Criminal Minds

Meeting Marcella

Chapter 5

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Two hours later, Hotch and his team were back at the BAU unit and in the conference room.

"Thank you everyone for coming back here on such short notice." Hotch nodded to his team.

"What's up, Hotch?" Morgan asked him. "You have something about Prentiss?"

"Garcia?" He turned to the screen.

"Oh...indeed, my dark and sweet savory goodness of love. As of two hours' ago, the British Embassy in Kabul sent out a coded distress call NSA intercepted. Three squad of unknown and as yet unidentified militia goons attacked the Embassy. And they had declared sovereignty within the British soil."

"Can they do that?" Morgan frowned at Garcia.

"Oh...I'm sure those people don't give a camel's butt as long as they get what they want." Garcia rushed.

"Camel's butt?" Alex grinned.

"Well, I'm trying my best not to use too much expletives, Alex." Garcia pointed at Hotch. "He is under a lot of pressure." She signed with her hands.

Alex shook her head, "I get you." She signed back.

"Okay, can we get back to the matter?" Hotch watched his team. "We have some people to get home."

They nodded. "That's right." Rossi agreed. "The Deputy Director has agreed to and is working with the CIA on sending drones to Kabul from an undisclosed location."

"Wow, the Deputy Director?" Alex arched her eyebrows. "How did you managed to arm wrestle him?"

Hotch smiled, "It was a joint effort. But the bottom line, we're getting our objective."

Reid frowned, "At what price?"

Hotch and Rossi turned to him, "What do you mean?"

"At what price? I mean, you're using personal feelings to get what you want, Hotch."

The team stared at him in surprise, "What are you talking about, Reid?" Morgan stared at him, "This is Emily you're talking about. Even if it's someone else, we will do what we can to get them out."

"I understand, but there are many lives lost there and everywhere else. Look at the Benghazi situation, and the Paris, too."

"Spencer," JJ stared at him. "I can't believe you're comparing those two events to what's going on now with Emily."

Hotch held his hand up, "Explain, Reid."

He nodded, "I understand Emily and the INTERPOL personnel are in jeopardy but what's really at stake? Why are they there in the first place?" He placed a piece of paper before them. "This was in the text we intercepted and this is what Emily and Clyde went to Kabul for."

Hotch reached over and picked it up and began to read it, soon he frowned as he looked up at Reid.

"What is it?" Morgan looked at Reid, then at Hotch in confusion. "What does the text say?"

"What is Lazarus?" Dave asked as he read the text, passing the paper around the room. "Is that a codeword?"

Standing up, Hotch nodded, "We have to brief Chief Cruz and the Deputy Director...as well as the Task Force." he walked to the door.

"They are mobilizing?" JJ followed him.

"No, they're on stand-by." Hotch shook his head. "But by the time they get there, it'll be too late."

"They won't get there," Reid remain seated. "Lazarus is fake. It's a set up."

They turned to him, "What're you talking about, Reid?" Morgan frowned.

….

Hotch walked determinedly to the Embassy Hotel, his hands were clenched tightly.

Ten minutes later, he was standing before Elizabeth Prentiss.

"Aaron! What are you doing here?" She looked shocked. "Marcella's asleep..."

"I'm not here to see my daughter, Elizabeth."

She saw his expression and opening the door wider, invited him in.

Nodding, he stepped in and waited for her to close the door before he asked her, "What's Lazarus?"

Her brows arched, "What?"

"Don't. You of all people should know what I'm talking about, and I'm not in the mood to play politics."

She looked into the hallways, presumably the bedrooms before leading Hotch and herself to the couch.

"I don't know where you obtained this highly sensitive information but you've just placed yourself and your team in danger."

Hotch stared at her, "Elizabeth, Emily's group stumbled on Lazarus before they headed out to the Middle East. What the hell is going on?"

She looked pale as she turned away from him, staring off, "I...I...dear god..." Her hands began to shake. "Dear god, Emily...no...no, it's not, it can't be true! She's just as good as dead." She whispered.

Hotch frowned, "Ambassador Prentiss, what are you talking about? We need to get them out of there! Tell me how."

She turned to him, "It may be too late. The United States has no jurisdiction over this."

"This is ridiculous!" Hotch stood up, "Elizabeth! We're talking about your daughter! My Emily! If you don't tell me what Lazarus is, I'm heading over to Kabul now." He headed to the door. "Tell Marcella...I love her very much, and her mother loves her too."

With that, he left.

…...

End of Chapter 5