The Photographer
folder
1 through F › Criminal Minds
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
23
Views:
1,806
Reviews:
1
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0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
1 through F › Criminal Minds
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
23
Views:
1,806
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Criminal Minds or any of the characters, nor do I make any type of profit from this.
VI
RICHMOND PD - INTERROGATION ROOM
Richmond, VA
Erin Strauss was waiting for the BAU Unit Chief to be brought in to speak with her, but wasn’t expecting him to look beaten up. Aaron Hotchner was cuffed to the table and left alone in the room with his superior. There was nothing but silence for what felt like an eternity as Strauss looked over the charges and evidence, which were organized in a manila folder in front of her. She looked back up at Hotch and couldn’t help but shake her head. “Please tell me you didn’t resist arrest.” Hotch looked at her, unsure if she was kidding or not. “The latest victim’s husband took out his frustration on me. He think I know where his wife is and-“ “Do you?” Hotch stopped and just stared at the Section Chief. “Excuse me?” His voice betrayed his agitation despite the stony look on his face. “Aaron, I’m not going to play games with you.” “Then don’t.” She glared at her as she took her glasses off nonchalantly. “Fine. Give me your badge.” He put her hand out and waited for Hotch to fumble with his pocket and hand her the leather case that contained his credentials. He didn’t hesitate as he slapped them into her hand. Erin simply pocketed them and continued. “Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner, you are suspended indefinitely. Your status with the FBI will be reviewed at the conclusion of this case.” She leaned back in her chair and looked at him disapprovingly. “The only reason I am not suspending your pay is for the sake of your son. Your paycheck will be sent directly to Jessica Brooks.” She stood up and just stared at Hotch. “I’m leaving you in the custody of the Richmond PD. The BAU will continue to work this case and you will cooperate with them fully. So help me God, if any of the charges are correct, I will make sure you pay for your crimes to the full extent of the law.” Erin Strauss grabbed her folder and left Hotch in the room alone.
He couldn’t believe it. He knew she didn’t like him, but to think he was capable of this… she obviously had no profiling skills. Hotch could only hope that his team was good enough to get the real UnSub before it was too late.
---
The team watched Strauss walk out of the interview room and up to Detective Neal, no doubt promising the FBI’s full cooperation throughout the duration of the case. She glanced over at the team who was gathered around the conference table like they were posing for a family picture, trying to cover the hurt they felt without their leader. Without saying another word, she headed out to her sedan which would take her back to Quantico where she could wash her hands clean of a possibly rogue agent. The rest of the team, however, was left to deal with the accusations and were expected to condemn their boss. Their mentor. Their friend.
“Listen up, guys.” The team looked at Morgan, different levels of defeat in each of their eyes. “I know it looks bad for Hotch and we’re all worried about him, but the best way to help him is to continue working this case and getting to the bottom of it. JJ, since we can’t talk to the media without them demanding to know Hotch’s life story, I want you to work with the families. They’re not going to trust us because one of our own has been implicated in the killings, so we’re going to have to work extra hard on this. Emily, I want you to go with JJ so you can profile everyone she speaks to. No one is above being a suspect right now.” Morgan winced in pain as he turned his head too quickly and jostled his injured shoulder. He ignored the feeling and continued giving orders. “Rossi, you and Reid go over every one of the old murders. I want to know dates on the kidnappings, tortures, and murders. We need to alibi Hotch on as many of them as we can.”
Emily and JJ nodded, more than happy to take their assignment. Both agents had come across cases that no one thought were cases the BAU should bother with and both times Hotch was there for them. Granted, it took Hotch a lot longer to be convinced to help Prentiss, but he put faith in her and allowed her on the team despite the lack of an opening for her. Now it was their turn to be there for him.
It went without saying that Reid would be there for Hotch. Had it not been for his superior, he would have been killed by Tobias Hankel or the dilaudid addiction he developed afterwards. He would fight for Hotch’s freedom no matter what. Hotch had defended Garcia on more than one occasion, especially after her mistake in the Fisher King case and later when she was implicated in the Battle case. The Tech Goddess would type herself into a bad case of carpal tunnel for him.
Then there was Morgan, the man who he trusted to lead the team. He and Hotch didn’t always see eye to eye, but Morgan looked up to him. He only hoped that one day he could be as efficient of an agent as Aaron was. Even in the face of utter devastation, he had made the right decisions, something that was an admirable trait in anyone.
That only left Rossi. Sure, he had known Hotch for years, but how well did he really know him? Rossi, like Gideon, trust the profile above all else and in this case, the profile was pointing right at Hotch. While he didn’t think Hotch would do anything like this, the case in Canada that uncovered 89 murders proved to him that anything was possible. Dave decided to keep his thoughts to himself, for now. Right now, he and Reid had work to do.
