While working with abused women in NYC, I was upset that I couldn't do more for some of the women who couldn't get out of abusive relationships. Many of their husbands or boyfriends were cops. I had the resources to do so much more. I started a fund for women and children of domestic violence. I also started to initiate contacts to help these women disappear. I told the women and my contacts that I had a trustworthy friend who worked for the FBI. I gave them Spencer's card in case of emergency or if anything were to happen to me.

In 2008, there seemed to be a string of similar killings. Five of my former clients have been raped, beaten and strangled to death. The police apprehended three of the husbands based on previous violent behavior. My intuition says that they are wrong. These couples have been in counseling and are working their problems out. I've known them well enough to recognize a problem. The husbands wouldn't have just snapped like that.

My hunch was confirmed when I received a phone call late one night. It was the husband of another couple who have been making it work for almost 2 years. They now have a 6-month old daughter. He said that his wife went out for some groceries and hasn't come home yet. He was panicking and wanted to go out and look for her. I told him that I'd come right over and help look for her. We didn't have any luck. I stayed the night to help take care of the baby. The next day, the police found her car abandoned and her body nearby. She had been raped, beaten and strangled just like the other women. The police couldn't arrest her husband because I was his alibi. They had no leads but still didn't believe that these murders are connected.

I spoke with the husbands who were in jail for the previous murders. I don't believe they killed their wives either. I told the police that I believed they had a serial killer and they should call the FBI, but they ignored my arguments. I called Spencer and told him about the murders, my suspicions and being rejected by the local police. He said, "We have to be invited by the local police before we can start investigating but I'll see what I can do." The team came after they discovered two women in New Jersey were found murdered the same way. They knew it was a serial killer and, since the murders crossed over state lines, it was an FBI case. This didn't make the NYPD very happy but they cooperated.

In addition to the reports of being abused, the BAU noticed another connection with these women. They all were members of the same fitness club. Most of the women I counsel, I recommend taking some kind of self-defense classes so they can protect themselves. I invite them to take my classes and they usually end up joining the club as well. Agent Morgan and Spencer came to the Y to ask questions about the women and the classes they take. They asked the attendant for a list of names of women who take my class. The attendant led them to the pool where I was finishing my nightly swim before closing. Spencer threw a ball at me in the pool. Morgan looked at him funny. Spencer said, "When she swims, she gets oblivious to what's going on around her. Who knows how long we would've waited until she realized we were here." The attendant said, "I'm going to start closing up." I said, "Ok, I'll lock up and set the alarm when I leave."

Agent Morgan asked about a list of members for the classes I teach. I said, "I don't keep a list, for their protection. They sign up to attend a class, and then I shred the list. Sorry, I tend to be overly cautious." He asked, "Have you ever noticed anyone suspicious watching these women, say in the gym or equipment room?" I said, "I don't use the stationary machines. It's as if you're going nowhere. The classes I teach are all woman. The only other areas of the club I'm in are the pool and the locker room. I also help out in the daycare on occasion but I never see anyone suspicious there. I do have files, of the women I counsel, back at my office. They might be of use to you." Derek seemed intrigued, "You work for social services, counsel women, teach classes and work in the daycare. Is there anything you don't do?" I said, "I don't really have much of a social life."

I took them back to my office for the files. I said, "The files social services keep on record are basically the minimum requirements. I like to keep more detailed information and usually keep in touch with clients even after social services close the case. All the women killed so far have been closed cases. Here are the files of more closed cases. These are women who I thought could be potential victims because they are either trying to make it work out with their husbands or have left them. If you are going to interview any of these women, I suggest you bring along a woman to help with the interview. It will make them feel safer and more comfortable."

Derek said, "All these victims have another common factor. You have tried to help them. This unsub could be someone you know and you could also be in danger." I pointed to my filing cabinet and said, "There are hundreds of cases I have worked on over the past few years. This job is not something many people do with success for as long as I've been doing it. The probability that I have worked with these women is very high because I've worked on so many cases. Plus, my apartment is probably safer than you're hotel." Spencer asked, "Who do you think this unsub could be?" I said, "Spencer, you know better than to ask me that question. You know I probably couldn't give an unbiased answer because of who my father was." After they left, Derek asked Spencer, "What was her father like?" Spencer updated Derek on my history, "He was a cop who abused her and her mother."

