Chapter 3-A New Direction

"Hotch! Look out!" Rossi shouted causing his boss to suddenly look up and see Rossi racing around the front of the SUV. "Behind you!" Turning, Hotch saw a car speeding towards him just as Rossi reached out and, grabbing his arm, yanked him out of the way just as the car ever so slightly swerved at the last minute, continued down the street and around the corner. It took Hotch a few minutes to regain his composure from his near-death experience before he realized he was still holding his cell. Thankfully, he had just disconnected the call seconds before Rossi shouted his warning or Garcia would be asking what was happening. He looked at his friend.

"Thanks," he said letting out a deep breath.

"No problem," Rossi replied clapping him on the shoulder. "You all right?"

Hotch could only nod as memories of the letter he had received returned to his head.

"I'm fine."

"You're sure?" Rossi asked again before he turned his attention down the street looking for the car that had nearly killed his boss and friend. Hotch nodded again having now collected himself.

"Let's get moving," Hotch ordered. "We have other people to speak with." He reached for the door of the SUV when Rossi's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Hotch, we should report this to local law enforcement. That could have been either our UnSub or someone connected to him."

Hotch shook his head as he slid behind the wheel. "Let it go, Dave," he said in his best authoritative voice. "Besides, what info can we give them other than a beat-up Corvette? Neither of us got a look at the driver nor a license plate or even a partial. Besides, I believe if the driver wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have swerved at the last minute to avoid me. Now if you can give me a license number perhaps…"

Rossi stared disbelievingly at his friend. "You know I can't. I was too busy trying to get you out of the way." He did, however, remove his own cell phone from his inner jacket pocket and dialed. He put the phone to his ear.

"Who are you calling?"

"The local police. The least we can do is notify them of a battered vehicle speeding away from the scene of a near hit-and-run. Maybe they can at least pull the guy over before he kills someone."

Hotch watched him and sighed, knowing his friend was right. But he also knew if he attempted to stop him, Rossi would become more suspicious than he already was. And Hotch didn't want to bring what he considered unnecessary attention to himself or have his team's focus shifted from their UnSub to him. He listened as Rossi gave the police the best description he could and that being a battered light-gray 1996 Corvette with its rear bumper partially hanging off the left side obscuring the license plate that nearly missed hitting an FBI agent, and their current location. He didn't have a description of the driver. He promised they would be waiting for them at their location. Disconnecting the call, he climbed up inside the SUV and saw his friend simply looking at him with a blank expression.

"They're going to keep a look out for the Corvette and a unit is going to meet us here to talk about the near accident." he said climbing into the front passenger seat. "What's wrong?"

Hotch sighed wearily. "Nothing. I was just thinking about something."

"What?" Rossi asked. Something was definitely wrong with his superior and had been since just before they left Quantico, and no matter what Hotch's reaction would be, Rossi now intended to find out what it was.

"Let's just suppose this is our UnSub. Why would he try and kill me? I'm not an attorney and haven't been for years. There's no reason." He noticed Rossi about to reply and held up a hand. "And don't repeat that theory about the victims all looking like me. Looking like someone else is not a reason for attempted murder, even though perps have killed for stranger ones." Seeing Rossi's face made Hotch's soften. "Something on your mind?"

"Yeah, but you're not going to like it."

"That depends. What is it?"

"Hotch, I can't speak for the others, but I know I would feel a lot better if you returned to Quantico for your own safety. That way, whoever just tried to run you down won't get another chance at you. We can handle things here."

The profiler's face registered the shock he was feeling. "Absolutely not!" he snapped. "There's no proof anybody's trying to kill me and that this was nothing more than a simple accident. I will not run and hide back in Quantico."

"Okay, okay. Calm down. It was just a suggestion anyway. Now, what did Garcia have to say about Brandon Cooper?"

Hotch sighed glad to change the subject. "He was offered the choice of being fired or resigning by Schonberg and Company two weeks ago for sexual harassment of the wife of one of his co-workers but no charges were ever filed. He resigned to avoid the embarrassment. He's now working for Bradford and Hordford. He's single with no children and still resides here in Alexandria."

"Does his current employer know about the sexual harassment charge?"

"Garcia didn't say so apparently not. I believe it was one of those if you resign we'll give you a glowing recommendation kind of thing."

Rossi folded his arms looking lost in thought. "Certainly is a motive for Cooper to kill Brennaman, isn't it?"

"It could also be a motive for the others as well," Hotch replied resting a hand on the steering wheel. It's possible the intended victim all along was Brennaman and the others were simply to throw law enforcement off the trail."

Rossi look oddly at Hotch. "C'mon, Hotch. You don't really believe that, do you?"

