for Hotch, and Shannon later

[harrowgate]

Elsewhere in the city this morning, a man had been found most gruesomely murdered. Among the photos and videos scattered around the macabre scene, a lifetime's collection of exploitation and horror, were photos of a red-haired boy around eleven or twelve. Thin, pale, almost heart-breakingly pretty even in sickening postures and positions, he could have been anyone among the dozens of anonymous children depicted.

Anyone, if the close-up photos of him gagged and frightened had not clearly shown one unusual amber eye, and one dead-pale blue eye.

Felix Harrowgate, of course, had no idea that Emmett Whitfordshire had been murdered and found in a coffin decorated in part by photographs of himself as a young boy. It was a perfectly normal day for him, arriving at the office which served as the public face of the Mirador Consulting Group. Neither the general public nor the group's exclusive clientele were ever allowed past the facade of reception and glass-walled conference areas into the workrooms beyond, so it was not terribly unusual to be summoned to the front of the office as part of one's day.

When told he had a visitor at reception, Felix emerged within just a few minutes, impeccably-dressed as always in pin-stripe trousers and waistcoat over a wine-red shirt. His sleeves were partly rolled up; he'd just come from crafting a new spell. The receptionist -- one of the newer apprentices, a recent member of one of Felix's own classes on spell grounding -- escorted him down to the lobby. Felix recognized Agent Hotchner immediately, and hesitated, sending the apprentice away with a small shooing motion.

Comments

[harrowgate]

Perhaps it was only Aaron's tone that kept Felix from completely abandoning his rational sense and losing his temper in a fit of fury. He was on the verge of it, though, every muscle taut and tense with adrenaline.

"No. No, it wasn't Shannon, it... " Felix cut himself off, then said tartly, "I'm afraid I didn't get the gentleman's name."

[real_gun_hand]

"I need to know where you were, Felix. There's enough CCTV...if we can only confirm..." Hotch said. Then he was quiet for just a moment. "I know these are intrusive questions but I'm trying to save you any official investigation."

[harrowgate]

Felix choked on a disbelieving, wordless exclamation, turning back to face the agent. "Official investigation? How could they even... I'm not, I don't..."

He had been a different person in those photos. That person, that Felix -- no official last name, no identity, no birth certificate -- no longer existed. That was the story that Felix Harrowgate had been made to learn and to live in order to have the life that Malkar had created for him. He had to believe it, even when he knew it wasn't true.

Burying his face in his tattooed hands, Felix muttered the name of a rather posh gay bar and dance club in a very fashionable area of London, where anonymous sexual encounters in the back halls were commonplace. He frankly didn't care if Aaron knew about that.

[real_gun_hand]

Hotch sighed with relief. "There will be cameras at the entrance. That will remove all doubt. Thank you Felix. And...I'm sorry to be the one to bring this to you today."

[harrowgate]

While Aaron looked relieved, Felix failed to sympathize with that emotion. It was far from simple, for him. "Agent Hotchner, is this... Is that who sent those photos to Shannon?" Felix asked, making a vague gesture toward the first picture, the one he could not bring himself to look at again.

"Is that why... Is that why you're here?"

[real_gun_hand]

Hotch nodded solemnly. "We have reason to believe he was sending the pictures to Shannon but the motive is unclear right now," he said simply.

"So...you can see why Scotland Yard is going to suspect you. It'll be cleared as soon as they check your alibi but there will be other officers coming around. Soon."

[harrowgate]

"Coming here?" Felix's voice climbed a register, and he clenched one fist where he hoped Aaron couldn't see, digging his nails into his palm to re-focus himself. "No. No, impossible. I can't be arrested here. They can't..."

A stab of bewildered fear shot through him, and he tightened his fist, his nails almost drawing blood now. "My registered address is still Shannon's flat."

[real_gun_hand]

"You could leave with me. Now. I could radio it in that you've volunteered a statement," Hotch said. "It'll keep them from coming to get you anywhere."

He was sensitive to the young man's plight. Victimized as a child, a position now that could easily be toppled by scandal, and Shannon to think of as well. Hotch was more than ready to handle this delicately.

[harrowgate]

If Felix were inclined to pray (he was not), he might have gone to his knees just then to beg for any alternative other than leaving the Mirador in the custody of an annemer agent, and an American to boot. He thought of how Robert Hermione, still bitter at Felix's seat on the ruling Curia council of wizards, would sink his teeth into this news if he learned it.

"If I give you my word that I won't flee, would you mind terribly if I met you at the side entrance in five minutes?" Felix suggested, working to smooth back his hair, unnecessarily adjusting his suit jacket.

[real_gun_hand]

Hotch could see Felix was under duress but he was a good judge of people and he was sure the man would indeed meet him. He gathered everything up and nodded once.

"I'll see you outside, Felix," he said, then touched the man's arm. "This will all get sorted out."

[harrowgate]

Felix remembered that Aaron was a man who tried to make a personal connection, and did his best to do no more than glance toward the brief touch. His own aversion to being touched took on a much darker background, considering what the other man knew of his past, and that unsettled Felix quite a bit.

"Thank you," he said, only somewhat stiffly, "for this opportunity. I'll meet you, shortly." He moved to open the conference room's door back onto the lobby for Aaron.