Chapter 2: The Case

Morgan hardly even entered the other room when the girls bombarded him with questions

"How is my baby boy?" asked Garcia

"Is he going to be okay?" asked Prentiss

"I hope his fever is not too high," said JJ

"Girls, whoa…..easy. He is having fever but it is still under control," said Morgan to calm the girls down

"He will be fine if he take the break we suggested to him,"

"I don't blame him for being sick…this case has been driving us crazy," said Rossi

David Rossi was correct. It is their fourth day in Ohio, and still they are nowhere near to catching the Unsub.

"Let's go through the case files again," Hotch suggested

"Okay, so far 18 victims. Other than being female and in mid-twenties, there is no other connection between the victims," said JJ

"Whoever this Unsub is, he is careful enough to divert the police, as he has 3 cities as his crime field, Lancaster, Marion and Canton," said Prentiss

"All these victims were found in these 3 cities, in the range of 18 months, which means 1 victims each month," said Morgan

"Police in each cities wasn't able to connect all these cases because of completely different MO and COD. If Reid didn't connect all these, we would long gone and the Unsub is free to kill again," said Hotch

"That's what he is wants. Some serial killer wants recognition from media, public or Police but this guy, he wants all this for himself, that's why he use completely different MO and weapons" said Rossi

"So, this guys is organized in terms of planning and escaping, but disorganized when it comes to killing and the crime scenes look messy," said Morgan looking through the crime scene photos

"He choose 3 different cities, different MO and different type of killing which suggest that he is obsessed to kill, and at same time intelligent " said JJ

"He got away so far, so he quite confident about himself," said Hotch

"So, according to Reid, all these victims have other connection in terms of their work, all their job deals with people, like the first victims was a cashier in a bookshop, second victim was a receptionist at law firm. All of them are available for anybody at anytime. Simple jobs," said Prentiss

"That's how the Unsub could've meet them," JJ suggested

"The last point that Reid found was the most important. All these victims had the same swollen marks around their hands, which indicated that the rope and the way he ties them are the same for all the victims," said Hotch

"Baby girl, how about the suspect the Police found in connection to the 8th murder?" asked Morgan

"Well, it was Austin Jackson, age 30. He claimed that he was dating the 8th victim, Amy. However, there were no evidence that connects him to the murder," said Garcia "but after the 12th victims, he was often seen near the crime scenes for the following murders,"

"The police didn't arrest him?" asked JJ

"They did, but they couldn't connect him to any of the cases," said Garcia

"Garcia…run background check on him. I want to know everything about him," Hotch demanded

"On it…Here, he is a nurse…Oh…wow….never mind….he resigned two months ago. His address, oh….he sold his house, also two months ago to a couple from Los Vegas."

"So, we can't find him?" asked Morgan

"Did you just challenge me, Handsome? Well, you're going to so regret it! His phone is still active, I am trying to trace the signal, give me a second" said Garcia

"That's my girl," said Morgan with a smile

"Got it!...GOD," said Garcia

"Garcia, what is it ?" asked Hotch

"He is here….IN THE POLICE STATION!" said Garcia

Just when each of them was about to react to Garcia's answer, there were noises outside the conferences room. All the cops were grouped in certain spot facing something. When all the team members make their way out of the room, they were not surprised to see Austin in the middle of the police station, but what almost stopped their breath was Austin holding Reid as a shield and pointing a gun to Reid's head

"Don't get near me, or I swear I will put a bullet in his head!" shouted Austin

How did Reid end up with Austin? How are they going to clear this situation? Thousand of questions began to race in their mind and the worst thing in this whole situation; Reid is just half conscious.