Hotch looked challengingly at Strauss. He put it to her simply: would the rest of the team be flying out or will innocent lives continue to be lost because she didn't think the case was so important?
"Have your team here by morning," she replied, defeated.
Hotch breathed a sigh of relief.
Dave walked into the room. "Well, one thing we found out about the dumpsite is that they are public places but the killer isn't trying to make his kills public. This guy is all over the place."
Hotch pulled out his phone and began dialling. He glanced past Dave, then looked at him. "Where's Lex?"
"She headed back to the hotel."
Lex walked into the hotel room. Garcia was sitting at a desk filled with computers. One of the beds contained computers and files. "I don't like this. Rummaging around in people's lives. It's your job. The profilers job."
"Yeah, well, when Hotch gives an order you do it."
"Hotch? We're calling him Hotch now?"
Lex flicked a file over. "It was a moment of madness, I don't know what came over me." Lex sat on the unoccupied bed, flicking through case files, regurgitating random information to Garcia for an hour. She glanced out the window. It was late. The sun had already gone down. She checked her watch: 11.30. "Summer in the country," she muttered. There was a knock on the door. Lex stood up and opened it, greeting Dave and Hotch as they walked in.
"Get anything yet?" Dave directed the question at Garcia.
"No, we've been going over the files but nothing so far," Lex answered. She sat on the bed. "Where's Strauss?"
"En route to DC. Team's flying out tomorrow."
"I'm wrecked. The next few days are going to be full on." Hotch turned to Garcia. "I suggest we call it a night. Café downstairs is still open."
"Did you say caffeine?" Garcia's head shot up.
Lex laughed. "Close enough. I'm in."
Hotch, Lex and Dave walked slowly back up to their rooms. Garcia had caved first and departed after the first coffee. While they waited for the waitress, Dave stretched and decided to call it a night. Hotch stood up and agreed. Not wanting to be left alone, Lex left with them.
Passing Dave's room first, they said goodnight. Passing Garcia's Lex decided to make a quick getaway. "Well, good-" Hotch cut her off by backing her up against the wall and kissing her.