I do not own Criminal Minds or any of its characters. Just a big fan.

Short Chapter

Chapter 5

"How's Reid doing? Is the girl talking?" Hotch asked his team. Prentiss looked up from her paperwork.

"Not yet. But Hotch, listen to this. Garcia did a background check on everyone at Woodinville PD. At first glance, they're clean as a whistle. Dig a little deeper and, well, you take a look." Prentiss handed Hotch the paperwork.

"I don't get it. No criminal backgrounds. What's the problem?"

"Criminal backgrounds are just the first page. Look on the second." Hotch flipped through the papers. "See the homicide cases Detective Miller was working on? Anything look familiar?" Hotch's eyes narrowed. Morgan and Rossi looked at each other. Hotch was pissed.

"Excuse me." Hotch walked across the police station, his stack of paperwork still in his hands. He saw Detective Miller through the window of his office. Hotch didn't bother to knock. Miller looked up as Hotch barged in.

"Can I help you, Agent?" The detective's voice was irritated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did my barging in bother you? Does that make you angry? What do you do when you're angry Detective? Take it out on innocent people?" Hotch stared at Detective Miller accusingly. Detective Miller returned the look.

"I am irritated because I asked the FBI for help and you come and accuse one of my men of committing the crimes! And yes, I'm getting a little more angry because now it sounds like you're accusing me!" Detective Miller stood up from his desk and stared at Hotch. Hotch threw down the papers on the detective's desk.

"Why didn't you tell us you were working on a case identical to this one six months ago?" Hotch's lips tightened.

A look of surprise came over Detective Miller's face. Then, anger. "Because that case was solved, Agent. The man that committed the crime is currently serving a life sentence in Washington State Prison."

Agent Hotcher didn't buy it. "And you expect me to believe he's guilty for the crime he's been committed of?" Detective Miller let out a short, condescending laugh.

"Did you even look at the case, Agent Hotchner? Overwhelming physical evidence."

Hotch stared at the detective. "We all know evidence can be planted. Especially if the real killer knows what to plant to make the crime scene investigators think someone else is guilty."

Detective Miller walked across his office and poured himself a drink. "You're the profiler, Agent Hotchner. You care to tell me why the man we caught confessed his crime to the police if he didn't do it?"