Chapter 1

JJ looked at the newest folder on her desk, her hands shaking as she read the name on the front in disbelieve. It couldn't be him…..Not again! With trepidation she opened the folder only to see the photos within and she knew instinctively it was him. It echoed a case she had seen before. One that she was sworn never to talk about for her own protection, one that she didn't even like thinking about, yet it echoed through her every waking moment, it was the worst event in her life, her pathetic little life and now it had happened again. He was back.

She reached for her phone urgently he had to be stopped, normally she would call Hotch convene the team, who would decide whether to take the case or not. But this time was different, this time it wasn't Agent Jareau who had received the case file it was Shelby. Shelby the girl she had been, more scarred than anyone could imagine, Shelby the voice of her inner bitch and all her insecurities. Deep inside Shelby was screaming with fear and hate and JJ was having a hard time not following.

"Dillon its Jenifer, I got your folder," she said as soon as the phone was answered, she knew he had sent it to her and would be waiting for her call.

"Jen it's good to hear from you, we need you to hold position for now. Intel states he has no idea where or who you are" he told her

"How did he get out? I thought he was there for life" JJ asked her voice shaking, how had he gotten out? It wasn't possible was it?

"He was born again in jail, got a degree, did charity work and was reformed, at least that's what the committee thought" the distain in Dillon's voice was obvious; his crimes should have spoken for themselves there should have been no release but then he was one of the people who had seen the devastation he had caused.

"Who?" JJ questioned, sentences were alluding her at this point. They had let him out. She started looking through the file

"3 people in 2 weeks"

"So he is on a spree" JJ profiled, having listened to enough of her colleagues conversation to know the basics.

"We think so. Look JJ your team is going to need to come in on this. The local police haven't seen anything like it since well the last time. They're faxing you a request soon"

The phone was silent as JJ processed what this meant. Her team would find out everything. They would hate her she knew it.

"But" Dillon continued, "I have spoken to my superiors, Shelby Merrick is dead and buried and she will remain there. There is no evidence that she is even alive let alone working for the FBI and definitely no indication she is you" JJ sighed in relief. Shelby was dead and she would stay that way.

"That's good"

"Remember you can tell nobody about Shelby that includes your team,"

"I know" JJ swallowed the guilt she had lied to too many people for too long for any worries about lying to matter now.

"Of course there is one problem" Dillon added.

"What?" JJ almost shouted.

"The local police will call you in and Mount Horizon is still there, the locals might recognise you" he paused. JJ sat quietly, he was right. Although it had been 10 years she physically she hadn't changed. Peter and Sophie would recognise her she was sure. Still she would just avoid Horizon and stay at the station. It was a plan.

"Thanks for the heads up" JJ finalised. If she had received this news in a briefing there was no way that she would have kept her cover. Her face would have clearly displayed shock. Even now she was shaking at the thought he was out there and they would have to hunt him down and there was always the risk her secret would be discovered but innocent people were dying because of him and it was her job to save them.

She hung up the phone taking a few deep breaths. This was going to be hard but she owed it to Mellissa, Jess and Scott to try. As if reading her thoughts a request for help from the local police department was faxed though.

Gathering the file she opened it again this time reading past the name. It was just as Dillon had said 3 victims. All blonde all female, aged 12-18 all Walt's ideal age group. The first Annie was an 18 year old college student doing some hiking in the woods with her boyfriend. She was found naked in the woods just 24 hours after going missing from their tent that was 2 weeks ago, she had been raped and strangled. No DNA had been found. The second Sophia was 12 years old on a family camping trip to their cabin. One minute she had been gathering wood the next she had disappeared, she had been found 45 hours after disappearance raped and strangled. That was 7 days ago. 3 days ago Helen 14 years old was shopping in a local town when she had vanished. They hadn't found her body yet but they weren't holding out a lot of hope.

It was clear the unsub was escalating. They needed to get there quickly. JJ stood up this time walking out of her office and marching into Hotch's with her game face on.

"Hotch we have a case" she declared marching into his office. He was doing paper work, dropping his pen he reached for the case file. Flicking through he instantly agreed with her.

"Get the copies, I'll gather the troops" Hotch ordered, "And get the jet prepped. We will leave in 90 minutes" JJ went to the photocopier calling the airfield on the way and the local police on the way back. Within 10 minutes it was all set. She arrived into the briefing room just after everyone else handing them each a folder.

It didn't take long for them to agree to take the case. JJ kept quite letting the others profile. She didn't tell them she knew who it was. It wouldn't take Garcia long to dig it up. If she hadn't found it by the time they landed she would hint.