A/N: Sorry this update took so long. I haven't been feeling well of late. Sinuses and all that come with it, along with writer's block are still wreaking havoc with my writing. I promise I will try from this point on to update as often as I can until I feel better and my writer's block is only a memory. Hopefully you will bear with me, and will continue to follow this story. I promise it will be completed. Thanks.
Chapter 31
Once he completed his rounds, Caswell stood at the Nurses' Station signing off the last of his patients' charts. After he handed the last chart to the nurse, that same nurse smiled as she handed the doctor a small slip of paper.
"Excuse me, doctor," she explained. "But this call came for you while you were making rounds."
"Who was it?" he asked taking the slip of paper but not looking at it.
"I have no idea, doctor. He didn't give his name. He just asked that you call him back right away. It sounded important though."
Caswell shook his head, annoyed, stared at the phone number…and froze. He recognized the number and had an idea who the caller had been. And it was not someone he could afford to keep waiting unless he wanted trouble.
"Thank you, nurse. I'll return this call in my office."
"Yes, sir." The nurse returned to her paperwork, not noticing the doctor's tense expression.
Caswell hurried back to his office and slammed the door. He collapsed onto his chair and grabbed the receiver of his phone. Once he put the receiver to his ear, his fingers pressed the buttons of the phone number. Someone picked up on the other end after the first ring.
"It's me," Caswell said nervously. "You called me? I was making morning rounds and just got the message."
"No problem. I just wanted to tell you I will soon need you to deliver on your promise to me. I do not need it at this precise moment, but soon, and I want you to have it ready to use."
"Can you at least tell me what is it you will need?"
"I will need a drug that will not make Agent Hotchner unconscious or drowsy. I want him fully awake and aware of everything that is happening to him. I want him to see everything I do to him."
"I have just the drug you need," Caswell said. "He will be conscious, and aware of what's going on, but he won't be able to speak or do anything. He'll be completely at your mercy. How soon do you want me to give it to him?"
"I will tell you when. Just have the drug available, doctor. I also need something else that you can give to me as well."
"What is it?"
"I'll need you to get rid of the agents guarding Agent Hotchner. I want to savor my time with Aaron, and do not wish to be interrupted before I'm done. Can you do that?"
"Possibly. Let me try and figure out the best way to accomplish that."
"That is why I chose you, doctor. I sensed you were the right man for what I needed. Especially after what Agent Rossi did to you."
"Thank you. I will not let you down, sir. But sir…if I may ask, what are you planning to do to Agent Hotchner?"
"You don't need to know that, doctor. But let's just say I will savor him like I would savor a fine wine. You can also expect a bonus besides your usual fee once I am finished with our Agent Hotchner."
"Thank you. Oh, speaking of Agent Rossi, I should tell you that he was here asking questions. He might suspect me of something."
There was a moment's pause. "Your problems with the FBI are none of my concern. I have my own problems I need to fix. Also, I am paying you well for your services. So don't get any ideas of betraying me. And let me remind you I am aware of where your lovely daughter, Cassidy, lives. I assure you I am not hesitant to divert my attention onto your precious little girl if warranted. Do I make myself clear, doctor?" The words were spoken with a tone so cold it sent chills down Caswell's spine.
"There's no need for that," Caswell swallowed hard. "I…I understand completely. And I won't let you down or betray you."
"See that you don't, doctor."
The man on the other end hung up saying nothing else, and leaving Caswell staring at the receiver in his hand. He had an idea what this man intended to do to his former patient, and it sickened him. But the money he was paid more than made up for any bad feelings he felt. And to him, that was the only thing that mattered to him.
After hanging up the receiver, the man smirked and leaned back in his plush chair. Caswell would not fail him. Especially as he was aware of the consequences. He also was aware that FBI agent Jason Hemminger had a grudge against Hotchner, as well as his own personal agenda. He had to promise the agent he could have the pleasure of killing Hotchner to avenge his father. But only after he himself got to enjoy Hotchner's body one last time first. He realized the agent was a bit of a loose cannon and could be impetuous. But he had made sure Hemminger understood he would take Hotchner's place if he killed the agent before he assaulted him first. And he didn't care if Hotchner's death was on purpose or by accident. Hemminger would pay and pay dearly. He had been given permission to make Hotchner's life miserable in any way he wanted until after the man was finished with the agent. Only then could Hemminger kill Hotchner any way he wanted. The means didn't matter. This way he'd satisfy his own lust, and Hemminger could get his revenge. Everybody would be happy in the end.
