Hi guys I can not say how sorry I am for the delay but between computer problems, work and writers block I have really struggled to get this chapter written an posted. My laptop is completely none responsive so i have been using my mum pc and my sis laptop, i have been working crazy hours and this chapter i ahve struggled with. I was trying to move forward develop the story a bit more but i kept going in circles. also i tried to keep it accurate but there are alot of names of random charctors. anyways you guys have waited long enough for this chap so i'll stop ramblong and let you read it. just one last thing i know i don't deserve it but i would love as many reviews as poss this story is harder than i thought to write so i could do with the encouragement. thanks

Also i promise i will update more regularly but the chapters might be shorter.

Chapter 9: Progress and Prentiss

"Ok what do we have so far?" Hotch asked the group before him.

Morgan piped up first "We have four separate crimes involving single children now we have a crime with two children involved, could be a sign he is devolving."

"Could it be he didn't realise there were two children?" Reid asked

"No not really our guy knew the house well enough that he could avoid squeaky floorboards." Prentiss interjected. "We think he was interrupted though. Ms Wilson said she went to check on the children after a while and discovered they weren't in their room so she went to the back garden to get her husband. She would have walked right by her bedroom where the children were. We think the unsub heard this because he changed half way through. He killed Ben by a belt but not Becca. She had no visible signs of death that I could see. So what it means is beyond me. Oh also they had a plumber in to do some work and they heard about the plumber from the centre. Ms Wilson sister is blind and volunteers at the centre which is where the plumber, a parent of one of the children, helps out for free or at discount. I think it is about time we check this centre out."

Hotch nodded along to Prentiss. "Okay you and Morgan can go there after we give the profile. Reid and I manage to establish a link between Ms Baryon, Mr Pauling and Ms Blake. They all had met each other and all the various children. Mr. and Mrs O'Connor still remain the most elusive. I did manage to confirm that Charlie attended classes to learn sign language for his friend but the parents apart from dropping Charlie off they have never been to the building. So I'm thinking parents are consequential the unsub must see the kid, fixate upon him/her. Probably fixate on two at a time and visualises them together hence the positioning of the children."

"Ok I have one question" JJ declared. "It might just be that am being stupid but if the children are being chosen directly how did the Wilson's children get chosen? Were they ever at the center?"

Everyone took a breath 'oh'

"They could have been. We would need to check" Reid said.

Everyone chewed on their thoughts in silence for a few minutes but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Everyone feared a new victim. It would mean a major escalation in the unsub.

"Come in" Hotch called out.

"Sorry to interrupt" the sheriff said poking her head in "But my boys are getting antsy out here. Are you near ready?"

"Yes" Hotch said "We will be out in five or less. You can stay in so I won't have to repeat the plan to you."

"Thanks" and the sheriff stepped in the door and shut it.

They discussed the profile for a few more minutes then they set out their plan for the afternoon.

"Ok here is the plan, Morgan, Reid go to the centre see what you can find, specifically about staff, plumbers they use etc also ask about the sister who helps there. Take the picture that Mrs Wilson gave with you and see does anyone recognise or fit the picture."

"JJ I want you with me when we bring the parents back in. They are highly emotional and I can trust you to keep them calm while I question them."

"But first we need to give the profile."

With that as their cue they all stood up and went to leave. Hotch caught Prentiss elbow though and kept her back. He also caught Morgan's eye, so he stayed back. He also asked the sheriff to stay back. They talked for a few minutes then joined the rest to give the profile.


"Ok our unsub is what we class as a sexual predator. His trigger is children. He spots a child that does something in which our unsub takes as a sign, it could be a simple smile or something more unique but once the child has done it the unsub locks on. He will fantasise about the child constantly, he will take something the child owns and soon he will attack. The fantasies won't be enough for long and with every kill the fantasy is slightly less important. From now on the killer will only pick up pace."

Morgan picked up where Hotch stopped. "Our unsub is slightly different. Usually the unsub will fantasise himself with the child but our unsub visualises two children together. The positioning of the first two children fit together and the second two also. The last victim Ben and Becca were left in position in a tight embrace. This is key to the killer, he must kill in twos to complete the fantasy, one victim is not enough for him to get a release"

"We feel the unsub checks out the house before he attacks. So he uses a rouse that could be a lie or not of being plumber. We also feel the connection between everyone is the centre for deaf and blind on 12th and Penn Ave." Prentiss injected.

"We are looking for this man as a possible suspect" Prentiss added holding up the picture the artist and Ms Wilson drew. "This man is not our unsub yet we only want to question him so minimal force is to be used if you should come across this man."

A subtle nod form Hotch to the sheriff indicated the meeting was over. "Right boys, you heard what the FBI have said so now you need to hit the streets and look for this man. I want four team of three, one to go north, one south, one east and other west from the centre for the blind and search for this man. Each officer should have a copy of this picture. SSA Prentiss will be coordinating the search from the street, so any question go to her and all orders from her are to be followed. Have a clean afternoon boys."

With that there was a sudden raise in noise as everyone started to get organised and discuss what they just heard.

So no one heard Hotch tell Prentiss to watch the various officers under her command very carefully, very carefully. Prentiss merely nodded and shouted above the din "Anyone assigned to patrolling the streets we are leaving now. I'll decide the teams when we are at location. Make sure you all have your copy of the picture."

