A/N: This was a story idea that I have been thinking of for a while. It's almost complete, so I thought now would be a good time to post it. Please review. :D
Chapter One: There's A Cold Fire
Anger is a manifestation of a deeper issue.
- Naomi Campbell
"Three murders in three days – this is getting a little ridiculous," Derek Morgan said, hesitantly picking at the three manila folders lying on the table. "Are we certain that this is the same unsub? Murderers take time to get this good, to get this angry..."
"We're positive," Aaron Hotchner said, picking three separate pictures out of the folders. "Same M.O. The killer writes a message on the chest of each of the victims."
Sure enough, the four pictures he tacked up to the corkboard had messages scrawled across the bodies and clothing of the victims.
Richard Horton – Quack
Lucas McDonald – Rapist
Michael Adelaide – Victim Blamer
"Is that lipstick?" Emily Prentiss asked.
"We're practically certain that it is, but it's at the M.E's office being tested. But let's go with the theory that it is lipstick – does that mean that we have a female unsub?" David Rossi said.
"But they're so rare...And this unsub is capable of inflicting great amounts of damage to the victims. These are grown men we're talking about," Hotch said.
"Rare, yes, but it's not improbable to believe that a female could have done so much damage to a victim, regardless of their sex," Reid said. "Depending on her mental status and the amount of adrenaline that was rushing through her veins while committing the murders, she definitely could have victimized them."
"So you're thinking white female?" Jennifer Jareau asked.
"We can't be certain until we get to the crime scene, but it's the most likely profile at the moment," Hotch said.
"Where are we going again?" Reid asked.
"Vegas," Rossi replied. "Looks like you're headed home, Reid."
Hotch rubbed his temples furiously as he got off the phone with the Las Vegas Police Department.
"There's been another murder. Larry Winchester, captain of the Western Las Vegas Police Department. We're headed to the crime scene first," he said.
"What did he have written on him?" Morgan asked.
"Negligent."
"This is sounding more and more like a personal vendetta," Reid said, picking up his phone to call Penelope Garcia.
"What's up, sweetness?" Garcia said, cheerfully.
"Hey, can you look up cases that Larry Winchester of the Western Las Vegas Police Department had been assigned to that have gone cold?" Reid asked.
"Of course," she said, tapping away at her computer. "You know for someone so smart, you clearly don't know the way of the Garcia...Sent."
"What are you thinking, Reid?" Prentiss asked.
"Whoever's doing this has something against each of the victims. If he – or she – thinks that Winchester was negligent, it might have had something to do with not solving a case. Hence, the cold cases."
"Got it," J.J said, nodding. "Got anything so far?"
"Maybe...I'm sending you all the list now."