AN: Hey guys, this is my first story. I want to make it as close to the T.V show as possible, so suggestions are welcome! I do not own Criminal Minds.

Get Out Alive

Death was something that they dealt with almost daily.

Being a profiler meant having to look closely at the horror that had taken place, and finding the small clues left behind that would point to the offender. It was their job to sort through the chaos and make sense of it all.

That didn't mean they liked it.

So when the BAU team entered the conference room that morning, none of them were very enthusiastic about what they were going to see and hear.

The first to come through the door was Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau. The media liaison strode confidently to the front of the room, taking her place next to the screen that would soon be displaying the details of their case.
Aaron Hotchner followed her, taking a seat at the round table and waiting patiently for his team.
The next to arrive was David Rossi, looking thoughtful as he sat next to Hotch. His dark eyes flicked to the door as the other profilers trickled in. Derek Morgan strutted into the room at his usual easy pace, though his movements were somewhat stiff, due to the woman behind him.

Emily Prentiss, who had until recently been thought to be dead, walked in with her head high. She nodded to her teammates before taking a seat next to Morgan.

The last to come through the door was Spencer Reid. JJ almost cringed at the serious expression on his face. It no longer held a hint of curiosity, only grim determination to get this done a quickly as possible.
When each profiler was situated, JJ began. At the click of a button, the photos of three people appeared behind her.

The first was a picture of a balding man in his forties with pale green eyes. The next was a woman with gray-streaked blonde hair and brown eyes, who had to be around the age of fifty. The third picture, however, was of an attractive brunette woman in her late thirties with bright blue eyes.

"This is Adrian Hux, Delayne Marden, and Melissa Noir," said JJ, officially starting the briefing. "They were found yesterday in Melissa's home in Seattle. Each victim had been stabbed in the face and chest areas."

Rossi frowned. "That suggests a personal connection with the victims," he mused.

"Which would explain the range in ages and appearance," agreed Hotch.

JJ clicked the button again, showing a neat living room with large windows and impressive artwork. Adrian and Delayne's bodies were lying on the floor with their arms folded across their chests. Melissa was tied to what looked to be one of her own kitchen chairs, with her eyes staring sightlessly at the floor.

"The positions of Adrian and Delayne suggest remorse, but Melissa looks like she had been tortured before her death," Reid commented.

Hotch nodded. "Perhaps Adrian and Delayne were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time?" he suggested.
"No," said Prentiss, shaking her head. "This unsub would have had to plan this very carefully. Look at the windows," she said, pointing. "He would need to be very careful not to get caught. He would have had to watch the surrounding area closely to figure out when everyone would be away."

Morgan leaned forward. "She's right. There's no way the unsub would take a risk like that if he wasn't prepared to deal with the guests."

"So we're looking for an organized but violent killer with a personal connection to Melissa," Reid said, summing up the profile they'd gotten from the pictures.

Rossi ran a hand over his chin, thinking hard. "Where did these three work?" he asked.

"Adrian and Delayne worked at the New York Institute of Science, Melissa was unemployed," JJ answered without missing a beat.

"Did Melissa work with them at one point?"

JJ shrugged. "You'll have to ask Garcia." The blonde woman paused slightly before speaking again. "There's something else you all should know," she said, locking eyes with each of them. "Melissa's 13-year-old daughter was the one who discovered the bodies. She was in the house during the murder."

Morgan raised his eyebrows. "And she didn't hear anything?"

JJ looked at the table before sighing and answering Morgan's question. "Police think she had been drugged prior to the murder. She was unconscious during the whole thing."

Reid stiffened slightly, as did the rest of the team. 'That poor girl,' he thought. 'To wake up to something like that. She'll never be the same.'

Hotch cleared his throat, running a hand through his short black hair. "Where was Melissa's husband during the murder?" he asked quietly.

"Melissa divorced her husband, Robert Noir, three years ago. He was denied guardianship of their daughter after Melissa's death," said JJ, looking upset. "Garcia's working on getting his contact information as we speak," she added.

Emily nodded slowly, taking the information in. "Where is she now? The daughter?"

Reid, who had been looking at his hands for the past while, snapped his head up. He didn't want to miss anything crucial about their only witness.

"Lyra Noir is staying at the police station. She has agreed to be interviewed, but she doesn't seem hopeful."
There was a moment of silence as the team committed this to memory. After a few uncomfortable minutes, Hotch spoke. "Wheels up in twenty," he decided. "We need to hit the ground running." His dark gaze swept over the room as he stood from his seat, making sure everyone had heard. His team stared back him, knowing he had something else to say.

"Whoever murdered these people might come back to finish the job," Hotch finished, nodding at the screen before exiting the room.

Five heads swiveled towards the front, just in time to see the picture of a thirteen-year-old girl flash across the screen.

AN: So this is what goes on in my twisted mind... I know it's short, but it's just the first Chapter. Chapter 2 will be posted sometime next Saturday.