Hotch stared straight ahead and sighed wearily. "No. Something tells me, Dave, that this entire thing is going to end badly." He lowered his eyes just a bit. But before Rossi could ask him what he meant by that statement, they both noticed a squad car slowing down and pulling up just ahead of them. Both agents exited their SUV and shook hands with the officers.

"Agent Hotchner. Agent Rossi. I'm Officer Goodloe and this is my partner Officer Martin. We were assigned to speak with both of you and see if there was any additional information you could give us about the car that nearly ran Agent Hotchner down."

"Nothing more than what we already called in, I'm afraid," Rossi explained with a glance at his friend.

"And I didn't even see the vehicle until just before Agent Rossi yanked me out of the way. So neither of us got but a passing glance at the vehicle and never got a look at the driver."

"Only thing I really recall was the rear bumper hanging partially off the back of the Corvette for some reason." Rossi had his arms folded.

"And you said it was a battered light-gray 1996 Corvette, right?" asked Goodloe. Both officers saw Rossi nod.

"Just thought we'd let you both know a vehicle matching that description was found abandoned about eight blocks from here. The driver was gone as was anything that may have been inside. We called in the license number before having the car towed to our garage and checked thoroughly for prints and anything we might have missed."

Rossi and Hotch exchanged looks before facing the officers. "My instincts tell me you know who this vehicle belongs to," Rossi said.

"Yeah, we do," Goodloe began with a sigh. "According to the information, the vehicle belongs to one Brandon Cooper."

He sat in a coffee shop about two blocks from where he had abandoned the Corvette. From his vantage point, he saw the two street cops going over the vehicle, but knew they would find nothing in it because he made sure not to leave anything. He took a sip of his latte and savored its flavor. He couldn't stop thinking of the stunned look on Agent Hotchner's face just before he swerved to avoid him and then took off down the street and around the corner. It had been priceless! He secretly wondered if Hotchner remembered his name? Probably not. He took another sip of coffee. But he'd make sure he would know who he was just before the agent took his last breath. No sense leaving Agent Hotchner wondering. But the excitement of seeing the agent react to believing he was about to be struck by a vehicle gave him such a thrill that he wanted to rattle him some more. Finishing his coffee, he tucked his newspaper under his arm and tossed the now empty coffee cup into a nearby trash can before calmly walking out of the coffee shop.

Reid and Morgan were standing outside the law office of Simmons and Harriman with Officer Windsor. The agents were looking up and down the busy street. Reid stepped off the curb and into the street between two parked cars but no further. With arms folded he cupped his chin between his thumb and forefinger as he studied everything in the immediate area before looking down at several sets of skid marks still in the street.

"The UnSub increased his speed when he saw Mr. Morrison," he said.

"How can you tell, Reid?" asked Morgan, not doubting his friend's words despite sensing the officer did. "I mean, there are three sets of skid marks present."

Reid pointed to the skid marks furthest from him. "These marks are more pronounced than the others indicating a higher degree of intensity on the driver's part not to miss the victim."

"How do you know that?" asked Windsor skeptically.

"These marks are straight and never swerve not even a little. Also, they continue from that corner of this block and continue past where the victim was struck. The other two sets are less pronounced and show a slight swerve possibly at the last minute. That tells me the drivers of the other vehicles did not intend to hit anybody but were simply in a hurry." In awe, Windsor glanced at Morgan who simply shrugged with a grin.

"Told you the boy was a genius." He suddenly heard his cell ring. Answering it, he excused himself and walked a short distance away to answer it. "Morgan."

"Morgan, it's Rossi. Can you talk?"

"Sure man. Reid and Officer Windsor are talking. What's up?"

"I'm not sure." Rossi was standing by the rear of the SUV watching Hotch who was speaking with one of the two officers. "I think we may have overlooked something in this case."

Morgan's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Hotch and I just left Mrs. Brennaman's home a few minutes ago and a car tried to run Hotch down."

"What!" Morgan said loud enough it caused Windsor and Reid to look in his direction. "Is he all right?"

"He's fine. Hotch says it was just an accident because at the last minute the driver swerved to avoid hitting him..."

"But you don't agree?" Morgan interrupted.

"No. I think the driver purposely avoided hitting him. Also, Hotch is in too much of a hurry to dismiss it as nothing else but an accident. Morgan, I think Hotch might be the link to our UnSub in this case. Don't ask me why because I don't know why. I just do."

"So what do you want me and Reid to do?" Morgan saw the others now standing beside him with concern.

