To Solve

Chapter 4: The Fox

Dr Thomas Fuller wrote,

"With foxes, we must play the fox."

This morning, Hotch's wife Hayley, was visiting Hotch with their son Jack.

"He's so gorgeous," said JJ.

She, Garcia and Parker were completely entranced by the baby that was currently in Hotch's arms. It was one of those rare moments when Hotch genuinely smiled.

"Thank you."

"If you find baldness and wrinkles attractive," Spencer said.

Parker rolled their eyes and lightly punched Spencer in the upper arm.

They knew Spencer wasn't ready to talk about kids just yet. Likewise, Spencer knew that Parker really wanted some in some years.

"Look at his little widdy biddy nose."

"He's so cute," Parker said to the new parents.

"Thanks," Hayley said.

"She's amazing. I'm a little terrified," Hotch said.

Hotchs wife looked at her husband, bevor she turned back to Parker.

"Would you like to hold him?", Hayley asked Parker.

The young Agent froze and looked from Hayley to Hotch, who nodded.

Parker repeatedly asked if Hotch and Hayley were really okay with that– Parker was twelve the last time they held a baby and they didn't want to do hurt Jack.

"Of course", assured Hotch.

A Moment later little Jack was safely in Parkers arms.

Garcia and JJ smiled at the sight. They could very well picture Parker as a parent, young as they were.

And even Spencer had to admit that the idea of becoming a father wasn't so far-fetched anymore.

~~

Shortly thereafter, the Team gathered in the meeting room. The boards with the crime scene photos were already set up.

"Crawford family. Murdered three days ago," Gideon began this time.

"I saw it on the news."

"They were found in the basement of their house."

"Bags packed for a vacation they never took," JJ continued.

"Reporter said it was a murder-suicide? The father stabbed them all and then shot himself?"

"That's the conclusion Maryland State Police came to. The gun was found next to the father, he had gunpowder residue on his right hand."

"And now you must have some compelling reason to think that Chris Crawford didn't off his family?"

"Yeah. Another murdered family, the Millers, found a month ago. The mother, Reese Miller, her two children and her new husband. Again, they were found in the basement, and like the Crawfords, their suitcases were packed for a vacation."

"Both cases, the bodies were discovered five days after their vacations were supposed to have started. "

"Yet the coroner determined that they had been dead only 24 hours."

"So, for four days both families remained in the house."

"Location of the bodies in both cases, the basement. That indicates a level of organization."