It was my suspicion that the man committing these murders was a cop husband of someone I helped to disappear. I went back to my apartment where I kept those files in a security box hidden in the wall behind the dresser. I use a prepaid cell phone to call my contacts when I need them. I called them to leave a message that I might have a security issue and warned them to be careful. I told them that I was turning my files over to the FBI to help solve this case and if they have any problems to call the number I gave them for Spencer's cell phone.

The next day, I went to see Spencer and his team. Agent Hotchner was the only one there. Everyone else was out interviewing potential victims from the files I had given them the night before. I started looking at the pictures of the victims on the board. I said, "This guy really did some damage on these women." Hotch said, "Some of them had internal bleeding. It looks like they may have been hit with a bat or a stick. The others' injuries are more concentrated on the arms and legs." I said, "They put themselves in a fetal position. Some of these men are so big and overpowering, when they are in a rage, there may be no way out. I tell my clients, if they ever get into a situation like that, where they can't get out, lay in a fetal position and cover you're head. It will hurt a lot more, but it lessens the risk of serious internal damage if he hits you on the arms and leg as opposed to the stomach and back. If he hadn't strangled them, these women might have survived but the others would've had internal bleeding."

Hotch asked, "How old were you when you're father started beating you?" I said, "What else did Spencer tell you about me?" Hotch said, "You're not that hard to profile. You were valedictorian, all-star swim team and graduated from Yale with honors. You tried to avoid further abuse by becoming an overachiever. I know the type." I said, "My father only hit me a couple times. He beat my mother constantly. I would always escape to Spencer's house when he had his rages. After she died, I just preoccupied myself with school, sports and volunteer work. I looked for any reason to keep myself out of the house." Hotch said, "My brother and I used to be on the swim team when we were in high school." I said, "That's my favorite thing to do. No matter how busy I get, I always make time to swim. It's a great way to escape and clear my head."

I said, "Spencer speaks very highly of you. You are like a mentor to him. He really looks up to you." I went to close the door and said, "Agent Hotchner, I brought other files with me which might be helpful in solving this case. But I need to ask you to keep these within your team. There are women out there, who just can't get out of abusive relationships. No matter what they do, they can't get away from their husbands. So, I help them disappear so their husbands can never find them. Some of these men are cops and one of them could be your unsub. I used this prepaid cell phone to initiate contact with other women who are also helping. Because of the sensitivity of this issue, I only have their first name and last initial on my cell. They do have Spencer's name and contact number. They all know I trust him and that he works for the FBI. They have his number programmed into their cell phones so, if you need to contact them, call from his phone and they will call back." Hotch said, "Thank you. I promise. This information will not leave this room."

I took another look at the pictures of the women and started to get upset. I said, "These women were strong and endured so much. They were making their relationships work. Some of them left their husbands and were making it on their own. They didn't deserve this." I pointed to a picture of the woman whose husband called me the night she went missing and said, "This woman and her husband have been working on their relationship for almost two years. They have a 6-month old daughter now. He called me the night she didn't come home and I went over there. I assured him that everything was going to be ok, but I knew. I knew something was wrong and I lied to him." Hotch turned to me, put his hands on my shoulders and said, "Julianna, this is not your fault. You didn't hurt these women. You were trying to help them." I said, "My helping those women disappear probably led to these women being killed. What could I have done to prevent this?" Hotch gave me a hug just as Spencer and JJ walked in. Spencer showed his concern and I told him why I was upset.

The rest of the team came back and Hotch closed the door and said, "Julianna brought over new files that I'd like to go over. These files are of women she helped disappear so their husbands could never find them." He said to me, "You know these files better than anyone. In your opinion, who do you think this unsub is?" I said, "I think he is one of the cops. He can access any social services records and gain access into the women's homes without being suspicious. The woman, who was abducted from her car, could have stopped by a cop. She would've pulled over and thought nothing of it. These bruise and strangulation marks could've been done by a club."

Derek seemed irritated and said, "Yeah, but you said yourself that you have a bias because your father was a cop. And why didn't you tell us about these files last night? Didn't you trust us? One of these men might be our unsub and we could've been going through these files this whole time." Hotch put his hand up and said, "Morgan, enough. She kept these files hidden at her apartment and she needed to ensure the safety of these women before releasing them." I said, "Maybe I should go." Spencer said, "Maybe it would be safer for you if you stayed here." I said, "I'm not the target here. These women are. Besides, I canceled my classes and office hours until this case is solved and my apartment building is very secure. If I get any phone calls for a consultation, I'll make sure I call you before I go."

