Chapter 12

After going over the plan again, Hotch and Kahlan were outfitted with the latest in surveillance equipment that included earwigs, video recorders, com links, and several weapons that didn't look like weapons at all. Hotch was impressed. What he had seen under the clock tower was nothing compared to all of the equipment he was seeing laid before him. He leaned over to whisper in his wife's ear. "Think they'd miss seven sets of all this?"

She giggled. "Maybe if we succeed, they'll give them to you." He looked at her questioningly. "We have yet to discuss payment." He balked. He hadn't planned on being paid; he was doing it because it was the right thing to do. She giggled at his look. "Come on, I think we're ready," she told him and took his hand.

Emily met them at the door. "Remember that we'll have agents in and around but none of them will go anywhere near the targets."

"And you'll be in the parking lot across the street," Hotch told her with a smile. "Calm down, Emily. We got this," he assured her as he squeezed her shoulder.

Emily shook her head. "We never faced anyone like this at the BAU."

Kahlan smiled. "He's had a little more experience with these types of men since you left, Em."

Hotch shot her a look. "You mean since I've known you," he told her with a grin to let her know he didn't mean anything bad by it.

"Come on handsome," Kahlan said with a grin, grabbed his hand, and pulled him out the door to the awaiting limo.

"Good luck," Emily called after them.

The short ride to the palace led to a line of limousines as the cars waited to drop off their charges. Hotch watched the entrance closely. "They're using metal detectors?"

Kahlan smiled. "Don't worry, Hun. One of Emily's people is up there to get us through."

He took a deep breath, and soon a handsomely dressed man opened the door and helped Kahlan get out. Hotch followed her and she put her arm in the crock of his elbow and they climbed the stairs together. Sure enough, they were through security without any problems and Hotch finally relaxed a little.

Hotch's alpha swelled as he noticed every man they passed stopped to stare at Kahlan. My wife! He tried not to let his stare emerge and back the men down because he knew it really wasn't their fault. If she wasn't on my arm, I'd be drooling, too. He leaned in close. "Shall we see if we can find any of our unsubs?" he asked in a whisper.

She smiled and leaned close to him. "Who do you think we're following?"

Hotch turned a shocked look ahead of him and tried to see if he could see any of the men he was supposed to be profiling. He couldn't.

She giggled. "Go grab us a drink, and I'll get close," she told him as she let him go.

"Not too close," he warned seriously and she shoved him away lightly.

He searched and found a waiter carrying wine. He took two, and went in search of his wife. He smiled as he approached her. Standing about ten feet away from her was one of the men. He handed her the glass as he leaned in to give her a quick kiss. "For you, Ma'Lady."

She giggled as she took it and knew the only reason he had kissed her was to let all of the men around them know that she was his. "Texas seems anxious."

"Texas? Why is she calling him that?" Clyde asked Emily as they watched from the van.

Kahlan giggled. "The man is American," she told the com link quietly.

"What?!" Clyde started. "They hasn't been anything to suggest any of these men are from the US."

Hotch shook his head as he listened, and Kahlan laughed. "Look at the way he's standing. That's a cowboy if I've ever seen one."

Clyde and Emily both studied the man in Kahlan's camera view. Suddenly the man laughed and Clyde got a shocked look. It was obvious by the man's loud laugh and voice that he had a Texas drawl. Clyde shook his head as Emily laughed.

"Makes me wonder if any of the information is correct," Hotch said quietly, and Clyde huffed.

"Think they'll play anything even remotely country?" Kahlan asked Hotch a little loudly.

Hotch had to suppress a grin as the man in question turned to look at them. "I doubt it," he told her.

She pouted. "We haven't heard any good music since we left," she told him and he nodded as the man got closer.

"And what would you consider good music?" the man asked nicely.

Kahlan acted shocked at finding another man so close. "Oh you know, George Straight, Garth Brooks, maybe a little Hank Jr."