Morgan watched as the team moved on to their separate missions before looking back at the interview room where Hotch was being moved from. He caught Hotch’s eye and made a move to intercept them, but the hand cuffed man merely shook his head as he was lead out of the station by one of the officers towards the patrol car to be taken to the prison where he would be held overnight. Derek watched as they were bombarded by the media, further tarnishing his reputation.
---
BROOKS HOME
Manassas, VA
“Look, Aunt Jessie! It’s dad!” Jack Hotchner pointed to the image of his father being paraded into the police station in handcuffs, oblivious to the severity of the situation. Jessica Brooks, Haley’s sister and Aaron’s ex-sister-in-law, dropped the book she was holding as she read the scroll bar at the bottom of the screen. ‘BAU Agent Implicated in Richmond Area Murders.’ “What wrong?” Jessica looked down at Jack and patted him on the head. “Nothing, sweetie. Go brush your teeth, its bed time.” Jack nodded and ran off to get ready for bed as Jessica dialed the agent she knew would be able to explain what was happening.
-- “Garcia.”
No quirky greeting – things had to be bad.
“Hi, Penelope. It’s Jessica, Hotch’s sister-in-law.”
-- “Oh, hey hun.”
After Haley had been murdered and Jessica agreed to help take care of Jack, Penelope had given the woman her number in case she needed to get in contact with one of them in an emergency.
“Uh, Penelope, I just saw the news. Is Aaron ok?”
Garcia sighed before explaining what had happened, pausing when Jessica’s tears started.
-- “You need to stay home, Jess. The media will be after you like crazy. An agent will be there to make sure things aren’t too crazy and to run errands for you. Hotch will be ok. He’s tough and this is the best team out there.”
“I know. You tell him that Jack loves him and I’ll take care of him for as long as he needs me to. I know he didn’t do this.”
Garcia couldn’t help but smile at the woman’s encouraging words.
-- “I will. Give Jack a hug for me. Take care.”
Jessica ended the call and pressed the phone to her chest as she forced herself to stop crying. She looked at Jack who was in his PJs, ready for his Aunt to tuck him in. “C’mon, Jack. Let me tell you a bedtime story about a beautiful princess named Haley and her brave knight, Aaron.” She picked him up and carried him into his room. No matter how tough the next few days were going to be, she would make sure Jack knew his dad was a hero.
---
BORDEN HOME
Richmond, VA
“Hi, Mr. Borden? I’m Special Agent Emily Prentiss, this is Special Agent Jennifer Jareau, we’re with the FBI.” The brunette opened her credentials just after JJ did, following proper protocol. “We’d like to ask you a few questions… about your wife.”
Richard Borden thought for a few moments before moving out of the doorway and allowing the two women inside. He led them into the kitchen where he had been reading the newspaper with his morning coffee. “Can I get you ladies anything? Coffee?” Both women nodded, knowing from experience that it relaxed the families when they accepted food and drink. Plus, both women were extremely tired and needed a good cup of coffee. Richard handed them a colorful mug filled with hazelnut coffee and sat down at the kitchen table, taking a sip of his own coffee. “Y’know… Agent Hotchner was sitting exactly where you two are fourteen years ago. My wife was the Photographer’s first victim and he swore he would catch the bastard. I trusted him and now he’s the one being accused of the murders. Give me one good reason why I should tell you anything.” The look in his eyes showed how serious and hurt he was.
JJ knew he would feel betrayed, she just didn’t know how bad it would be. “Mr. Borden, I understand your frustration and your skepticism, but we’re here to gain information so we can make sure your wife’s killer is locked up, whether it’s Agent Hotchner or someone else.” The blond woman’s voice faltered slightly as she mentioned her boss’s name. It hurt to admit he was a suspect, but she had to gain this man’s trust.
Mr. Borden sighed before nodding his head. “Fourteen years ago, my wife and I went for a walk. It was a late night, romantic deal. We got to the park and laid out the blanket. I walked away just long enough to get some firewood and when I got back… she was gone. The next day I received a DVD along with the diamond tennis bracelet she had been wearing. I… I never saw her again.”
Emily folded her hands on the round kitchen table and nodded her head in understanding. “I know this is difficult, but I need you to think. Was there anyone you saw hanging around the park that night? Anyone at all.” Richard shook his head as he forced himself to recall the memories of that horrible night. “Th… there was a man who walked past us. He asked for directions and struck up a conversation. We told him we were going on a picnic… he knew where we would be… my God!” He dropped the coffee mug, not even phased by the sound of it shattering. JJ moved to clean up the mess as Emily continued the questioning. “Mr. Borden, I need you to focus. Can you give me a description of the man?” Richard stared off into nothingness as he recalled what he could. “Uh… he was tall… white with real dark hair, I think. He was wearing a ball cap… his voice was strange… almost monotonous…”
Emily and JJ’s gaze met as they processed what he had just said. He had just given the same description Mr. Garrisson had given. The one that matched Hotch. This wasn’t good.
