Chapter 63
It was nearing four in the afternoon, and Hotch found himself getting nervous. Nervous because JJ was about to hold her press conference. And because he couldn't personally be there to see everything and everybody, he was glad Rossi had left the laptop with him. It was still sitting on top of the mobile tray. He turned it on, and tapped the keyboard activating the red indicator light. The FBI logo greeted his eyes. This way he would at least be able to watch the press conference and hopefully see if anything or anybody stood out.
Rossi, JJ, and Reid, were still at the hospital getting things ready for the press conference, and occasionally visited him off-and-on to keep him updated. But Reid, for the most part avoided him, and Hotch understood why. And later, Emily and Morgan paid him a short visit, with Morgan showing him a blueprint and pointed out the specific locations where each of them would be positioned. Hotch nodded his approval. But he did arch both eyebrows when told where Reid would be assigned.
"Why is Reid assigned to be with me?" he asked curiously although he had a vague idea. It's not that he was against having Reid in his room. It was that he was worried about his youngest agent who he knew still knew felt guilty about earlier, and hoped he hadn't been pressured to be with him.
Morgan shrugged his shoulders. "No idea, man. All Rossi said is that he wanted Reid with you when everything goes down because the kid needed it. Hotch, did something happen between you and Pretty Boy when he, Rossi and JJ were here earlier?"
Hotch feigned ignorance of what Morgan was saying. "I have no idea. Did you ask Rossi what he meant?"
"Yeah, I did. I asked Reid as well. Neither would say anything. But I'll tell you this much. Pretty Boy looks like he lost his best friend."
Hotch kept his face impassive and shrugged. "I have no idea except that maybe Reid is extra worried about this plan working out the way we hope it will." He hated lying to the man, but this was between him and Reid.
"Yeah, well…he's not the only one."
Foyet had noticed the excitement in and around the hospital before the press conference, as the media continued to swell in numbers. Seeing the blonde, blue-eyed woman he imagined being with in the parking garage, he suspected the press conference was called by the FBI. He even suspected it might have something to do with the nurse's murder, and its connection to the attack on Agent Hotchner. And although he was supposed to be working, he was eager to find out what the FBI had to say. So, he slipped out the front doors of the hospital, and managed to stand as close as he dared to the podium. He lit a cigarette, and tried to appear casual and blend in with the crowd.
As his eyes scanned the throngs of people, he spotted the blonde who resembled the nurse he enjoyed walk out of the hospital. Behind her walked the lead detective who was handling Hotchner's case. He had recognized him from seeing his picture in the paper. Behind him was a black man with a bald head, a brunette woman with hair just below her shoulders, and a skinny, geeky-looking kid with long, wavy chestnut hair. The last person to leave the hospital was the older man with dark hair flecked with gray and a goatee. He recognized them as members of Hotchner's team.
Foyet's eyes followed the blonde as she made her way to the podium, pausing for several seconds to look over each shoulder. Morgan and Emily were on her left; Reid and Rossi were on the right. Standing just to the left of the blonde was the lead detective with arms folded across his chest. Foyet cautiously made his way toward Reid and stood as close as he dared without physically touching him. Oddly enough, the young agent seemed to be oblivious to his closeness.
He found the young man attractive and desirable, with thoughts of his thin body beneath his intrigued him. Perhaps when he was finished with Hotchner, if he had the time, he might seek out the skinny agent and have a go at him. He pictured himself thrusting into that skinny body and hearing him squeal. He also imagined running his fingers through the wavy chestnut hair as he thrust himself into the young man's delicate-looking mouth. He bet that mouth can give tremendous pleasure.
"Good afternoon," JJ began glancing at the crowd. "This impromptu press conference is not going to be long as the FBI wishes to update you on the case about the assault on Agent Hotchner." She glanced briefly at her notes, then looked up again at the gathered mass of media. "The FBI is pleased to announce that those responsible for mugging, robbing, and viciously beating Agent Hotchner have been apprehended. We are confident that only two men were involved in the attack. And after the attack, these same men then left a gravely injured Agent Hotchner in an alley to die from both the beating, and the elements. And after further investigation, the Bureau now considers this case closed. Also, the security detail assigned to Agent Hotchner during his stay in the hospital, will be removed within the next few hours. I will now take one or two questions." Her blue eyes landed on Damian Howard whose hand shot up right away. "You have a question?" she asked pointing to Howard.
"You say the bureau considers the case about what happened to Agent Hotchner closed."
"That's right."
"Then perhaps you can tell us if what happened to Agent Hotchner is connected to what happened to the nurse last night?"
