Criminal Minds Series Rewrite: Season Four

Demonology: Part Two

"What happened?"

"I think there may be a third victim. We have ligature marks, the Spain connection, and scuff marks under the bed," Emily says.

"Y/N?"

"All I saw were five people in Patrick's room all dressed like priests. Three of them were physically holding Patrick down while one of them performed the exorcism. There isn't evidence to show foul intention. It looked like a real exorcism."

"Hotch, it's weird, but there's no way to physically connect dehydration, a heart attack, and an aneurysm," Derek says.

Hotch looks at the ground in thought, and his eyebrows furrow in concern.

"What's going on?"

"We've had a complaint. JJ's trying to smooth it over with DC police, but we haven't been invited to the case."

Hotch leaves and Emily turns to Derek with anger in her eyes.

"That's how you have my back?"

"Prentiss, I'm trying to protect you."

"I don't need protection."

"Hotch just said he got a complaint, and he didn't come down on you. Do you realize that? You just dodged a bullet. We have to approach this just like we do any other case."

"Emily, you're too close to this case."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"You're grieving over your friend dying. You want to see a connection where there may be none."

"That woman couldn't even use Patrick's name. She could only say, 'my fiancé' because she's convinced something else died in that room that night."

It's the way she said it that has you shocked.

"Emily!"

She walks away without another word. Hotch is watching from his office where Rossi is also, and you walk over to them to talk about Emily's behavior. You haven't talked to Emily directly about this, but you've been observing her the whole day. There is something she is hiding about all of this and she won't get anywhere if she doesn't come clean about it.

"Can I talk to you both?" you ask and knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Look, Emily is desperate for answers about her friend. He died and she won't accept that it could have been a heart attack. I'm really worried about her."

"Keep an eye on her. You can read her better than I can," Hotch says.

"You got it."

"As far as the police are concerned, there is no open murder investigation," JJ says and walks into the office. "We have no reason to be investigating if they're not."

"They're right. All we have are three men who died of three very different natural causes."

"We're just going to drop it?" Rossi asks. "Y/N says she saw five people performing an exorcism."

"Dave, do you really believe we're dealing with someone trying to exorcize demons?"

"It doesn't matter what I believe. Possession, mental illness, exorcist, unsub? Who cares what's true? People are dying."

"He's right, Hotch. This isn't about religion. It's about evil. We attack it with analysis and diligence. I think we should be looking at the churches."

"All hail the mistress of information," Penelope announces her presence. "I got a posting from a web bulletin board by Matthew Benton to create a support group for people who felt betrayed by their faith."