Richmond, VA
Erin Strauss was waiting for the BAU Unit Chief to be brought in to speak with her, but wasn’t expecting him to look beaten up. Aaron Hotchner was cuffed to the table and left alone in the room with his superior. There was nothing but silence for what felt like an eternity as Strauss looked over the charges and evidence, which were organized in a manila folder in front of her. She looked back up at Hotch and couldn’t help but shake her head. “Please tell me you didn’t resist arrest.” Hotch looked at her, unsure if she was kidding or not. “The latest victim’s husband took out his frustration on me. He think I know where his wife is and-“ “Do you?” Hotch stopped and just stared at the Section Chief. “Excuse me?” His voice betrayed his agitation despite the stony look on his face. “Aaron, I’m not going to play games with you.” “Then don’t.” She glared at her as she took her glasses off nonchalantly. “Fine. Give me your badge.” He put her hand out and waited for Hotch to fumble with his pocket and hand her the leather case that contained his credentials. He didn’t hesitate as he slapped them into her hand. Erin simply pocketed them and continued. “Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner, you are suspended indefinitely. Your status with the FBI will be reviewed at the conclusion of this case.” She leaned back in her chair and looked at him disapprovingly. “The only reason I am not suspending your pay is for the sake of your son. Your paycheck will be sent directly to Jessica Brooks.” She stood up and just stared at Hotch. “I’m leaving you in the custody of the Richmond PD. The BAU will continue to work this case and you will cooperate with them fully. So help me God, if any of the charges are correct, I will make sure you pay for your crimes to the full extent of the law.” Erin Strauss grabbed her folder and left Hotch in the room alone.
He couldn’t believe it. He knew she didn’t like him, but to think he was capable of this… she obviously had no profiling skills. Hotch could only hope that his team was good enough to get the real UnSub before it was too late.
---
The team watched Strauss walk out of the interview room and up to Detective Neal, no doubt promising the FBI’s full cooperation throughout the duration of the case. She glanced over at the team who was gathered around the conference table like they were posing for a family picture, trying to cover the hurt they felt without their leader. Without saying another word, she headed out to her sedan which would take her back to Quantico where she could wash her hands clean of a possibly rogue agent. The rest of the team, however, was left to deal with the accusations and were expected to condemn their boss. Their mentor. Their friend.
“Listen up, guys.” The team looked at Morgan, different levels of defeat in each of their eyes. “I know it looks bad for Hotch and we’re all worried about him, but the best way to help him is to continue working this case and getting to the bottom of it. JJ, since we can’t talk to the media without them demanding to know Hotch’s life story, I want you to work with the families. They’re not going to trust us because one of our own has been implicated in the killings, so we’re going to have to work extra hard on this. Emily, I want you to go with JJ so you can profile everyone she speaks to. No one is above being a suspect right now.” Morgan winced in pain as he turned his head too quickly and jostled his injured shoulder. He ignored the feeling and continued giving orders. “Rossi, you and Reid go over every one of the old murders. I want to know dates on the kidnappings, tortures, and murders. We need to alibi Hotch on as many of them as we can.”
Emily and JJ nodded, more than happy to take their assignment. Both agents had come across cases that no one thought were cases the BAU should bother with and both times Hotch was there for them. Granted, it took Hotch a lot longer to be convinced to help Prentiss, but he put faith in her and allowed her on the team despite the lack of an opening for her. Now it was their turn to be there for him.
It went without saying that Reid would be there for Hotch. Had it not been for his superior, he would have been killed by Tobias Hankel or the dilaudid addiction he developed afterwards. He would fight for Hotch’s freedom no matter what. Hotch had defended Garcia on more than one occasion, especially after her mistake in the Fisher King case and later when she was implicated in the Battle case. The Tech Goddess would type herself into a bad case of carpal tunnel for him.
Then there was Morgan, the man who he trusted to lead the team. He and Hotch didn’t always see eye to eye, but Morgan looked up to him. He only hoped that one day he could be as efficient of an agent as Aaron was. Even in the face of utter devastation, he had made the right decisions, something that was an admirable trait in anyone.
That only left Rossi. Sure, he had known Hotch for years, but how well did he really know him? Rossi, like Gideon, trust the profile above all else and in this case, the profile was pointing right at Hotch. While he didn’t think Hotch would do anything like this, the case in Canada that uncovered 89 murders proved to him that anything was possible. Dave decided to keep his thoughts to himself, for now. Right now, he and Reid had work to do.
Morgan watched as the team moved on to their separate missions before looking back at the interview room where Hotch was being moved from. He caught Hotch’s eye and made a move to intercept them, but the hand cuffed man merely shook his head as he was lead out of the station by one of the officers towards the patrol car to be taken to the prison where he would be held overnight. Derek watched as they were bombarded by the media, further tarnishing his reputation.