"I don't want Hotch to know I spoke to you about it or else he'll clam up more than he already is." Rossi paused for a moment. "Listen, wasn't Aaron a prosecutor before becoming a profiler?"

"Yeah. For several years. Why? What are you getting at?"

"Call Garcia. Have her check Aaron's record as a prosecutor and find out how many of his cases resulted in convictions and how many he lost outright or on appeal. We also need to know how many of those who were convicted were most vocal in making threats against him. Then have her cross-reference it with how many of those cases are the perps still incarcerated, set free or deceased along with any family members who may have been vocal and making threats against him. When you get the info get back to me. Oh, and Morgan. Don't say anything to Reid, JJ or Emily. I don't want Aaron to know about this."

"You got it, man. Dave, you think the UnSub's after Hotch?"

"I don't know. I hope not but I could be wrong. And if he is it would explain a lot of things." Rossi spotted the officers shaking hands again with Hotch. "Look, I've got to go. Get that info and get back to me." He disconnected the call.

Morgan stood with his closed cell in his hand lost in thought before he saw Reid staring at him, worried. "Morgan?"

Morgan looked at his friend as if seeing him for the first time. "Not now, Spence," he said as he dialed Penelope's number while moving a few steps away from the younger man.

"Hey, tall, dark and handsome," Garcia said in her usual bubbly voice. "This is your queen of technical wonder speaking. What doest thou wish me to do?"

"No now, Garcia. We may have a huge problem. This is about Hotch."

Garcia became serious hearing her boss's name. "What do you need?"

Morgan relayed Rossi's instructions to Garcia and that she should call him back and not Rossi as he was with Hotch.

"This is gonna take awhile," she said. "Hotch was a prosecutor for several years and probably handled hundreds of cases."

"Do the best you can as quickly as you can, okay?"

"Don't I always," Garcia tried to lighten the situation and could hear Morgan chuckle. He disconnected the call and turned, only to be confronted by Reid who, from the look on his face, had overheard.

"Our UnSub is after Hotch?" he asked, worried with narrowed eyes.

"Look, I don't know what you think you heard, Reid, but…"

"I heard everything you explained to Garcia. Derek, I'm not some little kid who has to be protected. I'm a profiler who's seen what UnSubs can do. I've even experienced it personally with Tobias Henkel. Now, is the UnSub after Hotch?"

Morgan sighed. "We don't know; not for sure anyway. Seems like somebody may have tried running Hotch down just after he and Rossi left the Brennaman home. He's okay. But you know Hotch. He dismisses it as just a near accident because the driver swerved at the last minute to avoid him."

"But Rossi isn't sure, is he?"

"No. That's why he wants Garcia to check Hotch's record from when he was a prosecutor."

Biting his lower lip Reid could only nod. Being the youngest member of BAU, he always felt out-of-place even though he was a member of the team. And when he first met Aaron Hotchner he noticed immediately the man oozed confidence, control and although he didn't verbally order it, the way he carried himself demanded respect. But Reid soon discovered that Hotchner, or 'Hotch' as he preferred to be called, was very easy to get along with and talk to. He took the young profiler under his wing and encouraged him in every way, and always had time if Reid had a problem, a question, or simply needed to talk to someone. He was also the same way with everyone on his team, but especially with him. He soon looked upon the older agent as sort of a big brother and that thought warmed the young man. And just the thought of someone wanting to hurt the older agent did not sit well with Spencer Reid at all. Swallowing hard, he looked at Morgan.

"So what do we do?" he asked firmly, but Morgan could see in his friend's face exactly what he was feeling himself. "I'm not going to sit by and allow somebody to hurt him or worse."

Morgan rested a hand on Reid's shoulder. "Take it easy. We're not going to. But first we have to see if there's anything to actually worry about. I mean it could end up being what Hotch says it was, just an accident and nothing else. After-all, the guy did swerve at the last moment to avoid hitting him. Now I don't know any UnSubs who try to avoid hurting someone. Rossi's just covering all the bases is all."

"Do we know if Hotch received a letter like the attorneys?"

"Not that I know of. Look, Reid, We both know Hotch hasn't been an attorney for several years. That just further proves that it was probably just an accident."

"And what if it isn't just an accident?"

"Look, we'll cover that bridge when and if we get to it. And Reid, Rossi didn't want me to tell you, JJ or Emily. I suggest you keep it from them until we know more. Okay?"

Reid appeared a bit flustered. "Okay. Yeah. Sure." He took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Reid, it'll be all right. Trust me. If it has nothing to do with the case, the local police will get him. And if it's our UnSub, we'll find a way to protect Hotch no matter what. So try not to worry."

Reid allowed a small smile to appear. But inwardly he wanted to scream.