JJ smiles kindly at the woman that sits down across from her and Rossi. "Veronica Lindy, I am Jennifer Jareau, this is David Rossi. Thank you for speaking with us today."

Veronica shrugs. "My lawyer thought it might help me when I come up for parole."

"And when will that be?" JJ asks.

Veronica grins. "If I'm lucky, ten years. Just figured why wait? May as well talk this out when it's still…fresh in my head, I guess."

JJ nods. "I understand. We appreciate your openness as we proceed through the questions. If at any time you wish to stop, that is your right. Please remember anything you tell us will be available for law enforcement and attorney's to view."

Veronica nods. "I know. This is the only thing in my life they'd be interested in and since the trial's over not much more they can do to me, right?"

JJ nods. "Correct. This cannot affect the sentence that has already been handed down for these murders."

"Good."

JJ opens the folder in front of her. "Now, to start, let's talk a bit about your childhood."

By the time they take a required break for lunch at 11:30, JJ and Rossi had heard the tale of a woman who had grown up in a household similar to JJ's. As the inmate is escorted away, JJ looks at Rossi.

"Okay, I know I haven't been doing this as long as you but are you seeing double-murderer in the making here?"

Rossi frowns and shakes his head. "No, I'm not."

"So either her college years and the 6 years after were horrendous or we're being played. But to what end?"

Rossi sits back, considering that. "She said she's not up for parole consideration for 10 years. Are we sure that's true?"

JJ raises an eyebrow. "I think we need to speak with the warden. And maybe have Garcia do some checking to see if there's any reason Lindy would want this story on record."

"Good idea."

The two agents go to the warden's office where they confirm it would be 10 years before Lindy would qualify to appear before the parole board. As they eat their lunch in the warden's conference room, JJ calls Garcia.

"Garcia, you're on speaker."

"What's up, Jayje and Rossi?"

Rossi lays out their concerns. The agents hear the analyst immediately start typing. "Okay, Veronica Lindy, convicted of murdering her husband and his girlfriend when she caught them in bed."

"Are her appeals still open?"

"Her lawyer has submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court claiming her civil rights were violated and the convictions should be thrown out because of it."

"Can you see what those rights were?" JJ asks.

Garcia types some more. "Uh…she was denied proper counsel. Ah, okay, the lawyer who defended her was later disbarred for demanding sex for better representation. No evidence he made that deal with Lindy so maybe she's just upset she didn't get the chance."

"So if he was disbarred, why didn't the state take another look at her case?" JJ asks Rossi.

The older man shrugs. "It's like Garcia said, there was no evidence in her case that he ever made that offer to her. It wouldn't have been a factor in her case."

JJ thinks a second. "Garcia, is there anything in Lindy's life or her husband's life that would lead you to think she could snap at some point and kill him?"

"Nothing. No domestic violence calls. No arrests. Nothing I can see that would have hinted she's a time bomb wait to explode."

Rossi shakes his head. "So far this isn't making sense." He leans onto the table. "Garcia, we were told we saw all the case files yesterday. Do me a favor? Make sure that's correct."

"You got it, Rossi. As soon as I have them I'll let you know."

JJ disconnects and looks at Rossi. "What are you thinking?"

"Either she's playing us for some reason we don't see yet or we're about to watch the fastest 'normal woman' to 'black widow' escalation in history. Do you mind if I take over the questioning this afternoon? I want to see what she's like when a man starts to pressure her."

JJ shakes her head. "Not at all. I agree, something feels off."

At 1 the agents greet Veronica as she re-enters the room they are using. She stops briefly when she sees Rossi and JJ have swapped places. She quickly covers her irritation and sits down. But both agents had seen the flicker in her eyes…a give-away that she is a little more conniving than she had been letting on.

"I hope you had a good lunch, Veronica," Rossi says. "Ready to get through your post college years leading up to the incident?"

The woman nods. "Sure. Uh, why are you questioning me instead of Agent Jareau?"

"We had split up our research on your life to make sure we covered everything. Is that okay?"

Veronica glances at JJ then back at Rossi. "Sure. Whatever you need, Agent Rossi."

Rossi gives her a charming smile. "Thank you." He shuffles the papers in front of him. "Now, it says here you left college when you married. Why was that?"

Veronica sighs. "My husband was in school, too. We couldn't afford for both of us to attend."

"Okay. But why did you drop out? You were a business major just a semester shy of graduating."

"He was Pre-Med. It wasn't possible for him to quit and go back to it later."

"That's not true. It would have made more sense to have you finish and get a good job then allow him to finish schooling." He looks at the papers again. "You had to take some rather low-paying jobs instead of getting a decent job that would have given you all a better life."

Veronica shifts uneasily. "He said it was best. He said it was what had to happen."

"So he forced you to drop out?"

