Disclaimer: I don't own the show Criminal Minds, or any of its characters, CBS and its creator Jeff Davis do. I don't own ASPCA or am a part of it. No money is being made from this.

Authors note: This story is unbelted so any and all mistakes are mine. Any points of view are for story purposes only and not held by the writer. Any and all statistics were looked up/researched but could be wrong and are not to be taken as purely true fact or entirely correct. Some places are real while others are embellished or made up.

Warning!: This story contains very dark, violent, disturbing images and themes that are not for younger readers, bad language, and alternative points of view. If any of this offends you please stop reading right now.

"From a law enforcement perspective, we are looking at this as a crimescene, ... What if we find more than what we're looking for?" - Dave Reynolds

It was quite dark outside even with the never ending city lights. It was raining and cold which made all the animals anxious. They had calmed down considerably from all the activity they had just had. It made him smile as he loaded up the last of the precious animals. He would have to reward them well this week, starting with baths when they got home. Not bothering with closing the warehouse door he got into his vehicle and drove off into the night.

CMCMCMCMCMCM

It had been raining again which was unusual for this time of year. Peter had to wait a moment just inside the door of the derelict warehouse for the water to drip off his coat and hat. This crime scene was a mess and there would be evidence everywhere. There would be as little contamination as possible from the officers and crime scene techs that had drawn the short straw for processing this scene. With all the evidence from this most recent crime and the last several they were still nowhere near catching the sick twisted perp. His captain had been riding all their asses lately, his especially because of Rosa's involvement. In fact she had called before he got out of the car to ask him questions. As well meaning as she was he had to scold her for bothering him and listening to his police ban radio.

"Roger's get in here!" his partner Marcus interrupted his thoughts.

Judging he was as dry as he was going to get, he carefully picked his way over to his partner. He then looked down at what was left of the victim. A male, middle aged, he would have been average height maybe; there was brown hair with the remains. There was blood everywhere, mixed with some lose hay that partly obscured a faded circle drawn on the cement floor.

"No ID has been found yet, but it won't take too long as the techs are getting ready to look at the ground floor office." Marcus had his case note pad out and it already had half of a page of chicken scratch Marcus called his hand writing. "We are going to be here for a while, the perp left us some new clues" Marcus pointed to the inner left corner of the building. There looked to be a small shrine set up, some flowers and candles and a cloth covered lump.

Peter felt the beginnings of a head ache and signed knowing it was only going to get worse. "Alright, let's see what he left us" he began making his way over to the shrine. Marcus followed and motioned to a CSI tech who was taking pictures close by. Everything had to be documented before they touched it, this case couldn't afford screw ups. He and Marcus waited while the tech took several pictures from all angles before nodded at them. Peter pulled a pair of medical gloves from a packet in his pocket and slipped them on. Then he knelt down, took a breath and lifted the cloth off the lump.

They looked down at an emaciated dog that had probably been beaten to death. It was a corgi and its dirty fir had some blood on it. There was no collar and Peter was willing to be no ID microchip either. The tech took several photographs before calling over another tech on his walkie for some supplies.

"Stand back please" the tech advised when the new tech arrived with a tray of equipment. The tech the misted the area with luminal from a spray bottle and handed out orange glasses. The tech pulled a light off the try and turned it on before adjusting a dial turning to a blue lens coving for higher UV spectrums. Normally when this was done it was to uncover blood or other fluids that were hidden or whipped away. But they had seen the blood on the dog so it was something else the tech noticed and wanted them to see. Putting on the glasses and looking down then the light swept over the dog he felt a tinge of sickness. There was indeed extra fluid on the dog and he knew what it was. The tech handed the light off to the other as more pictures were taken.

Not wanting to see anymore Peter took his glasses off and gave them back to the tech. Marcus had taken his glasses off when the photos were being taken.

"Let's go see the office" Marcus was already moving away and Peter was quick to join him leaving the techs to start bagging up the scene they left.

There were two techs in the dusty dimly lit office when they got to the door. The office was too small for all of them to be in there. So they waited outside for a tech to pass them three bags that Marcus had asked for. One bag held a drivers license, another held a list of offenses that the perp had written out, and last were several polaroids of the victim during and in the process of his death.

"You notify next of kin, I did it last time" Peter said as he looked over some of the polaroids through the evidence bag.

"Thanks partner" Marcus huffed as he took the pictures back and moved out of the way of a tech exiting the office.

They stayed several hours going over the building, making sure everything was collected, the techs got their van full and left before searching the surrounding area. As per usual nothing could be found that would help with the investigation.

Climbing back into their patrol car Peter noticed lunch had come and gone a long time ago. However after the scene they were leaving he had no appetite and he was sure Marcus wouldn't be that hungry either. As they got on their way back to the station house to fill out reports and listen for tips Peter turned the CB radio to a familiar little used channel.

