whiskey. Of course, Reid, or whatever his name was, almost stumbled over his own feet while he tried to find the right bottle. She was too greedy to wait until he had poured her a drink and tore the bottle out of his hands. Some of the golden brown liquid ended on the bar when she filled her glass and emptied it without putting it down.

Across the room, Emily smirked and bent over to Ashley Seaver who sat next to her at a table in the corner of the room.

"The mistress of the manor," Emily explained. "Seems she had a bad day."

"Her name is Strauss?" Ashley asked, while she closely watched the older woman at the bar.

"Yes. But she hardly stops by. Her estate is outside town."

"I saw her with the Sheriff and another man in front of the Saloon today. Seems they argued."

"You have to be more specific," Emily said. "Erin Strauss argues with anyone she sees."

"She's coming!" Ashley hissed, but was unable to look away. Emily noticed with a strange feeling of confusion that the young blonde appeared to be fascinated by Strauss. Emily raised her eyebrows when Erin approached their table.

"Miss Seaver," she addressed Ashley, while she completely ignored Emily's presence.

"You won't stay another minute in here. I won't allow it."

Emily gasped and Ashley swallowed.

"I don't allow prostitution in my businesses, so if you wish to live under my roof, you'll have settle with a room in my house."

"Your house?" Ashley asked, flabbergasted.

"My house. Collect your clothes. I'll give you five minutes."

Ashley looked helplessly at Emily who just shrugged.

"Don't look at her," Erin ordered. "Move your ass upstairs and get your things. I'll be waiting outside."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Aaron Hotch and Derek Morgan met somewhere between the place where the crows violated the victim's body and Strauss's ranch.

Morgan could hardly believe his eyes when he saw his boss on a strange horse in the middle of nowhere.

His throat was dry from the dusty wind and so he just pointed with the thumb into the direction where the birds croaked their song.

Ian Doyle could hardly stop smiling when he climbed off his horse and sneaked to the entrance of the old mine that was secured with several different locks and chains. The sun was already setting and soon the whole place would be hidden in complete and utter darkness.

Ever since the first victim was found in this area the place had become more and more solitary. He didn't complain. The lack of gold digging bastards reduced the number of obstacles he had to overcome.

Armed with large bending tongs and a lantern Doyle waited for the night to come.

**tbc***