Morgan sighed. They'd been working this case for a four days now and were still no closer to identifying the unsub and stopping the death toll from mounting, due to the maddening mix of organized and disorganized characteristics that the killer displayed. The team were clustered around a table in the back room of the small police station that had called them in- with the exception of JJ and Seaver, who were busy interviewing the families of the two latest victims.

"Alright, let's go over what we know and what we don't know about this unsub" said Hotch, who was standing with his back to the team, intently studying the corkboard tacked with the gory images of the seven known victims.

"Well, he blitz attacks young, professional women who live alone, and takes them to his secondary location to brutally mutilate and torture them. A real classy guy if you ask me," answered Prentiss, sarcasm dripping from her closing words.

Reid nodded "It's also interesting to note that although he watches them for days beforehand, the unsub only attacks at night- this along with the choice of a blitz attack with a found object indicates a severe lack of self esteem"

"Yeah," said Morgan "But what if it's more than that? Maybe his preference towards night attacks is part of his signature, along with the complex and detailed mutilation he carries out"

Rossi smirked. "So, a nocturnal hunter… like an owl?"

"An owl?" laughed Prentiss "Wow, we've been at this too long. Who wants coffee?"


"Hey, kid" called Rossi "Get any leads from the victim's families?"

Seaver glanced up and was met with a jovial Rossi, clutching two paper cups of coffee "Not really… same as the rest of the victims. Is one of those for me?"

"Sure is" replied Rossi, handing her one. He paused. "I need some advice. There's something… personal that I want to tell the team-"

Seaver cut him off. "Wait, is wife number four in the wings? Because I'd love to break out a fancy dress for the wedding"

Rossi grimaced. "Well, yes, that's part of it…. It's just… this 'new wife' is kind of… unusual…"

"Ohhhh I see" said Seaver with a knowing grin "I was wondering when you and Hotch were going to go public"

"What? No!" exclaimed Rossi. "No, they're just-"

Hotch called across the room, cutting short their conversation "Guys, conference room. We got a lead"


"So.. That's it? We got him?" asked Prentiss, peering into the interrogation room.

"Oh yeah" replied Morgan, his booted feet crossed upon the table "He surrendered the minute I kicked down the door"

"His real name is Robert Whelan, by the way" said Garcia through the phone Reid was holding. "Works a menial job, undervalued, domineering mother, rage against women- he checks all the boxes of your standard creeper"

"Should be easy to get a confession out of him. Rossi, you want to take the lead on this one?

"Oh… what?" said Rossi, tearing his eyes away from the corner of the room. "Uh, no, there's something here I need to check out"

"Rossi, are you okay?" asked JJ "You've been acting kind of strange during this case…"

"No, no, I'm fine. Send Derek in, let him play the intimidating bad cop"

"Fine" replied Morgan. "C'mon Hotch, let's get this sucker to confess"

"Oooh, go get 'em tiger! Talk to you later you wonderful people- Garcia Out!"

As Hotch and Morgan left the room, Rossi suddenly twitched his head back to the corner, staring intently at the skirting board as though he expected something to materialise. "Can you… can you guys hear that?"

"Err... no?" replied Reid, looking at Rossi with a puzzled look on his face.

"Rossi, what is going o-" Seaver broke off as Rossi jumped up and pelted across the room, scrabbling around on the floor for something.

He emerged, triumphant, and held a small white bundle up to the remnants of the team.

"Look, it's a mouse"