Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Author's Note(s): Again, I really wish I had planned this more because I'm actually making this up as I go along now :p Anyway, a huge thank you to RavennaNightwind, tearbos, bumblebee917, didi2909, anhey20, smokeylove, CrayonsPink (nice name), Dr. Cameron and IheartTV :) Your reviews are very motivating. And as always, thanks to everyone who is still reading. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Easier to Lie
Chapter 13
It was a warm summer's day, and a gentle breeze tickled Hotch's face playfully. He lazed back on his blue sundeck chair and watched as Haley and Jack pushed a beach ball to each other on the soft patch of grass that was their garden. It had been a very long time since he had felt so content. Haley's laughter floated into the air when Jack tried and failed to throw the ball to her, causing it to land a few feet behind him, much to the poor boys confusion.
"Don't make fun of the poor guy," said Hotch, laughter in his voice.
"You're just saying that because he's taking after you. Yet another Hotchner who throws like a girl," teased Haley with a wide grin.
"Hey!" said Hotch, pretending to take offence, "I am an excellent throw, thank you. Much like my son will be with a bit of practice."
Haley smiled and opened her mouth to reply, "Ring ring."
"I – What?" Hotch said, furrowing his brows.
"Ring ring," Haley repeated. Somehow, the kind smile on her face suddenly seemed a lot colder.
"I don't know what you mean," said Hotch, abruptly feeling rather panicky, although he was not sure why.
"Ring ring!" it was angrier now.
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Hotch woke with a start.
Ring ring.
Wanting a moment to wallow in self pity, but knowing he could not, Hotch made a grab for his phone.
"Hotchner," he said by way of greeting.
"Agent Hotchner? It's Bryson. I was told to call you if we had any new leads…"
"Yes, that's right," said Hotch quickly, "What's happened?"
"We got a call from an old woman who owns a small apartment building about six blocks away from where we found the latest bodies. She reckons the unsub has been living in one of her flats and she says he's just gone out carrying a backpack looking completely wasted," Bryson said, sounding slightly out of breath by the time he had finished.
Hotch made some fast calculations in his head and then said, "Set up a grid search of the area immediately. I'll wake my team and we will go and talk to the woman. Name and address please?"
Picking up a pen, Hotch noted down the details on a scrap of paper and then put the phone down, only to pick it straight back up again and dial Morgan's number. It rang out for rather a while before Morgan's groggy voice sounded down the phone.
"This had better be good," Morgan croaked.
"We have a lead. Get up," was all Hotch said, definitely not in the mood for small talk right now.
After mumbling something that Hotch was glad he couldn't hear, Morgan told Hotch that he would be ready in ten minutes. Next he called JJ.
"Hello?" said a voice that was most decidedly more male than it should have been.
For a moment Hotch was stunned, then in the background he could hear JJ say, "Reid, that's my phone."
The sound of the phone switching hands could be heard and then JJ said, "Hotch?"
Recovering quickly, "JJ, we have a lead. You and Reid be ready as soon as you can. Meet in the lobby."
"Right," said JJ. Before Hotch cut her off he could hear her relaying the information to Reid. How very interesting, however now was not the time to dwell on the peculiar sleeping arrangements of his colleagues.
He was rather hesitant about calling Emily, he had been rather harsh with her earlier and Hotch felt a tad guilty about it. But if nothing, Hotch was ever the professional, and he soon dialled Emily's number.
"Prentiss' phone," said a tired voice at the end of the line.
Why can't people just answer their own phones, Hotch thought angrily. He knew that voice but he couldn't quite place it…
"This is Special Agent Hotchner, I would appreciate it if you could put Prentiss on the phone," said Hotch, with as much patience as he could muster.
The person on the phone hesitated, "I'm afraid Emily is somewhat indisposed at the moment, Agent Hotchner. She should be here in a minute though. Is this about the case?"
Ah, now he knew who it was.
"Yes, Doctor Winters. This is about the case. Where is Prentiss?"
"Um…" Charlie sounded rather reluctant to tell him, "She is currently being, for want of a better word… sick."
Damn. Hotch did some quick thinking.
"All right," he finally said, "Don't tell her I called. I'll only call again if we need her."
"Are you suggesting that I lie to my friend?" said Charlie, sounding mildly surprised.
"It isn't really lying, you just don't tell her. Why? Is that a problem?" said Hotch, irritation creeping into his voice despite himself.
