Criminal Minds (2005–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - Profiler, Profiled - full transcript
Derek is arrested as a serial killer, and the team must delve into his secrets in order to free him.
- Nothing's happening.
- Shh. Watch.
What?
- I'm so sorry, Emily.
- What was that?
Don't you recognize a rocket
when you see one?
I was merely demonstrating
a physics law.
- I didn't mean to hit...
- Oh! Show me.
- All right. Uh, turn around, please.
- Turn around?
Yeah, he's not going to show you
how it's done.
- A magician doesn't reveal his secrets.
- I thought you said it was physics.
Physics magic.
Trust me, it will not do you any good
to argue with him.
All right. All right.
Turn back and observe.
- Physics magic?
- Yes, sir.
Reid, we talked about this.
I'm sorry, sir.
You're starting to get some
distance on those.
- So he does have a sense of humor?
- Sometimes.
Hey, where's Morgan?
Chicago. He goes there every year
for his mother's birthday.
You're sure she's got enough butter?
Now, you know, if Sarah doesn't put it
on the list, she doesn't need it.
- She doesn't make mistakes.
- Desiree.
Looking good. I mean, damn.
You're filling out all good
in all the right places, aren't you?
Step off, Rodney. Desi, get in the car.
- Come on, Derek.
- I said, get in the car.
That's okay, baby.
I'll get with you a little later, huh?
- Yeah, in your dreams.
- Most definitely.
All night long, baby girl.
You better step off before I make you
wish you never walked up on me.
Oh, what, you think you're a bad-ass
now because they pay you
to wear that gun, Mr. FBI?
Rodney, I proved a long time ago
I don't need a gun to take you out.
Past history? That's a dangerous thing
for you to count on, my friend.
Walk away.
- Desi, I'll get at you a little later.
- Go to hell.
Bitch.
You all right?
- He's just a fool.
- Come on. I'm taking you home.
There's something I got to do.
Blue 32. Blue 32. Set. Hut.
That was your man, James.
Way to run a route. Nice job.
Nice job. Come on, Damien.
You call that pass coverage?
You bite on the inside route
every damned time.
Okay, let's bring it in, boys.
Get your helmets. Let's go.
You pushed off on that last catch.
Man, you weren't close enough
to push off of. I blew you away.
- I could cover your ass all day long.
- Man, kiss it all day long.
- What? Come on.
- Come on.
Hey, hey, hey! Knock it off!
Knock it off! That's enough!
You did push off, James. On your
second cut with your inside hand.
- Damn right.
- Hey.
It's not the push off that beat you,
though. That's happening off the line.
- Who are you?
- What's up, Derek?
What's up, youngster?
I see you're still shaking and baking.
I get what I can.
Hey, Damien, this is Derek Morgan.
- The Derek Morgan?
- FBI Derek Morgan.
Just Derek, brother.
- Nice to meet you, man.
- Yeah.
Derek.
Get over there. Get over there.
Come on.
Take him with you. Get over there.
Hey! Get the hell out of here!
You want to mess with somebody?
Get out of here!
One, two, three.
Go ahead, mama.
- Did you make this yourself?
- Oh, Sarah helped me.
They wouldn't let me help,
so I don't know how good it'll taste.
Oh, no, no, you remember
that Christmas fiasco of 1994?
I remember that.
Whatever!
That was 12 years ago. Let it go!
No, no, no, we still get cards
from the fire department.
Mama, you see how they treat
your baby boy?
- You be good to your brother.
- What she said.
No, no, you got the "baby" part right,
at least.
Okay, you know what?
Okay, now. Okay, you better watch out.
- What? What? All right.
- No! Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.
Okay. Wish. Wish.
There it is.
Just like the others.
Stan.
I'm going to lock that son of a bitch up.
Shouldn't we call the powers that be?
This is big, Stan.
To hell with that!
What is it?
Here. It's a remote starter, Ma.
You hit that button right there,
and it starts your car
from inside the house.
Why would I do that?
So it's nice and warm
when you get in it.
Really?
Yeah, no more cold cars
in the winter, Mom.
- I would like one for Christmas.
- Not for that bucket you drive.
- Shut up.
- Get up out of here.
We miss you around here, baby.
I know.
Your sisters wish you were
around more.
You know the unit I work for is only
out of Virginia. You know that.
Well, you're careful, right?
I lost your dad. I can't lose you.
You won't.
Good, because you owe me
some grandbabies.
Oh, come on, Mom.
Oh, look at that, saved by the bell.
- A bunch of them!
- Oh, come on, Ma, stop!
What the hell?
- Gordinski?
- You armed?
- Excuse me?
- Are you wearing a gun?
- No, not right now.
- Then turn around.
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
Don't make us get physical.
It'll only make it worse for your family.
You're under arrest, Derek.
"All secrets are deep.
"All secrets become dark.
"That's in the nature of secrets."
Writer, Cory Doctorow.
You know, you better have
a real good reason
for doing that in front of my family.
You going to tell me the charges now?
Oh, I bet if you think real hard,
you'll be able to figure it out, Derek.
- Uncuff him.
- Agent Morgan.
You'll always be just Derek to me.
And you'll always be
a racist son of a bitch to me.
- Right, Derek, that's all it is.
- Then what, man?
Man, I should have done this
a long time ago.
- What the hell are you talking about?
- Sit down.
Oh, wow. There isn't going to be a hole
deep enough to bury your career.
What's wrong with you, man?
You know I'm an FBI agent.
Well, then you should be fairly aware
of your rights. You want a lawyer?
I'm not some punk kid
you can scare any more, Gordinski.
Tough guy, you want a lawyer?
Yes or no?
- I want a phone call.
- Local?
I need to call my supervisor at FBI
Headquarters in Quantico.
Agent Hotchner?
He's already getting a call.
There has to be a mistake.
Yes.
Of course. We're on our way.
This is SSA Hotchner.
I need an emergency recall
of Agents Reid, Prentiss, Jareau,
and Penelope Garcia as well.
Yes, I'll call him myself. Thank you.
Jason. It's Hotch. We've got to go
to Chicago. Morgan's been arrested.
Homicide. Right.
I can wait as long as you guys can.
Did you get some sleep?
- You know I didn't.
- Slept like a baby, myself.
Didn't even want to get out of bed.
Really? So that wasn't
your doughnut eating ass
on the other side of
that glass all night then, huh?
Here you go.
- You want the other ones?
- No, just this one right now.
Come on, man.
You got to be kidding me, right?
Pretend you went home and slept,
put an empty box with my name on it
on a table right in front of me?
The FBI invented this stuff,
you simple bastard. We teach it.
- What's this?
- Yesterday.
- You're following me?
- Whose grave is that?
- Why would you be following me?
- Whose grave?
- You know I don't know his name.
- You paid to bury him, didn't you?
- The neighborhood did.
- But you led the collection.
- So?
- And you visit him a lot.
Every time I come home.
Is there something wrong with that?
What? Do you got a crush on me
all of a sudden, Gordinski?
Okay, that's me at the youth center
tossing the ball around
with a couple of kids.
You did a little more than that.
This is about you giving
one of them a ride home.
- One of the boys.
- Yeah. Yeah, I did.
This kid named Damien.
His place was on the way
to my mother's.
So what, man?
Damien Walters. DOA.
Oh, no. Somebody killed him?
Not somebody, Derek.
You think I did this?
Special Agent Hotchner, FBI.
I'm looking for Detective Gordinski.