Veronica thinks on that a second before answering. "Yes, he did. I didn't want to but I did because I loved him."

"I see. Why didn't you ever go back?"

"After college he had Med school and his internship. Little did I know he had a few women on the side, too," she adds bitterly.

"So you later found out he was having affairs all through his medical school and residency?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Did you consider leaving him at any time?"

"No. He was…he was my husband. He said he was under so much stress he had to have a release whenever he could."

Rossi raises an eyebrow. "And you couldn't give that to him?"

Veronica shrugs and rolls his eyes. "Obviously not."

Rossi slowly closes the folder in front of him. He clasps his hands together over it and leans on the table. "Veronica, this can only work if you're honest with us. If you continue to lie we'll call an end to this."

Veronica leans towards him. "I'm not lying!"

"Then why weren't any of these affairs mentioned during the trial? Why didn't your lawyer have you testify and explain your mental state?"

She throws up her hands. "He was an incompetent idiot! He was disbarred because of it!"

"Actually he was disbarred for sexual misconduct. Tell me: why didn't he try that with you?"

The woman's face is bright red. Her eyes are twitching rapidly. Everything about her says she does not like to be challenged. Rossi goes in for the kill.

"I have a feeling you are the reason your husband turned to someone else for love and comfort. Were you bitter about giving up your life for him? Was that the problem?"

"YES! Yes, I gave that bastard everything and he fucked any woman ready to spread her legs for him! I told him when as he lay there dying that the only reason I wasn't cutting off his dick was I wanted to get away with it being a moment of blind rage! I just grabbed his gun and shot but oh, if I could have taken the time to kill him slowly I would have. Same with that slut I shot, too!"

She slams back in her seat, her breathing heavy with anger. JJ and Rossi exchange a look. JJ nods and starts to pack up. Rossi locks back at Veronica.

"I think we're done here. Your lawyer will be made aware of this interview as it will probably negate his appeal to the Supreme Court."

"BULLSHIT!"

JJ glares at her. "When you told your lawyer the truth he knew he could never put you on the stand or risk a charge of suborning perjury. And it probably scared him to even consider what you would do to him if you slept together and still lost at trial."

Veronica leaps up. "Take it back, bitch!"

JJ raises an eyebrow. "No."

Before Veronica can go after either agent the officers, summoned by a button by Rossi, hurry in. They wrestle the woman onto the table and get her in cuffs. As they drag her out she is still cussing and screaming at the agents; even accusing them of raping her in the interview room. Once alone, JJ looks at Rossi.

"Okay, if she was the better choice, what the hell will Clarissa Simedian be like?"

Rossi chuckles. "Maybe we're wrong about her, too."

"We can only hope," JJ says with a grin.

While waiting for the hotel shuttle, Morgan's phone suddenly beeps, alerting him to a message that must have been left while they were in the air. He checks it and starts to laugh. Emily looks at him curiously. He hangs up and grins.

"They came up with a plea bargain acceptable to both sides."

Emily rolls her eyes. "You're kidding me."

"Nope." He looks at his watch. "Guess we need to call Hotch and see if he wants us to fly back out tonight."

Emily groans and rubs her forehead. "Great."

Morgan studies her a second. "Headache?"

Emily nods. "Yeah. Air pressure wasn't fun."

"Damn, Em." He hits his speed dial. "Hotch? Yeah, we just got here. The D.A.'s assistant left a message that a plea deal was struck and we're not needed now." He listens a second. "Actually, Hotch, she'll probably kick my ass for saying this but Em's head is hurting from the flight."

"Morgan! Damn it!" Emily blurts out.

He ignores her, nodding at what Hotch is saying. "Good plan. We can work on case files we have with us and fly back tomorrow. Tell Garcia we may be in touch if we need help with anything." He listens. "You know I will. See you tomorrow." He hangs up and looks at a grumpy Emily. "Remember the bombing he was caught in? He gets the pain from the flight, Em."

Emily's face relaxes a bit. "Right. Forgot about that."

"He told us to just work at the hotel today, have fun tonight, and fly back tomorrow."

Emily smiles. "Yeah, okay. But, um, I'm not sure about tonight."

Morgan studies her. "Why not?"

Emily shrugs, looking away. "One, I'm not supposed to drink for 2 more weeks. Two, the cigarette smoke and noise in the casinos will not help my head." She takes a deep breath. "And three…I'm not sure I want to risk getting hit on or felt up, even accidentally, right now. Crowds probably aren't the best place for me."

Morgan winces, pained for his best friend. "Damn, Emily," he whispers. He takes her hand. "Okay, first things first: let's get to the hotel, get something to eat and work on our cases. Maybe we can watch a movie or something tonight."

Emily shakes her head. "You can go have fun. We're in Vegas. At least one of us should have a good time."

