Chapter 4
The doctor studied the small group standing in front of him sensing they weren't really family members. But he decided to talk with them anyway.
"I'm Doctor Caswell. I operated on Agent Hotchner."
"How is he?" asked Rossi getting right to the point.
"Agent Hotchner flat-lined twice on the table during surgery." He paused when he saw the looks of despair on the faces of those before him. He couldn't understand why when it dawned on him. These people believed, from his words, that their friend had died during surgery. "I apologize for misleading you. Agent Hotchner is alive as we were successful at bringing him back both times." The looks of despair quickly changed to ones of relief and joy at his words.
"What are his injuries?" asked Strauss shakily.
"They are many. I will start with the non-surgical ones first. Agent Hotchner suffered 2 cracked ribs and 3 bruised ones. His kidneys were bruised as we found trace amounts of blood in his urine, but they will heal on their own with time. It appears he was struck and kicked hard in the area of both kidneys resulting in the deep bruising we found. His left wrist is fractured as is the ulna bone in his left forearm. Since the ulna is an isolated fracture, or what we call a nightstick fracture, we didn't need to repair it or his wrist surgically. We placed both in a cast. There was a deep laceration on his scalp which we cleaned and stitched. He also had deep bruising on his throat as if somebody tried to manually strangle him."
While there was concerned discussion among the group, it was mostly of relief that the injuries weren't of a too serious nature at least.
"And the surgical ones?" asked a worried Rossi bringing everybody's attention back to the fact there was more they still hadn't been told. He really didn't want to hear about Hotch's other injuries, but he had to if he was going to help his friend.
Caswell licked his lips before continuing. "Agent Hotchner was bleeding internally from a ruptured spleen which we removed. We had to give him several units of blood to replace what he lost."
Only Garcia gasped aloud. Morgan quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders offering what comfort he could. But his eyes narrowed. He sensed the doctor was holding something back. "What aren't you telling us?" he asked.
Caswell let out a deep breath. "We also had to surgically repair his rectum. During the examination, we found bruising and bleeding from the rectum due to damage around the anus."
"What are you saying exactly?" asked Strauss, stunned, with a glance at Reid. "Are you telling us that Agent Hotchner was sexually assaulted?"
Caswell chewed his lower lip before continuing. "I'm afraid so. Agent Hotchner was sexually assaulted by more than one man aggressively with no concern for his welfare. We found semen from two men, and swabs were taken and sent to the local police." He glanced with a nod at Moeller, and turned back to Strauss. "There is also evidence he was sodomized with a foreign object although we have no idea what. In addition, traces of semen were found in and around his mouth." He stopped talking again when Strauss gasped and clamped a hand over her heart.
"Oh my God!" she cried, tears threatening. Rossi wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close.
"It'll be all right, Cara," he said softly. "You were saying, doctor?"
"Swabs were taken inside his mouth, and sent to the police along with the anal swabs." He again glanced at Moeller, then turned back to Rossi. "There is something else."
"What's that?"
"We found Rohypnol and alcohol in his blood work. We ran it twice to be sure there hadn't been a mistake made. We got the same results. Apparently Agent Hotchner was given a date rape drug before his assault. I forwarded the blood test results to the police."
"Good," was all Rossi could say, his anger mounting by the minute.
Garcia buried her face into Morgan's chest and sobbed. JJ clung to Reid who wrapped his arms around her as tears spilled from his own eyes. Prentiss covered her mouth with one hand and turned away from the others, feeling like she was going to vomit, and needing to deal with her rampaging emotion. Strauss leaned against Rossi as the full horror of what happened to her Unit Chief became clear. The news was worse than they had expected.
Taking out his notebook, Moeller made several notations, and put the notebook and pen away. "Our crime lab will check those swabs and see if we can get a DNA match to our suspect."
"Can we see him?" Rossi asked Caswell.
"He's still in recovery. You won't be able to visit him until tomorrow after we move him to a room. I suggest you come back tomorrow when he's awake."
"Thank you, doctor," Rossi replied grimly. He saw Caswell nod and walk away. He ran a hand over his salt-and-pepper hair and let out a deep breath. He faced Reid who reluctantly met the older man's eyes. He realized the younger man didn't want to say 'I told you so.' He understood the young genius suspected everybody felt bad enough as it was. Rossi promised himself he would never doubt Reid again.