He man's smile grew bigger. "It sure is nice to hear another American voice. Sometimes these Brits are hard as hell to understand."

Kahlan laughed. "I agree."

Hotch looked at the man's hand. "How did you find a beer in a place like this?"

The man laughed. "Brought my own. Damn English beer is more like creek water back home."

Hotch laughed. "It is weak."

"I'd say there are a few creeks in Texas that are even stronger," Kahlan told him nicely.

The man's brows furrowed. "How'd you know I'm from. . ." he started and then laughed. "I guess the accent is pretty easy to place for someone back home. Let me guess, you're from Virginia?"

Hotch raised his brows. "And I didn't even know I had an accent."

The man smiled. "I travel a lot."

"So what's a cowboy like you doing at a gala like this?" Kahlan asked him as she put her hand on his arm lightly.

"Business with some buddies. . ." he started and then looked across the room as someone called out a name. "Speaking of the devils." He nodded to the Hotchners. "You get tired of sipping that shit and want a real drink, come find me."

"Oh, I'm sure we will eventually," Kahlan told him and he walked away.

They both watched him and the two men he walked over to meet; the two men Kahlan thought were brothers. "He's smarter than he looks," Hotch told Kahlan.

"Uh-huh, I have a feeling they all are extremely intelligent," Kahlan told him.

"They'd have to be to evade capture all this time," Clyde pointed out.

"That, or just really lucky," Hotch told them and then took Kahlan's hand and led her into one of the other rooms. It wouldn't do them any good to get caught staring at the men. "Dance with me," he told her as he took the wine glass out of her hand and set it on a table. Kahlan smiled and let him lead her onto the floor. "You did bug him, right?"

She giggled as he swept her around as they danced to a waltz. "Of course."

About forty five minutes later, Hotch noticed another one of their unsubs. Hotch's alpha's hackles rose as he took in the way the man was staring at Kahlan. Kahlan noticed who he was looking at and smiled. "You want me to go flirt with him?" she teased.

The look he gave her told her exactly how much he did not want that to happen.

"Go to the restroom or something. Let me see if he'll approach me."

"Kahlan," he started.

"Go, Aaron. I'll be fine," she assured him.

He let out a noise that soundly suspiciously like a growl but finally turned away from her and headed into the next room.

As soon as he disappeared around the corner, the man walked up to her with his hand out. "Could I have this dance?" he asked her in a heavy Australian accent. "A beautiful Sheila like you shouldn't be standing on the sidelines."

She smiled. "I don't dance with strangers."

"Of course. Where are my manners? Ethan Walker at your service," he told her with a little bow. "And you are?"

The tech next to Emily immediately started typing on a computer trying to find out everything she could about the man.

Kahlan smiled warmly. "Kahlan Jackson."

"Kahlan? That sounds Aussie."

"Sorry. Strictly American in my past."

He smiled. "Well, now that we know each other a little better, can we dance?"

She giggled. "Sure."

He smiled again, took her hand, and led her onto the dance floor.

Hotch came back before the song was over. He watched Kahlan laughing lightly, and his left eye twitched a little as he felt his anger rising.

"Just calm down, Big Guy," came Emily's voice over his earwig. "She's only doing her job."

He huffed and noticed Tex and his two friends watching Kahlan, too, so he studied them. "What's Tex's name?" Hotch asked Emily through his com link.

"Cody Murray from Dallas Texas, and Kay's dancing with Ethan Walker from Austraila. We still don't have full names on the two men with Cody, though," Emily told him.

"What are their first names?" Hotch asked her as he continued to watch them.

"Vicktor and Adrian, but we only have sound so we don't know which one is which."

"They sound Russian, though," Clyde put in.

"So we haven't seen number five, yet?" Hotch asked as he turned his attention back to Kahlan.

"Not yet. You think that means he's the head guy?" Clyde asked him.

"Not necessarily," Hotch told them as he started across the dance floor.

"What are you doing, Agent Hotchner?" Clyde asked desperately as they watched Hotch close in on the dancing duo quickly.