I got this, Chuck. How you guys doing?
I'm Wally Dennison, CPD.
Where's Agent Morgan?
Detective Gordinski's
in with the suspect now.
I need to see him.
When my partner's
finished talking to him.
I have your superintendent's
personal cell number.
And in the interest of not running
roughshod over another police agency,
I've resisted calling him so far.
I need to see Agent Morgan now.
I'll get Gordinski. He's the primary.
- I don't like them calling him a suspect.
- Me, neither.
You're the last person
anyone saw with my victim.
You recognize him?
Found in an alley four years ago.
Still unidentified. John Doe.
Just like that kid whose grave you
visit every time you come to Chicago.
- Another boy.
- Just after you left the city.
- This is crazy.
- No kidding.
Look man, Rodney Harris.
He's been following me around
ever since I got back to town.
Rodney Harris, the gangbanger?
Yeah, he was waiting for me
outside of a corner store.
He did that drive-by yesterday.
So you think this looks like something
a gangbanger did?
Is that how you'd advise me, Mr. FBI?
Stan.
All right, tell them
I'll be there in a minute.
You're going to have to come up with
something better
than a gangbanger, Derek.
Detective Gordinski, CPD.
You think an FBI Agent, a BAU profiler,
committed a homicide?
Actually, three homicides at least,
over 15 years.
- You think he's a serial killer?
- This is ridiculous.
- Has he been charged with anything?
- I got 72 hours for that.
- I'd like to see him.
- Be my guest. This way.
- Agent Gideon, right?
- Yes.
I owe you a big thank you.
I had no suspects at all,
until you looked over my case for me
and sent me this profile.
Everything in it points to that
son of a bitch, Derek Morgan.
- I profiled him?
- It's all right there.
Detective, a profile's just a guide.
Yeah, this one guided me to him.
They're really more useful
in the elimination of suspects,
rather than the inclusion.
That's not the way
you presented it to me.
Well, if I confused you, I'm sorry.
I'm not confused at all.
Look, whatever it is in here that made
you consider Agent Morgan a suspect
has to be coincidence.
You can't rely solely on this.
You're right. I'm not.
You okay?
This kid. I was with him yesterday.
- So?
- So, he's dead.
I drove him home, Hotch,
and Gordinski's saying I was
the last person seen with him.
Fifteen years ago,
I was a new detective.
One of my first cases was a black kid,
12 or 13 years old, found strangled
in a vacant lot near here.
- The boy was a John Doe, right?
- Still unidentified to this day.
Wait, a 12-year-old kid
that no one reported missing?
Ever. Four years ago,
another body turns up, same MO.
Worked that case just as hard,
came up with just as much nothing.
Nobody in the area
had ever seen the kid before.
No one's looking for these kids?
Then a few months back,
I attended a seminar
that you taught at CPD headquarters.
I told you about my case.
You said to send you the files.
You'd look them over.
This is the profile you worked up.
There are about three million people
in Chicago.
Your profile said I was looking for
a black male, 25 to 35,
with a knowledge of the area.
Non-threatening to children.
Either knows them or is normal enough
that he doesn't scare them.
A probable criminal record.
It also said the way the body was
placed gently on a mattress,
not just tossed on the ground,
indicated someone who was probably
consumed with guilt,
especially for the first victim.
Your exact words are,
"With a guilt-ridden offender,
"the BAU postulates that the first victim
is the most important
"and the UnSub may still visit
the place of the crime
"or even the victim himself."
Care to guess who visits my first victim
every time he's in town?
He can't just be visiting the victim.
There has to be more than that.
Sure.
You said the UnSub might try
to inject himself into the investigation,
to keep tabs on it.
Morgan has called our headquarters
many times
since he joined the Bureau,
always about this case.
- So wait, he talked to you about it?
- Headquarters. He'd never call me.
After I got your profile,
I checked airline records.
Turns out Derek had just left Chicago
when the other body turned up.
Tell me the story, from the beginning.
I guess it starts when I was 15.
I was coming home from
football practice one day.
Me and my boy, we were goofing off,
we were throwing a football around.
The only person I'd ever seen dead
before that was my father,
when I was 10.
I mean, there I was,
I was looking at this kid,
and he was my own age, Hotch.
Dead in this vacant lot.
And he was never identified.
Nobody knew who he was.
Nobody even reported him missing.
And that just didn't sit right with me.
So I felt responsible for him.
I mean, I was the one
that found him, right?
I went around the neighborhood
door-to-door trying to start a collection.
And eventually I got enough
so I could bury him
and I gave him a little headstone.
What'd you put on the headstone
if he wasn't identified?
Just the date.
I left room for a name
if he was ever identified.
And you still visit him?
Hotch, I go see this kid
every time I'm home.
I just feel like he deserves to have
somebody look in on him.
Gordinski must read that
as a guilty conscience.
A killer revisiting his victim.
But that can't be the only reason
he suspects you.
Believe me, that guy's
had it in for me my entire life.
He's supremely confident
that you're his killer.
Then yesterday,
another kid ends up dead,
and the last person he was with
is Derek Morgan.
In the boy's pocket, we found
one of his FBI business cards.
His cell number
written on the back of it.
In fact, every time Morgan's in town
he hangs out with kids.
- This is all just coincidence.
- A hell of a lot of coincidences.
- It's purely circumstantial.
- So's a fingerprint.
Did I mention that Morgan
found the body in 1991?
Hidden way back in a vacant lot?
Now, don't you teach that
when a body is hard to find,
the person finding it
is always a suspect?
There are key pieces of the profile
that don't fit, Detective.
The age, 25 to 35.
Morgan was 15 or so at the time.
Also says that age
is the hardest to predict
and I should never exclude someone
simply because of
a discrepancy with the age.
What about the speculation that
since he didn't manage to leave
any evidence at the scene of the crime,
that he most likely has
a criminal record
or previous
law enforcement knowledge?
Derek wasn't even in the Bureau yet
when the first body was found.
He may not have had
a knowledge of law enforcement.
But Derek Morgan definitely had
a criminal record.
We're dealing with
a desperate detective here.
Three dead boys
and no evidence at all.
So he applies the profile directly
to someone he already suspected.
It's easy to get tunnel vision that way.
"One begins to twist facts
to suit theories,
"instead of theories to suit facts."
It's one of Sherlock Holmes'
favorite quotes.
We need to figure out
who really killed these boys
before they decide to charge Morgan.
What do you want us to do?
The last victim is someone
Morgan was seen with.
Conveniently, Morgan was already
a suspect in the other two.
Someone set him up?
We should consider Morgan a victim.
Prentiss, you and Reid
talk to his family,
learn about him, especially around
the time of the first murder.
- Do we have the address?
- I can take you.
- Oh, that's okay.
- No, actually, that's not a bad idea.
Right.
Okey-doke. Lead the way, Detective.
According to Morgan,
he's got a bad history with Gordinski.
Well, he's got a bad history, generally.
Resisting arrest. Vandalism.
Aggravated battery. This is Morgan?
- As a juvenile. Look at the dates.
- This isn't in his personnel file.
He said he told me everything relevant.
Then he either lied
or he doesn't consider this relevant.
Since when is the criminal history
of a suspect not relevant?
You just called him a suspect.
- Get Garcia into Morgan's life.
- Yes, sir.
Hey, Hotch, I almost forgot.
There's a local banger out here.
His name is Rodney Harris.
He's been running these streets
for a while now.
You have a criminal record.
What?
- Where did you get this?
