The Fugitive
- Chapter Two -
"Worry is like a roller coaster ride that you think will take you somewhere, but it never does."― Shannon L. Alder
"Where is Hotch being held?" JJ asked as she walked inside the conference room where Morgan, Spencer, Garcia and Lewis sat with the same concerned faces.
"He's downtown." Morgan stated. "Emily and Dave are there now. JJ, who's with the kids?"
"Will's with them now, Emily didn't want to call Hotch's mom yet."
"No, that's probably for the best, there's no need to worry her. I'm sure it's all a mistake and Hotch will be released tonight."
"Yeah, but..." JJ said with her eyes already full of tears. "They arrested him in front of his children, they are never going to forget that."
"This is insane!" Garcia cried, "Who would kill Beth? And why are they blaming Hotch. I mean, he wouldn't hurt a fly."
"That's what we need to find out. There has to be a reason why she was killed. This isn't just a random homicide." He stated, turning on the screen and showing them the crime scene pictures.
"According to Metro PD, a neighbor stopped by last night to drop off some mail that had been delivered to him by accident. That's when he looked in the window and saw this."
The pictures on the screen showed Beth Clemmons, Hotch's assistant, laying on the carpet of her living room covered in blood, a shot to the head and stab wounds.
"She was shot in the head and stabbed." Morgan said as he read the coroner's report. "The estimated time of death was around seven p.m. It also shows that..."
"What?" Garcia asked, her eyes wide with horror.
"She was raped postmortem multiple times."
"That's..." JJ said covering her mouth.
"Emily said Hotch was at a meeting with the Director last night."
"That's Hotch's alibi...Chauvin is headed downtown right now."
"Have you talked to the Director?" Tara questioned.
"No, Dave did, but once he makes his statement saying Hotch was with him, we can move forward. Right now, we need to find out why she was killed. She was a federal agent; she wasn't just randomly picked. Someone wanted her dead."
"Was she seeing anyone?" Reid asked.
"Not that I know off." Morgan said, but hesitated…
"What is it?" Garcia asked.
"I'm not sure this is relevant, or that if I should be sharing this with anyone, but given the situation..."
"What is it, Derek?" JJ asked in a harsh tone.
"Emily and Hotch were having issues because of Beth."
"What?" Four voices said in unison.
"But my raven-haired beauty never mentioned anything...I mean she would have told us, right JJ?" Penelope said confused.
"No, she wouldn't have." JJ said, knowing Emily. "When did this start and what kind of issues?"
"Look, I told Hotch a million times Beth was too friendly and attentive to him, even Dave said so, but you know Hotch, man, he didn't want to make a big deal out of it; he said he could handle it, and he tried to dismiss it saying it was really nothing."
"It can't have been nothing if Emily noticed it? Was Hotch seeing Beth?" JJ asked, straight to the point unsure if she should be asking that.
"No, of course not, Hotch had no actual proof that Beth was harassing him so…"
"Wait, she was actually harassing him!?" Lewis asked incredulously.
"She was too friendly, even her attire was a little provocative; she brought him lunch once and even offered to take his shirts to the laundry."
"She actually brought him lunch?" JJ said angrily. "She was basically throwing herself at him and he did nothing about it."
"He talked to her several times, but he didn't have enough proof to go to HR for sexual harassment, it was all inoffensive."
"But Emily knew about this, that's why they were fighting."
"Look all I know is that Emily wasn't a fan of Beth's, and apparently Beth was being rude to her. Hotch and her were having a lot of arguments."
"This doesn't help at all, that just incriminates Hotch more." Spencer said in a worried voice.
"We don't have any actual proof any of this actually happened. Like I said, none of the stuff she did was grounds for Hotch to terminate her."
"Except now she's dead, and he's the prime suspect." JJ said coldly. "The way the police are going to put it is he had an affair with Beth, Emily found out about it, and he killed Beth to put an end to everything."
Meanwhile, Emily was at the police department with Dave waiting for the Director of the FBI. They had not been able to speak to Hotch since his arrest, and she was beginning to freak out. One of the detectives was questioning her in a separate room, she had demanded to speak to Aaron on several occasions but the detectives were refusing to let her see her husband.
"This is outrageous; I want to talk to your Captain, or whoever is in charge." Emily said angrily.
"Ma'am, I just need you to respond to our questions."
"Are you charging me with anything? Because if not, you have absolutely no right to interrogate me."
"We're just trying to help you."
"Help me? You're trying to help me!? You arrested my husband illegally without even having any evidence he actually committed a crime."