---
BROOKS HOME
Manassas, VA
“Look, Aunt Jessie! It’s dad!” Jack Hotchner pointed to the image of his father being paraded into the police station in handcuffs, oblivious to the severity of the situation. Jessica Brooks, Haley’s sister and Aaron’s ex-sister-in-law, dropped the book she was holding as she read the scroll bar at the bottom of the screen. ‘BAU Agent Implicated in Richmond Area Murders.’ “What wrong?” Jessica looked down at Jack and patted him on the head. “Nothing, sweetie. Go brush your teeth, its bed time.” Jack nodded and ran off to get ready for bed as Jessica dialed the agent she knew would be able to explain what was happening.
-- “Garcia.”
No quirky greeting – things had to be bad.
“Hi, Penelope. It’s Jessica, Hotch’s sister-in-law.”
-- “Oh, hey hun.”
After Haley had been murdered and Jessica agreed to help take care of Jack, Penelope had given the woman her number in case she needed to get in contact with one of them in an emergency.
“Uh, Penelope, I just saw the news. Is Aaron ok?”
Garcia sighed before explaining what had happened, pausing when Jessica’s tears started.
-- “You need to stay home, Jess. The media will be after you like crazy. An agent will be there to make sure things aren’t too crazy and to run errands for you. Hotch will be ok. He’s tough and this is the best team out there.”
“I know. You tell him that Jack loves him and I’ll take care of him for as long as he needs me to. I know he didn’t do this.”
Garcia couldn’t help but smile at the woman’s encouraging words.
-- “I will. Give Jack a hug for me. Take care.”
Jessica ended the call and pressed the phone to her chest as she forced herself to stop crying. She looked at Jack who was in his PJs, ready for his Aunt to tuck him in. “C’mon, Jack. Let me tell you a bedtime story about a beautiful princess named Haley and her brave knight, Aaron.” She picked him up and carried him into his room. No matter how tough the next few days were going to be, she would make sure Jack knew his dad was a hero.
---
BORDEN HOME
Richmond, VA
“Hi, Mr. Borden? I’m Special Agent Emily Prentiss, this is Special Agent Jennifer Jareau, we’re with the FBI.” The brunette opened her credentials just after JJ did, following proper protocol. “We’d like to ask you a few questions… about your wife.”
Richard Borden thought for a few moments before moving out of the doorway and allowing the two women inside. He led them into the kitchen where he had been reading the newspaper with his morning coffee. “Can I get you ladies anything? Coffee?” Both women nodded, knowing from experience that it relaxed the families when they accepted food and drink. Plus, both women were extremely tired and needed a good cup of coffee. Richard handed them a colorful mug filled with hazelnut coffee and sat down at the kitchen table, taking a sip of his own coffee. “Y’know… Agent Hotchner was sitting exactly where you two are fourteen years ago. My wife was the Photographer’s first victim and he swore he would catch the bastard. I trusted him and now he’s the one being accused of the murders. Give me one good reason why I should tell you anything.” The look in his eyes showed how serious and hurt he was.
JJ knew he would feel betrayed, she just didn’t know how bad it would be. “Mr. Borden, I understand your frustration and your skepticism, but we’re here to gain information so we can make sure your wife’s killer is locked up, whether it’s Agent Hotchner or someone else.” The blond woman’s voice faltered slightly as she mentioned her boss’s name. It hurt to admit he was a suspect, but she had to gain this man’s trust.
Mr. Borden sighed before nodding his head. “Fourteen years ago, my wife and I went for a walk. It was a late night, romantic deal. We got to the park and laid out the blanket. I walked away just long enough to get some firewood and when I got back… she was gone. The next day I received a DVD along with the diamond tennis bracelet she had been wearing. I… I never saw her again.”
Emily folded her hands on the round kitchen table and nodded her head in understanding. “I know this is difficult, but I need you to think. Was there anyone you saw hanging around the park that night? Anyone at all.” Richard shook his head as he forced himself to recall the memories of that horrible night. “Th… there was a man who walked past us. He asked for directions and struck up a conversation. We told him we were going on a picnic… he knew where we would be… my God!” He dropped the coffee mug, not even phased by the sound of it shattering. JJ moved to clean up the mess as Emily continued the questioning. “Mr. Borden, I need you to focus. Can you give me a description of the man?” Richard stared off into nothingness as he recalled what he could. “Uh… he was tall… white with real dark hair, I think. He was wearing a ball cap… his voice was strange… almost monotonous…”
Emily and JJ’s gaze met as they processed what he had just said. He had just given the same description Mr. Garrisson had given. The one that matched Hotch. This wasn’t good.