She gave one final nod to Hotch and the team and made her way to the door.

Morgan sidled up to Hotch "Are you sure this is a good plan?" Morgan asked. Hotch looked over at Morgan "Not sure but I have confidence in Prentiss she can handle it and them. Also we could be wrong."

"I know but I don't like sending her alone there should be two of us at least. I could go with her."

"If the FBI force is felt too strong the plan won't work. You'll be in the centre with Reid. If any trouble arises you're her back-up."

Morgan nodded but not fully reassured. He waved slightly to Reid to follow him and they left together.

JJ then stepped in beside Hotch "I couldn't help over hearing. What is going on? Is Prentiss ok?"

"I'll tell you when everyone has left. For now we need to focus on our task." Hotch replied facing JJ. He then quickly filled her in on the earlier interviews and how everything escalated.

"So it is imperative you keep them calm and reasonable."

"No problem."

Then taking half the parents each, they rang each of them asking them to come back to the station.


Prentiss arrived at the centre for blind and deaf at the same time as Morgan and Reid. They stood outside the centre as Prentiss waited for the police to arrive.

"Ok Prentiss if you have any problems we'll be in here waiting and ready so don't hesitate to call even if it just a respect thing."

"Morgan thanks for the concern but I am a big girl I think I can handle some 1950's cops."

She glanced over the gathering group of cops and figured they were all here by now.

"Hey everyone" Prentiss said addressing the group. "Ok here is the run down, I'll call out three names and I want them to come to me, ok first can Tribioni, McHale and Gettison." Prentiss looked up expectantly and three men started to make their way to her.

She nodded towards them by way of acknowledgment and gave them north. They got their instructions and they were off. Prentiss called the next three, told them to head west, the third three got east and then she called for the final three but only two cops were left.

Prentiss pretended to act surprised. "Where is Officer Gibbs?" she asked the remaining two officers. They shrugged "I don't know Mam!'. I think back at the station." One man answered.

Prentiss pretended to be annoyed at this and then she said "Ok we don't have time to wait for him to show up I'll join your team. Lets head out. We are going south."

She glanced back at the centre knowing Morgan was watching her though she couldn't see them and gave the slightest nod towards Morgan.

Morgan who was just in the door to on side observing Prentiss, chuckled slightly as he picked up on the nod. She knew him so well. Only she would realise he would watch till she was gone from view.

Once she was gone though he turned to his task of the day, interviewing the head of the centre trying to prove their suspicions.

Little did Morgan know but he wasn't the only one watching someone from afar. Back at the station Hotch was under surveillance.

"Idiots, all of them idiots." He ranted from the taxi. He sat their watching the station and listening to the goings on from a bug he planted.

"Idiots" he spat again. "How could they not see it is the dad who is guilty? Hotchner is an incompetent fool and when I get on to the team he will be the first to go" the guy reassured himself.

He reached over to the glove compartment and took out the box that he had put in there. When he had first opened the glove compartment he had been surprised to find actual gloves in there. He never knew of anyone who kept actual gloves in it. Still he thought they did come in handy. He smiled as he reminisced over how he disposed of the taxi driver. He had had to wait till it was dark so no one would notice then pulled him from the cab as if he was a drunken passed out passenger. He thought his plans were ruined when a passerby offered to help but he being quite a brilliant actor if he said so himself managed to dissuade the good Samaritan, well dissuade dispose it is all the same in the end.

He opened his box and pulled out the contents. When he was done he put black bags up on the windows and quickly got changed. Then he stepped out of the taxi and made his way towards the station.

In the station Hotch was pouring over the files he had requested from the chief. The more he read of the files the more he felt his suspicions had been right.

Earlier when he had been walking Mr and Mrs Baryon out she had given a second look towards a police officer. Hotch had asked did she know him and she said she thought so. After some pushing she had remember seeing him at the centre but she couldn't think of his child. This intrigued Hotch, it was a long shot but it was weird the cop never mentioned a connection to the centre if he had one since the centre is such a focal point of this investigation.

So he had requested the officer's file and set up a small rouse to test his theory. Prentiss acting out the rouse while he was here reading through his file. What a file it was!! Hotch wondered how Prentiss was getting on.

Prentiss was canvassing the streets with Officer Jones and Officer Addison. She was observing Officer Jones for any signs to prove Hotch's theory. But so far none! She tried one more time with a more direct approach. "So is either of you familiar with the centre?"

"A bit" officer Addison said. "I mean I was aware of it and I went there once when a child went missing. Thankfully the child had just gotten lost, he was blind you know"

Prentiss nodded and then turned her attention to Jones "what about you?"

"Well I knew it existed but that is about it" he said but he looked everywhere except towards Prentiss. Even if she didn't it was a lie already she would know now.

"Are you sure?" Prentiss prompted him.

He looked at her for a long time sizing her up and what happened next Prentiss never saw coming. She certainly had no time to react.


Back at the station looked from his desk and he hit his fist of the table as he stood up quickly and made his way to the chief's office.

"We need to contact Officer Jones, NOW. We were right about our assumptions and I have just left one of my agents alone and unaware with him."

Hotch then flew out and ran into JJ. "Sir what is going on?"

"We need to get to the centre now before it is too late"