Chapter 59
The entire team walked wearily through the double Plexiglas doors and into the BAU. As they walked in the direction of the conference room, Reid, who had been unusually quiet, asked a question which had been on everybody's mind. But before he did, he waited until Rossi stood alone holding open the door to the conference room.
"Can I ask you a question?" he asked the senior agent.
"What is it, kid?" Rossi faced the youngest agent, worried, and sensing what Reid was going to ask.
"Rossi, do you really think Hotch is losing it as Morgan says?" He seemed to be struggling with his emotions, and understood how close Reid had grown to Hotch since Gideon had left the team. The older man had watched his best friend become a second father to Reid since he himself came out of retirement. He also noticed as time went on, Hotch taking over the role on a more permanent basis. And it was no surprise to him Hotch had taken over that role so readily after learning of Gideon's sudden departure. Especially after the agent offered no explanation to anyone except leaving a letter addressed to Reid.
In Rossi's opinion, Gideon had taken a coward's way out. So it was no surprise the young man had grown closer to Hotch. And if something were to go wrong with Hotch's plan, and the worst happened, he feared Reid might be shattered beyond repair because of his problem with abandonment issues.
The older man let out a deep breath. "Kid, I won't deny Aaron is overwhelmed by everything that's happened, and with the knowledge that Foyet is out there somewhere. And I won't deny his plan is risky and possibly foolhardy. But despite that, I don't think Hotch is losing it. He'll be fine in time. I promise."
A small smile appeared as Reid studied Rossi's face. After a few minutes, he walked past the man and into the conference room leaving the older man lost in thought. He glanced into the room. "Morgan, could you come here for a moment? I need you to do something for me."
A few seconds had passed before Morgan joined Rossi in the doorway of the conference room.
"What's up, Rossi?" he asked.
"Keep your voice low," Rossi advised not wanting the others to hear.
"Okay, fine. What d'ya want to talk to me about, man?"
"I want you to join Garcia in her office while the rest of us meet here."
Morgan grumbled his clear displeasure at the order. "Why? Look man, I understand if it's because I don't agree with Hotch's plan. And I'm not gonna change my mind about it or apologize. No matter what Hotch says, something can still go wrong no matter how many precautions we take. But you have my word I'll do whatever you need me to do. But I'll tell you something. I don't intend to stand by and let this bastard get his hands on Boss-man again."
"And you won't," Rossi replied looking at the black man as he moved outside the door gesturing for Morgan to follow. Once outside the room, the older man closed the door, separating them from those sitting around the conference table inside the room. "Morgan, you're not the only one who cares about Hotch. We all do. And as long as Foyet's out there we can't rest. But worrying about how you're gonna react to Hotch's plan has got nothing to do with why I want you to join Garcia in her office. She's gonna need help coming up with something in which a camera can be hidden."
"Baby Girl doesn't need my help to come up with something along the lines of what's needed. Trust me when I say that," Morgan protested.
"Well then, hopefully you can help her to not get carried away. Whatever she comes up with needs to be kept simple so it'll be believable." He put a hand on the man's shoulder. "I agree our kitten is a technological genius. But I'm sure even she requires a little help from her Chocolate God now and then." He stared into the younger man's eyes hoping the agent understood.
Morgan nodded. "Gotcha." He glanced at the closed door. "You gonna explain to them why you're sending me somewhere?"
Rossi smirked. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Morgan nodded. "I'll make sure Baby Girl keeps it simple," he promised.
"Good man," the senior agent replied patting the black agent's shoulder. He watched Morgan turn and walk away figuring the man would also calm down while in Garcia's lair, and that the tech analyst would see he did. It was a win-win situation. When the man was out of sight, Rossi opened the door, and walked back into the conference room where the others waited.
"Where's Morgan?" asked Prentiss glancing over at the wooden door of the conference room waiting for the black agent and not seeing him.
