A/N: I apologize for the use of some rough language in this chapter.

Chapter 7

Morgan, Reid, Prentiss, and Rossi got out of their government-issued SUV, and were met by Detective Moeller who waited for them at the crime scene. The detective looked as weary as the agents. He suspected they hadn't gotten any more sleep than he had. He shook hands with Morgan, Rossi, and Prentiss, while Reid simply waved.

"Just thought I'd tell you, Detective…" Rossi explained impassively. "The hospital called us. Agent Hotchner regained consciousness for a few moments. The doctor told us he didn't seem to remember anything. But that can be from waking up as well as the drug. He gave us permission to speak with him today if we want."

Moeller nodded. "If it's okay with you guys, I'd like to head there after we're done here."

"Fine by me," Rossi answered with his eyes glued to the two uniformed officers standing guard outside the alleyway with the yellow crime scene tape behind them.

"They been here all night?" Reid asked as he and the others followed Moeller. He gestured at the uniformed officers with his jaw.

"I didn't want Yardley or anybody else to remove something we might have missed, or destroy something," the detective commented without turning.

Rossi stood in front of the yellow tape, and faced the others. "Morgan, you and Prentiss find Mr. Yardley. Reid and I will go with Detective Moeller, and then we'll head to the hospital and talk with Hotch."

Morgan glanced over his shoulder at Prentiss. "Let's go," he said as they headed to the front entrance of the building while Reid and Rossi ducked under the yellow tape after Moeller. They followed the detective to the end of the row of trash cans. The two agents stood and studied the taped outline of where their friend's body had lain. There was blood staining the area inside the outline. The way the tape was arranged indicated to Reid and Rossi that Hotch's body had been curled into a fetal like position.

"This is where Agent Hotchner was found," Moeller explained glancing at them. "He had been beaten and bloodied, and his clothes torn and in disarray. I stopped by the hospital before I came here to retrieve his clothes, and sent them to our forensics people. I had a rush put on it."

"Good," Rossi replied as he and Reid slowly walked through the alleyway checking every nook and cranny. The older man spied the police marker and stopped. "Is this where you found his wallet?"

Moeller nodded. "Yeah. It was tossed in the direction of the trash cans. As I told you earlier, there was no money in it so we assumed the perpetrator took it before he tossed it. We still haven't found his watch. We'll have all local pawnshops notified to contact us if somebody tries to pawn it."

"That won't be necessary," Rossi explained as he crouched down to get a closer view at the outline of his friend's body. "Tell me, detective, did you find his cell phone?"

"Not yet. It's possible whoever attacked him took that as well. Why don't you think we should tell the local pawnshops?"

"So Hotch's cell is missing," Reid said as he continued to look around the alley. After awhile he faced Moeller. "We don't believe he'll pawn Hotch's watch or cell. He probably took those as trophies."

"Why would he do that?" asked Moeller staring at the young agent.

"Probably as mementos of his attack on Hotch," Reid added. "Although why he didn't take Hotch's credentials instead is puzzling."

"How so?" asked Moeller, hands on hips. It still fascinated him after three years how these profilers worked with what he considered so little information.

"The taking of Hotch's credentials makes more sense than taking his watch and cell," Rossi continued. He bent over to get a closer view of where the wallet was found. "A watch and cell phone only mean something if one is a thief. They mean nothing to a power-assertive rapist. No, they were taken by somebody else. Somebody who found Hotch afterward and decided to help themselves to whatever valuables he had on his person."

"Somebody like Benjamin Yardley?" asked Moeller.

"Could be. His rap sheet includes suspicion of robbery of several of his tenants, as well as sexual assault of a woman. Stealing the valuables of an unconscious man after assaulting him wouldn't be a stretch. He certainly has the history. But we have no reason to search his apartment. Or do we?" Rossi looked at Moeller and waited for a response.

