Chapter 8

Elizabeth Bowen said, "Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat."

The BullPen was again overcrowded. It seemed the Saloon was the only safe place these days. People felt comfortable in the mix of alcohol, lust, and body heat.

The only reason Elle had found a spot at the bar was because she had been the first customer and since she also intended to be the last, she saw no reason to leave her comfortable place, no matter how often men with hungry and alcohol mellowed eyes asked her to dance.

It was a good deal after midnight and the noise around her was comfort and seclusion at the same time. Here, clinging to her glass of whatever it was, she could dwell and forget the reason why she should go home. Not that he was home anyway. But it was her own mistake, wasn't it? She had danced for quite a long time and now the day to pay for the musician had come.

"Excuse me, Ma'am..."

The warm voice was right behind her right ear. It sounded smooth and carried the scent of the whiskey she had been drinking for the last few hours. He was different from the other men who had tried to hit on her. This guy was different; his voice was dark and arousing.

"Who are you talking to?" she asked without turning.

"You know I'm talking to you," the man behind her answered and she sensed a smile on his face that caused shivers all over her spine. "You shouldn't sit here all alone and have one drink after the other."

"And what is your suggestion?" she asked in response and emptied her glass. The sip made her head spin and her heart lighter.

"We could sit together and have one drink after the other."

Against her own will, Elle had to smile. She turned on her stool and gave the stranger a smile. He lifted his hat and made a small bow.

"Elle Greenaway and you are..." she asked, stretching out her hand. He shook it and answered in the most sparkish way.

"George, Ma'am. Just George."

"Tell me, Emily," David Rossi said and leaned back to get a hold on Emily's wrist, while she made her way through the crowded saloon.

"Yes, Sir?" she asked and her smile widened when she realized it was Rossi who talked to her.

"This young woman that moved in today... the blonde. Where is she?"

Emily raised her eyebrows and her smile became a grin. "I see, you still look after the blonde ones."

"It would be a lot more interesting to actually see them and not just look after them," Rossi returned deviously and winked.

"I'm afraid you'll have to look somewhere else then, because about two hours after she moved in, she moved out again."

"And where?"

"The Queen herself abducted her and took her to her own castle."

"Strauss?" Rossi asked, now all serious, and abandoned his cigar. So, his suspicion was right. The way Erin had looked at the young woman had made him suspicious from the very beginning.

"The one and only. She just told Ashley to move in with her and the kid did. God knows why. I couldn't convince her to stay."

"Thanks, Emily." Rossi released her hand and reached inside his jacket. He produced a fifty Dollar note and offered it to Emily. She smiled, bent down showing off her glorious décolleté. Rossi returned the smirk and placed the note between Emily's breasts.

"You're welcome, Dave."

The air in Sheriff Gideon's small office was still thick enough to cut. Since Hotch and Morgan had returned from their excursion into the desert, the three man were brainstorming, though Gideon was the one who couldn't really concentrate. His earlier conversation with Erin Strauss was still on his mind, its content bothering him to the point where his blood started to boil.

Elle had told him he was a liar when it came to Erin Strauss and she had been right, but to which extent he only realized today. The woman could still touch him deeper than anybody and that made him a bigger fool than he already had considered himself. Her lie, her grand and life altering betrayal, had shocked him and to his shame it almost caused him to forget about the victim Hotchner had found in the desert. He needed to focus again and forget about his blasted ego.

"We need to talk to Miss Seaver," Morgan said and the mention of the young woman's name, woke up Gideon. He straightened his back and nodded.

"She was on the stage coach with Miss Todd. But she already told me, there wasn't anything strange about her."

"The questions we'll be asking her, will be different," Hotch said and rose. "You said, she's living in the Saloon now. Let's pay her a visit."

"It's after midnight," Morgan said after glancing at his old pocket watch and realized he had forgotten about his date with Garcia. Shame on him.

Hotchner gave Morgan a stern gaze that didn't allow protest, "The BullPen is crowded with people. I bet Miss Seaver won't find any sleep as long as the party goes on."

"Does that mean we'll forget about Ian Doyle?" Morgan asked on their way out.

