Once the team had gotten over the initial shock of JJ's revelation, they started to work on building a profile around this new-found information.
"I think we're all pretty sure that our unsub is male." Prentiss said.
The team all nodded. "This level of violence definitely suggests a male unsub; there's no signs of a female being involved." Reid confirmed.
"Okay, so we know that we're looking for a man, closely tied to Hastings, or Askari-"Hotch was cut off by JJ. "Wait a minute, how did the unsub even know what Hastings said during my captivity? We were the only people there. Askari killed the tech guy, so how did the unsub even know?
The team was dumbfounded; they had not even thought of that. Rossi spoke first. "JJ's right. It was just her, Cruz, Hastings, and Askari. Since Hastings and Askari are dead, how did our unsub hear that phrase?"
Simultaneously, the same thought entered each team member's mind. Cruz. JJ, sensing what they were thinking, was quick to respond. "No, you guys can't possibly think that Matt is involved." She spoke vehemently.
"JJ, Cruz is the only one who could've possibly known what Hastings said. He's the only one left." Hotch spoke softly, but firmly.
JJ shook her head. "No, it's not possible. Matt would never do something like this. Even if he did, what reason would he have?"
No one had an answer to JJ's question. They were all at a loss of what to do. Hotch sighed. "Regardless of whether or not Cruz is involved, I'm going to get him here at the station. He should be here for you." He said, looking at JJ.
She just nodded as all the fight left her body and she suddenly felt exhausted. She had barely slept in the last two days, and it was finally catching up with her.
It was now five in the afternoon, and the team were all sitting around the table at the station, throwing around theories. None of them seemed realistic, and after another hour of speculating, they were ready for a change.
Cruz was due at the station at six, so the team pushed through their walls of exhaustion and continued to try building a profile. It was very difficult, though, because they had nothing – no physical evidence at the crime scene, no working theories, nothing. Each member was becoming increasingly desperate for just one bit of information that could help lead them in the right direction.
Just ten minutes before Cruz's due arrival, an idea sparked in Reid's mind. "Wait, when we found JJ, did anyone analyze the crime scene for evidence?" he asked. The team collectively shook their heads. "Hastings and Askari were both dead; there was no need to. The scene was just cleaned up, not processed." Emily stated.
Reid thought, the gears turning in his brain. "Remember when Tobias took me, and he videotaped me? What if Hastings did the same with JJ? There could've been cameras in the room somewhere where JJ and Cruz were held." He finished.
Hotch thought it over. "It's a little far-fetched, but entirely possible. Morgan, Kate, and Emily, go the warehouse where JJ and Cruz were found and look for any evidence of cameras. Reid, JJ, Garcia, Rossi, and I will stay here and wait for Cruz."
Everyone nodded at their jobs, and Morgan, Kate, and Emily left the station to go to the place that haunted JJ's nightmares.