"We have enough probable cause, that gives us enough grounds to arrest him."
"Probable cause?" Emily smirked. "He is the Deputy Director of the FBI, and you're actually accusing him of committing a crime?"
"Like I said, we have reason to believe your husband murdered Beth Clemmons. Now, can you answer our question? Were you and your husband having any marital issues?"
"You son of bitch!" Emily stormed and banged her fist against the desk. "Is this a game to you?"
"Why don't you give us some time, detective." Rossi said, walking inside the room followed by the Director of the FBI, Charles Chauvin.
"Charles, thank God you're here." Emily said, reaching out to him.
"These idiots have lost their minds, and they think Aaron murdered this woman."
"I know that, I spoke to the Chief in command. Let's have a seat, okay?"
"A seat? Why do we need to take a seat? You need to go talk to them and make a statement, telling them that Aaron was at a meeting with you last night, that gives him an alibi."
"Emily, I'm sorry but I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Why not? It's a matter of jurisdiction? Because you are the Director of the FBI, you can overrule any of them."
"Emily, take a seat, please." The Director ordered gently, and Dave had a solemn expression on his face.
"What's going on?" She finally did as he asked.
"I'm sorry, Emily, but I can't make a statement saying Aaron was with me, I can't lie under oath."
"What are you talking about?"
"Aaron wasn't with me last night."
Everything started moving around her, she wasn't sure she had actually heard right.
"What!?"
"There never was a meeting. I left the office at five o'clock yesterday." He repeated, looking at her worriedly.
"No, there is no way!" She said, standing up feeling like the room was collapsing around her, she walked out of the interrogation room. Was Aaron actually lying to her? What did that mean?
"Emily, wait!" Dave said, followed by Chauvin.
"I need to see Aaron!" She demanded fighting against the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes.
"I'm not sure I, we can authorize that, Emily, not under the circumstances."
"I need to talk to him...please, Charles." She begged in a shaky voice.
"I'll see what I can do." The Director stated, walking away and leaving her and Rossi alone.
"Dave, this is not possible...this..."
"I know, Bella, this is a mistake. I'm going to call my lawyer and we'll fix this, I promise you."
They returned inside the police station where Chauvin was talking to the Chief in command and by the look on his face, it wasn't good news.
"What's wrong?" Emily asked concerned.
"It's not looking good, they'll let you see him as long as you cooperate with the investigation and answer the questions they have."
"Charles, they can't question her without a lawyer present, you know that." Dave interjected.
"Right now, they're just trying to gather some information, it's just an informal statement."
"I don't know, Charles…."
"Dave, it's okay, I can do it, I have nothing to hide." Emily said firmly, she would do anything to help Aaron.
"Okay then, I want to be with her." Dave demanded.
"I'm sure that's not a problem." Chauvin said, calling one of the detectives over and whispering something to him.
A few minutes later, Emily was taken into the interrogation room again, but this time Dave was with her. She had never before been in a situation like this, where she had to be interrogated. It always had been her demanding the answers, so she knew all the interrogation techniques.
"Ma'am, were you aware your husband was having an affair with the victim?"
"You have to be fucking kidding me!?" Emily responded glaring at the detective. This had to be a joke, it was a nightmare and soon she would wake up from it.
"Emily just answer the questions, they are trying to their job." Dave said, trying to comfort her. He was just as mad as she was, but he knew they needed to act in a calm manner.
"Did you have any suspicions that your husband was having an affair?"
"No, I didn't." Emily lied, knowing that if she mentioned any of the arguments she and Aaron had it would only make it worse for him. She tried to act as collected and serious as she could, although she felt like screaming inside.
"What time did your husband get home last night?"
"Nine, I think…I can't be sure."
"Was this usual, did he always get home that late?"
"No." Emily said, swallowing and keeping eye contact with the detective. "He's usually home by six, but there was a meeting with the Director."
"That's what he told you, but we both know that was a lie."
"Go fuck yourself!" Emily bit back unable to control herself.
"How many times in the past few months have you and your husband engaged in an argument?"
"This is bullshit!" Emily said angrily. "You're down here playing games with me, while whoever killed that woman is out there." She said, standing up shoving the files away.
"Emily, you need to calm down, honey." Dave interjected.
"Are you listening to this idiot?" She said furiously. "Why does any of this matter? This is completely irrelevant."
"I know that, honey, but we need to cooperate with them, okay? It's all a misunderstanding, the sooner you answer the questions the sooner we can help Aaron."
