Chapter 2 - Introductions

At 8:00 am the group met in the conference room. Reid, Morgan, Blake and Garcia sat in anticipation while JJ stood anxiously in the corner, about to continue pacing when Hotch walked. Next to him was a woman none of them had seen before.

So this was the Dr.

She couldn't have been older than about 30. Her face still showed touches of youth, her eyes a stormy blue. Her soft, round features were framed by a mass of thick chocolate hair, still tinged with the remains of a deep purple dye. She was tall for a woman, Reid noted. Standing at about 5"10, with legs almost two thirds of that height. Most interesting, he thought, were the clothes. Almost a reflection of his own style, yet verging toward fashionable rather than antique. A pale blouse covered by a burgundy cardigan that hung open. High-waisted, leg hugging trousers, which fell low to the floor, yet not low enough to hide the evidence of the classic converse she wore underneath. As she walked further into the room her bangs swung gently around her eyes which, ever so slowly, finished their sweeping gaze of the room and came to rest on his. A shy smile fell upon her lips.

"Team, this is Dr Sam Carter. Dr Carter these are Agents Morgan, Garcia, Jareau and Dr's Blake and Reid." Hotch, having already introduced himself earlier that morning, gestured to each team member. In turn, Sam waved at them, ignoring the outstretched hands offered up to her. "Sorry," She said, "I prefer not to touch. Do you understand..?" As one, the team turned toward Reid and, with their eyebrows raised as far as possible, they laughed. He frowned.

Not understanding the joke the new Dr simply looked around, confused and embarassed.

Hotch, knowing which direction the conversation was about to lead in, changed the subject, "Right, let's begin then shall we. Garcia?". The team gathered and sat around the table. "Right OK," Said Garcia, "Last week, in White Haven, Lincoln county, Montana, two people were murdered. One in his home, the other while she was out walking. The victims names were Mark Hardleigh and Charlotte Brown. He was a lowly shop assistant and she was a college student. Both victims were stabbed, Mr Hardleigh 48 times. Miss Brown 91. Miss Brown was also repeatedly raped and beaten. Now, as if that isn't bad enough, last night the UnSub claimed another three victims. Holly Wilmer, Matthew Jordan and Mary Stanston. Again, Matthew worked at his local store and the girls were both college students, although they didn't know each other."

"The MO was exactly the same" said Rossi.

"Yes, he was stabbed and they were stabbed, beaten and raped." The look of horror on Garcia's face was intense she angled her back toward the images which flashed up on the screen.

"All five were low risk victims. It seems like they were victims of opportunity, if you look at where they were taken from and where they were found, but these were people who have family and friends and are rarely alone, so... Maybe not victims of opportunity then?" This was the first time Sam had spoken to any length. She had a soft and strong voice. "I see they were taken when alone. So the UnSub must has stalked them in order to get to know their schedules. But three victims in one evening? That's intense. It would be almost impossible to keep track of stalking that many people in such a short time."

Hotch spoke up, "Which is why the local force has requested our presence. They have a fairly close knit community and after last night, panic is already starting to emerge. Wheels up in 30."

And with that Hotch, Rossi and Blake left.

Garcia turned to Sam and lit up. "It's so nice to meet you, despite the circumstances, we've never had a Brit on our team before and your accent is just adorable. Where are you from?"

With a timid cough Sam looked up from her case file, "I'm from Devon... That's down on the bottom part of England."

Garcia seemed genuinely interested, "I've only ever been to London. Is it like that?"

The young doctor looked slightly uncomfortable but amused, "No, far from it. There are a lot of fields and animals. Small towns, no large business buildings or shopping centers." Reid and Morgan, having stayed to listen to this conversation got up.

"Hey, let me give you a quick tour of the bull pen." Morgan gestured to Sam and they left.

"JJ oh my god look." said Penelope. JJ looked up and said, "What Garcia?". Garcia was giggling to herself and whispered to JJ, "Look at Reid! If that isn't the look of someone trying to hide a crush then I don't know what is." Both women turned their attention to Reid who was focused on the Dr. Currently orientating herself within the mass of desks. "You know I can hear you." Reid turned to face them, a mixture of embarrassment and denial on his face. "I don't have a crush OK. She's just and interesting person." He headed for the door, then paused, "Oh and for the record, Devon is a county, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south and is approximately 6,707 km²".

"Of course he know's that," said JJ, "Why wouldn't he." She sighed. "Ok well I'll see you when we get back Garcia, and I'll let you know how this turns out." JJ left, smiling at the small wave Penelope was giving her as she exited through the opposite door.

"I still can't believe you actually have your own jet," Sam mused, baffled at the luxury, "Did you know that it was initially Frank Whittle, an English inventor and RAF officer, who developed the concept of the jet engine in 1928..?" Reid looked up, "I did actually, though not many people do." Hotch cut the conversation short, "OK, let's go over the case files. Five victims within a week. Significant overkill. If his timeline is anything to go by then we should be expecting more in the not too distant future."

"A single man and one if not more than one female, most likely college students as well as men with menial jobs" Rossi thought for a second, "Judging by the victimology our UnSub might be a man in his mid to late twenties, mirroring that of his victims, who feels emasculated by his everyday life. Most likely by a women who shares the physical description of our female victims. Maybe a wife or mother."
"Actually I don't think it's just that," said Reid, "If he is killing men with menial jobs then it seems like contempt. This could be a reflection of self loathing or the killing or surrogates. Perhaps he's being emasculated within his job hierarchy by a similar woman." Blake paused from her analysis of the images in front of her, "That would make sense. He lacks control and power within his normal life so he asserts himself through his crimes. Rape is a way of gaining control over your victims and stabbing is a very intimate way to kill someone. It can be fast or slow depending on what the UnSub choses."

"Which gives him the power." JJ contemplated, "Hotch I think we should set up a press conference when we get there. A killer with specific victims might be slowed if his prey are on their guard."

Hotch asserted himself, "While it does have the possibility to diversify the victims and make him harder to catch I don't think this type of killer will change his MO or victims, he seems well established. Set up a small press conference, just a couple of local media informants. To get the word out. But don't publicize the presence of the bureau, that could have the opposite effect. Garcia...", "Sir yes sir, all ready and waiting sir!", "Garcia I want you to look for links between the victims, between their families, the schools, everything. Something which could be an indicator as to why they were chosen of something which doesn't fit in with their daily lives. Also look for previous crimes in the surrounding area which match this MO"

"Thy will be done. Garcia out." The computer screen faded to black.

"Rossi, you and Blake go to the coroners office, look at the recent victims, find out all you can and talk to the medical examiner, he might have more information by now. Reid you and Carter check out the abduction sites, see if you can gain any knowledge of how he gets around or how he is abducting his victims. At this point anything will help. We need to hit the ground running, we can't afford any more fatalities. We'll be landing in a couple of hours so everyone get some rest."