Author's Note: Hey guys, so, before the chapter, I want to give some warnings. First, I want to apologize for any mistakes in the writting. I'm not a native english speaker (I'm Brazilian), so if you find anything wrong, please, let me know. Second, this story is an AU (Alternative Universe) and some things that happened in the original story didn't happened here. Maeve, for example, never existed. Finally, I want to say thanks to all the people that left reviews and started to follow "True Genius", seriously, you guys are amazing! Hope you like the chapter, here we go!

Chapter I

Quantico, Virginia

- I know its late – started Hotch, with his usual taciturn voice – but we have a bad one this time. Garcia?

I looked at Penelope while she turned on her "devices". Even after so many years, I still wasn't used to her unusual style. Her orange hair was pulled back in a bun and contrasted with the green neon of her suit.

- Last night, Las Vegas officers found the body of an unknown man on an alley next to the Lotus Casino – she said at the same time that showed us images of the man – It's the third death in a week with the same M.O.

I looked to the report, frowning.

- Triple shot in the forehead? – admired myself – This unsub is obviously skilled.

Everyone agreed, looking concentrated at the images that were passing in the screen.

- The shots were so close that is hard to see the three bullet holes – commented JJ - Point blank?

Morgan denied, looking at his tablet.

- According to the coroner's report, the shots were shouted at least from 9.84 feet away – he said – Can we consider military training?

I raised an eyebrow.

- Hardly – I answered – The level of military training doesn't affect so much the ability with fire guns or long-distance shots. Besides, anyone can join an shot club and get better at it.

- Reid is right – mumbled Rossi, with a husky voice – we can't make suppositions just yet. Anyway, what's so special about this case, Aaron?

- We know that the shots can indicate that the unsub wants to get distant from his victims, what can make an impersonal crime, but he tattooed all the victims in the chest before killing them – said Hotch, while Garcia showed us the pictures of the three dead bodies: two shirtless man and a woman showed on the skin a dark tattoo a little bellow the collarbone. I felt a terrible impulse of swallow hard, but controlled myself, at the same time Blake spoke:

- So he gets away of the crime and person with the use of the fire arm, but shows a certain level of sadism in the act of tattooing them. Can we be sure that this is only one unsub and that he really made the tattoos?

- The Las Vegas police interviewed the families and friends of the victims and they all said that didn't know anything about the tattoos – said Garcia – And, before you ask, my Chocolate Thunderstorm, there is no indication that the victims had anything in common.

Everyone nodded. I felt like my head was about to explode.

- We will discuss the rest in the plane, grab your go-bags, wheels up in thirty – commanded Hotch, getting up – You too, Garcia.

Garcia smiled and practically run to get her stuff.

- Are you ok, Reid? – asked Morgan – You look kind of exhausted.

I opened up a tired smile while I grabbed my pack on the table.

- I'm just tired – I answered – Just slept one hour before Hotch call.

Derek opened a little smile and I could see that he was assuming that I had stayed up late watching a Star Wars marathon. Almost shook my head; Even after nine years I could still be amazed by the fact that even the most intelligent people wasn't exception to the famous " we see what we want to see".

- I'll grab my bag – I said, leaving the room – See you in the plane.

NINE YEARS AGO

- I don't know if I can do this, Gideon – I said, while swallowing a good bit of whisky.

The man sitting in front of me stared at me with a serious face.

- Are you starting to doubt your abilities? – he asked, raising an eyebrow – Or is just afraid of what they will do if this doesn't work out?

I rolled my eyes, putting my back into the couch and staring at the noisy fire in the fireplace.

- Don't be ridiculous – I answered, my voice cold - This operation will be over in the blink of an eye, I'm sure of it. What really bothers me is this extravagant cover. Don't you think that they will find it weird if I'm too much of a "nerd"?

- No, they won't – he said – Because they'll trust you, they'll have the need to protect you and they'll never be able to imagine you telling a lie.

I smiled aside, staring at him.

- Aren't you underestimating them? I mean, they are the best profilers in the country… and they're your friends – I paused – theoretically.

- They are my friends, and they're also great profilers, but you, more than anybody else, should know that people see what they want to see. And they want to see the young, insecure and naïve Spencer Reid exactly like this: young, insecure and naïve.

I shrugged, drinking a little more from my whisky.