Moeller let out a deep breath and shook his head. "Other than my suspicions he's not telling us everything, no. I can't bring him in on my suspicions alone. And he's never been convicted of the other crimes. Also, we have no idea where his path crossed with that of Agent Hotchner. Here's hoping your agents can find something we can use to justify bringing Yardley in for more extensive questioning at least."

Both Rossi and Reid stood up and looked around one last time before focusing on Moeller. "Let's hope so," Rossi replied with a sigh.

Morgan and Prentiss, after asking several residents in the building, had managed to find Benjamin Yardley's apartment. Morgan knocked on the door. There was no answer. But there was the sound of a television playing inside the apartment. Morgan banged on the door loudly.

After a few moments, the door opened, and the agents were confronted by an overweight man in his sixties. He wore a stained-shirt under an unbuttoned striped shirt. His faded jeans also had stains on them, and were torn around both knees. The white sneakers he wore were worn and dirty as well. He also held an open can of beer in one hand.

"Benjamin Yardley?" asked Morgan, face impassive.

"Go away." The man took a gulp of his beverage. He started to slam the door shut in Morgan's face but the agent blocked the door with a hand. The door opened wider. Morgan and Prentiss both held up their credentials.

"Mr. Yardley, I'm Agent Morgan. This is Agent Prentiss. We're with the FBI." The agents put away their identification. "We'd like to speak with you about finding Agent Hotchner in the alley beside your building."

"That his name?" Yardley asked with obvious disinterest as he stared at Prentiss from head-to-toe approvingly. A lecherous smile appeared. "You're hot," he said and belched without apologizing. "Wanna beer, beautiful?" He held up the can.

"No, thank you," Prentiss said with disgust. She hated men like Benjamin Yardley who considered women good for only one thing. Also, the man's appearance disgusted her. She disliked men who took no pride in their appearance. Men like Hotch always looked neat. No matter what he went through, Prentiss admitted Hotch took pride in his appearance, even when he wasn't wearing a suit and tie. Even Morgan, Reid, and Rossi took pride in their appearances. But Yardley didn't care. Out of the corner of her eye, she sensed the man beside her entering his protective mode. "Can we come in and ask you a few questions?" she asked.

Yardley swung open the door, and allowed the agents to enter as he turned and walked away. He turned off the television and fell onto the sofa. He waited as the agents seated themselves on available chairs which showed signs of wear-and-tear. In fact, everything in the apartment showed wear-and-tear. The disgusting man kept his eyes focused on Emily's chest the entire time causing her to feel naked in front of this man. It only added to the disgust she felt.

"Mr. Yardley, run through for us how you came to find Agent Hotchner in the alley?" asked Morgan with arms on thighs. The man turn his attention to him and off of Prentiss for which Morgan was grateful.

Yardley shrugged. "No big deal," he began and turned his eyes back to Emily's chest. Not-so-nice images began to run through his mind. "I was takin' out the trash, there was a noise, and I went to see what it was. I found him curled up in a ball. After I checked and found he was alive, I searched for ID and saw he was FBI. I then called the cops. End of story." He smiled leeringly at Prentiss as he leaned forward. "You sure you don't want a beer, baby? I can offer you a sip of mine." He held out his beer.

"I'd watch my mouth if I were you," Morgan hissed, his eyes cold and hard as his alpha male was now on full display.

The leer disappeared from Yardley's face, and was replaced with an annoyed scowl. "You need to chill, man. I was just makin' polite conversation with the pretty lady."

Morgan pointed to the wedding ring on Yardley's right hand. "I don't think your wife would find your conversation polite."

Yardley snickered. "I might be married, but I ain't blind," he added turning back to Prentiss again.

"Mr. Yardley, did you see or speak with anybody in the alley before you found Agent Hotchner?" she asked, ignoring the man.

"Nope," Yardley slouched further in his seat. "Didn't see nobody. Didn't speak to nobody."

"How did you happen to find Agent Hotchner to begin with?" asked Morgan. "You said you took out the trash and heard a sound. What sound?"

