Disclaimer: Sadly, still the same even after all the time

A/N Short chapter to assure I haven't forgotten about you all. Another chapter will follow this weekend, so keep reading. We are getting to finale soon.

"Actually" Reid, unnoticed before as he was buried deep in the files and other stacks of paper, unexpectedly joined the conversation "we might have...well, not about the attack, no, but he wouldn't be the first major criminal caught at the lesser charges at first. For example..."

"I swear, one of these day I'm going to kill him" Emily interrupted rudely Reid's monologue. The doctor blushed slightly and in hurry explained "He had a standing parking ticket, for almost five years now, I think it's time he paid his debt to the state."

"How much is it?" Rossi asked amused, his humor was 100% better.

"Well, then it was 20 dollars, but now it's over 2000" Reid of course didn't even use piece of paper to do the math.

"I think it's reason enough to bring him in" Morgan keenly observed.

"Great, get a warrant and get his mother's phone log. Check it in last few days some new number appeared" Hotch ordered.

It took Garcia less then half an hour to come up with the address. To all of them surprises Neil was still in the town. He wasn't even trying to stay low profile, he was living in one of the most expensive hotels, using company name and credit card. The girl on the reception identified him from the photo without hesitation. From there it took them only minutes to get Neil into custody and drive him into the FBI building.

But life is never that easy. Not long after Neil was seated into the interrogation room his lawyer arrived. After hearing the charges he immediately offered to pay off every debts and after few phone calls from him to persons on the right spots it was all set up. The team didn't have even chance to interrogate him. It was time to start play the ball.

"We can't let Neil Higgins go, yet" Hotch with determination announced to the family lawyer.

"Why not, the fine is settled so everything is OK." but after he noticed that Hotch was standing his ground the lawyer decided to play ball too "C'mon, you wouldn't like your superior to find out you were uncooperative"

"Are you threatening me" Hotch asked and neither from his mimic nerves moved. The lawyer, although used to though opponents, started to sweat.

"No" he said still very venomously "you can consider it a friendly advice"

Hotch still didn't even blink "Too bad, I was looking forward to charging you as well"

"As well?" the lawyer wasn't getting paid for nothing after all, and word games were his specialty

"Are you saying you are going to charge Mr Higgins?" he asked readily.

"Not yet" Hotch made as slight pause and then he risked everything. After all, JJ deserved it "but Neil Higgins is a suspect in ongoing criminal investigation and we like to keep him in our custody for 48 hours. I guess it's all legal"

"A criminal investigation?" the lawyer didn't loose a beat "what proof do you have about my client involvement"

For the first time Hotch smiled slightly "The fact you didn't even asked what investigation makes me very hopeful." the lawyer realized his mistake. Too late he gave Hotch credit for his ability "anyway, we'd like to check your client's alibi and then we'd like to talk about his checkout with court assigned doctor.

"But why him? Are you picking up your suspect by the way they look or you just point your finger and take the nearest person into custody?" the lawyer made another desperate try.

"We are arranging for line up, but we have other evidence linking your client to the murders" Hotch had his arguments ready.

The lawyer gave up "I'd like some private time with my client"

"It's that way" Hotch pointed to the corridor and asked one younger agent to take him. Again, nothing in his posture showed that he just won one huge battle, nor that he was getting ready to he chew up by his superiors. Well, at least the chewing is going have to wait, he thought as he started gathering the team.

"OK, we had both our suspects in our custody" he announced and for the first time with this case the team felt like they managed something. "but the hardest part is still in front of us. Dave, I want you to interrogate Higgins. He and his lawyer are going to be pretty though, but we are playing for time, so stay on your game. Prentiss, you have Charles King. He, on the other hand is going to be piece of cake so you help Dave if he needs anything." she nodded, but wasn't very happy with this assignment.

"As for you two" Hotch turned to Morgan and Reid "I need you to get as much of the victims of previous rapes as possible. Reid, you know which cases I mean and I guess you know them best, so pick the girls you are able to find fast. Also, made sure that the Officer Wallace is going to be here at tomorrow line up, he was the lead investigator of JJ's case. The show should start at seven p.m."

They started to gather the information they needed and were about to leave the briefing room when Rossi asked

"And what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to get our star witness" Hotch admitted like it was the most natural thing for him to do.

Surprisingly, the team went on without stopping, but he could swear he heard Morgan whisper to Emily

"It was about the damn time."

Next: Guess what? Right, JJ is going to appear again on the scene.