- What difference does that make?
Hotch, this was
supposed to be expunged.
My record's clean.
I asked you if there was
anything you hadn't told me.
A judge expunged this.
It doesn't exist anymore, man.
I was a kid. It's nothing.
Aggravated battery?
Okay, I was with some guys.
We got in a fight with some other guys.
Rodney, this cat I'm trying
to tell you about, it was him.
We got into it a little bit.
We knocked each other around.
He got a couple stitches in his head,
so they made it "aggravated." That's it.
So you're saying this Rodney
committed three murders
because you beat him up?
No. I'm saying he's been following me
around since I got here,
so go talk to him
and you might get something.
- This was expunged.
- You still should have told me.
You know how important
accurate information is to victimology.
Whoa! Whoa! Victimology?
It's very likely the latest victim
was an attempt to set you up.
Are you profiling me?
- Morgan, we need to look at...
- No! We don't need to do anything.
Derek, you're in trouble here.
Hotch, I didn't do this.
I am not worried about Gordinski
out there.
- We still have three dead children.
- Okay. Okay, so you profile them.
That's the case.
Is there something else
you don't want us to find out about?
Hotch, I don't need the people
I work with going into my entire world.
- Is Derek all right?
- He wouldn't let us go down there.
He's fine. Our boss is with him.
Did he tell you Gordinski's been
harassing him since he was a kid?
- Why's that?
- Well, you'd have to ask that bastard.
- Oh, Sarah.
- It's true, Mom.
Sure it is.
What are you even doing
in my mother's house?
- They asked me.
- Not really.
I don't understand how
they could think he did this.
Someone may be trying to
make it look like he hurt those kids.
And the police believe it?
- Just following the evidence.
- But he's an FBI agent.
Actually, law enforcement officials
are just as probable statistically
to commit a crime as anyone else.
Look at the cross-section of a society.
There's a general population and
a small fraction of this percentage is...
He's not actually saying
we believe Derek is involved in this.
Oh, no, no! Yeah, not at all!
I'm merely speaking theoretically.
You're Doctor Reid, right?
Mmm-hmm.
- Derek talks about you.
- He does?
Anyway, so someone may be trying
to make it look like this was Derek.
But Derek loves kids.
Every time he's here,
he goes to the youth center.
- Youth center?
- The Upward Youth Center.
Does it have some sort of
significance for him?
What are you saying,
there's something in it for him,
other than giving back to
the poor kids of your neighborhood?
- Sarah.
- Sarah, we're friends of your brother's.
We're here trying to help.
When we ask a question,
it isn't to denigrate or demean
anything he's done.
We just have to know everything,
so we can figure out where to look next.
Is there some special significance
to the youth center?
The youth center saved his life.
- Does this make any sense to you?
- No.
He's clearly hiding something else.
Well, we know
he isn't involved in any murders.
No, there are larger implications.
We can't have people on this team
who have secrets.
Oh, come on, Hotch.
We all have secrets.
Would you want us profiling you?
I feel terrible
looking into his life like this.
I know. Just remember,
we're trying to help him.
All right, okay.
Graduated with honors
from Northwestern Law.
Did you know he was
a star football player?
Surprisingly, I don't know much
about him at all.
Quarterback. That's the guy
who throws the ball, right?
Yes.
That's what he was.
Full ride athletic scholarship.
Sophomore year,
he severely injured his left knee
and he never played again.
Okay, Garcia, look further back.
Okay? Before college.
Right. Right, right, right. Okay. Um...
Wait, he was mentioned in
the Chicago Register as...
He found the body of a child
in a vacant lot in 1991.
- That's our first victim.
- He never told me about this.
He never told any of us.
My husband, their father, was killed
when he tried to stop a robbery.
Derek was with him. He was 10.
A year or so later,
he started getting into trouble.
What kind of trouble?
He started running around
with older kids.
They would give him money
to run errands for them.
Not drugs. No.
Derek would never
disgrace his father's memory.
But they were gangbangers.
So people started looking at Derek
like he was one of them.
One night he and a friend
were attacked
by some boys from another gang.
Big fight.
And one of the other boys' head
split open.
And that was the first time
Gordinski arrested him.
Now, he wasn't a detective yet,
just a street cop, but from that night on,
no matter what happened
in the neighborhood,
he'd pick Derek up for it.
Probably because he was involved.
The hell he was.
Stan's never arrested anyone
who didn't need arresting.
- He did with Derek.
- Until Carl Buford stepped in.
- Carl Buford?
- He runs the youth center.
He took Derek under his wing,
mentored him.
Became like a surrogate father.
He taught him football
and that changed Derek's life.
He got a scholarship to college with it,
he got his degree...
- Where is Carl Buford now?
- He still runs the youth center.
I'd like to talk to him.
Detective, do you think
you could take me over there?
Wait, just you?
Yeah, I thought maybe you could stay
here and keep going through the stuff.
Good idea. Yeah.
Keep going through the stuff.
- Is there a criminal history?
- Criminal?
Garcia, is there a criminal history?
JJ, there's not going to be a crim...
- There's a sealed file.
- Unseal it.
- But it's a sealed file.
- Garcia, helping him.
Right. Helping him. Helping him.
It's a juvenile criminal record.
It was expunged and sealed
by a Judge Esposito
after presentation of a letter
and testimonial
from a local youth center director.
"Finest young man I've ever known.
"A criminal record could jeopardize
potential scholarship offers.
"Stake my personal
and professional reputation."
He was definitely a fan of our boy.
Do you have a name?
Hang on a sec.
I'm Carl Buford.
I've brought Damien Walters' mother
to see Detective Gordinski.
- Hi, Carl.
- Stan.
Mrs. Walters, thanks for coming.
This way.
Buford.
Did you just say Buford?
Will you just get me
the hell out of here?
That wouldn't be a good idea, would it?
Says who?
Apparently, I provided the profile
that led them to arrest you.
You what?
He sent the case to me
a few months ago.
I did a routine consult,
but he was looking for it to lead to you.
Preconception of guilt.
We just can't force him to let you go.
That's not going to look too good
with the local press. What...
Oh, like I give a damn
about the press, Gideon.
Well, we cannot appear
to be covering something up.
You trying to say something
to me right now?
Only if you're hiding something.
You need to trust us.
- Trust us enough to tell us about it.
- Gideon, it's not about trust.
It's about having a little privacy.
I've got the right to keep
something to myself.
Look at us, man.
We practically live together already.
Then the best way to clear you
is find the real UnSub.
Find anything out about Morgan?
The record wasn't picked up
in his background check
because everything in it was expunged
and the file sealed by a judge.
Forgiving judge.
Well, it was based on
the recommendation
of an upstanding
member of the community
who took personal responsibility
for Morgan.
Well, that sounds like somebody
we should talk to for more background.
Should be easy. He's right over there.
Hello? Mr. Buford?
Wow, this guy's been honored
by everybody but the Nobel Society.
That's Carl Buford.
- Who are you?
- I'm with the FBI.
Do you know Derek Morgan?
- Yeah, he's a friend of mine.
- I've been trying to call him.
He's a little busy right now.
Is there something I can do
to help you?
I just...
A friend of mine,
someone killed him yesterday.
Do you know something about
who might have done it?
No.
Derek's always telling me if I need
somebody to talk to about anything,
I can call him.
I guess I just wanted to... I don't know.
I'll tell you what,
why don't you give me your name
and I'll let him know
that you've been trying to reach him?