JJ paused. "We don't believe the murder of the nurse is connected in any way to what happened to Agent Hotchner. It is our opinion that the nurse working on the same floor as Agent Hotchner's room is nothing more than a coincidence."
"So you don't think the attack on the nurse is by another person who might be involved in the attack on Agent Hotchner?" asked Howard.
"As I said earlier, we believe we have the two men responsible in custody, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The bureau also considers the murder and sexual assault of the nurse to be the work of a completely different suspect who…"
"Wait a minute!" interrupted Howard. "Does that mean that Agent Hotchner was sexually assaulted instead of mugged as the bureau claims?"
"If you'd let me finish. As the bureau has stated all along, Agent Hotchner was mugged, robbed, and beaten to within an inch of his life. Doctors have confirmed there was no sign of sexual assault. The brutality behind the rape and sodomizing of the nurse was done by what we call a Sexual Sadist, and in no way was a repeat of what happened to Agent Hotchner. And the only similarity between Agent Hotchner and the nurse, is that the nurse was robbed as was Agent Hotchner. But that is where the similarity between the two cases ends. And the FBI is not involved, nor has been asked, to help in any way with the investigation into the nurse's death. Detective Moeller is here to explain further about the murder of the nurse, his investigation, and will answer any questions about the murder. That's all. Thank you." JJ abruptly turned, stepped away from the platform, and walked away. She walked back into the hospital followed by her team leaving the lead detective to take over the press conference.
As Reid passed Foyet and walked into the hospital, nobody spotted Foyet grinding his lower jaw in anger. Unknown suspect, indeed! I'll show you who's unknown! After I'm finished with your precious Aaron, I won't strangle him afterward. Oh no. I will do to him what I did to that bitch! I will take my knife and not only remove his genitals, but then slit open his rectum like I did that nurse, and watch him bleed to death! Foyet grumbled as he threw the half-smoked cigarette onto the ground, and crushed it out with his foot before storming back into the hospital. He knew what he had to do now. But first he needed to verify what the FBI said at the press conference. And that meant getting access to a computer.
Hotch turned off the red indicator light, and then the laptop after the press conference including what the lead detective handling his case had to say afterward. With a sigh, he glanced over at the bear sitting on the window sill seemingly with a smile on its face. With a shake of his head, Hotch turned toward the door of his room as it opened, and in walked JJ, Rossi, Morgan and Emily. Reid was oddly absent.
"Did you get to watch the press conference?" Rossi asked spotting the open laptop.
"Looks like it went as well as can be expected," Hotch replied. "Where's Reid?"
"He's in the hallway," Rossi replied quietly. "He uh…he said for you not to worry about him."
"I worry about all my team, Dave. Always have, always will. You know that."
"We know, Aaron. So, did the press conference meet with your approval?"
"It did." Hotch then studied the blonde's face. "JJ, you were brilliant as usual. And Moeller held up his part as did the reporter." He let out a deep breath and chewed his lower lip. "Foyet was present during the press conference, Dave," he said staring at Rossi again. "I sensed his presence. He was close by listening and watching. I know he was there."
"Hotch, does that mean you spotted something or somebody during the press conference?" asked Morgan with knitted eyebrows.
Hotch shook his head. "Nobody or nothing stood out if that's what you're asking. But I sensed his presence was close. I could also sense his anger at being labeled an unknown suspect, and not getting credit for killing the nurse and having it connected to what he did to me. And it's his anger that I'm counting on to cause him to be careless. That and his impatience."
"You had said something before about Foyet being impatient earlier, and that's why he went after the nurse," Prentiss said. "You still think that?"
"I do. When we were in Milwaukee, Reid figured out he stopped attacking and killing other men because he targeted me," Hotch explained. "And when he followed us to Quantico, he and…and someone else attacked me." He still found it difficult to say Darryl's name when speaking of the sexual assault on his person. "I had to ask myself why he suddenly attacks a nurse who works not only in this hospital, but on the same floor on which I am a patient. I figured he became impatient and frustrated trying to figure a way to get past the security outside my room and couldn't."
"In other words…" Morgan interjected. "…he had an itch which needed to be scratched so to speak, and he couldn't get to you, so he grabbed the nurse instead."
"And because she resembled JJ," Rossi added. "He pretended it was her he was attacking. It was, to him, like he was attacking a member of your team. "
"And from what little we've been able to profile about Foyet," Prentiss added. "It seems he has a preference for men and young boys, and an occasional woman if need be. And with kids, the younger the better. We were able to find several unsolved rape cases involving minors that seem to fit Foyet's MO. But there's nothing to connect him to any of the assaults. No witnesses. No evidence. Not even a description. It's like he lived under the radar his entire life."