"We haven't had any arguments." She stated, looking at the detective with piercing eyes.
"You are telling me you guys never argued about anything? You must have a one of a kind marriage."
"We have disagreements like most couples, again, why does that matter?"
"Can you tell me what the arguments were about?"
"I can't remember."
"You can't remember?"
"Jesus, I don't know, are you married?" She asked, raising her voice again. "Couples fight about the most stupid shit...he forgot to take the dog out, he was late for our son's soccer game. What does this have to do with anything?"
"Were you aware there was a rumor going around the office that your husband was having an affair with the victim?"
"No, I wasn't." Emily said, biting her lip so hard she almost drew blood.
"Were you also aware your husband had a confrontation with the victim yesterday before she was found dead?"
That put Emily off guard, she wasn't expecting that at all.
"What?" She asked, her mind beginning to blur again.
"A witness stated your husband and the victim were having a severe argument right before she left the office."
Emily turned to Dave aghast without knowing what to say, this was becoming too much, and she didn't think she could continue.
"That doesn't mean anything." She stated forcibly…this wasn't good, was Aaron actually hiding something from her?
"That gives us motive."
"No it doesn't. That's just circumstantial evidence. It doesn't support anything."
"No, but this does." The detective replied placing a file in front of her.
"What is that?"
"Why don't you take a look yourself?"
Emily started looking through the file with shaky hands. Her eyes grew wide, and her heart stopped beating.
"I don't know what this is." She said blinking.
"That's Miss Clemmons` Last Will and Testament." The detective replied, picking up a piece of paper and handing it to her.
"Miss Clemmons named your husband her full beneficiary just a week ago."
This time Emily didn't have any answers. She took the paper in her hands, her eyes clouding in front of her, it was like the world had stopped moving.
"Can you explain to me why your husband was named a full beneficiary if he wasn't sleeping with her?"
"I...c-can't...I don't..." She stammered looking at Dave in horror.
"I think we need a break." He stated reaching for Emily and leading her out of the room.
"I need some air...I just can't…I…c-can't breathe." She choked out, tears already clinging to her eyelashes. Dave wrapped his arm around her waist and lead her outside the police station.
"Why don't you sit down for a second, honey."
"Please tell me this is a dream, Dave…
this is not happening."
"Honey, just breathe, okay."
Meanwhile, Aaron was being interrogated in a separate room.
"I need to speak to my wife, I need to let her know that I'm alright."
"Your wife is down the hall being interrogated, she knows you're fine." The older detective replied indifferently taking a seat in front of him.
"I want a phone call; I need to call my lawyer."
"Are you saying you're confessing to a crime."
"You can't keep me here, I have rights. I'm a federal agent. You don't think I know how this works?"
"We have seventy-two hours before we officially have to charge you with a crime."
"I need to talk to your supervisor." Aaron demanded.
"Do you at least want to hear the evidence we have against you?"
"It doesn't matter, it's either a mistake, or I'm being framed."
"Do you recognize this?" The detective said, placing the pictures of Beth's crime scene in front of him.
"Did someone kill her?" Aaron asked in shock while looking at the pictures in horror.
"Not someone, Agent Hotchner…you did."
"Have you lost your mind? " Hotch asked incredulously.
"The medical examiner determined the time of death was around 7:05 P.M. A shot to the head and multiple stab wounds."
"I didn't do this; I didn't touch her…why would I do something like that. I'm the Deputy Director of the FBI."
"I'll tell you why." The detective said coldly. "You were having an affair with her, your wife found out and you thought it would be easy to kill her." Hotch laughed, he really didn't mean to, it was a natural reflex.
"Is this funny, Agent Hotchner? You killed someone and you think this is a joke?"
"I didn't kill anyone, I'm being framed, whoever wants me here has something bigger planned. You need to do your job."
"We are doing our job, Agent, that's why we arrested you."
"You obviously suck at your job if you think I did this."
"Here's the deal, Agent Hotchner, we're just waiting on the lab results to match your DNA, and when they do, you will be tried and sentenced to life without parole. Are you sure you don't want to cooperate with us?"
"I have nothing to cooperate, I didn't do this." He repeated.
"Tell me something, Agent Hotchner, did you decide to kill her when your wife found out, or before she did?"
"I didn't kill her!" He said angrily. "What could l possible gain by killing her?"
"It's simple…money." Now, Hotch was laughing fully.
"You seem to be having a lot of fun for someone who is about to be charged with murder."
"You seem like a smart guy." Hotch said. "Tell me what makes you think I would kill someone for money?"
