I do not own Criminal Minds or any of its characters. Just a big fan.
Chapter 6
J.J. looked around the room. Morgan, Rossi, Prentiss, and Hotch were all deep in thought. "Okay," she said, "so what do we know about this case six months ago?"
"I can help with that." Garcia's voice came through the speaker phone sitting on the conference room desk. "Six months ago the Zamon family was found murdered in their own home. And, you guessed it, father was shot twice in the head, the rest of the family stabbed. One boy, one girl. Woodinville PD were able to lift a print from the scene that belonged to Randy Mchale. Mr. Mchale has a long rap sheet, and I mean long. Juvenile offenses include breaking and entering, grand theft auto, assault, and that's just his juvenile record. As an adult he's been convicted of two DUI's and soliciting a prostitute. Woodinville PD picked up Mchale in his Woodinville home. When he got to the police station he waived his right to an attorney, confessed to the murder, and later pleaded guilty to four counts of first degree murder. He was quickly sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at Washington State Prison. Wait…this is interesting."
Hotch looked at the speaker phone. "What is it Garcia?"
"Sir, it looks like Randy Mchale was put in solitary confinement last week at the prison. Apparently he got into a fight with another inmate when he was accused of not really murdering the Zamon family."
"He assaulted another inmate to defend himself as the killer?" Morgan asked.
Reid walked into the room. "It could just be a survival technique. In prison, inmates feel the need to appear tough at all times to protect themselves from other violent inmates. If someone thought he wasn't a murderer, he would have done anything to prove otherwise. I don't think that tells us anything about whether he was truly guilty or not."
"Or maybe it does," Rossi interrupted, "This is a man who so desperately wants the world to believe he murdered the Zamon family that he's willing to piss off a violent inmate in prison and be thrown into solitary confinement. This isn't about protecting himself, he's protecting the real unsub."
"But why?" J.J. asked. "Why would someone take a fall like that for someone?"
"That's what we need to find out." Hotch looked at Reid. "Any progress with Josselyn?" Reid set the papers he was holding onto the conference room table.
"Look at these drawings. First we have a man in all black with red eyes holding a knife. Obviously our unsub, although it tells us nothing about his true identity. Then a picture of what I believe to be her family. A man and a woman standing with their two children in front of a house. But look at the father's shirt. Long sleeves, blue, and a gold shoulder. I could be wrong, but I think she's trying to draw a police uniform."
Morgan looked at the picture. "Her father is a cop? Well, maybe he's worked with our unsub. Garcia, look at any police officers in the area that have left the police force within the last year. Look at everything, resignations, officers that were fired, and officers that were forced out. Pay special attention to anyone with a family."
"You got it. Give me a minute and I'll call you back. Garcia out."