Rossi closed the laptop. "Guess you won't need this anymore," he teased his friend.
"Guess I won't," Hotch replied. "But I do sense Foyet is close. My guess? I'm willing to bet now that he's heard the press conference, he's going to be checking online to see what the police reports have to say. And thanks to Garcia, they will substantiate what JJ said at the press conference. After that, I feel he'll plan his next move which will be to get to me."
He then turned his eyes back to the older man. "Dave, it's up to you right now to get rid of the last barricade between me and Foyet."
"I understand what needs to be done next, Aaron, but I need to ask this one last time," Rossi said. "Are you absolutely positive you want to do this? I mean, once we remove the security, you'll be totally exposed."
"I understand your concern, but it's what I want. I want Foyet to see nobody standing between me and him anymore. Nobody visibly seen by him anyway. And I'm counting on you guys to be ready when he does make his move."
"And we will be."
A worried expression crossed Foyet's face as he scanned the reports he pulled up on the computer while working alone behind the nurse's counter. So far everything he had read backed up what had been reported during the press conference. The FBI had arrested two people, and closed the case as far as the attack on Hotchner went. But one thing was nagging at him.
He recalled Hemminger telling him a while ago that DNA had been found belonging to two different men when a rape kit had been run on Hotchner. And since neither he nor Wheaton had used a condom when having sex with the agent, one of the two samples was matched with Wheaton. But what about the other DNA sample? Who had they matched it to if not Foyet so they could close the case?
He wished he could recall whether Hemminger had said he had given a DNA sample or not. He hadn't really paid hardly any attention to the man or what he did as much as he should have, and that was his fault. He had pretty much ignored the man and left him to his own agenda as long as he didn't kill the agent.
Or were the feds trying to pull a fast one over his eyes? He needed to be sure before he went after Hotchner. He couldn't let his burning want of Aaron Hotchner cause him to ignore that one red flag, and override his common sense. He had to be patient, and control himself long enough so he didn't make a mistake when he was so close to reaching his prize.
He quickly got off the computer when he spotted the older agent with the graying hair and goatee leaving Hotchner's room. As the agent came closer, Foyet put on his best smile for the man. The man removed his credentials from his inside pocket and held them up for him to see. He glanced at the man's badge.
"I'm SSA David Rossi of the FBI," Rossi announced before putting his credentials back in his pocket.
"Yes, sir, how might I be of help?" Foyet asked. He was unnerved with how the older man looked at him, and hoped the agent didn't notice it.
Rossi, like Aaron, felt uncomfortable vibrations emanating off this man and didn't understand it as he'd had no dealings with this man. Could he be basing his reaction to this man on Hotch's feelings? Get a grip, Rossi! You never even met this guy! You're probably reacting to Aaron's feelings toward the guy. "With your permission, I'd like to use your phone to speak with your Chief-of-Staff if I may."
Foyet picked up the receiver of the nearby telephone and pressed a button.
"Stacy, connect me with Doctor Maurer, please. Tell 'im it's important." He waited a few seconds before someone picked up on the other end, and a gruff voice answered.
"Doctor Maurer."
"This is Nurse Bayville, doctor. I'm sorry to bother you but …" Out of the corner of his eyes, Foyet noticed Rossi's face stiffen just a bit hearing his name. "I have an Agent Rossi of the FBI here and he would like to speak with you. Yes, sir. Hold one minute please." Foyet handed the receiver to Rossi, then he moved aside to handle some paperwork and give the agent a little privacy.
Rossi took the receiver from Foyet, turning his back on the male nurse, and put the phone to his ear. "Doctor Maurer? This is Agent Rossi of the FBI. Glad to hear you remember me, sir. I'm fine. And yourself? Good. Doctor, I'm calling to inform you that the FBI will begin pulling the security we temporarily assigned to Agent Hotchner beginning this evening. That is correct, sir. There's no longer any need to keep the extra security, so your staff will be able to return to normal. And we'd like to thank you for your staff's cooperation during what I'm sure has been an inconvenience for them. Yes, sir. Thank you again. Goodbye." Rossi handed the receiver back to Foyet well aware that the male nurse would spread the word around the hospital like wildfire. "Thank you," he told Foyet with a smile before walking back toward Hotch's room.
Foyet watched the older man continue down the corridor and enter Hotch's room. While he found the information given by Rossi and at the press conference that the security detail was being removed useful, he still needed a resolution to the DNA problem. And he needed it before he was able to carry out his final attack on and murder of Hotchner.