- Well, they won't have to worry about Reid much longer, soon enough he will be dead and I will be able to return to my life – I said, evaluating his reactions to my words.

Jason didn't even flinch.

- Let's hope so – he said, to what I nodded.

TODAY, QUANTICO-LAS VEGAS AIRPLANE

- Reid, any interesting data on the tattoo in the bodies? – asked Hotch, taking me out of my thoughts.

- It's a five pointed star, also known as a pentagram – I started – It has been used for several cultures in the past, in many cases associated with religion or mysticism. One of the symbolical definitions more accepted, however, is that the pentagram symbolizes the balance between all the elements of nature and the spirit, in other words, the balance between all external factors and the men.

- Poetic – commented Blake, drinking a little bit of her coffee.

- So the tattoo could have a religious meaning? – asked Morgan, in a thoughtful tone.

- About that, I don't think so – said Garcia, serious – I've been making some research and I ended up with something promising. Does Khrabros means anything to you?

- It's an Russian word – I said quickly, trying to seem surprise – for dauntless.

- Exactly, Sweet Cheeks! But that's not all, khrabros is also the name associated to the Russian mob – she said, happily – I found an archive that has some mentions to certain dubious transactions in a Russian company with head office here in Las Vegas some years ago. The Internal Revenue Service investigated, but apparently nothing come up.

- Of course – commented Rossi – I've heard about the khrabros, a long time ago. Their symbol is a five pointed star exactly like the tattoos, isn't it?

Garcia nodded.

- So we are talking about the Russian mob? But the victims didn't work at the same place and apparently were social examples – said JJ.

- Well, about that – continued Penelope – The business we're talking about is called Pieces and Technology Company, they make pieces of every sort to the most variable ends, since automotive pieces to computers hardware. They also have many subsidiaries around the city.

- Production subsidiaries? – asked Hotch.

- That too – she answered – but I'm talking about related business. They've got mechanics, TI support shops and a lot more. We don't know who's the last victim, but Brian Wren worked in a subsidiary mechanic of the P.T. Company and Amanda Black worked at a TI support shop, also related to the khrabros.

- Then we can be dealing with someone that has some kind of grudge to the Russian mob – affirmed Blake, with a sigh – It's going to be like finding a needle in a haystack! They got have thousands of people with grudge against them.

I wanted to smile, but contained myself. The truth was that the khrabros were long gone from being an independent Russian organization and even the slightest illegal activities that occurred inside the company needed the approval from external organs.

- Do you know anything about this company, Spence? – asked JJ.

- It's a promising business – I answered, staring at my friend – It has a good annual return and the actions are going up significantly for a good five years now. Unfortunately, I can't say I know much about the Russian mob.

Rossi, to my surprise, stared at me, intrigued.

- Is that so? – he questioned – 'Cause I could swear that Gideon had plenty contacts inside the khrabros.

I wanted to hit my head against the wall. Gideon and his giant mouth.

I sighed, trying to appear tired.

- Gideon had many contacts in many places – I said – and he was never the most opened person in the world. I can look into the old diaries that he left over, perhaps I can find something.

Rossi, although looked suspicious, nodded.

- Do that, Reid – incentivized Hotch - But when we land, I want you to go with Blake to the morgue and talk to the coroner about the bodies. JJ and Morgan, you can go talk to the families of the victims and, meanwhile, Garcia, I want you to set up your equipment and start to search everything you can on the khrabros and this supposed covered up business. – he commanded – Rossi and I are gonna talk to the sheriff and analyze the data we already have, to start the profile.

I nodded, smiling slightly to Blake, who asked if I wanted some coffee, to what I said yes.

- You're going to visit your mom while we're in Vegas, Pretty Boy? – questioned Morgan, smiling a little bit.

I denied with my head, distracted.

- She's traveling with the clinic – I said, grabbing the cup of coffee from Blake's hand – Grand Canyon. She's much better.

Everyone smiled, friendly. Suddenly, my heart got heavier when I thought how disappointed all those people would've been if they found out the truth. Years ago, I would never care, but things change… People change. I looked at JJ with the corner of my eyes, remembering her reaction when she found out my secret.

- Well, anyway, it's always an adventure to go home – joked Rossi.

I smiled when I answered:

- You have no ideia.