It was slightly after 6:00 a.m. when, for the second morning in a row, Hotch drove his rental car into the parking lot of the ice rink. This morning, however, he was accompanied by Rossi, who was sporting a very determined look on his face.
On their drive over, the two men had spoken to Garcia via speaker phone, and they were not particularly surprised by what she had uncovered.
"We have to be careful how we handle this, Dave," Hotch commented as he got out of the car and closed the door.
"I realize that," was the senior agent's reply as he got out the passenger's side door. "We need to get her alone before we speak with her. See what she thinks before we tell her what we have found out."
"Okay," Hotch agreed as they walked towards the rink. "Now, are you ready to clear security?" He treated his cohort to a smirk.
"Good morning again, Agent," the woman in the admissions booth sang out cheerily. "I see you have a friend with you this morning."
"Yes Ma'am," Rossi flashed her a smile as he handed over his FBI credentials for her inspection.
"Go right on through." The gate clicked open after Rossi's credentials had been duly checked and returned. "Ms. Mercer should be cleaning the restrooms against the back wall."
"Why don't I go look for Laurel while you find a seat in the bleachers?" Hotch suggested once they were inside the rink. "I'll let her know we are both here and you can watch Paige skate. I'm no expert, but it looks to me like she is getting pretty good."
Within minutes Laurel had spotted Hotch.
"Aaron – Two mornings in a row – I don't believe it!" she exclaimed with a smile.
"Believe it!" he assured her with one of his rare smiles. "I was still in the neighborhood and couldn't stay away."
"Where is Paige?" he looked between the bleachers towards the ice.
"Over there," Laurel pointed to the far side of the ice. "She is in lesson with her coach working on her double toe."
"Ouch!" Hotch winced as Paige fell onto the ice. "That has got to hurt!"
"And bruise," Laurel told him. "I keep expecting to hear from CPS that I am being investigated for child abuse."
"Well," Hotch told her. "I'll let you get on with your work. Dave is with me this morning and the two of us will be waiting for you in the bleachers when you're done."
"Watch out for Dotty!" Laurel smiled at him before hurrying off.
When Hotch walked around the bleachers, he realized that the warning had been given to the wrong person.
"Good Morning," Dotty was purring seductively to Rossi. Hotch figured she had immediately noticed the expensive cashmere coat and custom made Italian boots Rossi was wearing.
"Good Morning," Rossi grunted back.
"I recognize you from somewhere," Dotty continued, batting her eyelashes. "Are you a reporter? Because, if you are, I will be glad to give you all the information you need about my daughter, Clarisse. She's right over there." Dotty pointed to the sullen looking girl standing next to the boards playing with her hair.
Trying to hide his grin, Hotch quickly climbed the bleachers to sit next to Joan.
"Good morning Agent – um-m-m?" she greeted him.
"Hotchner – Hotch - Actually, it's Aaron," he told her.
"Joan – Joan Larson," she introduced herself. "And, I would assume you are in town investigating the disappearance of those children. I heard on the news last night that they were all found safe."
"That's right," Hotch confirmed. "A happy ending for a change. We don't get those too often."
"I can only imagine," Joan shook her head. "I know my uncle rarely talked about his work."
"You brought a wing man this morning?" she continued, nodding towards Rossi.
"Another friend of Laurel and Paige's," Hotch told her. He looked out over the ice.
"Paige is over there," Joan pointed. "Working on her double toe."
"Good Morning!" Rossi had somehow managed to shake loose of Dotty and was climbing the bleachers to join the couple.
"Was it the perfume or the pandering that drove you off?" Hotch questioned with a smirk.
"Pavlov's dogs drooled less," Rossi grumbled.
"I know you," Joan spoke up. "You're David Rossi. My husband and I have read all your books."
"A couple with discrimination," Rossi smiled at her. "I think I like you already."
"Where is your daughter?" Hotch asked Joan.
"Jade is right over there," Joan pointed slightly to the right. "She's running through her program for the upcoming competition. Her music should be up next."
The agents watched as the next piece of music came on and Jade began skating.
"It looks like she's doing really good," Hotch commented as the program progressed.
A smirk crossed Rossi's face. "Is she headed to the Olympics, too?" he asked innocently.
"Of course she is," was Joan's quick reply. "I'm going to buy her a ticket and send her!"
"A realist," Hotch observed as the music ended and Jade hit her final pose.
"She is a good enough skater," Joan explained. "But, she just doesn't have the drive that it takes to get to that level. So, I'll see how far she goes and then let her quit on her own terms. Hopefully, she will have learned enough about hard work and self-discipline to help her through the rest of her life."
"You sound like a wise lady," Rossi told her approvingly.
"Good Morning Again Everyone!" Laurel thrilled as she climbed up the bleachers and joined the group. Hotch noticed that, in contrast to yesterday's functional business casual garb, this morning she was wearing a well-fitted pair of dark trousers with a dressy-looking shirt complimented by a colorful scarf. Also, he noted with approval, she had applied some make-up and tidied her hair.
"Good to see you again, My Dear," Rossi smiled at her. "You are looking lovely as ever."
Dave!" Laurel blushed. "Enough!"
"Just calling it like I see it," he replied. "Now, it appears that your favorite daughter is done skating for this morning and I want to say 'Hi'." He stood up and, followed by the other two, began descending the bleachers.
"Uncle Dave!" Paige cheered as she charged off the ice. "What are you doing here?"
"And a good morning to you too, Kiddo!" Rossi replied, smilingly indulgently as she tackled him.
"Uncle Dave?" Hotch questioned as he looked over at Laurel.
"Dave has stopped by several times where he was in town for book signings," Laurel explained. "And, he and Paige have formed quite a bond."
"Well, it appears that I have my job cut out for me," Hotch declared. "Do you think chocolate chip pancakes will help?"