He shifted in his chair as thoughts of what he would do to Hotchner caused his manhood to twitch with anticipation. He would bite him and be sure to leave marks, sodomize the agent with his gun and maybe play Russian roulette while doing it. He would also fuck the man's brains out until he made him bleed anally. After he closed his eyes, he licked his lips at the image of the agent writhing beneath him. The visual was so intense, he found himself wanting to stick his hand down the front of his jeans. But he had something more important to do at the moment.
So after waiting a few minutes until his manhood became flaccid, he got to his feet. He left the room and walked down the long hall until he came to a locked door marked 'Playroom.' He removed a set of keys from his pocket, chose one, and unlocked the door. His eyes fell on the little girl sitting on the floor playing with a Raggedy Ann doll. The child looked up at the man when the door opened. She didn't like this man. He frightened her for reasons she didn't understand. She wished right now her daddy was here.
"Where's Diedre?" the child asked innocently, looking at the man with her bright green eyes. "I miss Diedre."
The man approached the child and knelt in front of her while reaching into the back pocket of his jeans. "Deidre's gone and she isn't coming back. So get used to it."
"Where'd she go?"
"She went far, far away. Someplace you will be going when I'm ready."
Alana seemed to take what the man was saying without arguing. "What about my daddy?"
"What about him?" the man asked as he removed a pocket knife from his pocket. He ran his free hand over the child's soft reddish blonde hair. He gently gripped one of the curls between two fingers.
"Will you let my daddy come here? I want to see my daddy. I miss him."
"You'll see your daddy soon enough. In fact, I'm sending your daddy a little piece of you." The man jerked the curl he held taut. With no tenderness, he cut the hair, ignoring the little girl's cries of pain from her hair being pulled roughly. She reached behind her to try and free her hair. She continued to whimper as the man smiled holding up a wisp of hair in his hand. He stared at the whimpering child. "I suggest you shut up, or I'll send a different piece of you to your old man. And I promise it'll be more painful because next time it'll be a finger."
The little girl sniffled as she looked into the man's cold eyes, and quieted. She wondered where her daddy was and why he wasn't here to protect her.
Morgan and Reid walked through the doors of the BAU only to find Rossi in his office on the phone. Catching their attention, he waved them to get their attention. He rolled his eyes as he listened to the caller on the other end of the phone as the two agents walked inside the office.
"I understand Mr. Schaffer. Thank…yes, sir. Thank you for your time. Goodbye." As he hung up his phone, Rossi let out a deep breath. He ran a hand over his thick graying hair. Morgan and Reid sat in the chairs facing the older man's desk. Morgan chuckled seeing Rossi's exasperation.
"Looks like somebody got under your skin, man."
Rossi shook his head and clasped his hands on top of his desk. "Lawyers. I can take 'em or leave 'em. Mostly leave 'em. Especially those who represent Doctor Caswell. There are people who shouldn't be allowed to have representation. I spoke with the divorce lawyers with Doctor and Mrs. Caswell. The maitre'd at the restaurant where Doctor Caswell had dinner before heading for the hospital the night Hotch was attacked. And several doctors and nurses who vouched for the good doctor at the hospital. There's no time for him to have attacked Hotch, leave him in that alley, and get to the hospital within an hour."
"But you still think he's involved somehow, don't you?" asked Morgan pyramiding his fingers in front of his face, elbows on the arms of the chair.
"I don't know. I mean I have nothing definite, just my suspicions. But to answer your question, only time will tell." He glanced between the two agents. "How about you two? Any luck checking out the retired vehicle?"
Morgan repeated what he and Reid had found out, and that Sebastian Merker, thanks to Reid's deviousness, would be coming in and sit with a sketch artist.
"I'm tellin' you, Rossi. It burns my gut that this guy, whoever he is, signed Hotch's name on that bill of sale when he bought that vehicle. Then had the nerve to use that same vehicle to kidnap Hotch outside the bar after he'd been drugged."
"Say what you want…" Reid interjected. "But this guy's good at hiding who he is from us. I mean, we have no clue as to his true identity."
"And we have no idea where Wheaton's daughter is, or even if she's still alive," said Morgan.
"And since he killed the babysitter," Reid added. "It's possible Alana's time may be limited."
"I was thinking the same thing," Rossi agreed. "Did you hear from the ME about Diedre Stimson yet, Derek?"
"Yeah I did. She died from ligature strangulation and was beaten with fists and possibly a hammer about the head. No sign of sexual abuse or drugs or alcohol. Doc said he would have more when he gets the full tox screen results." He ran a hand over his bald head. "I'm tellin' you, Rossi. Him killin' that babysitter worries me."
