Stars | Aaron Hotchner

15

As we pulled up to the house, we all got out of our cars.
 
     "Charles? Are you sure about this?" The sheriff asked.

     "Born and raised in Ozona, knows the territory, and works around children," Reid said.

     "He injected himself into the investigation," Morgan stated.

     "Has anything happened in the last six months that would have changed his life?" Aaron asked.

     "His wife walked out on him and his kid." The sheriff said.

     "There's your stressor," Rossi said.

     "Guys, he's on the move," Prentiss said. We all looked over at James who was walking to his truck.

     "Mr. Charles," Morgan yelled from the driveway. James started to run, and Morgan chased after him with the rest of the team behind him. Prentiss, Reid, and I ran around the other side of the house to corner him. As we approached James, Morgan tackled him to the ground.

     "Why are you running?" Morgan said, taking the bag from James's hands. He opened the zipper and pulled out a bright red hat.

     "This was Nicholas's Faye's. He was wearing it when he got murdered." Morgan said, holding the hat up.

     "Get up," Morgan said, handcuffing James. He dragged James to the police car and tucked him in the back seat.

     Once we returned to the station, Morgan entered the interrogation room with James.

     "I could stand here and tell you what I think you were doing in Finnegan's house for the last two weeks, or you could do us all a favor and sign a confession," Morgan said, holding a pen.

     "I never stepped inside Finnegan's house," James said, looking up at Morgan.

   "Your fingerprints are all over the trays of food," Morgan said, circling the room.

     "Of course you did. My son and I deliver them every week. The church delivers food to the local elderly." He said. Morgan turned and grabbed Nicholas's bright red hat off a shelf.

     "What are you doing with Nicholas Feye's hat?" Morgan asked, slamming the hat down on the table. "Trying to dispose of it? Or were you so proud of your keepsake that you wanted to find a nice place to hide it?" Morgan paused. "Why did your wife leave you?"

     I turned and walked away, thinking.

     "James's son Jeffery never arrived at school today. Said he was sick." JJ said, walking into the room. My phone rang, turning my attention away from JJ.

     "Gideon."

     "We found an EpiPen, and all the dairy products in the fridge were duct-taped," Reid spoke through the phone.

     "He has an allergy," I said, hanging up. I walked past Aaron into the interrogation room. "Can I have a word with him, Agent Morgan?" I asked, holding the door open. Morgan turned out of the room and I shut the door behind him. I walked over to the coffee pot in the corner of the room.

    "Sorry for the rough day," I said, pouring coffee into a cup. "Coffee?" I asked politely.

     "Cream and sugar?" I asked.

     "Please." I made the coffee and handed it to him. I sat in front of him as he took a sip.

     "How long have you known?" I asked. This is the only explanation.

     "Known what?" He asked.

     "That your son is a murderer," I said. He scoffed in return.