Yardley shrugged. "I have no idea. Coulda been a groan, or a cry of pain. Can't be sure."

"How did he seem to you?" asked Prentiss with a tilt of her head.

"What d'ya mean?"

"Did you spot any injuries?"

"Didn't see none. But he pulled away every time I touched him."

"Touched him?" Morgan arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean by touched him?"

"Y'know. I had to touch 'im to search his pockets for ID, didn't I?"

Morgan's eyes narrowed. "Mr. Yardley, you were suspected of raping a woman in a nearby apartment a year ago. Did you do more than touch him? Did you sexually assault Agent Hotchner in the process?"

Yardley's eyes narrowed. "What do I look like to you? A fag or something? Is that what your agent is? He a pansy or something?"

"Don't get smart," Morgan hissed as the insinuations hurled by this piece of filth against his boss. A man he respected. "Just answer the question."

Yardley sneered. "I ain't into men," he said sarcastically. He leered again at Prentiss. "Could be he was bangin' one of his boy toys, and things got outta hand. He must like it rough." He shrugged. "I suppose it happens."

Prentiss rolled her eyes in disgust as she looked at Morgan.

"Agent Hotchner is a good man. And we would appreciate you not slandering him with innuendos. What we're asking is if you did something to him when you were with him in that alley?" she asked, annoyed. She was so ready to leave this animal's apartment. He took another drink of beer. Prentiss's eyes narrowed as something caught her attention.

Yardley chuckled. "I prefer women if you wanna know. Your agent didn't appeal to me at all."

As the man spoke, Prentiss's eyes never left Yardley's arm. "Mr. Yardley, that's a nice-looking watch you're wearing."

Yardley smiled as he switched the beer can to his opposite hand so he could admire the timepiece. "You like it? My wife bought it for me."

"What was the name of the store where she bought it?" asked Prentiss suspiciously.

Yardley shrugged. "Ain't got no idea."

Morgan found himself eying the timepiece as well, and recognized it right away as belonging the his boss. He was positive as Hotch had told him it had been a gift from his wife the Christmas before she died. Also, after Haley's death, he had gone with Hotch to his jeweler when the man wanted to have Haley's name and birthdate engraved on the back.

"Really," Morgan remarked. "That's interesting."

"Why?" asked the janitor with raised eyebrows. "You never heard of a woman buying her husband a gift?"

"No," Morgan replied rubbing the palms of his hands together. "It's just that it doesn't match your clothes."

"What are you talkin' about?" Yardley started to get angry. "My wife wanted me to have something nice."

"That may be, Mr. Yardley," Prentiss said with a toss of her head. "But it's an expensive watch. And from the looks of your apartment, you don't seem to be able to afford expensive items. If you want our opinion, you stole that watch from Agent Hotchner when you found him."

Yardley became angry. "You're a liar! My old lady bought it for me!"

"That watch belongs to Agent Hotchner and we can prove it," Morgan replied calmly as he got to his feet and approached the man. He grabbed the man's arm and as the man struggled, removed the timepiece from his wrist.

"Give it back!" Yardley hissed at Morgan, trying to snatch the watch out of his grasp. But the agent kept it just out of the man's reach.

"This belongs to Agent Hotchner," Morgan explained trying to stay calm. "I was with him when he had it engraved on the back." Morgan glanced at the back of the timepiece. He read what was engraved there. "Haley, 6/23/1968." The janitor ceased struggling and glared at the agent who handed the timepiece to Prentiss and removed his handcuffs. He jerked one of Yardley's arms behind his back and clamped the cuffs on his wrists. He then proceeded to read him his rights. When he finished, he searched Yardley's pockets and found Hotch's cell phone.

"Well, well, Prentiss. Look what we have here," said Morgan, his anger mounting. "I suppose your wife gave you Agent Hotchner's cell phone as a gift as well?"

