Chapter 4

"I—I was at home with my wife and daughter," Fuchs stuttered.

"Can they verify that?" Morgan asked.

"Y—yes!"

"What about you, Agent Griffith?" Rossi asked, coldly.

"I was at the New York field office for a confrence. Ask anyone here."

"Look, shouldn't you be arresting the Felixes?" Fuchs asked.

"Morgan and I are gonna bring them in," Prentiss answered, "but if it's someone on the inside, we've got to look at everyone."

"Look," Griffith started, "I know we've been less than...kind to Agent Hotchner, but we had a job to do.

"And that job requires knowing a lot of personal information about the agents," Prentiss added.

"Gentlemen, it all depends on whether your alibis check out," Morgan stated.

The agents all stood there, pondering everything they just learned.

"Okay," Rossi commanded, "here's what we're gonna do. Morgan and Prentiss, go arrest the Felixes. We have probbable cause now. JJ and Reid, come up with a list of agents who had contact with Hotch. I'll go talk to Hotch and see if he knows who could've done this."

With that in mind, Fuchs rolled his eyes and said, "I'll get the paperwork and exonerate him." As soon as he was out of sight, Rossi muttered, "We'll he seems happy about it."

Griffith rolled his eyes and explained, "I'm really sorry for all of this. Adam always seems to have something to prove. He doesn't like being told that he's wrong."

"Oh, I know several people like that," Rossi quipped.

"Did Fuchs know Hotch very well?" Prentiss asked.

"Not really. He only met him once when your technical analyst got shot. And I've only heard his name in passing. I've never met the guy until now. Our jobs are mostly desk jobs," Griffith explained.

"Just to be sure, we're gonna have Garcia run alibis."

Griffith nodded and then added, "If you don't mind, I'd like to join her."

The team raised an eyebrow, suspiciously.

"Agent Jareu and Dr. Reid are gonna have a lot of names on that list. If you don't mind, I can help Analyst Garcia eliminate some names. I've been doing this thing for twenty years now. I know there are some agents in the bureau are trouble makers."

Rossi nodded and added, "You realize she may not want your help."

"After all that's happened, I understand just fine. But if this unsub is on the inside, we're gonna need all the man power to bring him down."

"Alright," Rossi nodded, "Let's get back to work."

Before they could begin their assignments, Strauss showed up.

"Chief Strauss," Rossi said.

"Agent Hotchner should be ready for booking in a few minutes. After today, he won't hurt anyone else again."

"Ma'am, that's not gonna be necessary," Rossi stated, cooly.

"Agent Hotchner is innocent," Morgan replied.

"You're just saying that because he's your Unit Chief. If he was anyone else-"

"Ma'am," Reid spoke up, "for the last time SSA Aaron Hotchner is innocent of the crimes. We're arresting the perpetrators—Armando and Fernando Felix. Futhermore, we believe someone on the inside is framing him. Now, I'm gonna ask you this once," the young genius stepped in front of the Section Chief and pulled an Aaron Hotchner, "where were you on the night of the murders?"

"I was at home with my daughters," Strauss answered.

"Erin, Agent Hotchner's innocent," Griffith expalined, "Fuchs is exonerating him now."

"Well, I hope you find who's doing this. Goodbye," Strauss said and walked off.

"Well, that was weird," Morgan observed.

All eyes turned to Reid and Morgan high-fived him.

"Kid, you got the glare right and everything. Hotch would be proud."

"FBI!" Morgan and Prentiss yelled as Morgan kicked down the door.

Armando and Fernando dropped everything and ran. They didn't get very far, as Morgan tackled them to the ground.

"It' s just pot!" Fernando exclaimed.

"It's more than that," Morgan answered, "let's go."

Rossi and Fuchs stepped inside the interrogation room where Hotch was being held.

"Dave, what happened?" Hotch asked frantically.

"Aaron, there's been a development in the case," Rossi explained.

"And..." Hotch prompted.

"Congratulations, old friend," Rossi patted him on the back, "we knew you didn't do it."

Fuchs relunctantly uncuffed the Unit Chief.

"We arrested the perpetrators," Fuchs explained, gruffly, "Armando and Fernando Felix. They're two drug dealers and burglars. Agents Morgan and Prentiss are bringing them in."

Hotch nodded and then added, "There's something you're not telling me. What are you not telling me?"

"Aaron, someone on the inside masterminded all of this," Rossi said.

"Inside? You mean one of our own orchestrated this?"

The thought that one of their own was behind this filled the normally stoic leader with unseen rage, but moslty sickness. How could somebody they trusted do this? Also, why? Rossi answered that one.

"Whoever planned these murders did so with you in mind. This unsub is hell bent on making your life hell. He purposely framed you for these murders. Can you think of anyone who would do this?"

"No," Hotch whispered, "no."

"What about someone you interviwed for a position, but turned down?" Fuchs asked.

"We interview hundreds of people," Hotch answered, "and I can't say I remember them all."

"Aaron," Rossi said, gently, "whoever did this knew about the details of your divorce from Haley. He used your recent divorce to make people come to his side," Rossi explained.

"To make people believe I snapped and started murdering innocent people."

"Exactly. He also knows you are a skilled marksman. Besides the team, does anyone else know about your divorce?"

"Besides the two IA guys?" Hotch asked, "No."

Fuch's face went red.

"Come on!" Fuchs coaxed, "you probabbly mentioned it in passing to someone, maybe over drinks. That could be how he got your DNA."

"But the DNA was just left there," Hotch observed, "like the unsub was armed with it. The DNA had to be on file somewhere.

Hotch buried his hands in his face and looked up.

"Dave, someone does know about my divorce. And it's not a 'he.'"