"Of course not, but for now I need to know everything about Miss Seaver."

Emily Prentiss' toes curled in phenomenal delight when she felt Doyle's hungry lips against her neck. Pressed against the wall in the dark corridor, she bent her head back and enjoyed the sensations he gave her as his teeth marked her skin.

"I found it, Emily," he groaned and pressed his body against hers. "I found it!"

"I can feel it," she laughed, when she felt his erection against her thigh and returned his greedy kiss.

"That's not what I mean," he answered and laughed huskily. "Tomorrow at this time, you and I will be unthinkably rich."

His skillful hands ran up her sides and came to rest on her breasts. Her eyes widened when she read on his face that he meant what he said.

"How so?" she asked and hoped he wouldn't notice the tension in her voice.

"You and I will be rich enough to leave this dusty little town once and for all and this time we will be together. Forever."

"Ian...," she started nervously, but he silenced her effectively when he put his hand across her mouth. She looked into his eyes and her desire died like a candle in a storm. She had hoped, had thought, he had let it go...

"Yes, Lauren. It'll be as I say. From tomorrow on it'll be you and I. We'll leave this place, pick up our son and live together. Won't we?" he asked and pinched her nipple through her dress.

She flinched in pain and fought to break free. She bit his hand and raised her knee between his legs. He groaned and pressed a hand on his now hurting and fading erection.

"Don't you dare to treat me like this again!" she snarled and started fixing her dress. Doyle who quickly recovered from her attack stared on Emily's chest and she noticed too late that the fifty Dollar note from Rossi was stuck over the collar.

"Who gave you the money?" Doyle asked tonelessly.

"A customer," she relied coldly. "This is a Saloon, Doyle. People expect some entertainment when they come here."

In a fury she hadn't expected Doyle shot forward and pinned her against the wall. His hand lay around her throat and he choked her violently. The pain was disastrous and consuming. She couldn't breathe and a panic she hadn't known so far started to poison her, threatened to defeat her. She would die in her own Saloon by the hand of her lover and everybody would think she had become the next victim of the reaper.

"Emily!"

She had no idea who called for her, but she was grateful for it. Doyle's head shot around when he heard steps and he released her. One second later he was gone. Coughing and trembling she sank onto the floor.

"Help!" she croaked, as JJ, Hotch, Morgan and the Sheriff reached her.

"What happened?" Hotch asked and helped her up.

"Did someone attack you?" Morgan asked, looking around.

"Was it the killer?" JJ asked fearfully.

"It was a man," Emily croaked. "A stranger..."

"Maybe it was our man. Sheriff get your Deputy here!" Hotch ordered, as he entrusted Emily into JJ's caring hands. "Morgan, you and I go outside! He can't be far!"

Erin Strauss couldn't sleep. She was tired beyond words, but no matter how hard she tried, the necessary peace to find some rest, didn't want to settle in. It was her memory; her inner demons that kept her awake. They caused the painful pressure that rested on her chest and made it hard to breathe. The two photographic plates in her hand did nothing to ease the pain.

In the room above the den, a young woman was sound asleep. She had probably asked herself why Erin had literally forced her to come with her to live in a house she didn't know, with a woman she never consciously met. Actually, Erin didn't have the foggiest idea why Ashley had followed her, but she did. Her well hidden sentimental side wanted to think that the young woman probably felt some kind of mysterious connection to her. But what kind of emotion could that be? Erin couldn't say she felt it herself, or at least what she felt didn't feel like a natural bond should...

"Damn it," she mumbled to herself and massaged her aching forehead.

For whatever reason, her life had started to fall apart. She had torn Jason Gideon's heart into pieces today and had – in an indescribable act of desperation – tried to remove the reason for his heartbreak from town. Away from people's eyes, away from Gideon, away from Rossi.

It seemed logical this afternoon. Now it was nothing but an admission of guilt. She only hoped she hadn't added any fuel to the fire.

With a sigh she placed the pictures on her desk. Both, the baby and the woman who looked up to her were familiar. They had her eyes.

"Thank God," she whispered. "I couldn't stand it if she had his eyes."