"You were right all along, kid. Looks like the Rohypnol Rapist is in Virginia." He turned his attention to Moeller. "I want a copy of the lab reports and blood work sent to Quantico once your crime lab is finished with their testing."
"You'll get them as soon as possible," Moeller promised.
"We also need the street address of this Benjamin Yardley and a description of him."
Nodding, Moeller removed his notebook and told Rossi where the janitor lived. The alleyway where Hotch had been found wouldn't be difficult to find as the yellow tape was still present. He ended with a description of the man. "I left two uniformed officers there to stand guard to make sure nothing was moved or removed." Rossi nodded, and turned to Strauss.
Strauss at once spotted that familiar fire in his dark eyes. "Erin, I realize you are going to tell me that we need to stay out of it. But I will not let this bastard get away with what he did. As Reid said, this bastard followed Aaron here from Milwaukee with the intention of making him his next victim. And by attacking Hotch, he attacked the entire bureau."
"I realize that, David," Strauss replied. She knew what Rossi was going to tell her as he was as angry as she. Angry that someone had assaulted one of her best agents in this despicable way. "And I understand what you're going to ask me. And even if I deny your request, you'll do it anyway. So go ahead and investigate this brutal assault on Aaron. But just understand I cannot approve of this team's actions if the Director becomes involved."
"Understood," Rossi replied. He then looked at Moeller. "We don't intend to step on your toes, Detective."
"No apology necessary," Moeller interrupted the agent. "In fact, I was going to ask if you and your team could help with the investigation seeing as you're familiar with this rapist."
"What about your superiors?" asked JJ. "They won't like us just waltzing in uninvited."
"It's my case. I'll tell them I invited you. Once they understand Agent Hotchner was assaulted by a person whom the FBI was searching for, they'll have no problems. You're also welcome to everything we have so far. How soon can your team get started?"
Rossi looked at JJ, Emily, Reid, Garcia, and Morgan. He could tell from their expressions that they felt the same way he did. He turned back to the detective. "Since we can't visit Aaron until tomorrow, we start first thing in the morning. Inform me when you plan to speak with Aaron. That way one of us can be there. No point in both of us asking the same questions. One last thing, can you meet us at the location where Hotch was found tomorrow morning? Say about ten in the morning?"
"Why?" asked Moeller.
"We want you involved in the case as well. Also, I'd like you to show Agents Morgan, Prentiss, Doctor Reid, and myself, around the place and the building."
Moeller nodded and ran a hand over his hair. "I'd better get going then." He and Rossi shook hands. "Until tomorrow." He nodded at the others before he left.
Rossi watched the detective walk away. Then, he let out a deep breath and faced his team. He saw each of them looking at him with anticipation, determination, and anger. Anger at what was done to their Unit Chief and wanting to punish the guilty person or persons. "Everybody, tomorrow I want all of you to report at nine a.m. Morgan, at nine-fifteen, you, me, Prentiss and Reid will leave and meet Detective Moeller at the crime scene. Once we get there, I want you and Prentiss to speak with the janitor, Benjamin Yardley. See if you can find out where his path may have crossed with Hotch's. Reid and I will search the alleyway where Hotch was found."
"What about me and Garcia?" asked JJ tossing a strand of long blond hair over her shoulder.
"JJ, I want you to search Hotch's office. See if there's anything to show where he went after he left the office, or how he ended up in that alleyway." His eyes shifted to the tech analyst. "Garcia, I need you to find everything you can on Benjamin Yardley, and I mean everything. Also check Hotch's phone records. And by that I mean both his office phone and his cell. He might have been meeting somebody, or somebody may have contacted him and arranged to come to the office to see him."
"Oh God," Garcia stammered. "You think somebody maybe kidnapped mon Capitan from the BAU?"
"We have no idea as to what happened, kitten. Not yet anyway. I'm counting on you."
Garcia wiped her cheeks with her fingertips. "And I won't disappoint, sir. Consider it done," she said.
Strauss picked up her handbag from beside her chair. "I'll head home now. Keep me informed, David."
"I will, Erin," Rossi answered as the Section Chief walked away from the team. Later, as they prepared to head home, Rossi let out a deep breath and his eyes sought out Reid.
"Reid, we owe you an apology."
The young genius looked confused. "For what?"
"For not believing you about the Rohypnol Rapist following Hotch from Milwaukee to Quantico," Morgan added. "If we hadn't so readily dismissed your theory, we could have taken precautions where Hotch was concerned to keep him safe."