"Me too. But as long as we don't find Alana's body, we have to believe she's still alive."
"It's just that not having anything on this guy worries me. And now we add Jason Hemminger and that Doctor Caswell to the mix which gives us 2 other people after Hotch as well as our UnSub. He might even be paying them since Wheaton's been arrested and he obviously needs someone to help him get to Hotch."
Reid's eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to him. "That's one possibility…"
Morgan eyed the younger agent. "What 'cha thinkin', kid?"
"I don't disagree that we might have three UnSubs after Hotch. But as far as Jason Hemminger is concerned, he has a separate agenda from the Rohypnol rapist."
"What makes you say that?"
"Hemminger blames Hotch for his father's death years ago. He also struck me as a bit of a loose cannon who wouldn't have the patience and use sex to try to punish Hotch. Hemminger would want Hotch to know he was responsible and not hide it from him. And from what we understand about the Rohypnol rapist, he wouldn't want somebody with their own agenda kill Hotch thus depriving him of his sexual pleasure. He needs to control what happens to Hotch every step of the way, including when he dies. But as long as he satisfies his lust when it comes to Hotch, he might be willing to allow Hemminger the pleasure of killing him. And he might also allow Hemminger to torture Hotch before he himself sexually assaults him again. And afterward, allow Hemminger the privilege of satisfying his own thirst for revenge by killing him."
Morgan and Rossi exchanged looks before Rossi focused on the younger man.
"How can you be so sure, Reid?" Rossi asked.
Reid studied both men with a look as if he could not believe he was even being questioned about his statement.
"Think about it," he began. "Jason Hemminger hasn't got the patience to sit and wait to get revenge. I saw it when Emily and I were questioning him. Hotch's attacker is patient, calm, and careful…everything Jason Hemminger is not. That's not to say the UnSub refuses to let Hemminger get his revenge on Hotch. No, not at all. It's just that our UnSub is patient enough to let Hemminger have his fun as long as he gets what he wants first and sexually assault Hotch again. After that, he's perfectly fine letting Hemminger do whatever he wants to Hotch including killing him. It's almost like he's doing to Hemminger what he did to Darryl Wheaton."
"Mutually assured destruction just like with Wheaton," Rossi said looking at Morgan.
"Y'know, Rossi, something just occurred to me," Morgan stated. "Wheaton said that somehow the UnSub found out he had called Hotch to ask for help finding Alana. How did he even know Wheaton had phoned Hotch?"
"This UnSub seems to be one step ahead of us in that he knows what we're gonna do before we do it. You know what that means, don't you?"
"We could be looking at somebody on the inside being the Rohypnol rapist," Reid stated.
"And there's only one person on the inside right now…" Morgan began.
"And that's Jason Hemminger," Rossi replied looking at both agents grimly.
It was a tired Agent Ron Beckman who approached Agents Carl Dennison and Dennis Switzer who stood outside Hotch's room. He smiled at Dennison whom he was supposed to relieve.
"Hey, Ron," Dennison greeted his friend with a grin. "Right on time."
Beckman shrugged. He gestured toward the closed door with his jaw. "How's the uh…pervert doing?"
Switzer and Dennison stared at Beckman, stunned that he would refer to a brother FBI agent in such a derogatory way.
"Why are you referring to Agent Hotchner like that, Ron?" asked Switzer, eyes narrowed.
"You mean you both didn't hear what really happened?"
The two agents looked at each other before turning back to Beckman. "All we were told was he was mugged," said Dennison.
"That's not what I was told about how he got his injuries."
Switzer wasn't sure what was going on at this point. He was familiar with Agent Hotchner, and he was a highly respected FBI Agent with a sterling reputation.
"What about his injuries and what's gotten into you all of a sudden?" he asked, his face showing his growing confusion.
Beckman looked over his shoulder to make sure nobody was within hearing range before he faced Switzer and Dennison and leaned close to them.
"I can't tell you who told me. But I can tell you that Hotchner got injured having sex with a man in an alleyway. And the BAU is covering it up by claiming he was mugged."
"What?!" both men claimed in shock.
"It's true," Beckman continued. "He supposedly likes his sex rough. I mean, he's a Unit Chief and a father. I was stunned thinking someone like that being allowed to have a kid."
"Who told you this?" asked Switzer, not sure if he believed what Beckman said or not.
"Just something I overheard is all. I don't even see why we should have to stand watch over a pervert who got injured while banging a guy in an alley anyway. Ask me, he deserved what he got."
"Gee, l always thought Hotchner was a nice guy," Dennison claimed. "Never would've guessed he was a deviate. Guess looks can be deceiving."