James Barfield.
Does he know where to find you?
He can find me here.
Anytime?
All the time.
- You folks work with Derek Morgan?
- Yes, sir. Closely.
- You knew him well as a teenager?
- One of the finest boys I ever coached.
Football. I run a youth center.
I gather you were instrumental
in helping
to get his criminal records expunged.
I feel terrible about that now.
- You do?
- Well, in view of what's happened...
Well, what's happened is a mistake.
I'm confused. I thought Stan said
there was all kinds of evidence.
There is.
Thanks, Carl.
You can take Mrs. Walters home now.
I appreciate you bringing her in.
Of course. Of course. Derek Morgan?
It's still hard for me to believe.
- For them, too.
- I can understand that.
Derek had a way of charming people
into looking past his deficiencies.
- Excuse me, deficiencies?
- Well, you've seen the records.
Derek was at the youth center
yesterday, wasn't he?
Playing football with Damien Walters
and some other boys.
Carl is the one
that saw them leaving together.
Did you talk to him?
I was working inside. By the time
I was done, they were leaving.
And when was the last time
you did talk to him?
I don't know. Years.
If you need anything else, Stan,
anything at all...
Thanks, Carl. I appreciate it.
You seem friendly with Mr. Buford.
I can't tell you how many times
that guy's come through for me.
Going way back to my beat cop days.
Carl Buford knows the kids
in this neighborhood
better than almost anybody.
He's knocked more than a few of them
back onto the straight and narrow.
- Has he kept up with the investigation?
- I'm sorry?
Over the years,
does he ask how it's going?
Yeah, he's...
Wait a second, you're not going
to try to turn this off on him
- to save your guy, are you?
- It's just a question.
- Carl Buford is a local hero.
- I'm sure he is.
Carl Buford.
- What?
- Carl Buford. He runs the youth center.
What's that got to do with anything?
He's responsible for getting
your records expunged.
I told you to stay
the hell out of my business!
You said you visit the youth center
every time you come here.
So what?
Buford says he hasn't spoken to you
in years.
Why don't you visit the man
who made your career possible?
Damn you, Hotch!
It is none of your damn business.
Buford's the one who told detectives
you were with Damien.
I am warning you, Hotch.
Back off.
I'm not saying it's Mr. Buford.
There's a huge amount of investigation
left to be done.
For 15 years, he hasn't been
the slightest bit suspicious.
Morgan won't even talk about Buford.
- He won't?
- Buford should be that kid's hero.
- Something happened.
- Are you talking about Carl Buford?
Yes.
Yeah, we just left his office.
Hey! What, did we turn him loose?
You let him escape?
Black, male, 33. Six feet, 180.
Name is Derek Morgan.
You're standing out here
trying to convince me
that a local hero is my killer
while you're letting my suspect
dance out the back door?
I'm going to charge all of your asses.
Yeah, as soon as possible.
You have to tell your officers
that Morgan is not a threat.
- Like hell I will.
- But this...
Lady, as far as I'm concerned,
he is a threat. Okay?
They're beyond reason.
We have to find him first.
Any ideas?
You know, his mother said that Buford
practically raised him
after his father died. He mentored him.
Took him on trips.
Spent all of his time with him.
Basically became a surrogate father.
Jason, I think I know
what he was afraid we'd find.
Detective, we may know
where he's heading.
Looking good there, kid.
- I was trying to call you.
- I'm here now.
- Someone killed Damien.
- I know.
James, we need to talk
about Carl Buford.
What about him?
You're his star player, right?
Center of attention.
Yeah I guess.
- You know, I used to be that guy.
- Yeah, I know.
That's a lot of pressure, isn't it?
Always wanting to make him happy?
Impress him?
- I can handle it.
- Oh, I'm sure you can, kid.
Does he ever take you to his cabin?
What?
Fishing in Wisconsin? Camping?
Do things you wish you had
a real father for?
Sometimes.
Yeah, he's good like that.
You know about the cabin?
James, I told you. I used to be you.
What do you mean?
The first time you weren't even sure
what was going on.
He brushed up against you.
You thought it might have
just been an accident.
But then, at the cabin,
he let you sit and drink with him.
You thought it was kind of cool.
Made you feel grown.
Gave you a glass of wine.
Maybe a little shot of something harder.
And then he took you swimming.
Only he told you to jump in
without your swimsuit on.
He did things to you, James, didn't he?
He did them to me, too.
You do whatever you think
you got to do to keep him happy
because he's the closest thing
to a father you've got.
But what he is doing to you is wrong,
and you don't
have to let it continue, man.
- Yeah. I do.
- No. No, you don't.
Man, my oldest brother's in jail.
My sister was paralyzed in a drive-by.
She's eight years old.
I'm all my mom's got left.
I've got to get us out of here.
Carl's going to make sure
I get into college.
- Then I can make something of myself.
- James, you are something, man.
You're something right here, right now,
without Carl Buford.
You just got to believe that.
Where's Carl right now, huh?
Look at you, man.
You're out here in the dark
running pass routes. That's you.
That ain't got nothing to do with Carl.
What you got inside of here,
that's what's going
to get you off these streets.
You never told.
Not until right now.
- Damien always said I should call you.
- What?
Damien knew?
I didn't think you'd believe me.
James, I got your back, forever.
Carl.
- You've been let go?
- Looks that way.
I told him it was crazy, thinking
you were involved in any killing.
Really?
Gordinski said you're the one
who told him I drove Damien home.
- Was that supposed to be a secret?
- No.
- That wasn't.
- I don't follow.
All these years, I kept my mouth shut.
I let you go on being a hero.
Carl Buford, my mentor.
- What are you talking about?
- God, I was so afraid of you.
I was afraid of the police,
afraid of losing everything
I was gaining.
But that's how you work, isn't it?
You make sure there's a hell
of a lot to lose, don't you?
I don't know what you think
you remember.
No, no, see, it's not what I remember
that's going to hurt you, Carl.
Our business was over
way too long ago to matter.
You're protected by a statute
of limitations, and that's my fault.
- Then, good night.
- You set me up.
You knew Damien Walters
wanted James to call me about you.
So you killed him?
You killed him because you knew
I'd come after you, didn't you?
Now you're just talking crazy.
God, I should have told somebody
about you when I was a kid.
When you were "helping" me.
Well, you know what happens
in cases like this?
Once that dam breaks,
the flood comes.
One kid steps up. Just one.
And then another, and another because
they're not scared of you anymore.
They know they're not alone.
James Barfield is your dam.
- Whatever lies James told you...
- They're not lies.
You did the same thing to me!
I did nothing to you, to James...
One by one they're going to pile up,
until there's so many accusations,
you can't say that they're all lying.
Do you have any idea
how many kids I've helped
get out of this neighborhood, hmm?
How many lives I've provided?
Look at you.
- You'd probably be dead by now.
- Yeah, well it wasn't for free, was it?
I pulled you out of the gutter.
I pulled myself out of the gutter,
all the way to the FBI. I did that.
You're saying I had nothing to do with
making you who you are?
No, Carl.
Actually, I'm saying you have
everything to do with
making me who I am.
Because of you, I'm somebody who
gets to spend the rest of his life
making sure guys like you go down.
Look, Derek, I never hurt you.
You could have said no.
You're under arrest, Carl.
- I've helped a lot of kids.
- Let's go.
This neighborhood won't be the same
without me.
It's going to be worse
without the center.
Somebody will keep
this center running.
The neighborhood will. I will.