"I set him to help Penelope," Rossi explained as he sat down, and brought his chair closer to the table. "I wanted to make sure she doesn't get carried away with whatever we needed in which to hide the camera. Who better to make sure of that then Morgan?" There was no response from anybody else as no further explanation was necessary, but he realized the others were aware they weren't being told everything. He clasped his hands on top of the table in front of him. "Okay, we all understand what Aaron's plan is, and we have Foyet's profile. So, what I suggest we do right now, is discuss how best to make sure Aaron's plan is carried out as he expects. But we also need to make sure we take into account all possibilities so Foyet can't reach him. If we miss or overlook anything, then all the planning won't be worth a shit, if Foyet gets his hands on Aaron again because of it."
The team proceeded to discuss and go over everything they had on Nathan Foyet which wasn't much as he had been under the radar his entire life. Also, whatever crimes he had committed, there had been no way to connect him to them. They suspected he had been involved in countless rapes and murders of minor boys mostly, and occasionally a young woman or a little girl. In fact, there was no doubt Foyet would have added Alana Wheaton to his list of victims. And that belief alone sickened each of them. It sickened them as much as the crimes themselves which they couldn't link him to for lack of evidence.
Once they finished going over everything they had on the man, they set about reviewing their boss's plan and how to bring it to a successful resolution.
The knocking on her door startled her while she worked on her computer. She spoke without turning away from her work.
"Enter if you dare, mere mortal," she announced. She spun her chair around at the opening of her door. A smile appeared when she noticed Derek Morgan enter her lair.
"Hey Baby Girl," he said with a sigh.
"Hey yourself, handsome," Garcia replied. "What brings you into the Goddess's den of Magical Wonder?"
Morgan closed the door and sat on the edge of her desk facing her. He shrugged. "I just needed to spend a little time with my favorite technical analyst," he explained with a twinkle in his eyes.
But Garcia, although not being a profiler, wasn't fooled as she resumed working on her keyboard. A devious smile appeared on her face.
"As flattered as I should be, my burning love hunk, I know a lie when I hear it. Our Italian version of James Bond sent you to the Magical Kingdom of all things technical to calm you down, didn't he?" She continued her furious typing.
Morgan folded his arms and shook his head. "No matter what the reason I came in here, I always look forward to seeing you, sweetness."
Garcia smiled. "You are one smooth talker, my love. But regardless, I'm glad you're here and about to be the first to see my ultimate success with a hidden camera."
"You came up with something already?"
Garcia smiled as she backed her chair away a short distance, and gestured to her computer screen.
"Taaaah-daaaa!" she said with a wave of her bejeweled hand. "Feast your eyes on my masterpiece and be prepared to be wowed!"
Morgan stared at the screen, then at the tech analyst. "And what am I supposed to be looking at momma?"
Garcia rolled her eyes and pulled her chair closer to her table. "You know, you might be a primo profiler, and understand getting into an UnSub's twisted mind. But understanding the simple things when they present themselves seems to go right over your beautiful head." She reached over and grabbed the back of a nearby chair, rolled it beside her, and patted the seat. "Park your beautiful trim body, my sweet, and feast your eyes on what this All-Knowing Goddess has created, and prepare to be impressed. Believe me when I say you will be bedazzled at the simplicity of my creation."
With an amused grin on his handsome face, Morgan pulled the chair back a bit and sat down facing the computer screen. "Okay, sweetness, lay it on me and dazzle me with your brilliance."
Garcia's smile widened as she looked at her best male friend and began to talk. With growing excitement, she explained her idea to Derek, and inside what a camera could be hidden. When she was done, Morgan's mega-watt smile lit up the room causing Garcia to match it. It was not only brilliant, but it was simple enough as not to arouse suspicion of anybody who saw it. He leaned towards her and wrapped an arm tightly around her shoulders, pulling her body close. He planted a kiss on her cheek and stared at her afterward.
"Baby Girl, you never cease to amaze me with your technological genius. There's no way anybody would suspect there's a camera hidden inside that thing."
"And check this out, my love. There will be small microphones hidden here, here, and here which will allow me to listen to whatever is being said in Boss-man's room. We just need one more thing to make it believable, and then we need to test it before we use it. The last thing we need are unexpected audio and visual problems."
"Seems to me it's believable enough now."
"True, but it still needs one little thing to put the finishing touch on a masterpiece."
Morgan leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes never leaving Garcia. "Are you gonna tell me what that is or keep it to yourself?"
