A/N: I hope I got the character of Kevin Lynch as he is on the show.

Chapter 21-Searching For Dirt

The following morning found Erin Strauss, coffee cup on desk, in her office an hour before her normal time. She was carefully reviewing the contents of the personnel folder of Aaron Hotchner. The folders of the other members of his team waited beside the one she was reviewing. She purposely saved Doctor Reid's folder for last. After she finished reviewing all the files, she would go to the person she had selected within the bureau to do her dirty work for her. If the files disclosed nothing, she was positive the technical analyst she had selected would definitely find something she would be able to use. But first things first. She reminded herself to make sure she thanked her secretary for having the files waiting on her desk for her when she came into her office this morning.

As she closely read the contents of Hotch's file, she snorted in disgust. Just reading about Hotch's accomplishments as a prosecuting attorney, then with SWAT, the FBI, and finally the BAU, made her ill. Obviously overrated as a prosecutor and an agent. Hotchner had always seemed too good to be true anyway. She chuckled as a small part of her began to wonder if his drug dealing perhaps began in the prosecutor's office instead of the bureau. She made a mental note to have the tech analyst check into Hotchner's career as a prosecutor. He must have handled drug cases, she thought. And I bet that's where he made his drug contacts and got started dealing. It's the perfect cover. She smirked as she felt she had a lead as to where Hotchner got started in his despicable business. If she can just find his contact she'd have all the proof she needed to bring to the director.

"There is something here," Strauss muttered. "There has to be." She picked up her Styrofoam cup and took a drink of coffee. "What were you hiding about that geek you call a profiler, Aaron?" she asked openly. "What is it?" After awhile, she snorted with disgust and slammed Hotch's file closed. "Damn!" she hissed. Nearly two hours later, she had reviewed the files of Rossi, Prentiss, Morgan, Jareau, and Garcia. But there was nothing she didn't already know. The only file left belonged to Spencer Reid. She sat it in front of her with a cunning smile, and opened it, believing she would find something to use.

Nearly an hour later she slammed the folder closed and shoved it aside. Nothing! She had found absolutely nothing. How can that be? She knew Aaron Hotchner well enough to know he would do anything he had to to try and protect his team. And with Reid being the youngest, he would need the most protecting. But from what? Strauss got to her feet, gathered up the files in her arms, and walked out of her office. Her secretary, Carol, was seated at her desk, typing. Strauss plopped the folders in front of her. "File them!" she ordered coldly and walked away, not waiting for an answer from the girl. She had somebody she had to see.

After she took the elevator down to the fourth floor, Strauss pushed open the Plexiglas double doors, and headed to the area in which she knew he worked. He was just what she needed. Oblivious to her ulterior motive, and not connected to Hotchner or any member of his team. And if push came to shove, she could put the entire blame on him for hacking into her agents' personal histories. He wouldn't realize he was the sacrificial lamb until it was too late. She would use his talent to find out what she wanted on Spencer Reid and Aaron Hotchner, and use it to her advantage. When she reached the unit her guinea pig worked in, she stood in the doorway, letting her eyes scan the unit until she found who she sought. A smirk appeared on her face as she walked toward the dark-haired man concentrating on his computer screen. She was grateful he had his work area was separate from the other employees there.

A little after ten a.m. in the morning found the team at Will and JJ's. The six friends were seated around the table enjoying a breakfast of crispy bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, orange juice, toast and coffee prepared by JJ and Rossi. JJ had decided it would be more convenient for everybody to stay the night. It made no sense to go home, and come back the following day. Besides, she and Will had the room considering how many relatives they had between them, mostly on Will's side. Around midnight, shortly after Will had returned home and before bedtime, he and JJ turned down the sofa in the living room into a bed. It was just big enough for Garcia and Prentiss to sleep in together. Morgan and Reid shared one of the guest rooms. And Rossi had the other to himself. Nobody wanted to share with him because of his snoring, which suited the older man just fine.

After breakfast, Rossi helped JJ clean up and wash the dishes, while the others sat around the table finishing their coffee in the living room.

"I haven't seen Will this morning," Rossi said as he finished drying the dishes and giving them to JJ to put away. "He still asleep? He did get back kinda late."

JJ smiled as she put away the last plate. "Not really," she said looking at the older man. "He left here a little over an hour ago. Said to tell you he wanted to get an early start and meet with Detective Brandeis. He wants to have a look at the autopsy and toxicological reports. Regardless, he promised to call us when he finds out something."

After refilling their coffee cups, both JJ and Rossi reentered the living room to find Garcia busy on her laptop. She gave a sudden yelp of excitement.

"I gather that means you found something on Mr. Hayes?" asked Morgan with a chuckle as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Oh, sugar, you bet you gorgeous body I did," Garcia smiled.