Wait. Wait.
Derek.
Isn't there something
you can do for me?
You go to hell.
- Shh. Watch.
What?
- I'm so sorry, Emily.
- What was that?
Don't you recognize a rocket
when you see one?
I was merely demonstrating
a physics law.
- I didn't mean to hit...
- Oh! Show me.
- All right. Uh, turn around, please.
- Turn around?
Yeah, he's not going to show you
how it's done.
- A magician doesn't reveal his secrets.
- I thought you said it was physics.
Physics magic.
Trust me, it will not do you any good
to argue with him.
All right. All right.
Turn back and observe.
- Physics magic?
- Yes, sir.
Reid, we talked about this.
I'm sorry, sir.
You're starting to get some
distance on those.
- So he does have a sense of humor?
- Sometimes.
Hey, where's Morgan?
Chicago. He goes there every year
for his mother's birthday.
You're sure she's got enough butter?
Now, you know, if Sarah doesn't put it
on the list, she doesn't need it.
- She doesn't make mistakes.
- Desiree.
Looking good. I mean, damn.
You're filling out all good
in all the right places, aren't you?
Step off, Rodney. Desi, get in the car.
- Come on, Derek.
- I said, get in the car.
That's okay, baby.
I'll get with you a little later, huh?
- Yeah, in your dreams.
- Most definitely.
All night long, baby girl.
You better step off before I make you
wish you never walked up on me.
Oh, what, you think you're a bad-ass
now because they pay you
to wear that gun, Mr. FBI?
Rodney, I proved a long time ago
I don't need a gun to take you out.
Past history? That's a dangerous thing
for you to count on, my friend.
Walk away.
- Desi, I'll get at you a little later.
- Go to hell.
Bitch.
You all right?
- He's just a fool.
- Come on. I'm taking you home.
There's something I got to do.
Blue 32. Blue 32. Set. Hut.
That was your man, James.
Way to run a route. Nice job.
Nice job. Come on, Damien.
You call that pass coverage?
You bite on the inside route
every damned time.
Okay, let's bring it in, boys.
Get your helmets. Let's go.
You pushed off on that last catch.
Man, you weren't close enough
to push off of. I blew you away.
- I could cover your ass all day long.
- Man, kiss it all day long.
- What? Come on.
- Come on.
Hey, hey, hey! Knock it off!
Knock it off! That's enough!
You did push off, James. On your
second cut with your inside hand.
- Damn right.
- Hey.
It's not the push off that beat you,
though. That's happening off the line.
- Who are you?
- What's up, Derek?
What's up, youngster?
I see you're still shaking and baking.
I get what I can.
Hey, Damien, this is Derek Morgan.
- The Derek Morgan?
- FBI Derek Morgan.
Just Derek, brother.
- Nice to meet you, man.
- Yeah.
Derek.
Get over there. Get over there.
Come on.
Take him with you. Get over there.
Hey! Get the hell out of here!
You want to mess with somebody?
Get out of here!
One, two, three.
Go ahead, mama.
- Did you make this yourself?
- Oh, Sarah helped me.
They wouldn't let me help,
so I don't know how good it'll taste.
Oh, no, no, you remember
that Christmas fiasco of 1994?
I remember that.
Whatever!
That was 12 years ago. Let it go!
No, no, no, we still get cards
from the fire department.
Mama, you see how they treat
your baby boy?
- You be good to your brother.
- What she said.
No, no, you got the "baby" part right,
at least.
Okay, you know what?
Okay, now. Okay, you better watch out.
- What? What? All right.
- No! Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.
Okay. Wish. Wish.
There it is.
Just like the others.
Stan.
I'm going to lock that son of a bitch up.
Shouldn't we call the powers that be?
This is big, Stan.
To hell with that!
What is it?
Here. It's a remote starter, Ma.
You hit that button right there,
and it starts your car
from inside the house.
Why would I do that?
So it's nice and warm
when you get in it.
Really?
Yeah, no more cold cars
in the winter, Mom.
- I would like one for Christmas.
- Not for that bucket you drive.
- Shut up.
- Get up out of here.
We miss you around here, baby.
I know.
Your sisters wish you were
around more.
You know the unit I work for is only
out of Virginia. You know that.
Well, you're careful, right?
I lost your dad. I can't lose you.
You won't.
Good, because you owe me
some grandbabies.
Oh, come on, Mom.
Oh, look at that, saved by the bell.
- A bunch of them!
- Oh, come on, Ma, stop!
What the hell?
- Gordinski?
- You armed?
- Excuse me?
- Are you wearing a gun?
- No, not right now.
- Then turn around.
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
Don't make us get physical.
It'll only make it worse for your family.
You're under arrest, Derek.
"All secrets are deep.
"All secrets become dark.
"That's in the nature of secrets."
Writer, Cory Doctorow.
You know, you better have
a real good reason
for doing that in front of my family.
You going to tell me the charges now?
Oh, I bet if you think real hard,
you'll be able to figure it out, Derek.
- Uncuff him.
- Agent Morgan.
You'll always be just Derek to me.
And you'll always be
a racist son of a bitch to me.
- Right, Derek, that's all it is.
- Then what, man?
Man, I should have done this
a long time ago.
- What the hell are you talking about?
- Sit down.
Oh, wow. There isn't going to be a hole
deep enough to bury your career.
What's wrong with you, man?
You know I'm an FBI agent.
Well, then you should be fairly aware
of your rights. You want a lawyer?
I'm not some punk kid
you can scare any more, Gordinski.
Tough guy, you want a lawyer?
Yes or no?
- I want a phone call.
- Local?
I need to call my supervisor at FBI
Headquarters in Quantico.
Agent Hotchner?
He's already getting a call.
There has to be a mistake.
Yes.
Of course. We're on our way.
This is SSA Hotchner.
I need an emergency recall
of Agents Reid, Prentiss, Jareau,
and Penelope Garcia as well.
Yes, I'll call him myself. Thank you.
Jason. It's Hotch. We've got to go
to Chicago. Morgan's been arrested.
Homicide. Right.
I can wait as long as you guys can.
Did you get some sleep?
- You know I didn't.
- Slept like a baby, myself.
Didn't even want to get out of bed.
Really? So that wasn't
your doughnut eating ass
on the other side of
that glass all night then, huh?
Here you go.
- You want the other ones?
- No, just this one right now.
Come on, man.
You got to be kidding me, right?
Pretend you went home and slept,
put an empty box with my name on it
on a table right in front of me?
The FBI invented this stuff,
you simple bastard. We teach it.
- What's this?
- Yesterday.
- You're following me?
- Whose grave is that?
- Why would you be following me?
- Whose grave?
- You know I don't know his name.
- You paid to bury him, didn't you?
- The neighborhood did.
- But you led the collection.
- So?
- And you visit him a lot.
Every time I come home.
Is there something wrong with that?
What? Do you got a crush on me
all of a sudden, Gordinski?
Okay, that's me at the youth center
tossing the ball around
with a couple of kids.
You did a little more than that.
This is about you giving
one of them a ride home.
- One of the boys.
- Yeah. Yeah, I did.
This kid named Damien.
His place was on the way
to my mother's.
So what, man?
Damien Walters. DOA.
Oh, no. Somebody killed him?
Not somebody, Derek.
You think I did this?
Special Agent Hotchner, FBI.
I'm looking for Detective Gordinski.
I got this, Chuck. How you guys doing?
I'm Wally Dennison, CPD.
Where's Agent Morgan?
Detective Gordinski's
in with the suspect now.
I need to see him.
When my partner's
finished talking to him.
I have your superintendent's
personal cell number.
And in the interest of not running
roughshod over another police agency,
I've resisted calling him so far.
I need to see Agent Morgan now.
I'll get Gordinski. He's the primary.
- I don't like them calling him a suspect.
- Me, neither.
You're the last person
anyone saw with my victim.
You recognize him?
Found in an alley four years ago.
Still unidentified. John Doe.
Just like that kid whose grave you
visit every time you come to Chicago.
- Another boy.
- Just after you left the city.
- This is crazy.
- No kidding.
Look man, Rodney Harris.
He's been following me around
ever since I got back to town.
Rodney Harris, the gangbanger?
Yeah, he was waiting for me
outside of a corner store.
He did that drive-by yesterday.
So you think this looks like something
a gangbanger did?
Is that how you'd advise me, Mr. FBI?
Stan.
All right, tell them
I'll be there in a minute.
You're going to have to come up with
something better
than a gangbanger, Derek.
Detective Gordinski, CPD.
You think an FBI Agent, a BAU profiler,
committed a homicide?
Actually, three homicides at least,
over 15 years.
- You think he's a serial killer?
- This is ridiculous.
- Has he been charged with anything?
- I got 72 hours for that.
- I'd like to see him.
- Be my guest. This way.
- Agent Gideon, right?
- Yes.
I owe you a big thank you.
I had no suspects at all,
until you looked over my case for me
and sent me this profile.
Everything in it points to that
son of a bitch, Derek Morgan.
- I profiled him?
- It's all right there.
Detective, a profile's just a guide.
Yeah, this one guided me to him.
They're really more useful
in the elimination of suspects,
rather than the inclusion.
That's not the way
you presented it to me.
Well, if I confused you, I'm sorry.
I'm not confused at all.
Look, whatever it is in here that made
you consider Agent Morgan a suspect
has to be coincidence.
You can't rely solely on this.
You're right. I'm not.
You okay?
This kid. I was with him yesterday.
- So?
- So, he's dead.
I drove him home, Hotch,
and Gordinski's saying I was
the last person seen with him.
Fifteen years ago,
I was a new detective.
One of my first cases was a black kid,
12 or 13 years old, found strangled
in a vacant lot near here.
- The boy was a John Doe, right?
- Still unidentified to this day.
Wait, a 12-year-old kid
that no one reported missing?
Ever. Four years ago,
another body turns up, same MO.
Worked that case just as hard,
came up with just as much nothing.
Nobody in the area
had ever seen the kid before.
No one's looking for these kids?
Then a few months back,
I attended a seminar
that you taught at CPD headquarters.
I told you about my case.
You said to send you the files.
You'd look them over.
This is the profile you worked up.
There are about three million people
in Chicago.
Your profile said I was looking for
a black male, 25 to 35,
with a knowledge of the area.
Non-threatening to children.
Either knows them or is normal enough
that he doesn't scare them.
A probable criminal record.
It also said the way the body was
placed gently on a mattress,
not just tossed on the ground,
indicated someone who was probably
consumed with guilt,
especially for the first victim.
Your exact words are,
"With a guilt-ridden offender,
"the BAU postulates that the first victim
is the most important
"and the UnSub may still visit
the place of the crime
"or even the victim himself."
Care to guess who visits my first victim
every time he's in town?
He can't just be visiting the victim.
There has to be more than that.
Sure.
You said the UnSub might try
to inject himself into the investigation,
to keep tabs on it.
Morgan has called our headquarters
many times
since he joined the Bureau,
always about this case.
- So wait, he talked to you about it?
- Headquarters. He'd never call me.
After I got your profile,
I checked airline records.
Turns out Derek had just left Chicago
when the other body turned up.
Tell me the story, from the beginning.
I guess it starts when I was 15.
I was coming home from
football practice one day.
Me and my boy, we were goofing off,
we were throwing a football around.
The only person I'd ever seen dead
before that was my father,
when I was 10.
I mean, there I was,
I was looking at this kid,
and he was my own age, Hotch.
Dead in this vacant lot.
And he was never identified.
Nobody knew who he was.
Nobody even reported him missing.
And that just didn't sit right with me.
So I felt responsible for him.
I mean, I was the one
that found him, right?
I went around the neighborhood
door-to-door trying to start a collection.
And eventually I got enough
so I could bury him
and I gave him a little headstone.
What'd you put on the headstone
if he wasn't identified?
Just the date.
I left room for a name
if he was ever identified.
And you still visit him?
Hotch, I go see this kid
every time I'm home.
I just feel like he deserves to have
somebody look in on him.
Gordinski must read that
as a guilty conscience.
A killer revisiting his victim.
But that can't be the only reason
he suspects you.
Believe me, that guy's
had it in for me my entire life.
He's supremely confident
that you're his killer.
Then yesterday,
another kid ends up dead,
and the last person he was with
is Derek Morgan.
In the boy's pocket, we found
one of his FBI business cards.
His cell number
written on the back of it.
In fact, every time Morgan's in town
he hangs out with kids.
- This is all just coincidence.
- A hell of a lot of coincidences.
- It's purely circumstantial.
- So's a fingerprint.
Did I mention that Morgan
found the body in 1991?
Hidden way back in a vacant lot?
Now, don't you teach that
when a body is hard to find,
the person finding it
is always a suspect?
There are key pieces of the profile
that don't fit, Detective.
The age, 25 to 35.
Morgan was 15 or so at the time.
Also says that age
is the hardest to predict
and I should never exclude someone
simply because of
a discrepancy with the age.
What about the speculation that
since he didn't manage to leave
any evidence at the scene of the crime,
that he most likely has
a criminal record
or previous
law enforcement knowledge?
Derek wasn't even in the Bureau yet
when the first body was found.
He may not have had
a knowledge of law enforcement.
But Derek Morgan definitely had
a criminal record.
We're dealing with
a desperate detective here.
Three dead boys
and no evidence at all.
So he applies the profile directly
to someone he already suspected.
It's easy to get tunnel vision that way.
"One begins to twist facts
to suit theories,
"instead of theories to suit facts."
It's one of Sherlock Holmes'
favorite quotes.
We need to figure out
who really killed these boys
before they decide to charge Morgan.
What do you want us to do?
The last victim is someone
Morgan was seen with.
Conveniently, Morgan was already
a suspect in the other two.
Someone set him up?
We should consider Morgan a victim.
Prentiss, you and Reid
talk to his family,
learn about him, especially around
the time of the first murder.
- Do we have the address?
- I can take you.
- Oh, that's okay.
- No, actually, that's not a bad idea.
Right.
Okey-doke. Lead the way, Detective.
According to Morgan,
he's got a bad history with Gordinski.
Well, he's got a bad history, generally.
Resisting arrest. Vandalism.
Aggravated battery. This is Morgan?
- As a juvenile. Look at the dates.
- This isn't in his personnel file.
He said he told me everything relevant.
Then he either lied
or he doesn't consider this relevant.
Since when is the criminal history
of a suspect not relevant?
You just called him a suspect.
- Get Garcia into Morgan's life.
- Yes, sir.
Hey, Hotch, I almost forgot.
There's a local banger out here.
His name is Rodney Harris.
He's been running these streets
for a while now.
You have a criminal record.
What?
- Where did you get this?
- What difference does that make?
Hotch, this was
supposed to be expunged.
My record's clean.
I asked you if there was
anything you hadn't told me.
A judge expunged this.
It doesn't exist anymore, man.
I was a kid. It's nothing.
Aggravated battery?
Okay, I was with some guys.
We got in a fight with some other guys.
Rodney, this cat I'm trying
to tell you about, it was him.
We got into it a little bit.
We knocked each other around.
He got a couple stitches in his head,
so they made it "aggravated." That's it.
So you're saying this Rodney
committed three murders
because you beat him up?
No. I'm saying he's been following me
around since I got here,
so go talk to him
and you might get something.
- This was expunged.
- You still should have told me.
You know how important
accurate information is to victimology.
Whoa! Whoa! Victimology?
It's very likely the latest victim
was an attempt to set you up.
Are you profiling me?
- Morgan, we need to look at...
- No! We don't need to do anything.
Derek, you're in trouble here.
Hotch, I didn't do this.
I am not worried about Gordinski
out there.
- We still have three dead children.
- Okay. Okay, so you profile them.
That's the case.
Is there something else
you don't want us to find out about?
Hotch, I don't need the people
I work with going into my entire world.
- Is Derek all right?
- He wouldn't let us go down there.
He's fine. Our boss is with him.
Did he tell you Gordinski's been
harassing him since he was a kid?
- Why's that?
- Well, you'd have to ask that bastard.
- Oh, Sarah.
- It's true, Mom.
Sure it is.
What are you even doing
in my mother's house?
- They asked me.
- Not really.
I don't understand how
they could think he did this.
Someone may be trying to
make it look like he hurt those kids.
And the police believe it?
- Just following the evidence.
- But he's an FBI agent.
Actually, law enforcement officials
are just as probable statistically
to commit a crime as anyone else.
Look at the cross-section of a society.
There's a general population and
a small fraction of this percentage is...
He's not actually saying
we believe Derek is involved in this.
Oh, no, no! Yeah, not at all!
I'm merely speaking theoretically.
You're Doctor Reid, right?
Mmm-hmm.
- Derek talks about you.
- He does?
Anyway, so someone may be trying
to make it look like this was Derek.
But Derek loves kids.
Every time he's here,
he goes to the youth center.
- Youth center?
- The Upward Youth Center.
Does it have some sort of
significance for him?
What are you saying,
there's something in it for him,
other than giving back to
the poor kids of your neighborhood?
- Sarah.
- Sarah, we're friends of your brother's.
We're here trying to help.
When we ask a question,
it isn't to denigrate or demean
anything he's done.
We just have to know everything,
so we can figure out where to look next.
Is there some special significance
to the youth center?
The youth center saved his life.
- Does this make any sense to you?
- No.
He's clearly hiding something else.
Well, we know
he isn't involved in any murders.
No, there are larger implications.
We can't have people on this team
who have secrets.
Oh, come on, Hotch.
We all have secrets.
Would you want us profiling you?
I feel terrible
looking into his life like this.
I know. Just remember,
we're trying to help him.
All right, okay.
Graduated with honors
from Northwestern Law.
Did you know he was
a star football player?
Surprisingly, I don't know much
about him at all.
Quarterback. That's the guy
who throws the ball, right?
Yes.
That's what he was.
Full ride athletic scholarship.
Sophomore year,
he severely injured his left knee
and he never played again.
Okay, Garcia, look further back.
Okay? Before college.
Right. Right, right, right. Okay. Um...
Wait, he was mentioned in
the Chicago Register as...
He found the body of a child
in a vacant lot in 1991.
- That's our first victim.
- He never told me about this.
He never told any of us.
My husband, their father, was killed
when he tried to stop a robbery.
Derek was with him. He was 10.
A year or so later,
he started getting into trouble.
What kind of trouble?
He started running around
with older kids.
They would give him money
to run errands for them.
Not drugs. No.
Derek would never
disgrace his father's memory.
But they were gangbangers.
So people started looking at Derek
like he was one of them.
One night he and a friend
were attacked
by some boys from another gang.
Big fight.
And one of the other boys' head
split open.
And that was the first time
Gordinski arrested him.
Now, he wasn't a detective yet,
just a street cop, but from that night on,
no matter what happened
in the neighborhood,
he'd pick Derek up for it.
Probably because he was involved.
The hell he was.
Stan's never arrested anyone
who didn't need arresting.
- He did with Derek.
- Until Carl Buford stepped in.
- Carl Buford?
- He runs the youth center.
He took Derek under his wing,
mentored him.
Became like a surrogate father.
He taught him football
and that changed Derek's life.
He got a scholarship to college with it,
he got his degree...
- Where is Carl Buford now?
- He still runs the youth center.
I'd like to talk to him.
Detective, do you think
you could take me over there?
Wait, just you?
Yeah, I thought maybe you could stay
here and keep going through the stuff.
Good idea. Yeah.
Keep going through the stuff.
- Is there a criminal history?
- Criminal?
Garcia, is there a criminal history?
JJ, there's not going to be a crim...
- There's a sealed file.
- Unseal it.
- But it's a sealed file.
- Garcia, helping him.
Right. Helping him. Helping him.
It's a juvenile criminal record.
It was expunged and sealed
by a Judge Esposito
after presentation of a letter
and testimonial
from a local youth center director.
"Finest young man I've ever known.
"A criminal record could jeopardize
potential scholarship offers.
"Stake my personal
and professional reputation."
He was definitely a fan of our boy.
Do you have a name?
Hang on a sec.
I'm Carl Buford.
I've brought Damien Walters' mother
to see Detective Gordinski.
- Hi, Carl.
- Stan.
Mrs. Walters, thanks for coming.
This way.
Buford.
Did you just say Buford?
Will you just get me
the hell out of here?
That wouldn't be a good idea, would it?
Says who?
Apparently, I provided the profile
that led them to arrest you.
You what?
He sent the case to me
a few months ago.
I did a routine consult,
but he was looking for it to lead to you.
Preconception of guilt.
We just can't force him to let you go.
That's not going to look too good
with the local press. What...
Oh, like I give a damn
about the press, Gideon.
Well, we cannot appear
to be covering something up.
You trying to say something
to me right now?
Only if you're hiding something.
You need to trust us.
- Trust us enough to tell us about it.
- Gideon, it's not about trust.
It's about having a little privacy.
I've got the right to keep
something to myself.
Look at us, man.
We practically live together already.
Then the best way to clear you
is find the real UnSub.
Find anything out about Morgan?
The record wasn't picked up
in his background check
because everything in it was expunged
and the file sealed by a judge.
Forgiving judge.
Well, it was based on
the recommendation
of an upstanding
member of the community
who took personal responsibility
for Morgan.
Well, that sounds like somebody
we should talk to for more background.
Should be easy. He's right over there.
Hello? Mr. Buford?
Wow, this guy's been honored
by everybody but the Nobel Society.
That's Carl Buford.
- Who are you?
- I'm with the FBI.
Do you know Derek Morgan?
- Yeah, he's a friend of mine.
- I've been trying to call him.
He's a little busy right now.
Is there something I can do
to help you?
I just...
A friend of mine,
someone killed him yesterday.
Do you know something about
who might have done it?
No.
Derek's always telling me if I need
somebody to talk to about anything,
I can call him.
I guess I just wanted to... I don't know.
I'll tell you what,
why don't you give me your name
and I'll let him know
that you've been trying to reach him?
James Barfield.
Does he know where to find you?
He can find me here.
Anytime?
All the time.