"If you will be patient, my Chocolate Thunder, I will tell you. We need something from mini-Hotch to put the finishing touches on it."
Morgan's eyebrows arched. "Jack? What's Jack got to do with this?"
Garcia rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You can be so dense sometimes, Derek Morgan, it's unbelievable. We need Jackster to make what I want legitimate by adding his innocent little childhood scrawl on a note." She added what the note was to contain, and Morgan chuckled.
"Momma, you're an absolute genius."
Garcia shrugged her shoulders and smiled with a chuckle. "I know. Sometimes I even amaze myself."
"How long will all this take to get ready?"
"I'll need a few hours to install the cameras and the microphones providing you help me. Then I have to test them to be sure they work properly as I've never been asked to do something like this on any level. And the audio and video need to be exact as there can be no margin for error, and my liege's life is on the line. Failure is not allowed here, Derek. Boss-man is counting on me not to let him down, and I will not fail him."
"And you won't, sweetness. And just to make things a bit easier, I'll have Rossi speak with Jessica, and we'll get what you need from Jack. So this way you don't have to worry about that part at least."
"Thank you, my love. You are forever my hero. Oh, and don't you dare blab about my masterpiece until it's ready for the unveiling," she warned waving a stern finger in his face. "Or there will be violence done on your finely sculptured, well-muscled physique."
Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Garcia, you aren't capable of hurting a fly."
"Not the violence you're thinking of, my love. I'm talking about the violence done to you by the women of the FBI when they see those pictures I have hidden in Photoshop of you."
"What pictures?" he asked nervously. He honestly had no idea to what she was referring. He hoped Garcia hadn't somehow snuck into the men's shower room after he had worked out.
"The photos I will publish if you steal my thunder. And you can believe me when I say the ladies are gonna fight like cats and dogs over every muscle of your fine hunk of maleness."
"Garcia, what pictures? There are no pictures." He arched an eyebrow. "None that you haven't doctored using Photoshop anyway. Baby Girl, what did you do?"
The tech analyst gave him her most seductive look and smile as she ran a hand down his arm.
"That is something you will never find out, my love. But rest assured they are well-hidden until I decide to post them. And when I do post them, let's just say everyone will see an all-new side to Derek Morgan."
Hearing that, all Morgan could do is stare at Garcia in fear and wonder what pictures she had hidden, and where had she gotten them.
"Okay," Rossi began laying both palms flat on the table in front of him. "As much as I still don't like it, Aaron's plan is doable if we leave nothing to chance. And as his life is being risked with this, if anyone can't take part in this, or has hesitations, tell me now. I promise you won't be judged. But should we go ahead, there cannot be any slip-ups or mistakes. Hotch is counting on us to do this right, and we're only gonna get one shot at this." Before another word could be spoken, his cell rang. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he checked the caller ID and pressed a button. "You're on speaker, Morgan. What's going on at your end?" He detected the nervousness in Morgan's voice, but ignored it for now. Something told him it wasn't of any importance. A smirk appeared instead.
Everybody listened closely as Morgan explained that Garcia had come up with what she thought would fit their needs. But he was careful not to tell what that something was, and that the tech analyst wanted to surprise them herself. Still, just knowing she had something brought a smile to their faces. But they too had detected the nervousness in the agent's voice as had Rossi.
"Sounds good so far, even without knowing what that something is," Prentiss said. "But is she sure it'll be ready in forty-eight hours?"
"How can you question me, my raven-haired beauty," Garcia's voice was heard in the background. "Your doubts hurt me."
"Sorry, Penelope," Emily apologized with a grin. "It's just that you've never been asked to come up with something this size since we've known you."
"Thems fightin' words, Missy," the tech analyst said. "Prepare to eat your words in the end."
"I can't wait," Prentiss laughed.
"Is there anything else?" Rossi asked.
"In fact, Baby Girl does need something," Morgan said. "She says she needs something from Jack to make what she has more convincing. We thought maybe you can get in touch with Jessica about it."
"That's not a problem. What is it she needs from Jack?"
"It's just a short note, my Italian Love God," Garcia explained. "But having it attached to what I'm gonna use will make it more believable to anyone who sees it."