The sound of an arriving horse startled her. A quick look at the clock over the fireplace told her it was after 3 am. The curtain at the open window moved. The first time a slight breeze entered the room tonight.

Instinctively she reached out for the gun next to her chair. Since she had thrown out Ian Doyle, the gun had always been close to her, loaded and ready to use.

She held her breath and waited. The rider had climbed off the horse and was now reaching the porch.

Without making a noise she rose and sneaked out of the room. In the hallway she pressed her back against the wall and waited. But nothing happened. Then she heard a cracking on the porch. Someone was sneaking around. Her finger tightened around the trigger. She was sweating and her chest heaved quickly.

Damn, just kick in the door, she thought. Just do it. This is killing me...

But nothing happened. Then, ready to fight, she stormed towards the door and tore it open. Willing to pull the trigger, she aimed at the man who stood on her porch, undecided and turning the white hat in his hands.

"Rossi!" she bristled and lowered the gun.

"Who did you expect?" he asked half-amused.

"I don't know who I would expect to prowl around my house at this hour, but since there's a killer out there, the idea it could be him suggested itself!" She leaned the gun against the wall and ran her fingers through her hair. She breathed out loudly and tried to relax her tensed muscles.

"I'm sorry," he said and she looked up, surprised that he didn't apply his usual irony to his excuse. "I didn't want to scare you."

"What do you want?" she asked annoyed and rubbed her neck. "I thought I was pretty clear when I told you, I didn't want to see you again."

"I'm here, because I think you weren't quite honest with me or yourself when you said so."

The irony of the situation caused her to laugh out loud.

"Give it up, Rossi. I go inside now and you go home. If you're lucky you'll be home, before the sun rises."

"What if I want to observe the sunrise with you and your new guest?" he asked and closed the distance between them.

"How...?" she gasped and rolled her eyes when she realized who could have told him about Ashley. "Prentiss. That obnoxious little whore!"

"Yes, it was Emily who told me you asked Miss Seaver to move in with you," Rossi agreed. "But why did you do so? It hardly makes sense to tell a stranger to move just like that!"

"She seemed too young and too innocent to spend her life in a Saloon." Erin explained as nonchalantly as possible and shrugged before she wrapped her arms around her middle. Though it wasn't cold, she felt the need to tighten her silk robe around her, as if the smooth fabric could protect her.

"I see...," he mumbled pensively. "So you saw her and decided that you want to spare her the life you lived, before you became Mrs. Strauss. How noble considering she is a perfect stranger to you."

"I won't discuss my motivation with you, David," Erin said in a tired voice and turned. "Go now."

But again, like the night before, she didn't make it into the house. With one large step he was right behind her, wrapped his arms around her body, and pressed her against him.

"Please, Erin. Tell me what's going on."

"That's none of your business!" she snapped, but felt her heart jumping in her chest when he placed his warm hand on her belly and his lips on her cheek.

Gideon was restless. As expected Emily's attacker had vanished into the night and though Hotch, Morgan, Will, and Gideon had searched every house close to the Saloon, they hadn't found the foggiest trace of the reaper.

"It's the first time, he failed," Hotch said darkly. "He'll probably try to find a new victim tonight to satisfy his blood thirst." He and Gideon stood on the staircase that lead upstairs and checked out the location. Most people hadn't noticed something was wrong and Hotch preferred it to stay that way. The only action they had taken was guarding the door.

Morgan had secured the Saloon door and no one was allowed to enter or leave without his permission.

"Will is upstairs and talks to Emily," Jason said. "If she delivers a description of the man we can search for him. If he was here tonight, someone will recognize him."

"We still need to talk to Miss Seaver," Hotch added. "Maybe she agreed to live with Mrs. Strauss for a reason, she didn't want to share with you."

"You think she's seen the killer and doesn't tell us?" the Sheriff asked. Hotch nodded. "It's possible, she was too afraid to tell us about him."

"If you'll excuse me. I need to go back to my office – just in case someone is searching for me."

