"I had Garcia check, and there have been three other murders with this same MO on the east coast in the past year," Morgan reported to the team a short time later.
"So, we do have a contract killer," Blake concluded. "Is there any information that would lead us to his identity?"
"None of the local PDs involved had any viable suspects," Morgan explained. "However, now that they have all been notified of the other cases, they are in a position to share information and see if they can narrow down their suspect pool."
"So, we are looking for someone who can move easily up and down the coast without arousing suspicion," Rossi summarized. "That would seem to indicate a mode of personal transportation."
"A nondescript car or van," JJ suggested.
"They would have had to run surveillance on their victims for at least a day or so beforehand," Blake assumed. "And, there is a chance someone might have seen them."
"We need to talk to the victim's families and/or friends again," Hotch decided. "Rossi, why don't you take Blake with you and pay a visit to Petr Fedorovich's wife?"
"Good idea," Rossi stood up to leave. "Garcia can't find where he ever substituted on anyone else's mail route. Maybe his wife can tell me something about that."
"Maybe she has remembered something since the last time we spoke with her," was Blake's hope as she walked over to join him.
"Morgan, you and JJ can go speak with Maria Anatoly's husband and mother again," Hotch continued. "Maybe one of them can give you a list of her usual activities and her friends."
"If she was home all day, I am sure there are also some trades people she dealt with on a regular basis," JJ contributed. "We should be able to get a list of those, too."
"And, I will start with Ivan Novotny's workplace," Hotch concluded. "If someone was following him, maybe he noticed them in his rearview mirror or maybe they stood out because of the way they were driving. He most likely would have mentioned something like that to his boss or fellow drivers. And, I think I'll take Detective Behrs with me."
"What about me?" Reid asked.
"We need you to add the new murders to your geographic profile," Hotch told him. "And, when Garcia comes up with the routes driven by Ivan Novotny, you'll need to add those as well."
As the other agents filed out of the conference room, Hotch walked over to quietly speak with Reid.
"Spencer, I don't think I have to tell you not to leave the station," he said. "And, if you need to leave this room, try to make it a quick trip with very little contact with the locals."
"Yes, I know," Reid replied. He looked wistfully towards the doorway. "Although, the coffee pot is out in the squad room."
"It will probably do you good to cut back on the caffeine."