Rossi chewed his lower lip. He didn't like the idea of including Jack Hotchner is this, and hadn't even planned on it. But if it helped catch Foyet, and didn't put the child in any danger, he'd allow it. But first he needed to be certain.
"Are you sure all you need from Hotch's son is a handwritten note, kitten?"
"That's all, My BAU version of Don Corleone. Just a simple note in his handwriting."
"And just what do you want this note to say?"
"It's simple. All he has to write in his childlike scrawl are six little words. And they are: 'I Love You, Daddy…Love Jack.'"
"And that's it? Nothing else."
"Nope. Not a thing, sir. Oh…if mini-Hotch wants to know why he's doing this, I figure you can tell 'im he's helping his dad work the case."
Rossi smiled as he recalled Aaron telling Jack to 'work the case' with him was what saved the child's life the day George Foyet murdered Haley. It was Hotch's secret code. Not even Haley knew about it. It was a code to alert his son to hide in his dad's old office in the home he had shared with Haley. Somewhere he'd be safe until his dad came to get him. The older man knew Jack would remember those words, and believe he was being told by his father he needed his help.
"Okay. As long as Jack has no other part, and I refuse to allow him to be placed in any danger no matter what we need. But I see no harm in him doing this. I'll call Jessica and tell her what we need. She'll make sure Jack does it, and that we get it in plenty of time. Anything else?"
"Not that I can see, sir," Penelope explained. "But I'll let you know if I do."
"Morgan, its Prentiss. Don't hang up yet. I have a question for you."
"What's on your mind, Princess?" Morgan asked, suspecting what the brunette was going to ask.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"What are you talking about, Prentiss?"
"While you were talking to Rossi a few minutes ago, you sounded like a nervous wreck." She chuckled. "I figured you must've pissed off Garcia somehow. So why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not nervous," was his reply. "I'm just tired and anxious for this mess to end."
"C'mon, Derek. You can tell us. What did you do?"
"And I'm tellin' you I'm not nervous so let's change the topic please? Besides, I gotta help Baby Girl with her masterpiece. Rossi, let us know when you get that note from Jack. Baby Girl doesn't want to show all of you the final project until she has the note. She wants to show you guys the complete item at one time."
"That makes sense," Rossi added.
But Emily couldn't let things go. "C'mon, Morgan. You can level with us."
Morgan realized he'd better end the call now before something slipped out by accident. "Oh, look at the time. I gotta go. Baby Girl needs help with her project and my services are required."
"Morgan…." JJ interceded with curiosity.
"Sorry, gotta go now. Garcia's becoming impatient. Bye." The call was disconnected.
Rossi chuckled and put the phone back in his pocket. JJ and Emily exchanged looks.
"Do you believe that guy?" Prentiss asked JJ. "He sounded almost scared. I bet anything he pissed off Garcia." Prentiss turned her attention to Rossi. "What d'you think, Rossi? You suspect Morgan pissed off our tech genius?"
"Yep," the older man replied calmly. "And I also suspect Derek's lyin' through his teeth. And knowing our kitten as I do, he probably pissed her off somehow. And since she's probably sitting right next to 'im, he wouldn't dare admit to anything."
"So what do you suspect he did to set her off?" asked the blonde.
"I have no idea, but I'll find out, you can count on that."
Prentiss smiled cunningly. "I don't doubt it. Rossi, you are devious, you know that?" she added.
Rossi chuckled. "I'm Italian. It's expected of me."
"I don't get it," Reid stated having been silent the entire time. "What's being Italian got to do with being devious?"
"It's a joke, Reid," Prentiss began explaining to the young genius.
"I still don't get it."
Prentiss closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them again, she studied the young man. "I'll tell you when this entire mess is over and Foyet is behind bars."
Reid stared at the brunette with hazel eyes showing he was more confused than ever.
"But I still don't…"
Rossi grinned and stared at the genius. "Keep it up and she'll wait until you're older before she tells you," he teased getting to his feet and signaling for the others to do the same. He stared at the blonde. "JJ, it's up to you, next. Since Garcia's done her part, you need to start yours. And keep in mind, when you're done, Hotch needs to see it before we can move ahead with the next step afterward. As far as the rest of us, all we can do at this point is concentrate on the blueprint of Aaron's floor."