Of course, he hoped that certain someone would be Elle. He hadn't seen her since breakfast and when he left the office to go home for dinner, he walked straight on a tray with food she must have placed there before. He desperately hoped she hadn't heard or seen Erin Strauss near his office. Elle knowing he had talked to Erin could have a bad influence on their relationship or in the worst case it could have caused her to drop the tray and leave without telling him why and where to. Considering the fact a killer was on the loose, the idea scared him to death.

"All right. We'll go to Strauss's ranch by sunrise. Will you join us?" Hotch asked.

Gideon shook his head, "No, I'll better stay in town. Take Will with you, if you want."

Gideon nodded at Hotch and made his way downstairs through the drinking and chatting crowd. He passed Morgan and drew a deep breath once he stepped outside. The night air was humid and far from refreshing. He lifted his hat, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The street was dark, the windows closed, as he had suggested to everybody he had talked to tonight. With his senses on alert and ready to reach for his gun, he walked down the street. His office lay in complete darkness, though he remembered that he had lit the gas lantern, hours ago.

A horror, he hadn't known before, flooded him and he froze. The sweat on his forehead became cold and he forgot how to breath. He reached for his gun and walked faster and after a few steps he started running.

The whole place was cloaked in an unnatural darkness. The moon was hiding behind the only cloud that moved across the sky. He could barely see the ground and almost stumbled over his own feet. He reached the stairs, leading up to his office door and with the first step he knew something was deadly wrong. There was a smeary substance under his shoe, he looked down, but it was impossible to tell what it was... or, to be precise, to tell that it was anything but blood. A shiver ran down his spine, when he stepped back, asking himself if he would dare to look up.

In this moment the cloud passed the moon and its light shone on the spooky scenery. Splatters of blood covered the whole staircase. The door to the office was wide open. His knees threatened to buckle, as the Sheriff forced himself to go inside. Through the one window the moon illuminated the desecrated body. Naked, and crucified on Gideon's desk.

"NO! ELLE!"

Will paced the hallway in front of Emily's bedroom. JJ was still inside and helped Emily to get undressed. The description of the man who had attacked Emily was rather useless. The hallway had been dark and according to her statement that man had covered his face with a dark piece of cloth. Otherwise she had been too scared by him to remember much.

He should be downstairs by now to deliver the description to Hotchner, but first he had to talk to JJ. If she wouldn't realize now that the Saloon was too dangerous to stay in... he heard the scream and the hairs on his back straightened. It came from the outside and it had been Gideon's voice. After one last look at Emily's door, Will ran.

"Have you heard this?" Emily asked right after JJ had opened her corsage.

"Yes!" JJ replied, breathless and stormed to the window. "It was a man."

Emily swallowed. Whether it was the reaper who had found himself a new victim or Doyle who had gone crazy, didn't matter. Both thoughts scared her to death.

"Go downstairs," Emily ordered huskily. "Take care of the girls. I can undress on my own."

"You sure, you're all right?" JJ asked worried.

"Of course."

"Emily..." JJ asked and Emily noticed the hesitation. "It wasn't the reaper who attacked you, was it?"

"But how..." Emily felt her cheeks redden and hoped the darkness in the room would cover her.

"Instinct... It was Doyle?"

"Yes." Emily nodded and realized how good it felt to admit the truth. Truth. What a strange and unknown word. Then she felt JJs' hands on her shoulder. They were warm and strong.

"Promise me not to see him anymore. Look what he does to you," she said fearfully, as she pointed to the countless bruises that covered Emily's body.

"He isn't always like this," Emily explained weakly.

"But he can be," JJ argued. "And that makes him dangerous. Please, Emily."

Emily reached out to touch JJ's hand and tried to smile. "All right. I promise it. And now take care of the girls," she repeated. The women hugged and then JJ left.

After the door closed Emily sighed and finally allowed herself to cry. Tears ran down her face and it felt as if something within her, grew whole again.

Then she heard the steps behind her and a cold fist closed around her heart. She swirled around, tightly holding her dress to her chest. The warm hand closed over her mouth and suffocated the scream in her throat.

"Lauren, Lauren, Lauren," Doyle said sweetly. "Did you really think, I would allow you to stay behind?"

**tbc**