At my apartment, I was getting very restless. I decided to take a walk through the park then go for a swim. I stayed at the club until closing. Meanwhile, as the BAU is going through the new files I gave them, a new victim is discovered. After looking into the victim's history, they discovered that she wasn't a battered woman but an ally and possibly one of my contacts. She received a phone call, last night, to help console a woman in a domestic dispute. A police officer called her to an unoccupied apartment where he left her dead. A witness identified him out of the pictures from my files.

The team heads to his apartment. Rossi said, "His victimology has changed. He went from killing women who represented his wife to women who might have taken his wife away from him." Derek found some pictures of more women the cop has been following and said, "Maybe he figured out what happened to his wife. He has pictures of Julianna in here. Looks like he's been following her too." Spencer became concerned, "If this guy is looking for his wife, then that means Julie could be his next target." Hotch said, "Reid, get her on the phone and warn her. Find out where she is and tell her we're coming to pick her up." I didn't hear my phone ring because I was in the pool. Spencer said, "Hotch, she's not picking up. I have a key to her apartment." Hotch said, "I'll go with you to get her. Everyone else, try to figure out who the rest of these woman are and make sure they are safe. We have to find this guy before he has another victim."

At the club, the desk attendant said she was closing. I said that I would lock up and set the alarm. I swam for a while. I'm not sure how long. All I could think about was those women. I lost track of time. I got out and rinsed off. I noticed several missed calls from Spencer. I was drying my hair when I felt a blow to my head and was knocked unconscious. I awoke to a cop beating me with his club and handcuffed to one of the platforms. He said, "Do you even know who I am?" I said, "Someone whose wife left him because he beat her constantly." He raised his club again and I pulled my legs up so he couldn't hit me in the stomach anymore. He said, "You had no right to take my wife away from me." I recognized his name as the husband of a terrified woman I helped disappear two months ago.

My phone was vibrating. I said, "That is my friend from the FBI who has been trying to call me for over an hour. I was supposed to meet him. He knows my routine. If I don't call him back then he will know something is wrong and come here, looking for me."

Hotch and Spencer was at my apartment, worried because I wasn't there. Spencer's phone rings. I was calling him back with the cop listening in. Spencer puts me on speaker so Hotch can hear. I said, "Reid, sorry I forgot to meet you. I needed to escape and clear my head so I was running on the treadmill and I didn't hear the phone ring." Spencer said, "Are you ok?" I said, "Yeah, I'm just going to bed. Reid, I'll call you tomorrow, ok."

Spencer knew something was wrong because I called him Reid. Hotch asked, "Where does she go to use the treadmill?" Spencer said, "She doesn't. She hates stationary machines." Spencer was frantic, "She's so stubborn. Why couldn't she just stay here?" Hotch said, "Reid, I need you to focus. Try to figure out where she would go." Hotch noticed a picture of me, with the kids from the daycare, at the pool. He asked, "Where does she usually go to swim?" Spencer said, "She swims at the fitness club." Hotch said, "Would they still be open now?" Spencer said, "She has a key and usually stays later." Hotch called Morgan, "We think the unsub has Julianna at the club. Reid and I are headed over there. Meet us over there right away."

At the club, the cop suspected that I secretly gave Spencer a message and beat me. He said, "You told him that you were using the treadmill. Now he is going to come looking for you here." I said, "You idiot! If you had been stalking me, which you probably have, you'd know that I don't use the machines here. I have a gym in my building. He will think that I am safe in my apartment building."

He pulled out a pocket knife and cut my suit. He undid his belt and said, "I think I'm going to enjoy this more than any of the other women." His gun was loosely hanging in the holster on his hip. I was able to bump it out of the holster and push it into the pool. When he realized that his gun was in the pool, he stood up. I kicked him in the knee. He got up and beat me over and over again with his club, until I was too weak to move. He took his belt off, wrapped it around my throat and started to choke me. He tried to open my legs but I kept struggling. He pulled the belt tighter. I held my breath and stopped struggling so he would think I stopped breathing.

