Chapter 2 Custodial Interview

Hotch had called the team together at the roundtable.

"Benjamin Settles wants to interviewed." Hotch had stated to the group. "He was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer, it is in the advanced stages. He has already signed a DNR and does not want treatment."

"Wasn't that the guy that sat for three hours in interrogation, didn't move or say a word?" Morgan asked.

"Two hours and forty minutes." Reid corrected. "Then he said 'this is boring.' He tortured and killed eight woman and four men that we know of."

"He actually agreed to an interview?" Prentiss said. "I thought he refused to even speak in his own defense?"

"He didn't even accept a court lawyer," Rossi said. "I doubt that he is serious about talking to us. He probably wants to taunt us."

"So who's going?" Morgan said.

"Reid, J.J. and I are going," Rossi said.

"Why us?" Reid asked.

"I already spoke with Rossi," Hotch said. "He will lead the interview."

"I will gain more insight if I set him off kilter. You two fit his victim type." Rossi said. "Your presence will make him nervous."

"When do we leave?" J.J. asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Rossi said. "He might change his mind, so we don't want to wait."

The next morning the three left for Colorado for the interview. They arrived in Denver and headed towards the prison.

When they reached the prison they BAU agents turned in their weapons and went to see the warden. Reid carried the box with all of the paperwork for the case.

Warden Carson was in her office along with two of her deputies.

"Good day to you." Warden Carson welcomed the agents warmly.

Rossi and J.J. shook her hand while Reid waved from the behind the other agents.

"I've set aside the interrogation room for you, just the way you asked with the cameras." Carson said. "It is this way."

Carson and two deputies walked the agents down the hall. "I'm seeing to this one personally. I do not trust Settles as far as I can drop him."

"Has he caused trouble here?" Rossi asked.

"Not directly," Carson answered. "He's too quiet. He is always trying to make friends with the COs and other inmates. There is something creepy about it. I've found the ones like him are the source of the bigger problems. We have had incidents of course, while he never lifted a finger, I do believe he is responsible for those events."

The agents reached the interrogation room.

Reid and J.J. immediately started to set up the room for the interview while Rossi talked with Carson.

"I will have two COs out here at all times." Warden Carson told Rossi. "All you need to do is press the buzzer and they will be in here. Are you ready for Settles?"

Rossi looked over at Reid and J.J. "Bring him in," Rossi answered.

Reid and J.J. stepped out and into the other room. From there they could watch the interview.

The plan had been for Rossi would interview Settles first and then signal for them to enter.

"Charlie," Carson said to one of the deputies.

The deputy left. He returned a few minutes later with Benjamin Settles.

Carson watched as Settles was secured to the chair. She stepped out after receiving a nod from Rossi.

"Just us?" Settles asked after Carson left.

"Just us," Rossi replied. "I'm Agent David Rossi from the Behavioral Analysis Unit."

"They only send you out one at a time, huh?" Settles said.

"With you," Rossi said taking a seat. He wanted to make himself superior to Settles. It would be beneficial in extracting information. "Now for the formal bureaucratic check sheet. You were born in California on June the third, nineteen seventy-three."

"Yeah, you got it." Settles answered.

"According to records, your Dad abandoned you and your mom when you were about four."

"And my mom was a single mom with multiple boyfriends." Settles said in a bored manner.

"Yes, she remarried twice." Rossi continued. "The first divorce was due to domestic violence."

"Not directed at me." Settles said. "I liked Carl. He used to give me a pack of cigarettes for staying out of the house. What kid wouldn't like that?"

"That was an interesting allowance." Rossi commented. He kept his tone to show that he wasn't impressed.

"What about your next stepfather, Scott?"

"Didn't know him too well." Settles said avoiding eye contact with Rossi.

Rossi noted the change.

"He had the money, that was why my mom stayed with him." Settles said.

"You don't like him much," Rossi commented.

"Wasn't much to like." Settles continued.

"He did take an interest in you," Rossi said. "Three trips to the emergency room."

Settles shook it off. "Now I was told that you showed those who agreed to interviews pictures of their past crimes. Come on, Agent Rossi when do I get my pictures?"

"You want to relive your past crimes." Rossi said. He had already knew Settles would want pictures.

"Yes I do." Settles answered. "You think I got something better in here? Let me refresh my memory."

Rossi didn't want to give him what he wanted, but this was the way in to see if there were other victims. "Well here are the pictures you requested." Rossi opened the files that were on the desk.

Settles picked up the first file. "I remember her." He then grabbed the one underneath. "I remember her too, her name was Samantha. I never did actually get that from her."

Rossi watched Settles continue to go through the crime scene photos.

"I almost feel like I owe you for this." Settles said. "This prison thing, its boring."

"Sometimes you get what you want," Rossi said with a cocky air in his voice.

There was a knock on the door.

"Are we expecting company?" Settles asked.

"Something like that," Rossi answered. He went to the door and let Reid and J.J. in.

Settles nearly fell out of his chair at the sight of Reid and J.J.

"Agent Rossi what did you bring me?" Settles said. "I know their not agents. She's too perfect and he's . . ." Settles seemed to be at a loss for words. He was looking lustfully at Reid.

"These are Agents Jareau and Reid," Rossi answered.

"I think I'm in love. This was the best thing you could have brought me."

Reid and J.J. walked up to the table and took a seat in the chairs.

"Tell me, Agent Reid." Settles said. "Do you think about her? I mean she is a hottie." He then turned to J.J. "You know you are. Don't tell me I'm making you uncomfortable."

"No," J.J. answered. She remained calm and unaffected.

"What about it, Agent Reid?" Settles said. "Do you have any thoughts about her?"

"I would rather talk about your victims." Reid replied.

"Tell me what you think about the hottie." Settles said.

J.J. continued to stare down Settles. She wasn't going to take the bait.

Reid didn't answer Settles either. He pulled out the map of the area.

"We know this was your hunting zone and your dumping area." Reid maintained eye contact with Settles.

Settles smiled at Reid. "Since Agent Rossi was so nice to bring you too along." Settles said. He then turned to J.J. "Another time, another place, we would have created something together."

J.J. held her stance with the prisoner. "Were there other victims?"

Settles smirked.

"Agent Jareau asked a question." Reid said.

"Is she your boss? Because that would make it even better. I bet you liked to be bossed around." He looked back at J.J. "For your answer, boss lady, yes."

Settles then turned back to Reid. "Have you been tortured at all, either of you?" Settles looked back at Reid. "Been in pain caused by another? I bet the both of you were gorgeous. Tied up and completely helpless."

"You said there were other victims. Give the families closer." Reid said holding out the map.

Settles pointed to an area of the map. "You never looked here did you?" He said pointing to the map. "Three of them are there for you. One looks just like you, Agent Reid. If I ever get out of here, I will have to look you up."

"This is done." Rossi said grabbing the files and placing them in the box.

"Who are they?" J.J. asked.

"I don't know." Settles said. "It's not like I kept a log with names and dates."

Rossi pressed the buzzer. Charlie opened the door. "We're done here." He said.

Rossi, Reid, and J.J. went to Warden Carson's office. From there Rossi called the local FBI field office and gave them the location the Settles had given.

Afterward, they headed back to the airport. While they waited for their plane the field office called Rossi back. Three bodies were found in the location given. They were going to start the process to identify the bodies.

Settles was already dying, at least the families would have closer.

It was late by the time the three had made it back.

Reid immediately headed back to his apartment. The paperwork could wait.

He didn't go in straight away.

Propped up against his door was a box, the size and shape of a shirt box. It was wrapped in silver paper and a purple bow.