"Thank you for coming in, Mr. Williams." It was later in the morning and JJ was in an interview room seated across the table from the widower. "We realize that this is extremely difficult for you."
The obviously grief stricken man rubbed a hand across his face. "Anything I can do to help catch the monster who killed my wife – Anything!" he assured the agent. "What do you want to know?"
"In your statement you said that your wife was on her way home from work and stopped to pick up a pizza," JJ reminded him. "Did she do that often?"
"Two or three times a month," was the reply. "With both of us working and with all the activities the kids are involved in, it saved time getting dinner ready for the family."
"Then this wasn't something she did on a regular basis?" JJ pursued. "It wasn't anything someone could count on?"
"No," Mr. Williams replied. "It depended on what was going on at her work, what the kids had on their schedules, whether I was available - A multitude of possibilities. And, sometimes, she was just too tired to make dinner."
"She never mentioned or complained about anyone watching her or following her or bothering her in any way?" JJ continued her questions.
"No – Never! That's what is so awful about this. It was like someone just swooped down from the sky and carried her off – And then when they found her - " the man broke down in tears.
"Just tell me one thing," he pleaded with JJ. "Was my wife abducted and tortured by little green men from outer space? Like that guy on the television said."
"We don't know who took your wife," JJ replied. "But, I can promise you that whoever it is, we will do our best to catch them."
Outside the observation window, Sheriff Larkin turned to Hotch. "What do think?" he questioned.
"Probably the same thing you do," Hotch replied. "He isn't our man."
Hotch's interview with Dr. Snow ("It is Dr.," he had reminded Hotch), took place later that day during the latter's lunch break.
"I know this seems strange, but I believe in work therapy," the man explained. "I hope that if I keep myself busy I won't have to think about what happened to her – To my Ruth." He sniffled.
"I understand this may be difficult for you to talk about," Hotch commiserated with him. "But, I do need to ask you some questions."
"I already gave my statement to the police – Several times," Dr. Snow was sniffling into a handkerchief he had pulled out. "But, go ahead."
"Your wife was shopping when she was abducted," Hotch observed. "Did she go to that particular mall often?"
"I really don't know," was the reply. "She handled everything around the house and I never asked any questions. Maybe the kids can tell you."
"She never complained about someone bothering her or following her or anything like that?" Hotch clarified.
"Not to me," the researcher told him. "And, I don't think she said anything to the kids either. One of them would have mentioned it when we were interviewed by the police."
"One more question," Hotch continued. "You said you were working in one of the laboratory's fields that afternoon. Can you tell me which one?"
"Am I a suspect? I already told the sheriff's deputy where I was," the response came quickly.
"I'm just curious," Hotch replied. "I don't know anything about medicinal plants and was wondering what you are currently researching."
"Oh – Okay," the man appeared to be mollified. "I was in the far field where we are currently growing black nightshade. I am hoping to prove that it can be used to provide a commercially viable medication for the treatment of colitis and other digestive problems."
"That sounds interesting," Hotch observed. "Is there anyone you can think of who might be interested in sabotaging your research?"
"There are some colleagues who might be a little envious," the researcher admitted. "I have been making good progress. But, they would never go to the lengths involved in kidnapping and murdering my wife just to interfere with my research. The culprit must be whoever or whatever is responsible for those flying saucer things - The little green men or whoever it is your expert has been talking about."
After Hotch had made arrangements for Dr. Snow to be escorted out of the sheriff's office, he turned to JJ. "There's something off there," he told her.
She nodded in agreement. "Let's see if Garcia has found anything," she suggested as she took out her cell phone.
"And, again, the little green men," Hotch continued with a glare. "It would appear that our esteemed 'colleague', Dr. Hayward, has been speaking with the press. We need to put a stop to that before he upsets the entire population of this area!"