Hotch saw the man's hand start to drift down Kahlan's back and get too close to her butt. "I'm going to kill him," Hotch said angrily.

"Hotch. Come on, Hotch, don't blow this," Emily urged him.

"Just calm down," he told them quietly. He grabbed the man's arm and pulled him away from Kahlan roughly. "I think you're dancing with the wrong woman!" Hotch told him menacingly.

Kahlan looked at him with shock.

Ethan pulled away from Hotch and stood up straighter. "You left. That left her to be scooped up by a better bloke."

Hotch's hand balled into a fist. "And you think that's you?"

Ethan smiled. "Yep, and I don't think there is a damn thing you can do about it," he told him and went to grab Kahlan's hand again.

"You be surprised. . ." Hotch started but stopped as the other unsubs quickly joined them.

"Hey!" Cody started with a big smile. "There's no need to start a ruckus here, partner."

"This idiot a friend of yours?" Hotch asked him.

"If we could at least move this off the dance floor," one of the Russians asked as he gestured to the side of the room.

"Let's just go, Aaron," Kahlan tried as she moved closer to her husband.

"There's no need to leave because of this moron," Cody started. "Let me get you that beer to make up for my friend's lack of brains."

Hotch took a deep breath as he fixed Ethan with his stare for a moment.

"I didn't mean any harm," Ethan assured him. "I just didn't want the Sheila to get lonely."

"Shut up, Eth," the older Russian told him and then smiled at Kahlan. "You'll have to accept my apology for our friend here." He turned to Hotch. "Please. Join us for a drink. We have vodka, too."

"Alright," Hotch told him and grabbed Kahlan's hand.

The older Russian smiled and led the way.

Emily laughed. "Acting like a badass got them in," she told Clyde as she hit him on the shoulder. Clyde smiled as he got a little more impressed with Hotch. Emily beamed proudly. "I told you he was the best."

"Yeah. I just hope he's good enough to figure out who is in charge in the time they have left," Clyde told her.

Emily laughed again. "The night is still young."

The group led the Hotchners into a private room, and Kahlan and Hotch both quickly surveyed it. Their fifth unsub was already seated on one of the chairs. Another man quickly left the room by a door in the far wall. Cody turned to the couple. "I was just telling Adrian, here, how I ran into a couple Americans."

"We were quite surprised, and I have to admit that I didn't quite believe him," the younger Russian told them with a smile as he gestured to the seats.

"Why it is so hard to believe that there would be other Americans here. We like a party as well as any other country," Kahlan told him as she sat down on the little loveseat. Hotch quickly sat down beside her.

The older Russian laughed. "If you are anything like this one, I can imagine. I told my brother that," he told her with a smile as he gestured to the younger Russian.

"Brother?" Hotch asked and his stomach flipped as the thought of having to eat haggis almost made him cringe. Kahlan shot him a sly grin.

"Yeah. Most people don't realize it, but Vicktor is my big brother. I still tease him that he is. . . How do you Americans put it? The dairy man's?"

Cody laughed. "The milkman's."

"Yes, the milkman's."

Kahlan laughed, and Hotch shook his head. "So how did you all end up friends?" Hotch asked them.

"We met at a conference in Copenhagen," the fifth man told them with a smile as he stood up. "Fleix Hellstrom," he told them as he held out a hand to Hotch.

Hotch shook it. "Aaron Jackson, and this is my wife," he paused as he shot Ethan a dirty look. "Kahlan."

Cody laughed. "I never did introduce myself. Name's Cody Murray," he told them as he shook Hotch's hand next.

The man who had left came back in carrying a tray of seven beers and seven shot glasses. He went to Cody first.

"He's probably the one in charge," Clyde suggested.

As Cody took a beer, he gestured to the Russians. "And these strange sounding fellas are Vicktor and Adrian Karnovich."

The waiter brought the tray the Hotchners next, and Hotch grabbed one of the shot glasses while Kahlan grabbed a beer. "Thank you," she told the man nicely.

