Criminal Minds

Yves, Your Cheatin' Cologne

Part 5

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Hotch, It was Morgan calling from Baltimore. We've found a mass grave in a backyard of an abandoned farmhouse. We got the UnSubs. Your original assessment was right.

"So, there were two of them." Hotch confirmed his suspicion.

That's right, they were working in tandem all along and get this, they had three houses with five identities. Talk about your multiple Jeckle and Hyde shit.

Hotch could hear him grinning.

Hotch, this is JJ. I got a call from Emily.

His heart instantly jumped, "What did she say? Did she say where she's at?"

I don't know, I didn't catch it in time, it didn't ring for long. Hotch, what's going on? I thought she's with you?

Taking a deep breath, he began to tell the rest of his team about Emily's disappearance.

A few minutes later, they were at first quiet on the phone, then Morgan and JJ spoke at the same time.

We have to get to New Jersey right now!

Why the hell didn't you tell us about it?

The second one was from Morgan.

"I didn't want any distraction. Gideon knows about this and he agrees with me." Hotch explained.

There were mumblings in the background before JJ spoke up; Hotch, we're wrapping up from here and we'll fly up to New Jersey.

"I'll be joining you as soon as possible." Hotch said as he stood at the check-out counter. "I just have to take care of Jack and some home things."

We'll get Emily back, Hotch. JJ assure him.

"Thank you, JJ."

Haley looked over to him, "Everything all right?"

He looked at her, "Not exactly, one of the team is missing."

A look of shock was on her face, "Who?"

"Emily."

"But...weren't you with her? Didn't you two go to New Jersey?" They were walking towards their vehicle with their purchases as he explained to her what happened.

"Aaron, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

He shook his head, "There's nothing to be sorry, Haley, it's just one of those things we can't control, and I'm hoping that when we get these," he indicated the things they had just bought and in the trunk, "in the house and I can get on my way back to New Jersey."

Haley pursed her lips for a moment before she smiled, "Of course," She nodded. "Certainly, I understand Aaron. I can handle this." She said tightly as she quickly turned away from him.

Hotch saw the looks of disappointment in her eyes; he felt disappointed too.

He sighed heavily as he climbed into the driver's seat and drove from the parking lot and headed home. They were quiet as each was in their own thoughts.

Then Hotch received another phone call; this was from the bureau crime lab.

DNA had come back.

When he hung up, his knuckles on the steering wheels were white, and his expressions heavy and dark.

He had the lab tech emailed the results to his home computer.

…

When they had moved all the purchases and boxes into the house, Hotch went into his personal office and logged into his computer and printed the result.

Paper in hand, he walked towards the kitchen when his phone rang; it was Reid.

"Yeah, Reid?"

Hotch, I think I found the Sheriff's whereabouts.

"What about Emily?"

You don't understand, the Sheriff's the key.

"Reid, I don't really give a damn about her right now, all I'm concern is Emily."

Yes, I'm aware of it...but you have to listen to this, it's important, she's not kidnapped.

Hotch was instantly alert, "What are you trying to say, Reid?"

"She kidnapped Emily."

…...

As the rest of the team headed towards New Jersey with the new information Reid had provided via Hotch.

Garcia was also busily in her lair, "Okay my genius boy, I have zippo on where Emily's last call."

Pen, she tried to call me, JJ spoke on the Jet's speaker phone. I think I'm the last one she's trying to get a hold of.

"Jayje, I'm trying to trace those cell towers in New Jersey and they are not yielding. No known cell number existed." The team could tell Garcia was getting frustrated. "What's this obsession with our Emily?"

"It's not her, it's Hotch. The Sheriff is obsessed with Hotch." JJ said, "According to Hotch, when he and Emily were at the precinct the other day for the consult, Sheriff Natalie Garrett was giving him quite a strong signal, even though he made it clear he was married and a federal agent."

Morgan shook his head, "I guess she got pissed at being rejected, but why Emily?"

"Hotch left the hotel early because of family emergency, and she thought if she took Emily, he'd come back for her." JJ reasoned.

Gideon nodded quietly, "She's right, and we're playing into her hands."

Morgan looked at him, "You think that phone call to JJ might be a trap?"

Gideon nodded again, "Since Hotch had not come when she, as Emily, had called yesterday, she's now using her team."

"So, you're saying we shouldn't respond, and let Hotch do this alone?"

"No, not at all, she's becoming desperate, she's bound to..."

Don't say it, Gideon! Garcia squeaked from the speaker phone. Please, please hurry over there and get Prentiss! She begged the team.

"Pen, we're landing. We're on our way." JJ informed her as she was sitting down.

Okay, please be safe!

"We will, and pray for Emily's safety." JJ said, as she turned to her team, her expression was one of determination.

…...

"We need to talk, Haley." Hotch approached his wife; he had waited until she lay him down for his nap before he came to her. "Come to the bedroom." He beckoned her.

Curious, she followed him into the room and when she entered, she saw he had his go-bag ready, and another larger bag as well. "What's this, Aaron?"

"We've been married for over ten years, and it seems we've been slowly drifting apart instead of growing together." He sat on the edge of their bed.

"I don't understand what you mean, Aaron." She began to approach him.

He held his hand up, indicating her to stop, she did, her expression was one of hurt. "Aaron?"

He handed her the paper.

She took it and began to read it and with shock, "Oh my god, Aaron! You...I..."

He stood up and picked up his bags, "I will be moving my things into the guest bedroom for now. We'll discuss more when I get back. Congratulations, Haley."

"Aaron...please, let me explain." She shook her head as she tried to stop him.

"There's nothing to explain, it's written plainly on this piece of paper." He placed the larger bag on the bed in the guest room and holding the go-bag he said, "Take good care of my son." And he left.

Haley was shaking as she collapsed to the floor of the hallway; the piece of paper floating down and landed in front of her, she looked down at the words on the bottom, it seemed to be mocking at her; male subject – fluid obtained in evidence collected, tested and identified Brett Gregory Stevenson, age 30, male.

- fluid obtained in evidence collected, tested and identified Haley Hotchner nee Brooks, age 32, female. Female subject is 3 weeks pregnant.

…...

End of Part 5