"Emily Prentiss, if you think I'm dumping my best friend and wingman at the hotel your head really is screwed up." She grins. "Let's just play it by ear. Okay?"

Emily nods. "Okay. Thanks, Derek."

"No thanks needed, Em. Come on, there's the shuttle."

Morgan walks through the door between their rooms. "How close to done are you?" he asks.

Emily runs a hand through her hair. "Just want to finish this last consult write up and I can call it a night."

"Hard one?" he asks.

Emily shakes her head. "No, should be a pretty easy one to close. I think there's a guy causing problems for himself but trying to frame the kids next door."

"Nice."

"Yeah. Lots of property damage and most recently a threatening letter to the editor that was turned over to police. The wording used is just not teen speak. Unless the neighborhood kids are 40 year old men I think the police need to look closer to home."

Morgan chuckles. "Good call. I'm going to grab a shower. Dinner in maybe an hour? Should give you time to call your better half."

Emily smiles. "Excellent."

Morgan heads back to his room. Emily finishes up about ten minutes later and goes to the bed to call JJ.

"Hey, Em," JJ answers immediately. "How was lawyer hell?"

Emily smiles. "It was perfect."

There is a pause. "Perfect?"

"There was a message when we got off the plane that a plea deal had been reached. Hotch told us just to stay the night anyway rather than fly back."

"You suck! That never happens for me. It's happened twice for you in recent months."

"What can I say? Defense attorneys know better than to cross me."

JJ laughs. "So full of shit, Agent Prentiss."

"But you love me anyway, Agent Jareau."

"Yes, yes, I do."

"So how was your day?"

JJ giggles. "It was…educational. You know how Rossi and I thought Lindy would be easy and helpful?"

"Yes."

"Turn out she is a lying, manipulative sociopath and Rossi got her to break."

Emily laughs. "Oh, too funny!"

"Yes, so everything she told us is pointless for our files but the D.A. is loving it since her case is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court."

"Well, hopefully what you two found out will keep her in prison if that's where she should be."

"It should. So, what are your plans for the night?"

"Dinner and then maybe back here for a movie."

There is a moment of silence. "Em, you and your best friend are in Vegas. You know I trust you both, right?"

Emily smiles. "I know, Jen. I just…don't really want to go out. I can't drink and the noise and smoke in the casino would just give me a headache. I told Morgan to go have fun but he won't."

"Emily, it's not just the smoke and noise, is it?" JJ asks softly.

Emily squeezes her eyes closed. "No," she admits, equally as soft. "If a guy touches me even innocently I'm scared I'd…I'd…lose my shit on him. I just don't want to deal with that possibility."

"I get that. I wish it could be different for you. I wish…fuck…I wish so much regarding that bastard."

"Me, too. But it is what it is, Jen. It happened and I'm getting better; putting it behind me. It's just taking some time."

"Okay. I guess just promise me if you watch a scary movie you won't cuddle with Morgan the way you cuddle with me."

Emily laughs. "No chance. We won't be naked."

JJ bursts out laughing. "Good to know, Mrs. Prentiss."

Emily glances at the clock. "Well, I better let you go. I know you'll still be readying your notes for tomorrow."

"Yep, I am."

"Sleep well, baby. I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Can't wait, honey. I love you."

"I love you, too, Jen. Goodnight, baby."

"Night, Em."

Emily hangs up and takes a deep breath. Yes, she was getting better. But no, she still wasn't completely healed mentally. And it makes her mad. Other women have gone through worse. The poor children she saw on those DVD's had it a HELL of a lot worse. Why was this hanging with her the way it was?

"Penny for your thoughts," Morgan says from the door way.

"What?"

He walks over and sits down beside her. "You're glaring at the ceiling and your fists are clenched. What's going on in here, Em?" He asks lightly patting her head.

Emily shrugs. "I honestly don't know. I can't get past…what he did…to me, Derek. And he didn't even get to do it all, you know? Why can't I just…forget it?"

"Who says you have to? You know, Pete Cartwright said it best. When he left after taking your statement he said that bastard Ridgeley had made the world a safer place when he molested you. We all know you're going to use what he did to feel more for the victims and to be a better voice for them. It will give you more of that empathy that we all envy in JJ."

Emily thinks on that a minute. "You know, I hadn't thought of it that way." She smiles and takes his hand. "Thanks, Derek."

"Anytime. Look, I know you don't want to do the casinos. How about we do the other touristy things?"

Emily frowns. "Like what?"

"Like the pirate show at Treasure Island, the Ripley's museum, that kind of stuff. Things we don't usually do when we're here for a case. And if at any time your head gets to hurting we come on back here."

Emily slowly smiles. "You know, what? That sounds great. Let's do it."

He pats her on the leg. "Then get ready, Em. Time to tear up the town…innocently, at least."

She laughs and stands. "Give me 10 minutes."