"That's my phone, Fed! Give it back!" Yardley shouted in anger. "You don't know what you're talkin' about, Fed! I didn't steal nothing from your agent."

Prentiss turned on the phone and scrolled down the list of names she found. "He might be right, Derek," Prentiss said sarcastically. "Here's the names and numbers he's downloaded. Let's see…D. Morgan. J. Jareau. E. Prentiss. S. Reid. P. Garcia. D. Rossi, E. Strauss." As she turned off the phone, she glared at the man still struggling to get free of Morgan's grip. "Benjamin Yardley, you are under arrest." There was a look of absolute delight on her face. She put both items in two evidence bags.

Yardley continue to struggle. "You can't arrest me! I know my rights!"

"Good," Morgan hissed as he put a hand on the man's shoulder and jerked his body around until his back faced him. "You can call your attorney when you get to the police station. He forced the man out the apartment door with Prentiss following him.

Rossi, Reid, and Moeller were waiting outside when Morgan and Prentiss walked out with a still struggling and cussing Benjamin Yardley.

Reid was puzzled and Moeller surprised. Rossi chuckled having an idea why the man was in handcuffs.

"This is Benjamin Yardley, I assume," he said with his brown eyes focused on the man.

"You assume correctly," Prentiss said as she handed Hotch's stolen items to Rossi in separate evidence bags. "He was wearing Hotch's watch, and had his cell phone in his pocket."

"And I read 'im his rights," Morgan said tightening his grip on the man's arm. "Stop fighting!" he ordered Yardley.

Moeller smiled. "Looks like we finally have you, Yardley," he focused on the man. "If anything, we have you on theft. Stealing from a federal agent is a no-no. And I'm sure if we search deep enough, we can find evidence to connect you with your earlier crimes. You know, the ones up until now we couldn't charge you with." He looked at two of his uniformed officers. "Get him out of here," he ordered them.

Morgan handed the man over to the officers. "He's all yours," he added glad to be rid of the man.

After the officers had left with Yardley, Moeller stared at Morgan. "Can we charge him with the sexual assault of Agent Hotchner?"

Morgan shook his head. "From what he told Prentiss and I, I don't believe he sexually assaulted Hotch at all."

"But he has an accusation of rape on his record," Moeller argued.

"We know," Prentiss said. "But do you really think he could overpower a highly trained federal agent even one under the influence of Rohypnol?"

"If anything, he stole from Hotch when he found 'im," Morgan explained. "Took his watch and cell phone. Probably any cash Hotch had in his wallet, and freaked when he found out Hotch was a federal agent. Then he called the cops."

Moeller nodded. "I'm sure we'll find his fingerprints on Agent Hotchner's wallet. Also, I'll have men search Yardley's apartment. Maybe we'll get lucky." He saw Morgan cross his arms across his chest. "What?"

Morgan let out a deep breath. "I'm not sure. But there's something about that guy. I need to talk with him in detail." He looked at the others. "Detective, if it's okay with you, I'd like to interrogate Yardley at police headquarters, while you and Agent Rossi talk with Hotch at the hospital."

"I have no problem with saying yes," Moeller replied. "You just said yourself he didn't sexually assault Agent Hotchner. So why do you need to speak with him again?"

"I don't know," Morgan's eyes narrowed. "But there's something I believe he isn't telling us."

"You think he might have seen or heard something at the time Hotch was attacked?" asked Rossi with knitted eyebrows.

"Could be. Could be something else. But this guys knows something."

Moeller nodded. "Go ahead. Tell whoever you have my permission and they can call me if they have a problem. Let us know what you find out."

"I will."

"What should Reid and I do?" Prentiss looked at Rossi.

"Go back to the BAU. I need you and Reid to go over everything we learned about the Rohypnol rapist and see if there's anything we missed. We need to set up a new timeline. I'll be back after Detective Moeller and I speak with Hotch."

That said, the agents and Detective left to carry out their assigned tasks.