But Switzer just shook his head. "You sure about this, Ron? From what I understand of Hotchner, he's a highly respected agent."
Beckman chuckled at him. "Doesn't mean the man's not a pervert."
Switzer folded his arms across his chest. "Doesn't mean he is either. Ron, I'm gonna ask you this one time. Is what you're telling us only gossip? Because I don't give credence to gossip."
"No gossip," Beckman assured his friends. "I got it from a uh…legitimate source who has inside knowledge, and knows Hotchner." He didn't have any idea exactly how well Hemminger knew Hotchner, so that part wasn't much of an exaggeration at least. "He also told me the doctor who treated Hotchner determined he'd been poked in his ass and required surgery. Doesn't that tell you something, Denny?"
"Was Hotchner really poked in the butt?" asked Dennison.
"I'm telling you it's true. Why else would the doc be checking his butt? That sounds like he had rough sex to me."
"How do you know a doctor checked his butt?" asked Switzer.
"One of the agents present helped hold him down when the doctor tried to examine his ass. Hotchner freaked out when the doctor touched him there. That tells me whoever he was with got a little too rough sexually."
Dennison sighed. "It''s gotta be true about Hotchner then, Dennis. I mean, I would freak out being touched there if I had rough sex."
Switzer shifted his eyes to a spot on the floor. "I'm shocked. I mean, here I thought he was a good guy. Turns out he's nothing more than a deviate."
Dennison shook his head. "All I can tell you is he better not put a hand on me. If he does, I'll file sexual harassment charges. Ron, does his team know about this?"
Beckman shrugged. "Of course they do. But all they're saying is he was mugged and beaten. To me that only adds credence to what I was told. As to why his team didn't come out and tell the truth, it's because they're aware he screws men. And they're covering for him, that's why."
Dennison chuckled. "Probably screws men on his own team. If I had to pick one, I'd pick Doctor Reid. I bet that's why they keep him on the team. Hotchner's little sex toy." The three men laughed.
"Yeah," Beckman added. "Rossi and Morgan are both alphas. There's no way. It's gotta be Reid."
"Makes sense to me, man," Switzer agreed. "Has anybody talked to child services about Hotchner and his behavior?"
Beckman shrugged. "What for, man?"
"Because he's got a kid, stupid. Somebody like that shouldn't be allowed to be near a kid, much less have one. Somebody should really see about having his kid taken from him. I mean, he could be molesting his own child."
Beckman and Dennison looked at each other. It was something that hadn't occurred to either of them.
"You really think he might be poking his own kid?" asked Beckman staring at Switzer sickened by what they suspected.
"I have no idea if he is or he isn't. But you want to take that chance with a child involved?"
Dennison sighed. "Tell you what. I'm late going on my break. While I'm on it, I'll make a call to Child Protective Services, and report him. I just won't give my name. It'll be an anonymous call."
Switzer and Beckman exchanged looks.
"Works for me," stated Switzer. "How about you, Ron?"
"I can live with that. I mean hopefully they'll take the kid away from him and put him under protection." Dennison checked his watch. "I'll see you guys in a few minutes. I'll update you on what they tell me." He turned and walked away until he was out of sight.
Beckman glanced at Switzer and pulled out his cell phone. "Carl, I need to make a phone call. I'll only be a minute. Be right back. I promise."
"No problem, kid. I'll cover for you. Just don't take too long."
"I won't." Beckman hurried through a nearby door and midway down the stairs. Positive he wouldn't be overheard, he pressed the buttons of a certain phone number, and pressed the phone to his ear. It wasn't long before he heard the familiar voice.
"Hemminger."
"Jason? It's me, Ron. Listen, I have to be quick. I was discussing what you told me with two other agents. We decided Child Protective Services should be called and Hotchner's kid taken from him. I mean, since he likes men that way, he might be poking his own son. Yeah, I'll tell you what happens later. Gotta go. Bye."
Hemminger smiled as he ended his call with Beckman. This was turning out even better than he hoped. What better way to torture Hotchner than by having his son taken from him? It was the frosting on the cake besides spreading rumors of Hotchner liking men and having sex with them. Now he needed to make certain his son was indeed taken away from him, and possibly never given back. Losing his child would destroy Hotchner more than anything else could. Now he just had to come up with something so Hotchner would permanently lose custody. And make sure he was prohibited from ever seeing him again as well. He smirked. People would then have no trouble believing Hotchner killed himself over permanently losing his son and his job once his deviate behavior was exposed. And the entire time, nobody would ever suspect he had murdered the agent himself.