A Love Like No Other - Aaron Hotchner

Crossing Lines

The air in the bullpen was thick with tension. We had captured Kepler's pawn, a scared man named Greg Timmons who seemed more like a marionette than an accomplice. Still, the fact that he was out here taking orders from Kepler told me something vital: Kepler's reach extended beyond the prison walls. It made every conversation i'd had with Lynn echo hollowly in my mind. Had she ever really been free of his grip, or was i fooling myself all along?

That thought wouldn't leave me. Hotch had told me not to let Kepler's control over Lynn feel like my failure, but the doubt was ever-present. It was as if every unresolved trauma and hidden scar were resurfacing, threatening to drag me under.

Greg's face was pale and beaded with sweat as we led him into the interrogation room. He was shaky, terrified, and for good reason. The man knew that cooperating with the FBI was his only chance, but he was also keenly aware that Kepler had a long reach - and an even longer memory.

Hotch and i shared a brief look before entering the room. He was steady, as always, his eyes reflecting the focus and clarity he brought to every interrogation. The kind of focus i desperately wished i could mirror right now. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and walked in after him.

Greg flinched at the sound of the door closing. He couldn't meet our eyes, focusing instead on the table between us. It felt like the walls of the room were pushing in on us, amplifying his unease.

Hotch started the questioning with his typical, calm authority. "Greg, we're not here to hurt you," he said. "But we need you to understand that if you don't help us, you're going to be the one who takes the fall."

Greg swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "I-I didn't know what he was planning," he stammered. "He just said... he just said i had to be ready. That's all."

I couldn't help the frustration that crept into my voice. "Ready for what?" I pressed. "What does Kepler have planned?"

He flinched, like my words were physical blows. His eyes darted between Hotch and me, searching for any sign of leniency, any hint that we might let him off easy. But Hotch's gaze was unyielding, and i forced myself to remain still, to keep my expression neutral despite the anger simmering beneath the surface.

"I-I don't know exactly," Greg said, his voice shaking. "He just... he gave me these instructions, said i needed to keep an eye on certain people, report back if anything changed."

"Certain people?" Hotch asked, his voice carefully controlled. "Who?"

"Lynn Marsh," Greg said quietly. "And... her daughter."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Lily. Of course Kepler hadn't given up on controlling her too. He wanted to keep his claws in every part of their lives, even from prison.

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Greg's eyes flickered with something - regret, maybe, or fear of what he was about to say. "He said... he said if Lynn didn't come through for him, if she didn't prove her loyalty, then he'd have no choice but to go after the girl."

Hotch's jaw tightened, and i could see the muscles in his neck tense as he struggled to keep his composure. My stomach churned, a cold knot of dread forming as the reality of the situation sank in. Kepler was still trying to manipulate Lynn, using Lily as leverage to force her compliance.

"We can protect them," Hotch said, his voice steady. "But we need to know exactly what Kepler is planning."

Greg hesitated, his eyes darting to the door like he was considering making a run for it. But he must have known there was nowhere to go, nowhere safe. He was in too deep now.