"No, of course not. I was just making sure I had the facts straight," replied Charlie with clear amusement.
Hotch cut her off and shook his head with annoyance. Then he went to get dressed.
In no time at all, he was walking towards Morgan, JJ and Reid, who all looked as tired as Hotch himself felt. He wasted no time.
"Come on, let's go," he said, trying to keep the weariness from his voice.
"Where's Emily?" asked Morgan without moving.
"I saw her leave a few hours ago in the car," said Reid absently, "Is she not back yet?"
"You saw her leave and you didn't try to stop her?" said Hotch in disbelief.
Reid looked surprised, "Why would I try to stop her?"
"Why did she leave at all?" asked Morgan, clearly puzzled.
"Now is not the time for this," said Hotch impatiently, "We need to go."
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They pulled up outside the building that Agent Bryson had directed them to. One of the agent's men was stood outside, letting Hotch know that they were in the right place. The team filed out of the car and the man greeted them with a tired smile.
"Good morning, Bryson told me to meet you here and catch you up," he said, running his hand through his hair.
Hotch shook hands with him and said, "Good, what can you tell us?"
"Miss Andrea Webb called us approximately an hour a go to tell us that there has been a young man staying in one of her apartments for the last few weeks. She said that just half an hour before she called, he stormed out with a backpack and muttering to himself. She said it was only after he'd gone that she thought this might have something to do with the recent killings and then she phoned us," said the man.
"Thank you," said Hotch, as JJ knocked on the old woman's door.
"I'll go and help with the search then," said the man with another tired smile, "Oh, and Bryson left and extra car for you just in case you needed it."
Hotch thanked him again and then by the time Miss. Webb had answered the door, the man was gone. JJ was the first to greet her, and she introduced Hotch, Morgan and Reid.
Much to Morgan's amusement, the old white haired woman seemed to take an immediate shine to the good Doctor Spencer Reid. She was gazing at him with what could only be described as love in her eyes and when she spoke she spoke directly to him, causally ignoring Hotch, JJ and Morgan.
"Can you describe the man to us?" said Hotch, after she had explained the events leading up to her phone call to them.
"He is about six foot tall and has brown hair and brown eyes. Strong and well built," she said thoughtfully, her eyes never leaving a highly uncomfortable Reid.
"Um…" Reid began nervously, "Is there anything else you can tell us about him? Did you ever speak to him?"
"I spoke to him a few times, love. Very quiet he was. He'd get all twitchy and jumpy when people tried to talk to him. Nervous guy," said Webb, tilting her head slightly as though to get a better look at him.
"Okay, thank you for your time Miss. Webb," said Hotch, deciding to save the poor Doctor.
Reid leapt to his feet immediately, obviously desperate to be as far away from this woman as possible. Before he turned to leave though she grabbed his hand in her old, gnarled ones and stroked his thumb with hers.
"If there is anything else you need," she said in a low voice, "Don't hesitate to call."
Reid squeaked that he would, and then fled the house; an amused Morgan, Hotch and JJ close behind.
"Looks like you got yourself a girlfriend, Reid," said Morgan when they were out of earshot of Miss. Webb.
Even in the dark Hotch could see Reid's cheeks redden as he spluttered to defend himself.
"Okay, we need to split up and search the most likely spots are unsub will be heading for," interrupted Hotch, "Where would you go if you were looking for couples?"
"The movies?" suggested Morgan.
"It's like half past five in the morning, Morgan. Why would anyone be at the movies at this time?" said JJ shaking her head.
"No, Morgan is right. The unsub is quite possibly in a psychotic break and isn't thinking straight. He probably doesn't even know what time it is anymore," said Reid in his statistics voice, "How about the nearest park? He killed his first four victims in a park."
"Okay, Morgan and I will check all the nearby cinemas and Reid and JJ, I want you to go and find the nearest park or similar type of area. I'll call Emily and tell her to meet you there," said Hotch, fishing his phone out of his pocket. The other three agreed and they went their separate ways.
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Author's Note(s): And so off go Reid and JJ…alone. This can only end well.
Random Note - Wow, if the fact that I'm posting at almost seven o clock on a Friday night isn't a testament to the extent of my social life then I don't know what is!
Next chapter from either Reid or JJ's point of view, I've not decided yet.
Once again, thanks for reading:)