This story, or the overall concept for it, has been in my head for a long time. I previously tried to create it into a CSI Las Vegas fic which was posted here, but the story was never finished. In part, it was because I got lost and sidetracked by all the technical forensic stuff that are instrumental for a CSI fic, but mostly is was because somewhere along the line, I lost interest in the show and my attachment or affection for the characters was no longer there.
That being said, although some of the premise for this story is similar - it is a very different story. I'm hoping Criminal Minds will be a better venue for this story because of its psychological, rather then forensic, aspect.
This story takes place after the season 2 finale and I will try to infuse some of my speculations about season 3 into it - but it will not really be the main focus of the story. At least I don't think so.
Another note – I've done extensive research for this story. All the facts you read here about serial killers and stuff like that have all been taken from several books and a lot of hours reading articles on the net. They are all true and have been verified – just like in the series.
Prologue
"Mommy please!" The young girl pouted and gave her mother one of her most pleading looks.
"No! No more stories! It's way past your bedtime princess!" Her mother insisted with a smile, trying hard not to allow herself to cave to those pleading eyes of her daughter. She gave the girl a soft kiss on her forehead and tucked the covers tightly around her "You'll get a new bedtime story tomorrow! I promise!"
When the little girl finally relented and nodded she got up and headed for the door "Good night Honey! Sleep tight!"
"Good night Mommy" came the already sleepy reply and the mother smiled to herself before continuing down the hall to her own bedroom.
"So how many stories did it take this time?" Her husband asked from his place on the bed, a knowing smile on his face even though he didn't bother looking up from his own reading.
"Three!" She laughed "She sure is your daughter, that one!"
She climbed into bed next to her husband and waited. A minute later he put down his book and turned off the reading lamp. She felt him put his arm around her as he whispered good night. A few moments later they were both fast asleep.
They didn't hear him as he came into the house.
They didn't hear him as he slowly crept up the stairs.
By the time anyone realized he was there, it was already too late. Much too late.
ONE WEEK LATER - BAU, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA.
"A week ago the Anderson family was killed in their home in Arizona" JJ began the briefing while handing out folders for the team to review.
She was interrupted for a moment when Emily came in and apologized for her lateness, looking tiered and preoccupied.
Once the final member of the team was settles in with a folder in her hands JJ continued her briefing "David and Karen Anderson and their three children: Beth, Simon and Kylie were all found dead later that day after the father failed to show up for work. The police has hit a dead end and are asking for our help"
"All members of the family were severely tortured" Hotch picked up the briefing as JJ continued displaying images of the crime scene on the screen before them "the UNSUB spent an enormous amount of time with them, probably the entire night and most of the day after that."
"Torture murders usually indicate a total disregard for human life and a feeling of pleasure derived from inflicting pain onto others" Gideon supplied.
"According to the coroner's report" Hotch said gravely "The children died first" he felt sick just thinking about it - parents being forced to watch their children tortured to death.
"In the 1980s Leonard Lake and Charles Ng killed eighteen people in California, torturing them for days, sometimes even weeks. Several times the torture included killing infants in front of their mothers" Reid stated, his brain automatically connecting the facts of their current case to the facts of one of the hundred other cases all stored away in his mind. Sometimes it scared people, the way his mind worked, the way he could just recall these tidbits of disturbing information with effortless ease, but his team was used to it by now. Not to mention, after the several weeks in which he'd been completely off his game due to what happened to him in Georgia (and the drugs…of course) they were more than happy to listen to him rattle off facts and tidbits since it meant he was slowly but surely making his way back to them.
"Who ever this is" Gideon said finally "He's not going to stop until we catch him"
"Wheels up in 30 minutes" Hotch announced "We're going to Arizona"