He started to undo his pants when Hotch and Spencer came running in through the other side of the pool and yelled his name. When the unsub stood up, I swept him and he fell to the floor. Derek and Rossi came out from the other side. Derek pushed him to the floor and handcuffed him. Spencer came to me, took the belt off and wrapped me in a towel. I was coughing and gasping for air.

I said to Spencer, "You got my message." He said, "Of course we did. I knew something was wrong when you called me Reid." Hotch unlocked the cuffs and asked, "Are you ok?" I was very weak but I managed to say, "I'll be fine. It's just a bunch of bruises." Spencer said to me, "You're so stubborn. Why didn't you stay home like you said you would?" I said, "You caught the unsub, didn't you?" Hotch said, "We found another victim, this afternoon. A witness identified the officer." I asked, "Who?" Spencer told me her name and said, "She wasn't a battered wife. I think she was one of your contacts." I started to get upset.

Hotch appeared concerned when noticed my torn bathing suit and the bruises on my stomach. He asked, "Did he rape you?" I said, "No." Hotch said, "Are you sure? The other victims were raped before he strangled them." I said, "I'm sure. I wouldn't let him. When he loosened his belt, I knocked his gun into the pool and kept kicking him. That's when he tied the belt around my throat."

Spencer and Hotch tried to help me to my feet but I couldn't stand. I was too weak and dizzy. Hotch carried me out to the ambulance. Hotch said to Spencer, "Why don't you go to the hospital with her. And Reid, make sure they do a rape exam." Spencer held my hand in the ambulance as I slipped into unconsciousness.

The rest of the team came to the hospital to wait with Spencer. The nurse came into the waiting area, "She has a concussion and is still unconscious. We are taking her to CT to make sure there was no brain damage or internal bleeding." Hotch asked, "Were there any signs of rape?" The nurse said, "There was bruising, which indicated that he tried but no sign of penetration."

Hotch said to the rest of the team, "Why don't you guys go back to the hotel and get some sleep. I'll wait here with Reid." Derek said, "Reid, I'm sorry I gave your friend a hard time earlier. I hope she's OK."

The nurse came back and said, "There is no sign of internal bleeding, but there was some brain swelling. Does she have any family here?" Hotch pointed to Spencer, "He's her only family." The nurse asked, "Do you know if she has any advanced directives, should she be put on life support." Spencer sat down and put his head in his hands. The nurse said, "This is just a precaution. She IS still breathing on her own." Spencer said, "I felt her let go. In the ambulance, I was holding her hand and I felt her slipping away." Hotch said, "Can we go see her?" The nurse led them to my room. Spencer pulled a chair up to the bed while Hotch sat by the wall and fell asleep.

I awoke in the middle of the night to find Spencer, with his head down and holding my hand. I woke him when I moved my hand. Spencer was upset, "I thought I was going to lose you. I don't know what I would've done." I said, "Spencer, come here. Lay by me." I moved over so he could lie in the bed. He held me as he fell asleep. Hotch woke up a few hours later and came over to the bed. I was partially awake. He asked, "How long have you been awake?" I said, "I've been in and out for a few hours. Spencer is out cold." Hotch said, "He's exhausted. He was really worried about you." I said, "You look exhausted too. You should go back to the hotel and get some rest. Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him for you." Hotch put his hand on my head and said, "I'll come back later."

After some rest and getting refreshed, Hotch met up with the rest of the team to head back to Virginia. Derek asked, "How is she doing?" Hotch said, "She awake. Reid is still at the hospital with her. I'm going to let him stay. I want to stop back before we leave." By the time the rest of the team came back to the hospital, I was trying to get up and walk despite the pain. Hotch came in and said, "We're headed back to Quantico. Reid, why don't you stay a few days to make sure she's OK." Hotch said to me, "You know the bureau could use someone with your abilities." I said, "What ability is that, trying to take on a killer twice my size?" Hotch smiled and gave me a hug, "Take care of yourself."

Spencer took me home and stayed with me for a few days until I was able to get back on my feet. He was still worried about me. He said, "I really miss you. I wish you would come and move to Virginia. I could get a two bedroom apartment and we could be roommates." I said, "I miss you too, Spencer, but my job and my clients are here. My home is here." He said, "Your job and your clients almost got you killed." I said, "I know. I'll think about it, OK." I hugged him and we said goodbye.