Chapter 9: Close to Home
"An FBI agent?" Grace asked.
"You mean he's one of us?" JJ asked.
"Guys, think about it," Reid said, "who else would know exactly what happened to Hotch? Who else would know that Grace is the daughter of George Foyet?"
"Another agent," Rossi said, grimly. The thought that the copycat was on the inside terrified everyone.
"I'm gonna get Garcia on this," Hotch said, "we need to look at every agent who's read the case file. And we need to rule out Grace's partners in the Innocent Images Unit."
"Penelope's House of Omniscience, how may I be of service?" Garcia asked.
"Garcia, I need you to compile a list of all the agents who read Foyet's case file," Hotch commanded.
"You mean besides 'mini-Reaper?'" Garcia asked.
"Garcia..." Hotch warned.
"I know, sir. I'm sorry!" Garcia exclaimed, "It's just, that I don't like change and.."
"Garcia, I know," Hotch answered, "we all miss Prentiss. And I know Morgan didn't leave on good terms. I'm sorry for that. But Grace is a valuable asset to our team and her life could be in danger."
"I know, sir. I agree. I'm sure I'll like her, it's just the-"
"Circumstances. I know. It's gonna take some getting used to. But, if this unsub is after Grace, then he's also after me. He knows every detail of what happened."
"Oh God!" Garcia exclaimed. She typed at what seemed the speed of lightning.
"I sent you the list sir," Garcia said, "be warned. It's a long one."
"Garcia, we don't have much time."
"I know, sir. Be safe! And Hotch, I'm sorry!"
"Don't be. Just give it time." Hotch had to chuckle at the tech analyst's constant apologizing and rambling. Since she didn't have Morgan to banter with anymore, well, Hotch was the next best thing.
"We need to narrow down the list and fast," JJ said.
"Okay. It's personal for him," Rossi said, "you mean something to him, Hotch."
"But what?" he asked, "surely there must be some stressor that started his downward spiral."
"Maybe it's someone you rejected for a position in the B.A.U," Reid shrugged.
"But why would he replicate the Reaper's crimes just because you rejected him?" Grace asked.
"I hate to say it," Strauss said, "but he could've been in the B.A.U before."
"What do you mean, Strauss?" Rossi asked.
"With all due respect, Agent Hotchner, you recently fired Agent Morgan."
"Ma'am, you can't possibly saying..."
"I'm not saying anything, I'm just saying maybe this is the trigger you're looking for." The team looked stunned.
"Morgan does have a personal connection to Foyet," Rossi said.
"What happened?" Grace asked.
"When Foyet manipulated us into thinking he was the victim, he gave us different addresses. We split up and covered each address. At one of the houses, Foyet was there. He killed Sergeant O'Mara and knocked out Morgan," Hotch explained.
"Morgan eventually came to," JJ took over, "but he was pretty shaken up about it. The Reaper left a bullet behind to toy with Morgan. He wanted to show Morgan he could've easily killed him."
"Psychological torture," Grace interjected.
"He couldn't let it go," Hotch said, "he stole Morgan's credentials at the crime scene. When I was attacked in my apartment, Foyet drove me to the hospital, using Morgan's credentials..." Hotch trailed off, realizing what he was implying. His heart was now filled with stoic rage.
"He pretended to be Morgan," Grace said.
"Woah, woah, woah," Reid interjected, "you can't actually think MORGAN did all this?!"
"Reid, I don't want to believe it anymore than you do," Rossi said, "we don't."
"But the fact that Grace joined the team coupled with the fact that Hotch fired him—he could see that as some sort of betrayal," JJJ said, "plus he knew we were going to be interviewing Bo. Grace mentioned him on her first case."
"And he wants revenge on me for getting him fired," Grace said, "he was stalking me."
"He also see you as an enemy because you're a Foyet," Reid added.
"He wants revenge on me because I was the one who fired him. Not you, Grace," Hotch said with an edge in his tone. He slammed his fist on the table.
"Hotch..." Rossi said.
"Someone get Garcia off of this case," Hotch ordered, "she's not going to like this. JJ, I want you to set up a protective detail for Grace."
"What about you?" Rossi asked.
"I'll be fine," Hotch reassured. But, deep down inside, he didn't think he was going to be fine and neither would Grace. He was going through a mix of emotions: sadness, anger, and regret. Was it his fault this all happened? I shoudl've never fired Morgan he thought. No time for the blame game right now. He was seeing red. He was seething. One of his agents was in mortal danger, and the other, former agent was a mortal enemy.