Morgan started coughing after he swallowed his coffee too quickly. JJ slapped him on his back until he gestured with his hand he was okay. He looked at Garcia with an arched eyebrow.

"You okay my Chocolate love-God?" asked the tech analyst.

"Garcia, please tell me that doesn't sound like you're making it sound," Prentiss replied open-mouthed.

Garcia just offered her a sweet, innocent smile. "I'll never tell." She then gave Morgan a sly smile. "And you, my Dark Knight, will never find out."

Prentiss stared wide-eyed at Morgan while Morgan merely shrugged his shoulders and offered no explanation. But he gave Garcia an amused smile. "Mama, I better not find out you posted any photos of me on your Facebook page, or I will put you over my knee and spank you."

Garcia grinned. "Oh, mon Chere, trust me when I say that you will never, ever, find them."

Reid blushed at the exchange between his best friend and the woman who was like a sister to him.

"Excuse me," Rossi interrupted. "But can we please drop this discussion meant for Jerry Springer, and concentrate on Chris Hayes? We only have three days left before we have to return to work."

"Gotcha, my Acting boss-man," Garcia said with a sigh. "Okay, my pretties. Here is the lowdown. There is no juvenile record on Chris Hayes. But he and two friends were stopped for driving with an open alcohol container in the vehicle on…oh God."

"What is it, momma?" asked Morgan seeing the expression on her face.

"They were stopped by police on the day Hotch was killed."

The team looked at each other after hearing this information. Coincidence?

Rossi put his coffee cup down, and leaned against the table with arms straight, and hands flat on the tabletop. He looked over Garcia's shoulder.

"Who were the two who were arrested with him, Garcia?" he asked.

Garcia clicked away on her keyboard. "Our other two snakes in the grass are Jared Shelton and Michael Cummings. Hayes was held overnight on one thousand dollars bail which was paid the following morning by….oh my God."

"Wait a minute," Rossi's eyebrows knitted together and he leaned closer to the laptop screen so he could read what he was seeing. "This says he was bailed out by Beth Clemmons."

"Yes, sir." Garcia looked at Rossi. "Why would she post his bail?"

"She wouldn't unless he meant something to her," Rossi admitted.

"I don't understand," Garcia remarked.

"What Rossi means, baby girl, is that this Chris Hayes can either be an employee of Beth's, or a boyfriend. Or he can serve another use to her," Morgan explained.

"Another use? Like what?"

"That's what we need to find out," Reid said. "Garcia, where does Chris Hayes work?"

"Ummm…let me check." She let her fingers fly over the keyboard. "And yes, my baby genius. He works for the…oh dear." A frown appeared.

"What did you find?" asked Prentiss seeing the change of expression.

"It seems our Mr. Hayes works at the same museum as our despicable witch from hell, Beth Clemmons."

"Christopher Hayes works for Beth Clemmons?" asked JJ. "Garcia, are you sure?"

"I don't have any idea if he works for Beth Clemmons, sunshine, but he does work with her." Garcia looked at the others. "Does that mean this bastard helped that bitch hurt Hotch?"

Rossi took a sip of his coffee as his eyebrows arched, surprised at Garcia using swear words so easily even though he didn't blame her. He noticed the others staring at the tech analyst as well after her use of profanity.

"Can't be sure yet, kitten. But I can promise you one thing. If this Chris Hayes is involved in Hotch's death, he's gonna go down and hard. That I can promise you," Rossi added.

"Guys, does Haley know any of this?" Garcia asked, looking deeply worried.

The others exchanged equally worried looks wondering the same thing.

Rossi straightened. "Reid, you and Emily speak with Haley and Jessica. Tell them what we've found out about Chris Hayes and see if Haley can give you any more information on him. JJ, I want you to go with them." He saw the blond open her mouth to ask a question. "I want you to speak again with Jack. Something isn't right here and it worries me."

"Like what?" asked Prentiss.

"I'm not sure exactly," Rossi admitted. "But Jack being afraid of his mother. Haley not telling us about an affair she had with our latest suspect. And now our new suspect being somehow connected with Beth Clemmons. We're missing something, and we need to find out what. We owe it to Aaron." He watched the three agents prepare to leave on their assigned tasks.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Morgan looking up at the older man.

"Derek, you, Garcia, and I are gonna go over everything we have from the beginning."

"Mr. Lynch?" Strauss asked standing over the geeky-looking young dark-haired man wearing glasses with thick black frames.

"Ahhh!" Lynch shouted nearly jumping out of his skin as he spun around in his chair. He had not expected the Section Chief of the BAU to be standing in front of him. He pushed his glasses back up on his nose and swallowed the lump in his throat. "I…I didn't hear you approach, Chief Strauss…I mean…that is…" he stammered. How could she have found out about me and Penelope? We've been so careful. Nobody knows about us except her team and they wouldn't…they couldn't…they didn't…did they? "Can I…help you, ma'am?"