Reid chuckled. "That wouldn't have been easy. Hotch would have bitched every step of the way regardless. We know how he is when we try to protect him from somebody trying to harm him."
Rossi smirked. "You're right. But regardless, if we had, he wouldn't be laying in a hospital bed right now."
Emily's dark eyes narrowed as something came to her which didn't escape Morgan's observant eyes. "What's wrong, Prentiss?"
"I just remembered something," she said. "The Rohypnol Rapist manually strangled his other victims and left no survivors. Why is Hotch still alive? And why was he beaten and kicked? Our Unsub didn't do any of that with his earlier victims. After the Rohypnol took effect, he raped and sodomized them, and then manually strangled them. And Doctor Caswell told us Hotch was sexually assaulted, and showed signs of being manually strangled. So who kicked and beat him?" The others exchanged concerned looks among themselves.
"Did this guy maybe change his method of killing his victims just for Hotch?" asked JJ with folded arms.
"I don't think so," Morgan stated. "I mean, anything's possible. But if he went through all the trouble of following Hotch from Milwaukee to Quantico, I believe he would want us to know it was him. He wouldn't change that about himself."
"Morgan's right," Rossi added. "Our profile in Milwaukee showed him to be a power assertive rapist."
"What's that mean?" asked Garcia.
"It's someone who uses aggression to restore his or her self-confidence, authority, and control over another person," Morgan told her. He then looked at Rossi again. "What worries me is what Emily said. Why is Hotch still alive? By all accounts he shouldn't be. And why the added level of violence with the kicking and beating? "
"From that expression on your face, Derek, I suspect you have a theory?" asked Rossi.
"Yeah, I do. But you're not gonna like it."
The older man folded his arms across his chest. "Let me guess. You believe our Unsub may have a partner."
"We didn't profile this guy having a partner, but we have to consider it. The doctor did tell us they found semen from two different men. Also, having a partner might explain why the level of violence increased. The partner kicked and beat Hotch. Then they both raped and sodomized him, and our Unsub manually strangled him hoping to finish him."
"I don't think we really knew this guy at all," Prentiss added. "We may have to toss our original profile and start from scratch."
"What about Hotch still being alive?" asked Garcia, fear on her face. "Might he come after him again to finish him?"
"It's possible as he might have either been interrupted, or scared off before he could finish what he started, and needs to complete the job," Reid said.
"Will my liege be safe here?" asked Garcia, terrified by the thought their Unsub was out there somewhere and might come after Hotch again and kill him.
"No," Rossi added as he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. He put the phone to his ear.
"Who are you calling?" asked Morgan.
"Someone I know in security," Rossi explained as he waited for someone to answer on the other end. "I'm gonna get somebody out here to keep watch over Hotch until we catch this bastard." He noticed Morgan about to say something and held up a hand indicating quiet. "Hello, Patrick? Dave Rossi. Fine. And you? Good. Listen, I have a huge favor to ask of you."
He proceeded to explain what happened to Hotch leaving out the sexual abuse. "I need for you to send a team of your best men. You can? Great. No, I'll be here and explain everything to them. Thanks again, Patrick. I owe you. Goodbye." He disconnected the call and tucked the phone back inside his jacket. "The head of security with the bureau is sending a team of his best men here in an hour to stand watch over Aaron until we catch this bastard." Rossi checked his watch, then looked at his team. "Look, they won't be here for an hour. I have to wait. But you guys need to go home and get a good night's sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow."
"You sure, Rossi?" asked Prentiss with a toss of her head. "I don't mind staying and keeping you company until they get here."
"I appreciate it, Emily, but I'll be okay. Now, all of you, scram! Go home. As soon as I take care of the security detail when they get here, I'll be heading home as well.
"You guys heard the man," Morgan smirked. "Let's get outta here." He watched the others start to walk away and prepared to follow them. He looked back as Rossi one last time and grinned. "See you in the morning…old man."
Rossi grinned back at him. "You better be glad I'm tired, or I'd show you how old I really am, Derek. Now beat it."
Morgan smiled his famous dazzling smile as Rossi sat back down to wait, then joined the others. Rossi watched his team walk down the hall talking among themselves, and crossed his legs to wait for the security detail to arrive. His team. He shook his head. This is not how it's suppose to be, Aaron. You should be leading this team chasing this Unsub. Not me. Not this way. He sighed as the back of his head hit the wall. Don't worry, Aaron, he thought, we failed you the first time. But I'll be damned if we fail you again. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited.