Author's Note/Disclaimer: I am simply a fan and have no rights towards Criminal Minds in any way, shape, or form. Thank you.
This story takes place in the midst of season 5, right after episode 106- "Public Enemy", most because I'd like Prentiss to still be with us, but Hotch still a little scarred by Haley's death. I'm not planning on having an author's note on every chapter as I have done in the past. The events that take place might end up altering future events, but I can't really help that.
Cast of Characters-
SSA/BAU Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner- Thomas Gibson
SSA/Unit Senior Agent David Rossi- Joe Mantegna
SSA Derek Morgan- Shemar Moore
SSA Dr. Spencer Reid- Matthew Gray Gubler
SSA Emily Prentiss- Paget Brewster
SSA/Media Liaison Jennifer "JJ" Jareau- AJ Cook
Technical Analysis Penelope Garcia- Kirsten Vangsness
BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss- Jayne Atkinson
I might end up adding the simple recurring characters once they're brought into the story, but for now it's just the main cast.
Title: Espionage
Summary: Right after dealing with the serial killer in Wyoming, JJ and Hotch go over a new case and bring it up to the team, Morgan giving the go to go through with taking the case onto the team. At the beginning, the team thinks it's a normal killing spree in Quantico, Virginia- well, as normal as a killing spree can get- until they are convinced that one of the officers has been leaking information to the unsub, or by far worse could be the unsub. Sooner or later, they'll start to suspect each other. Who could possibly be the unsub?
"Man has such a predilection for systems and abstract deductions that he is ready to distort the truth intentionally, he is ready to deny the evidence of his senses only to justify his logic," as said by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
"Did you know that Wyoming has one of the weirdest climate arrangements in the entire continental US? It's generally semi-arid and drier than the rest of the country as a whole but for reasons mainly due to the location of the state itself and its topography. It's weird, but the Midwest gets colder summers than Wyoming actually does, which is somewhat odd because Wyoming obviously has more mountains and high raising areas since that's what makes the state cold in the first place. We also get warmer summers in Quantico than they've probably seen in a long time-"
"Reid?"
The young genius glanced up; redirecting his attention to Derek Morgan, one of the team's finest. His hair swished back from behind his ears and flew in front of his face, making him shove them back as soon as Morgan continued.
"You know, we don't need a commentary of every place we go, or even fly over," the older man continued, leaning back on his seat, resting his hands on the armrests.
"Sorry," Reid replied, flipping through his hand one more time before laying down his cards. "Royal Flush."
Closing his eyes and sinking down into his seat even further, Morgan let out an annoyed sigh as the cards in the table. "You know everything don't you?"
Spencer Reid pained out his own provoked exhale. "Like I've said before, despite the fact that you think I know everything, I don't. I just remember it."
"That's the same thing, Pretty Boy."
"Actually, even though they're both parts in the memory process, remembering is mostly of things you've seen or heard in the past, and possibly read, but knowing-"
"Reid," Hotch said, speaking up from three seats away on the jet.
The boy unabashedly blushed, tearing his eyes from Morgan to Hotchner. "Sorry," he repeated, pulling all the cards from the table and forming them back together in one single hand. Shoving them back in the box, Prentiss smirked and came over to sit by Boy Genius.
"Reid, don't suffocate the cards. You're going to end up cutting the corners off." The brunette placed her butt down on the booth, sliding in a little.
"Ah, I'm gonna get some sleep before we arrive back in Quantico," Morgan muttered, standing up from his seat on the bench, moving towards the front of the plane, replacing the awkward voices from across the plane with the music that was now fuming through his headphones.
"Me too," Reid said, agreeing with Morgan. "I don't know when I'll be able to get some sleep in before we get back to the BAU. Better be prepared for anything, since cases decide to pop up all over the place these days." The Einstein slid out of the nook and walked back towards JJ, taking a bench against the back of the back of the aircraft. He stretched out his arms, cracking his back slightly before laying down on the bench, flinging his arms around one of the simple beige pillow.
Prentiss sighed, lying down on the now vacant booth. "'Guess I'm crashing, too," she mumbled unintelligibly, using her sweater as a blanket.
Clicking off the light for the other agents, JJ came out from the cockpit carrying three manila envelopes and took a seat next to Hotch. Something was off about the young liaison, since she normally didn't come out with cases in silence, and generally wanted everyone awake when she talked about a new case.
"JJ?" Hotch asked, seeming a little concerned; most of the time she wasn't this silent.
The blond glanced to the Unit Chief, then to Rossi, and back to the bag containing endless amounts of paperwork.
"We were given a case in Quantico. It doesn't seem right," she replied, slightly on edge, hoping none of the other members were still awake. It's not that she didn't want to inform them, she just didn't want them to worry.
"How does it not seem right?" Rossi asked, leaning forward on the table and resting his face in his hands. The man's eyebrows rose, creating a small crease on his forehead.
JJ took a long breath, trying to find the best way to get across to subject. "There's been a serial killer watching us for a while," she whispered. "Either he's watching us or is someone we know."
Hotch grew closer, but lowered his voice. "How do you know?"
The liaison glanced around once more before continuing. "Everywhere we go as a team, or even a small group, pair, or by ourselves, this killer goes out of his way to kill someone at every place exactly one day later, at the exact time we were there."
Rossi and Hotch exchanged a quick glance, looking back to JJ. "Are you sure?" the chief asked.
JJ nodded, placing the envelopes on the table before the three of them. "I asked for copies of everything and got two, so you guys can look it over if you like. I'm going to get a start on the paperwork for the last case. The sooner we get that one out of the way, the sooner this one will become top priority."
Aaron Hotchner dipped his head once, opening the folder, flipping through pieces of paper. "I wish I could read as fast as Reid. This is a lot of desk work."
Rossi ran his hand over his face, possibly an attempt to show how much of a strain this case was going to be.
Okay, last author's note for a while, but I wanted to let people that are reading know that I'm grateful for their interest in this story, even if they don't have any urge to continue reading. Thank you, and reviews are always welcome.