- You folks work with Derek Morgan?
- Yes, sir. Closely.
- You knew him well as a teenager?
- One of the finest boys I ever coached.
Football. I run a youth center.
I gather you were instrumental
in helping
to get his criminal records expunged.
I feel terrible about that now.
- You do?
- Well, in view of what's happened...
Well, what's happened is a mistake.
I'm confused. I thought Stan said
there was all kinds of evidence.
There is.
Thanks, Carl.
You can take Mrs. Walters home now.
I appreciate you bringing her in.
Of course. Of course. Derek Morgan?
It's still hard for me to believe.
- For them, too.
- I can understand that.
Derek had a way of charming people
into looking past his deficiencies.
- Excuse me, deficiencies?
- Well, you've seen the records.
Derek was at the youth center
yesterday, wasn't he?
Playing football with Damien Walters
and some other boys.
Carl is the one
that saw them leaving together.
Did you talk to him?
I was working inside. By the time
I was done, they were leaving.
And when was the last time
you did talk to him?
I don't know. Years.
If you need anything else, Stan,
anything at all...
Thanks, Carl. I appreciate it.
You seem friendly with Mr. Buford.
I can't tell you how many times
that guy's come through for me.
Going way back to my beat cop days.
Carl Buford knows the kids
in this neighborhood
better than almost anybody.
He's knocked more than a few of them
back onto the straight and narrow.
- Has he kept up with the investigation?
- I'm sorry?
Over the years,
does he ask how it's going?
Yeah, he's...
Wait a second, you're not going
to try to turn this off on him
- to save your guy, are you?
- It's just a question.
- Carl Buford is a local hero.
- I'm sure he is.
Carl Buford.
- What?
- Carl Buford. He runs the youth center.
What's that got to do with anything?
He's responsible for getting
your records expunged.
I told you to stay
the hell out of my business!
You said you visit the youth center
every time you come here.
So what?
Buford says he hasn't spoken to you
in years.
Why don't you visit the man
who made your career possible?
Damn you, Hotch!
It is none of your damn business.
Buford's the one who told detectives
you were with Damien.
I am warning you, Hotch.
Back off.
I'm not saying it's Mr. Buford.
There's a huge amount of investigation
left to be done.
For 15 years, he hasn't been
the slightest bit suspicious.
Morgan won't even talk about Buford.
- He won't?
- Buford should be that kid's hero.
- Something happened.
- Are you talking about Carl Buford?
Yes.
Yeah, we just left his office.
Hey! What, did we turn him loose?
You let him escape?
Black, male, 33. Six feet, 180.
Name is Derek Morgan.
You're standing out here
trying to convince me
that a local hero is my killer
while you're letting my suspect
dance out the back door?
I'm going to charge all of your asses.
Yeah, as soon as possible.
You have to tell your officers
that Morgan is not a threat.
- Like hell I will.
- But this...
Lady, as far as I'm concerned,
he is a threat. Okay?
They're beyond reason.
We have to find him first.
Any ideas?
You know, his mother said that Buford
practically raised him
after his father died. He mentored him.
Took him on trips.
Spent all of his time with him.
Basically became a surrogate father.
Jason, I think I know
what he was afraid we'd find.
Detective, we may know
where he's heading.
Looking good there, kid.
- I was trying to call you.
- I'm here now.
- Someone killed Damien.
- I know.
James, we need to talk
about Carl Buford.
What about him?
You're his star player, right?
Center of attention.
Yeah I guess.
- You know, I used to be that guy.
- Yeah, I know.
That's a lot of pressure, isn't it?
Always wanting to make him happy?
Impress him?
- I can handle it.
- Oh, I'm sure you can, kid.
Does he ever take you to his cabin?
What?
Fishing in Wisconsin? Camping?
Do things you wish you had
a real father for?
Sometimes.
Yeah, he's good like that.
You know about the cabin?
James, I told you. I used to be you.
What do you mean?
The first time you weren't even sure
what was going on.
He brushed up against you.
You thought it might have
just been an accident.
But then, at the cabin,
he let you sit and drink with him.
You thought it was kind of cool.
Made you feel grown.
Gave you a glass of wine.
Maybe a little shot of something harder.
And then he took you swimming.
Only he told you to jump in
without your swimsuit on.
He did things to you, James, didn't he?
He did them to me, too.
You do whatever you think
you got to do to keep him happy
because he's the closest thing
to a father you've got.
But what he is doing to you is wrong,
and you don't
have to let it continue, man.
- Yeah. I do.
- No. No, you don't.
Man, my oldest brother's in jail.
My sister was paralyzed in a drive-by.
She's eight years old.
I'm all my mom's got left.
I've got to get us out of here.
Carl's going to make sure
I get into college.
- Then I can make something of myself.
- James, you are something, man.
You're something right here, right now,
without Carl Buford.
You just got to believe that.
Where's Carl right now, huh?
Look at you, man.
You're out here in the dark
running pass routes. That's you.
That ain't got nothing to do with Carl.
What you got inside of here,
that's what's going
to get you off these streets.
You never told.
Not until right now.
- Damien always said I should call you.
- What?
Damien knew?
I didn't think you'd believe me.
James, I got your back, forever.
Carl.
- You've been let go?
- Looks that way.
I told him it was crazy, thinking
you were involved in any killing.
Really?
Gordinski said you're the one
who told him I drove Damien home.
- Was that supposed to be a secret?
- No.
- That wasn't.
- I don't follow.
All these years, I kept my mouth shut.
I let you go on being a hero.
Carl Buford, my mentor.
- What are you talking about?
- God, I was so afraid of you.
I was afraid of the police,
afraid of losing everything
I was gaining.
But that's how you work, isn't it?
You make sure there's a hell
of a lot to lose, don't you?
I don't know what you think
you remember.
No, no, see, it's not what I remember
that's going to hurt you, Carl.
Our business was over
way too long ago to matter.
You're protected by a statute
of limitations, and that's my fault.
- Then, good night.
- You set me up.
You knew Damien Walters
wanted James to call me about you.
So you killed him?
You killed him because you knew
I'd come after you, didn't you?
Now you're just talking crazy.
God, I should have told somebody
about you when I was a kid.
When you were "helping" me.
Well, you know what happens
in cases like this?
Once that dam breaks,
the flood comes.
One kid steps up. Just one.
And then another, and another because
they're not scared of you anymore.
They know they're not alone.
James Barfield is your dam.
- Whatever lies James told you...
- They're not lies.
You did the same thing to me!
I did nothing to you, to James...
One by one they're going to pile up,
until there's so many accusations,
you can't say that they're all lying.
Do you have any idea
how many kids I've helped
get out of this neighborhood, hmm?
How many lives I've provided?
Look at you.
- You'd probably be dead by now.
- Yeah, well it wasn't for free, was it?
I pulled you out of the gutter.
I pulled myself out of the gutter,
all the way to the FBI. I did that.
You're saying I had nothing to do with
making you who you are?
No, Carl.
Actually, I'm saying you have
everything to do with
making me who I am.
Because of you, I'm somebody who
gets to spend the rest of his life
making sure guys like you go down.
Look, Derek, I never hurt you.
You could have said no.
You're under arrest, Carl.
- I've helped a lot of kids.
- Let's go.
This neighborhood won't be the same
without me.
It's going to be worse
without the center.
Somebody will keep
this center running.
The neighborhood will. I will.
Wait. Wait.
Derek.
Isn't there something
you can do for me?
You go to hell.