Title: Power Play
Rating: R
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Universe: Creatures of the Night (Part 1)
Pairing: Morgan/Prentiss; JJ/Hotch
Genre: Supernatural/Drama
Summary: Tensions are running high when a vampire joins the BAU, but all differences must be put aside as the team investigate a series of suspicious werewolf murders. AU.
Author's Notes: Betaed by Windy City Dreamer. Some guest beta work from Yellow Smurf

Chapter Forty-Two

David Rossi knocks on the door to Erin Strauss' office. There's a sheet of paper in his hand – an arrest warrant for one Senator Richard Owens. They have no intention of using the warrant. They just need Strauss to think that they're going to arrest Owens for the murder of fourteen werewolves.

'David,' she says, her voice taking on a tone that seems to be warm and yet cold at the same time. 'Come in.'

He lays the sheet of paper on her desk, and watches as the gears roll. She has a carefully constructed look of surprise, as if she really hadn't been aware of Owens's involvement, or rather, lack thereof.

'We need your signature so we can put Owens away for good,' he tells her, putting his characteristic dramatic flair on the words. 'All of these murders coincide with the Senator's campaign trail. He was in every one of those cities when the respective murders took place. He hasn't confessed, but we're confident that he fits our profile.' The campaign trail data is something that they'd discovered after the fact, but by that time, they had already been at the point where nothing was going to convince them of Owens's guilt.

David Rossi is hoping like hell that they're right.

She makes a show of reading over the paper, and then signs it without argument. He figures if she really hadn't been involved, she probably would have made a little more fuss about the prospect of them arresting the man slated to be the next President.

That's politics for you.

She hands the paper back with a smile. He thanks her, and bids his farewell.

As he leaves, he can see her picking up the phone out of the corner of his eye.

***

They've just finished setting up the wiretap, when a second white blur zips into the room. Emily's not surprised to find the fairy landing on her shoulder.

'I didn't think you'd be interested in BAU politics,' she says drily.

'You kidding?' the fairy asks her. 'A chance to watch the wicked witch go down? Wouldn't miss it for the world.'

In spite of herself, she smiles. 'Guys, this is Kevin. He does IT for Internal Affairs.'

'And he's also the guy that signed off on your wiretap. I owe you nothing now, you hear me? Nothing.'

She rolls her eyes. 'It's a wiretap,' she says. 'A fully legitimate wiretap. It's not as though I asked you to do anything illegal, or immoral. Like hack into DHHS databases.'

'Oh. Cold.' He hovers about her shoulder for a bit, before flying over to the desk to stand next to Garcia. 'Hi.'

'What exactly did you do for him?' Morgan asks softly, watching as the two fairies introduce themselves.

'He hacked into the DHHS database, I caught him. Got him a job with the FBI instead of sending him off to the coal mines.'

'Oh! She's making a call,' says Garcia from the desk, tapping a key to start recording.

'This is Randall.'

'Randall, Strauss here. I have news.'

'I saw the headlines, Erin. Owens's approval ratings are already starting to go down. Slowly, sure, but they're going down.'

'They'll go down pretty quickly now, Randall. I just signed a warrant for Richard Owens's arrest.'

The man named Randall gives a low laugh. 'Excellent.'

'I've carried out my end of the bargain, Randall.'

'Yes, yes. As soon as Cutner is inducted, you'll get your promotion. I've no doubt you'll be heading up the Bureau in no time.'

The two exchange pleasantries that sound anything but pleasant, before the call is terminated.

'Randall,' says Hotch. 'Look him up, Garcia.'

'Like the wind, bossman.' There's nothing but the sound of tapping for a few seconds, and then. 'Philip Randall, campaign manager for one Timothy Cutner. Financial records have fourteen payments of fifty-thousand dollars made to various accounts.'

Morgan frowns. 'Wouldn't he have hidden those transactions a little better?'

'He was unaware of my hacking kung-fu,' says Garcia, with some pride. 'They were hidden. I unhid them.'

He grins. 'That's my girl.'