"It's simple." The detective said, placing another file in front of him…"One million dollars."
"What?"
"Miss Clemmons life insurance was a million dollars."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Because it's such a coincidence you happen to be her only beneficiary."
"This is a mistake...someone forged this document...this is a lie…someone is trying to set me up." He replied astonished, looking at the document in front of him.
"Do you want to continue lying, Agent Hotchner? We have enough evidence to prosecute you and now this gives us motive. I will make sure you get the death penalty."
"I need to talk to a lawyer." Hotch stated.
"Fine, have it your way." The detective said, gathering all his files and leaving Hotch alone again.
Hotch ran a hand through his hair frustrated…why the hell was the team taking so long to get him out. And why had Chauvin not made a statement giving him an alibi? That was all he needed to prove he wasn't there at the time Beth was killed.
The door opened again, and this time it was a guard.
"You have ten minutes." He stated, letting Dave and Emily in the room.
"Honey." Hotch said, trying to reach for her fighting against the restraints. "This is a mistake, I promise you. Everything is going to be okay."
"We called Lewis Davenport" Emily said attempting her best to remain calm despite the fact that she was collapsing inside. Lewis Davenport was Dave's best friend and their family lawyer. One of the best attorneys in the city.
"I don't know why they're accusing me of this. They're setting me up, Emily." He reached for her hands. "But I swear to you they're making a mistake; as soon as they talk to Chauvin and get his statement about the meeting, I'll file a lawsuit against them." He vowed. Emily pulled her hands from his looking away briefly unable to stop the tears.
"What's wrong?"
"Aaron." She started, choking on her own words.
" I love you more than anything in this world, and I'm willing to do anything it takes to get you out of here...even if I have to reach out to my mother..." But, there was a but…he could see it coming.
"I just need you to be absolutely honest with me. I need to ask you a question, and I need you to tell me the truth." She said, wiping away the tears that had rolled out of her eyes.
"What is it, Emily?"
"Were you having an affair with Beth?" She asked, looking at him.
"Are you fucking serious?" He asked angrily. "How could you ask me that right now?"
"Aaron, calm down, just listen." Dave advised.
"Like I said, I love you and I'll do anything for you; if you made a mistake and you did something with her, I'm willing to forgive you and move on, but..."
"I did not have an affair with her, Emily, dammit!" He said loudly, banging his fist on the table making her and Dave jump. "I can't believe you're doing this to me right now."
Emily began crying fully now, this was too much, and she just wanted to run away and disappear.
"Where were you yesterday?" She asked in a firm tone, glaring at him.
"I was at a meeting with Chauvin, I've told you that a thousand times!" He said exasperated.
Emily just shook her head, disappointed.
"Chauvin just gave his statement, Aaron." She said with her voice full of tears. "There wasn't a meeting, you weren't with him yesterday."
"He is obviously lying...they're setting me up, for God's sake...how can you think I would kill someone?"
"Can you explain to me why you're Beth's beneficiary in her Will?"
"I cant, because this is the first time I've heard of it...someone is setting me up...I didn't kill her...I swear to you on my kids…"
"No, I know that." She said, wiping her eyes. "I know you're not a killer, but if you had an affair with her and you don't come out clean…."
"I didn't have affair with her!" Aaron shouted. "Do you really think I would sleep with my subordinate?"
"You slept with me." Emily responded as more tears rolled down her cheeks.
"That's not fair."
"Maybe it's not, but it happened. They have a witness that heard you argue with your lover before she was found dead, so when you decide to tell me the truth, let me know." With that, Emily stood up walking away from him.
"What? What are you talking about? Come back in here, Emily." Aaron shouted. "Dammit! I didn't do this, Emily, you have to believe me!" He pleaded frantically.
"Aaron, calm down." Dave urged, hoping all the commotion didn't get the attention of the security guards."
This is bullshit, Dave, someone's setting me up." He was furious. "Chauvin is lying, I was with him yesterday...have Garcia pull the footage from Bureau Security."
"She already has, Aaron." Dave said sadly.
"It's gone?" He guessed, feeling like the floor was being pulled out from under him.
"The footage shows you leaving the office at six p.m."
"I only went to get my briefcase for the meeting. Someone is doing this, Dave, I didn't kill her, you have to believe me."
"I know you didn't." His best friend replied sadly. "But without an alibi and with the evidence they have, they can charge you with murder."
"Its a shame that the very people who you protect are the first ones to turn there backs on you. " -Autumn Kohler