He supposed he could hack into the FBI's computer system. He was good with computers. But not good enough to carry it out without somebody in the FBI noticing. Besides, there were too many safeguards to get away with something like that anyway. And he didn't have that kind of computer experience. No, there had to be a way to find out without alerting anyone. Until then, he'd have to keep a tight lid on his sexual urges. With a sigh he looked again at the closed door at the end of the hall with the two guards posted outside the room. Then, he returned to work.
Soon, my sweet Aaron. Soon you and I will be together in every way. And I promise you, my face will be the last one you see. Foyet resumed working on his paperwork to occupy his mind. He glanced at the wall clock, noticing he still had several hours before his shift ended. Maybe once he was off duty he could work on his problem. Once he solved it, he would then make his move on Hotchner.
Hotch stared at Rossi the moment the older man reentered the room.
"Well?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The hook has been baited, my friend," Rossi snickered. "I'm sure the word will be all over the hospital by the end of today."
"Is there anything we haven't yet addressed?" asked JJ.
"Before Morgan and I left the BAU to come here," explained Prentiss. "I spoke with Agents Anderson and Montgomery. They're going to relieve me at my post periodically until Foyet is caught."
"And I spoke with Detective Moeller," interjected Morgan. "He and another detective are gonna relieve me periodically at my post. He's also gonna have plainclothes detectives relieve JJ, Rossi, and Pretty Boy."
"And we're gonna take shifts," explained Rossi looking down at his boss. "For example, from 6p.m. to 11 p.m. will be Detective Moeller's people. Then from 11p.m. to 7a.m. will be our team. From 7a.m. to 3p.m. will be another team of Moeller's people. Then from 3p.m. to 11p.m. will again be Moeller's people. And finally, from 11p.m. to 6a.m. will be us again."
Hotch nodded his agreement.
"Either way," Morgan added. "There will be round-the-clock surveillance of your room with Baby Girl's cameras keeping an eye on you inside your room." Hotch was about to say something when Morgan grinned and held up a hand. "I know what you're gonna say, Hotch. Don't worry. Garcia will have relief on her end also. We got Kevin Lynch to monitor the bear-cam whenever she needs a break. She also threatened...uh, advised him not to discuss any details of this case, not that we told him much. In addition, Garcia threatened to unleash a virus on his personal computer if he declined. Needless to say he agreed."
Hotch rolled his eyes, amused. That was typical Garcia.
Rossi shifted his stance just a bit. "Aaron, we need to talk…and it concerns why we want to be on duty at night."
"Okay, I'm listening," Hotch replied wondering as to where this conversation was going.
"We wanted to have the night shifts because we believe Foyet will come for you at night when there's the least amount of people on the floor. That's why we told Detective Moeller we will take the night shifts until Foyet is caught."
Hotch swallowed the lump growing in his throat. This new information made him nervous. "I see. Any idea what time he might come after me so I can at least try and be ready?"
"Well, if the kid was here he could give you specifics…" said Rossi with a smirk. "But in his place, I will try and stumble along as best as an old man can. We understand the foot traffic here starts to decrease about 6 or 6:30 in the evening. But this hospital goes to sleep, in a manner of speaking, from about 2a.m. to 4a.m. We believe it's during those hours that he'll make his move on you."
"And uh…while it's no reflection on Detective Moeller and his men," Morgan added. "We'd feel a hell of a lot better if we take this bastard down ourselves."
Hotch hadn't said anything for several minutes as he reviewed what he had been told.
"We also think he won't make a move the first night as he'll probably be watching because of all the activity taking place." He faced Morgan. "That reminds me. Call Garcia. Have her check and see who is scheduled to work this week and next week, and has ten to twelve hour shifts. Tell her to leave out any women, and concentrate solely on men. Also, he won't risk staying here after his shift ends, it would be too suspicious. So he will make a move during his shift so nobody will question why he's on the floor."
"Got it," Morgan replied as he headed toward the door while taking out his cell.
Seeing Morgan walk away, Hotch looked up at Rossi who smiled at his best friend.
"There's still one small problem, Rossi," Prentiss said crossing her arms.
"What's that?"
"Foyet's not gonna make a move against Hotch if his team is hanging around the hospital visiting all the time. I mean, we're here quite a lot."
Rossi smirked. "I already took care of that potential problem, Em. We'll be here…but we won't be here."
The others looked at the senior agent with confusion. But they trusted the man stepping in for their boss, and keeping them and their boss safe. Rossi turned back toward Hotch.
"Try not to worry, Aaron," the older man replied. "We'll get him before he gets you. I promise you. We'll get 'im."
That said, the older man smiled praying he didn't just lie to his best friend.