ASD

Sorry it's taken a while for the team to appear but I really wanted to set the scene for the case.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

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"I feel life is a journey and we all have to learn to ride the storm, for some of us it can seem more like a tidal wave, but with every storm the sun eventually comes back out."

Alyson Bradley

JJ made her way towards the conference room they were using as a temporary home, file in one hand and coffee in the other. She knew she was running late but had been caught by an agent from the local field office with fresh information. The stuff he had given her seemed to fit with their current case to her but hay she wasn't the expert, well that's what she liked the team to think. She knew she was the one working hard behind the scene, picking their cases, fielding questions and calming nerves. She smiled a little self satisfied smile, well she may as well congratulate herself, few else did, but then again none of them did it for the thanks.

"You're late" Hotch didn't even look up as she entered the room, point proven she thought to herself. Rossi gave her a look of semi sincere sympathy which she couldn't help but smirk at, seconds later she was her fully serious self and presenting the latest news to the team. As she shared the information regarding Charlotte McLoughlin's death she recognised the team's interest and guessed her intuition had been right.

"If I believed in coincidences I would say it could be one but the likelihood of a random murder so similar to the others is . . ." Rossi begun.

"There have been cases of two serial killers working in the same area at the same time with different signatures; but with such similar signatures I . . . I . . . I can't recall a single cases so can not give you a statistically probability on that one." Reid interrupted then looked a little embarrassed by not knowing the answer.

"Don't worry kid, I'll still sleep tonight without knowing." Rossi continued "So are we including this case in with the other four? It's on the edge of the Geographical profile but still within limits."

Hotch was focusing on the brief notes that JJ had passed him, he was aware that everyone's eyes were on him. "Reid you and I will take the trip to review this case while everyone else continues to work from here. If it is part of our investigation he has killed again quicker than we expected which means we need to be quick to stop it happening again. If it isn't connected then maybe we can give them an insight into their case."

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Walking into the local station heads turned to look at the strangers. One in a tailored suit the other looking like he'd walked straight off a college campus, except the fact he had a gun on his belt.

"Can I help you Sir?" asked a young male officer behind the front desk.

"I'm FBI Unit Chief Hotchner and this is Dr Reid, we'd like to speak to Chief Mudd regarding the murder of Charlotte McLoughlin." Hotch was scanning the room rather than looking at the new recruit, he didn't waste time on pleasantries, he was here to do a job.

Soon an older uniformed man was standing in front of Hotch.

"Can I help?" Mudd asked.

"I'm hoping we can help you; FBI, Agent Hotchner and Agent Reid. We received your initial notes on the murder of Charlotte McLoughlin and it shares a lot of similarities with a series of cases we are currently investigating." Hotch held the man's eye contact trying to read the man's thoughts.

"Well thank you but I'm sorry that you wasted your time travelling over here. I didn't sanction the forwarding of any information to you and I was in the process of interviewing the culprit until you interrupted, so if you don't mind . . . " Mudd had already turned his back and was walking away, failing to finish his sentence.

Hotch was not happy with this treatment, Reid shuffled nervously knowing that his boss did not tolerate such rudeness. He didn't need to wait long as Hotch took steps to catch up with the local Chief.

"Well in that case you wouldn't mind us joining you." Reid could tell by Hotch's tone that this was not a friendly request, "Obviously if the cases are connected then your suspect is of interest to us too."

Chief Mudd turned on his heels to face Hotch. Reid wanted to melt into the background, Mudd was either brave or stupid as people didn't tend to take on Aaron Hotchner, especially not in public, unless they liked personal humiliation.

"I have been in the force long enough to know how to do my job without help from you and your group of fancy mind readers. I know a guilty man when I see one and trust me I have seen plenty. I'm not some backwater cop without an idea of the big bad world out there. I did not ask for you help and certainly don't need it."

"With respect" though Hotch was getting past the point of respect, "I would like us to be able to do this without involving higher authorities and/or pulling rank. Your case relates to an FBI investigation and until I am personally satisfied that it is of no relevance to us then you have no option other than to co-operate. Do I make myself clear?" Hotch did not appreciate wasting time on want-to-be heroes. Chief Mudd glared at Hotch and reluctantly nodded, signally the way forward to the two men.

Hotch marched purposely forward. Reid gave Mudd a sympathetic smile, he had seen Hotch cut down more people with his words than he cared to remember and he guessed this wouldn't be the last time. Following behind his boss Reid tried to keep up with him. Mudd made no attempt to walk with the pair to the end of the corridor. Hotch paused waiting for Mudd to show the way.

"I should warn you now, the boy's not right . . . in the head . . . if you know what I mean." Mudd was struggling for the words to prepare them for seeing Joey. "I've know Joey from a young age, he's had a lot of help and support but he's not got better. He's Autistic."

Hotch glared.

"Thank you for your insight but if we get to the interview room we can make our own judgements." Hotch had wasted enough time, he was tired and if this was related to the other cases he wanted to get on.

Reid considered sharing a range of facts relating to the various mental health issues of serial killers but decided from the look on Hotch's face silence was better for his mental health.

"This way then" and Mudd lead them into an observation room. "You can stay here."