"Mr. Lynch, I need you to do something for me. And if you understand what's good for you, you'll keep this between us. Do I make myself clear?" Strauss turned her harsh stare onto the young man.

"Yes, ma'am. Uh, if I might ask, why me?"

"Because you're not affiliated with Agent Hotchner's team in any way. And I need somebody who will not ask questions."

Kevin began to relax a bit. He now began to believe Strauss had no idea he and Penelope were dating much less seeing each other after work. Their relationship would be frowned upon due to the non-fraternization rule. One or both of them could be either transferred or fired. Lynch understood if Strauss found out, she could make things difficult especially for Penelope just to get back at Aaron Hotchner. And Lynch understood, from Penelope, that Hotchner would go to extremes to protect his team. Also, Lynch liked and respected Hotchner, and admitted as much to Penelope. He also admitted he was a bit afraid of the man especially when he looked at someone with that patented stare of his. Whenever he had seen Hotch stare at him the time Penelope had been shot, his insides turned to jelly. He didn't ever want to see that look again.

He remembered when Hotch had found out about him and Penelope. The agent had stared at him, and warned that if he ever hurt Penelope, he would have to deal with not only him, but with his entire team. Garcia meant a lot to the team, and they were all protective of her. Hotch was joking this time with his patented glare, but as Lynch didn't realize that, Hotch had kept his face impassive. But he was serious about Penelope not being hurt by Lynch.

He straightened up in his chair and swallowed, still nervous. "But ma'am, Agent Hotchner was…I mean, he's… I don't understand what…" He saw the look on her face. "Sorry. Do you want my help searching for who might have killed him?"

"Not exactly."

"Then I don't see…."

"I suggest you cease with the questions and do what you're told."

"Yes, ma'am," Lynch answered. He turned towards his desktop. "What is it you want me to do?"

"I want you to look into Agent Hotchner's time with the federal prosecutor's office and find out if he prosecuted any drug cases. Pay special attention to any that he may have lost. Should you find any, I want them brought to my attention in my office only."

Lynch looked at the older woman. "You think somebody connected to his time as a prosecutor had him killed?"

"Mr. Lynch…"

Lynch turned around with wide eyes as the realization hit him. He first looked around to be sure nobody was privy to their conversation. He saw nobody paying them any attention. "You can't be serious? You can't think Agent Hotchner was involved in something shady." He had been told by Penelope that whoever killed Hotchner made it appear he had been involved with drugs and was dirty. Kevin refused to believe that. But when he had offered his help to Garcia, she thanked him but turned down his offer. What she and the team were doing was risky, and they didn't want anybody else to jeopardize their job to prove not only who killed Hotch, but that he was framed. Lynch found himself now wondering if Strauss was involved somehow. He agreed with Penelope that Aaron Hotchner was a good man.

"That is none of your business. Just do as you're told."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And once you've completed your search, I want you to check into the background of Doctor Spencer Reid. Especially after he was kidnapped by a Tobias Henkel last year. And I don't intend to be patient, Mr. Lynch. I want an answer by the end of the day. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'll have everything as soon as possible. You have my word."

Strauss smiled like a piranha. And that smile chilled Lynch to the bone. He had been told by Penelope while on one of their dates, how much Strauss hated Penelope's boss. And how she was doing everything she could, despite his death, to ruin his memory and reputation within the bureau. He also knew from Penelope that the team, although on stand-down for one week, was secretly trying to clear their late boss's name. He now understood what he had to do.

"Very good, Mr. Lynch. I'll be waiting." That said, Strauss turned away and left the area as Lynch turned back toward his computer screen. He watched Strauss leave the office and waited a few minutes to be sure she didn't come back. After five minutes, Lynch grabbed the receiver of his desk phone and hesitated before he dialed. What if Strauss was monitoring his outgoing phone calls and discovered him calling Garcia? He hung up the receiver and reached for his cell phone he kept inside his shirt pocket.

After he glanced nervously around and seeing nobody was paying him any attention, Lynch left his station and hurried to the men's room. Inside, he checked each stall to make sure he was completely alone. Satisfied, he scrolled down his list of contacts until he came to Garcia's and pressed the dial button. He put the phone to his ear while keeping an eye on the door in case somebody entered.

"C'mon, snuggle puss," Lynch mumbled as the ringing continued.

"What is it, Kevin?" Garcia asked, sounding a bit annoyed. "I'm busy right now."

"Penelope, you might want to put me on speaker when you hear what I have to say," Lynch said.