Chapter 9 –

3:25pm Tuesday 15th November 2011

"Hotchner."

Garcia took a breath, her hands were trembling as her shaky voice spoke over the phone.

"I've found the last time Sally Rogers was seen on the CCTV footage."

"That's great Garcia, it gives us a good timeline for the unsub, when was it?"

"2:42 this morning."

"Ok, he didn't waste any time then, can you send the footage over?"

Garcia paused briefly before she answered, she knew that she couldn't keep quiet any longer.

"Yes of course, Sir?"

"Yes Garcia."

"Sally wasn't alone in the footage, she was talking to someone."

"Have you identified them?"

"It's Emily."

"Pardon?"

Garcia's voice had been barely a whisper, he had thought that she had said 'Emily' but surely he had misheard?

"It was Emily."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sir, I've checked the footage countless times but it is definitely her."

The line went silent, Garcia didn't know what to say, she was already dreading the words that were going to come next.

"Ok I'll ring Emily."

"I've already tried, she's not answering."

"Crap!"

Hotch walked around outside the SUV, wandering far enough away so that nobody else could hear the conversation he was having.

"Garcia?"

"Sir?"

"Emily took some time off recently, I need you to find out where she went, if she's spent any time here in Dallas."

Garcia didn't answer straight away, she knew that the request had been coming and that everyone had noticed that Emily had not been herself lately.

"Garcia?"

"I'm on it Sir."

"Thank you and keep this quiet, don't mention it to anyone else yet?"

"Ok Sir."

Garcia spoke quietly as Hotch ended the call, turning away from the screen momentarily as she gathered her thoughts before she dug deep into her friend's private life.

4:53pm Tuesday 15th November 2011

Emily didn't want to head back to the hotel straight away, her heart crestfallen at how close she had come to finding her sister. Luckily Stan had been useful, after a bit of cash had been handed his way, providing Emily with a few changes to Milly's photo, shorter hair and she was now sporting a nose ring. Sitting in the Starbucks nursing her espresso Emily tried to compartmentalise her thoughts, carelessly she had left her cell back at the hotel, so the one person she wanted to call and talk about what she had discovered she couldn't, and there was no way that Sally would be out at work at this early hour. Placing the empty cup on the table Emily got up and headed out in the chilly air once again, hoping to get back to her hotel room before the team noticed that she was gone.

5:02pm Tuesday 15th November 2011

Garcia didn't know what she going to say as she waited for the call to be answered, she knew her friend, loved her for six years and after all she had been through with Doyle, she couldn't, hadn't, Garcia shook her head, she didn't know what to think anymore.

"Hotchner."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes Garcia, I'm sitting in the SUV, what did you find?"

"Uh Sir?"

"It's ok Garcia I understand, please just tell me."

"Emily has made two trips to Dallas recently, the first from Tuesday 1st November until Sunday 6th November, then Friday 11th November until Sunday 13th, she stayed at the Hilton on both occasions."

"Thank you Garcia."

"Sir, you'll..."

"Of course Garcia as soon as I've spoken to her and know what's going on."

"Thank you, I'll be waiting here."

Garcia took her headset off and swivelled her chair around, for the moment she didn't want to look at anything.

Hotch threw his cell onto the passenger seat and stared hard out of the front windscreen.

"What's going on Emily?"

Hotch reached across and picked up his cell once again, phoning the person who could quickly gather the team together.

"JJ I need everyone to meet in my hotel room in ten minutes...yes my hotel room...ok thanks."

Hotch got out of the SUV and walked into the hotel, running through what he was going to say to the team.

5:25pm Tuesday 15th November 2011

Emily hadn't realised just how exhausted she was, the walk around Dallas had wiped her out and she wished she had resorted to using a taxi as wearily she swiped her card and opened the door to her hotel room.

"What?"

A frown immediately crossed Emily's brow as she Reid standing by her bathroom door, Rossi by the window, JJ was sitting on her bed, Hotch standing in the middle and Derek, he quickly closed the door and stood firmly in front of it, arms angrily crossed in front of his body. Emily had her mouth open slightly as she looked at Hotch who gestured for her to sit down but Emily shook her head firmly.

"Where have you been Prentiss?"

"Out for a walk, thought the fresh air would help."

Hotch frowned at the answer and crossed his arms before he resumed.

"Where were you last night at about 2:42am?"

Emily turned and looked around at everyone else, she saw the same look in their eyes as Hotch had and she just silently shook her head.

"Please Emily."

JJ's voice was quiet as she spoke, she tried to reach up and take a hold of Emily's hand but Emily moved her hands to the front of her body.

"There was another body discovered this afternoon, one of the vice detectives recognised her, identified her as Sally Rogers."

Emily closed her eyes and swallowed hard, it suddenly dawned on Emily that they thought that she had done something.

"What have you been doing in Dallas lately Prentiss?"

Emily shook her head and swallowed hard again, she could see it in their eyes, they suspected her and all she wanted to do was cry at the loss of someone who had helped her so much in the last three weeks.

"Prentiss you need to answer my questions."

Hotch spoke firmly but his cell rang giving Emily a slight reprieve.

"Hotchner...yes ma'am of course..."

Emily's hotel room fell silent apart from the occasional word from Hotch, Emily stayed standing up, staring hard at her boss.

"...we just need to account for her whereabouts...no of course not...a sister, no Emily hasn't said anything about a missing sister Ambassador."