"Rosa? You have your ears on?" He asked and waited. When no reply was forth coming he tried again with the same results.

"Maybe she finally took your advice or she is learning to keep quite when you are on with that tone of voice" Marcus chuckled as he turned the dial back to their assigned channel.

"Tone, what tone is that?"

"The one where you sound tired, warn down and slightly angry" Marcus didn't look at Peter while he spoke.

Peter sighed and rubbed his temple, "I don't sound like that. We'll at least not the angry part" Peter corrected himself.

"What did you argue about before you joined me this morning?" Marcus called him out about his earlier conversation.

Peter made a face as he recalled his conversation with Rosa that morning. She had been on him about the case. She had made valid points and she was right about some of the things that had been found. But she wasn't supposed to be snooping around or know everything that she did. Mostly that was his fault for indulging her and letting her read some files to brainstorm with him. He had been mad at her and in the end it was mostly his fault. He would have to apologize when he got home. "Fine you are right but I will not discuss this with you. I'll talk to her, straighten things out."

"Don't forget to get some pumpkin bread on the way home and a dog bone" Marcus advised well aware of the ritual Peter took with Rosa when they didn't get along.

"Thanks" Peter rolled his eyes knowing he would do just that.

Arriving at the station they had a sit down with their captain who yelled at them for lack of progress before filling out stacks of paperwork, going over reports, and listening to various tips filing them under a system to look into the next day. This went on until shift was over and Peter, now starving drove to a small bakery on his way home. The young woman behind the counter smiled when he walked in before getting two bags together and a large cup of coffee. They had been through this many times Peter never had to order anymore, just met her at the counter to pay.

When he finally pulled into the driveway of the little house he shared with Rosa and Pip he ran for the door as the rain had started coming down harder within the last few miles of his drive. The porch light was on and so was the front hall light. The kitchen light was on and the radio for Pip but other than that the house was dark and silent. Peter passed Pip who was lying on the recliner watching him and entered the kitchen placing the go bags and the now half empty coffee cup on the counter. There was a note written on the white board on the refrigerator door.

Take care of Pip gone for a little trip will be back soon with help. Rosa

Peter sighed and shook his head at the note. Rose had probably gone to work to calm down and think. She did it sometimes when she got really upset or mad. Whatever help she thought she could bring was beyond him, besides the tips she gave on dogs and theories they brainstormed. He started to cook dinner from the hamburger meat Rosa had taken out to defrost in the fridge that morning. He fed Pip and waited to eat when Rosa came home. But he was too hungry and ate without her, covering and placing her plate in the fridge. It was getting late and he was beginning to worry but with the rain he knew the bus which Rosa rode into work might be delayed. So he sat on the couch and turned on the news while waiting for her. He must have fallen asleep because the next thing he knew Pip was on his lap whining and the news was over. He let Pip out into the back yard and checked the house finding it empty. He called Rosa's work and was told by the night shift receptionist that Rosa wasn't there. Peter called Rosa's cell phone only to have it go straight to voicemail. He was now very worried and called Marcus to see if he had heard anything.

Marcus had sounded tired when he called but became alert when Peter told him that Rosa was gone.

"Do you need me to come over or help you look for her?" Marcus sounded concerned.

"No, it's too early for that, but I am going to stay up and I'll call again in the morning." Peter hoped Rosa would be back before dawn, it was very unlike her to do something like this.

"Okay but you call if you need anything or anything happens okay. And I'll be sure to call you if she contacts me" Marcus reassured his friend.

After the call and letting Pip back in Peter went to Rosa's room to look for any clues. He refused to outright search her room but he did look around. Nothing stood out and it both worried and soothed him. He stayed awake all night and waited, but dawn came and still there was no sign of Rosa. He called into Rosa's work again and informed her boss Lilly of the situation. Lilly had promised to help if she or any of the other staff could.

Marcus was waiting for Peter when he arrived at work and took him to see their boss about Peter's problem. In the end all they could do was fill out a missing person's report and wait. If they wanted to search they would have to do it on their own time. They could ask their colleges to help but again off the clock unless new evidence can up that Rosa had met with some foul play. With that they were back on the case from the day before.

Peter tried as he might, but only half his attention was on the case, the rest on Rosa. And that was how it would be until three days later when he got a phone call from a curious sounding older man who called himself Agent Rossi.

Authors note: Okay so chapter one to get us started….All chapters after this the warning applies seriously. The team enters the picture and the evidence and crime are set out in detail in chapter two. This story is finished and there are 10 chapters. The rest of this stories postings fate or that it may be deleted is up to you the readers. Depending on your reactions and reviews starting now and most heavily after the posting of chapter 2 we'll see how things go. So please review, tell me what you think. Chapter two will be posted tomorrow (Sunday). Thanks.