"We wanted to put something definitive down for the record, but the conditions were two friends talking one-on-one. It makes it a revealing, honest interchange of feelings and thoughts that no interview would have been capable of doing." – William Shatner
Hotch pulled into a little driveway that already held a green Dodge Neon and a red Ford truck. The Millers were home which was a good thing considering that neither JJ nor Hotch had called ahead. The house was a one story cottage like clapboard, the kind that was built quickly and in great number. The small lawn was neat and there were flower beds under the windows. The house appeared clean and well kept but outside appearances could be deceiving. JJ rang the door bell as they stood close together on the small porch. Sounds of shuffling could be heard from inside before the door was answered by a short thin woman with fiery red hair and a slightly fussy baby boy with equally red hair on her hip.
"Can I help you?" she asked looking each of them over.
"Mrs. Miller, I'm agent Hotchner, this is agent Jareau. We're from the F.B.I. would it be possible to ask you a few questions?" Hotch introduced them and showed her his badge.
"Alright," she stood back and held open the door for them to enter. "Please wipe your feet" she stepped off the entry rug to close the door.
"Who's there Jen?" a male voice called from beyond the corner next to the door as Hotch and JJ complied with Mrs. Miller's request.
"The F.B.I. are here, they need to ask a few questions" she leaned a bit to the side so she wouldn't have to shout around the corner. "Would you care to sit in the living room?" She asked turning back to them.
"Yes thank you. Could you get your husband to join us, it would be helpful if he could answer some questions too." JJ took the lead for the moment.
Mrs. Miller nodded and lead them around the corner into the living room. It was a good size and held a couch and loveseat set along with a lazy boy chair and TV entertainment section. Along one wall was a double bookcase with one side holding books and the other a sizeable DVD collection. Beyond that they could glimpse a kitchen and the far wall lead to another hallway with four doors.
"Please sit I'll get Doug," Mrs. Miller gestured with one hand to the couch and shifted the baby boy with the other. She walked to the hall and stopped at the first door on the right. "Doug could you join us?"
"Sure," the male voice from before answered and they could hear a chair moving and papers being pushed about. A few moments later a tall man with brown hair and beard stepped out of the room. The baby started fussing again when he saw the man. "Let me for a bit" he reached out for the baby and took him from Mrs. Miller. Together they walked back towards Hotch and JJ, taking a seat diagonal from them on the loveseat. Doug bounced the baby on his knee and stopped the fussing.
"Mr. and Mrs. Miller we are looking into the recent deaths in the area and have a few questions about Jorden Cross" Hotch started.
"We know this may be a bit hard for you but we need you to answer as honestly as you can. Anything could help us even if you think it's not that important" JJ followed Hotch's lead.
"Please call us Jen and Doug. We'd like to help but there really isn't much we can tell you. We talked to the police after they told us about Jorden but there really isn't much more we have thought since then." Doug looked at Hotch when he spoke, continuing to bounce the baby.
"We understand, we'll make this brief." Hotch nodded as he spoke.
"When was the last time you saw your brother Jen?" JJ asked starting the interview.
"About two weeks before he…before he died."
"Was there anything you noticed that was different about him? The way he was acting? Anything strange going on around you, something that made you feel uneasy?"
"No. It was one of the nicer times actually. I know Jorden was exactly the, the best guy but he was my brother. He tried to be his best around us. Especially after we had Connor, but he just couldn't seem to get his life together. We had lunch at a small café in town. He bought a book for Connor, wanted to drop it off."
"So you didn't notice if there was anyone unusual hanging around, paying attention to you or Jorden?"
"No, nothing. Why?"
"Did Jorden have any enemies, anyone who thought he might have owed them?"
"No, well besides the obvious people he got into trouble with. Do you think someone wanted revenge for one of…of the crimes he committed?" Jen reached over and took one of her husband's hands. Doug gave it a gentle squeeze.
"What about you Doug? When was the last time you saw Jorden?" JJ continued sounding concerned yet stern at the same time.
"I ran into him at the Home depot about a week before. He didn't seem any different to me."
"Could you tell us what he was buying?" Hotch cut in.
"Some screws and what looked like one of those rod things from the flush valve from a toilet tank." Hotch gave him a look at the items he listed. "Used to do some plumbing, those break easy." Doug explained. Hotch nodded.
"We believe that Jorden was stalked for a short time before he was killed. You shouldn't worry about the stalker watching you however. The clear and only target was Jorden. Was there anything at all you can think of, anything recent that Jorden did that might have gotten him unwanted attention. Did he get into any trouble recently that was worse than usual?" JJ urged hoping for a clue.
"Nothing, he seemed to be in one of his good times. He just moved into a new hotel, he had a job lined up at the local grocery store" the baby, Connor started to fuss again interrupting Jen.
"Sorry," Doug looked down at his son and switching the boy to the other knee began bouncing him again.
"It's alright, I think we're done. Thank you for your time and answering our questions." Hotch stood and JJ followed suit.
"Of course, let me show you out." Jen got up and walked with them back to the door. "You will catch who did this won't you? I know Jorden was no angel but he didn't deserve what happened to him. He was trying" Jen looked hopefully at them.
"We will do your best, we're sorry for your loss. If you think of anything else please call us at the police station" JJ handed Jen a card and she and Hotch went out the door. They walked back to the SUV and once inside JJ pulled out her phone and the list of victim's families. "That wasn't much different from what was in the police report." JJ sighed as she took a pen and put a check next to the Miller's name.
"No but it did tell us something. Jorden was attempting to stay on the right side of the law; the other victims had just gotten into trouble. That makes him slightly different from the rest. So who do we have next?" Hotch started the SUV and pulled out of the drive way.
JJ looked over the list and pointed to a name. Ms. Jamisen. She's the mother to victim number two, Christopher Jamisen." JJ opened her phone and called Garcia for directions again and within minutes they were on their way to the opposite end of town.
(Sorry for the wait, been out of town on holiday and unable to get to a decent computer. We're getting into identifying all the victims so if you get confused and would like a posted list please let me know. More to come soon. Feel free to review.)