On the plane the team settles in to review the full case files. All of them shake their heads at the depravity of the unsub they are chasing. Garcia is already running the histories of the victims to see if there was anyplace they may have crossed paths, giving the team a place to look for the unsub.
JJ shakes her head. "I feel like I'm back in the courses I took last year."
Morgan glances up. "Maybe that's it. Maybe the unsub flunked out of the police academy or a criminal justice major in college. He's committing these murders to prove he knows crime."
Emily nods slowly. "Scarily that could be an angle to look into. Gar- -"
"Got it, Emster. Will start that search once I finish getting the financials going."
Emily smiles. "You rock, Garcia."
"Yes, I so totally do," the analyst agrees proudly.
The profilers all grin and get back to the grim information in their hands. As she studies a picture from the first crime scene, JJ keeps feeling like something more than just the color of the refrigerator is off. She minimizes that picture and does a quick search to pull up a copy of the original LaBianca crime scene. She studies the picture of the fridge carefully.
"Em, can I borrow your tablet a second?"
"Uh, sure," Emily says. She hands it over.
JJ pulls up the picture of the new murder site. She holds the tablets side by side, studying the words and the way they are shaped. Emily is looking over her shoulder and nods.
"I see it, too."
Morgan looks up at them. "See what? All she asked was to borrow your tablet."
"The words are amazingly the same with one exception. There's an additional mark after 'Skelter'. I can't make out what it is," JJ explains. "It could be a mistake but this unsub is so meticulous it may be his personal signature. Maybe the other scenes have something just slightly off the original, too."
Morgan nods and starts to flip through the pictures. Unfortunately the size of the tablet makes the comparison hard.
"It's a good thought. When we recanvas the scenes we'll need to watch for something like that," Rossi agrees from where he sits on the couch.
Hotch hangs up his phone and approaches his team. "I just got off the phone with the lead detective. The media has gotten word of these murders and our arrival. I'll take point with them. They are already calling the unsub "The Emulator."
"Ooo, scary," JJ says sarcastically.
Hotch gives a slight grin. "Needless to say people are terrified since they couldn't be told what to watch out for. I'll do my best to diffuse the situation but be aware the media will be dogging your steps."
"Lovely," Rossi gripes.
"When we land I'll head to the station with Reid and Garcia. Reid, let's attempt a geographic profile based on the backgrounds Garcia is running. Garcia, the detective will have an office set up for you to use for the duration of the investigation. He'll have a key so you can lock up your computers and keep people from nosing into them for information."
"Good, sir. Printer and high speed available?"
"Yes to both." The analyst nods. "The rest of you, I'd like you to go together to the three scenes. JJ, I heard what you noticed and it would help to have all eyes looking at once to make sure we see everything the unsub wants us to see. The trick will be determining if any anomalies are mistakes, a result of circumstance as the crime occurred, or deliberate actions by the unsub. I think we all know that as we speak he is most likely planning his next kill. Let's stop him before it happens."
Hotch extends his hand to the detective that meets the three agents at the station.
"I'm SSA Aaron Hotchner, this is SSA Dr. Spencer Reid and our technical analyst Penelope Garcia."
"Detective Phil Squires," he responds in way of introduction. "Damn glad you all could make it. This is one sick fucker," he glances at Garcia, "uh, apologies, ma'am."
Garcia grins. "It's okay. I actually concur with that assessment."
Squires smiles. "Well, let me take you to the conference room where the case boxes are. Agent Garcia, your office is right next door."
"Thanks. But I'm not an agent. Just Garcia is fine," she says with a smile.
He nods. "Understood. If you need anything else let me know." He hands her the key.
Garcia nods and goes in to get her computers up and running. Hotch and Reid had walked into the conference room. Reid sees the map he requested is already tacked to a board. Most of the case information is up, too.
"I know you all said you like to do your own boards but this is what Harry and I had done ahead of time. Feel free to move things around as you need too," Squires tells them. "Detective Harry Dillon is meeting the rest of your team at the scene of the Manson-style murder."
Hotch nods. "Very good. I'll let Reid get started in here. Can I meet with your media spokesperson and start working on a press release to try to curb the frenzy that is starting."
"Right this way," Squires says leading Hotch down the hall.
Reid moves to the map on the wall and starts to plot the locations of the murders from memory. He then plots the places people worked or went to school, including plotting the path the bus driver had taken on his route. Once it is all done he steps back and studies it.
"No clear lines of crossing," he mumbles. "So how does the unsub find you? What does he see that tells him you're the ones?"
With nothing more to do until Garcia finishes pulling the financial histories he starts to study the murder boards to see what needs to be adjusted for the team. He is impressed and not much has to be moved. He grins.
"Bet one or both of them have been to one of our seminars," he thinks to himself.
In her office, Garcia is talking to the three computers she has brought with her.
"Okay, guys, plan to be super busy until the case ends. I need you to work hard and find what I need as quickly as you can. No hiccups or hang-ups. Let's stop this sick puppy sooner rather than later."
"Um, Ms. Garcia?"
Garcia turns and sees a rather nervous young woman standing in the doorway. "Yes?"
"Uh, are you talking to your computers?"
Garcia grins. "Yep. Just giving them a pep talk before we get going."
The young woman smiles and sighs in relief. "I thought I was the only one that did that." She walks in and extends her hand. "Hi, I'm Trina Ware. I'm the researcher for the detectives. Squires thought I should introduce myself in case you need help or anything."
Garcia shakes her hand. "A fellow techie! I love it!"
Trina chuckles. "Me, too. It can get lonely with nothing but the computers to talk to. So, uh, if you need anything I'm two doors down."
Garcia nods. "Great. Well, once I get up and going I'll come see you if I need help or, more likely, just a break."
Trina smiles and nods. "Cool. See you around."
Garcia nods. "See ya."
As the other analyst leaves, Garcia looks at her computers. "Not often I have help, guys. Very nice. I love Syracuse already. Well, except for the murdering maniac we're up here tracking."
Garcia finishes her set up and gets to work pulling the histories of the victims, hoping to find the link between them all that will take the team to the unsubs lair.