Emily relaxed a little. "At least they didn't make them take the last drinks. I would have been worried they were spiked or something." Clyde nodded his agreement.

"So what is it you do, Mr. Jackson?" Felix asked him.

Hotch smiled. "A little of this. A little of that. We like to travel."

"Travel, huh? Have you ever been to Russia?" Adrian asked.

"A couple of times," Kahlan started. "Although, I do have to admit that Moscow was a bit of a disappointment."

Hotch tensed inwardly. Really, Babe? You're going to put down their country?

Victor laughed. "Isn't it?"

The waiter passed out the rest of the drinks as Hotch relaxed.

"We did think Lake Baikal was beautiful."

Adrian smiled at some unknown memory. "You fish?"

Hotch smiled. "Some."

Cody stood up and held his beer up. "To new friends."

They all raised their drinks. "To new friends," they all said in unison and took a drink. Hotch's face showed how strong the vodka was and the Russians laughed at him.

Hotch took a slow deep breath. "Nothing like that back home," he told them sheepishly and they laughed some more.

"You two have any kids?" Cody asked.

Kahlan smiled sadly. "No. Fortune has not blessed us in that way."

Hotch grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Not for lack of want, though." Hotch noticed that got Felix's attention.

"You should adopt, there are plenty of children out there in need of parents," Ethan suggested.

"Tried," Hotch started. "The agencies seem to think our. . . lifestyle wouldn't be conducive to a stable environment."

Felix shot Cody a look.

"You see that? The Texan has to be the one in charge," Clyde told Emily with a grin.

"Ever travel to the middle east?" Cody asked as he studied them.

"Only when we have to," Hotch told him with a grin.

Cody nodded as if he knew exactly what Hotch was talking about.

"Is he trying to come off as some sort of arms dealer?" Clyde asked Emily. "He never said anything like that here."

"Chill, Clyde. He's being what he thinks they want him to be. I told you, he's the best."

"At figuring out criminals, yes, but these men are a whole new level of scum."

"But they are still criminals. Relax and enjoy the show," Emily urged as she sat back in her chair.

Kahlan took a drink of her beer and then sat it on the table next to her. "As much as I would love to sit here and chat all night," she started as she got up and turned to Hotch. "You promised me we would dance."

"What's she doing? He's actually getting somewhere with them." Emily asked as she sat up in her chair.

"Of course," Hotch said as he stood up and turned to the men. "What the lady wants, she gets," he told them with a smile.

They all stood up. "Maybe you can join us for another drink before the night ends," Felix suggested.

"We'll see," Kahlan told him with a smile and the Hotchners moved toward the door.

"Maybe I can see about getting some real music played," Cody called after them.

Kahlan laughed and Hotch held the door open for her as he turned back to them. "Thank you for the drink."

Vicktor nodded and Hotch shut the door behind them.

"What's wrong?" Hotch asked her quietly as they made their way away from the room.

"Nothing," Kahlan told him with a smile.

"Then why?" Hotch started to ask.

"I would think they are looking you up as we speak. We need to give them time to decide if they are going to trust us or not."

He nodded as he considered it. "Nice."

She smiled and led him to the dance floor. "How did you know they would react like that when you challenged Ethan?" she asked him quietly as he took her around the dance floor.

"It was the way they were looking at him. He is definitely on the bottom of the totem pole." He smiled as he looked at her. "The jealous husband impressed the Russians."

She giggled. "Oh, so that was just an act?"

He chuckled. "Sure it was." Her look told him she didn't believe him and he smiled. "How did you know insulting Moscow wouldn't offend them?"

She smiled. "I could tell from their accents that they are from southeastern region. I've never met anyone from that area that likes the bigger cities. That's why I brought up that lake."

He smiled. "Thank God you've traveled. I had no idea what you were talking about."

She beamed. "Figure it out yet?"

"I think so, but I want a little more time to be sure."