"We began the process of debriefing each other, sharing what our unique experiences were, ... - Kathleen Blanco
"That talks about how not to burn your people out and how exposure to extreme situations and major disasters requires people to be debriefed and talked through. It's akin to some of the things we experience with troops in combat and post traumatic stress disorder." - Royal Sheeley
The team set their bags down in the corner to the left of the door and began to fan out around the table. Reid, start setting up the geographical profile, one for the original crimes one for the copy cat. JJ get the connection to Garcia set up, Morgan check all the old crime scene photos with the new ones. Compare anything different between the two. Prentiss get all the medical files in order for both cases, see if there is any overlap. Doctors, examiners, even mortuaries they were sent to. Rossi get a list of the Officers helping us out as a favor, round them up and bring them in for a quick brief." Hotch looked at each team member as he gave out orders. The team did not object as it was usual. "Tesla," Hotch turned to her as she stood away from the team. "I need you to write down the ways we can get in contact with your friends. We will eventually need to interview them. And if we can't find the copy cat soon any of them in state might need to be put on a protection detail." He tried to soften his voice and give a comforting and calm expression. But after years on the job, and a few personal tragedy's he didn't quite make it.
"Sure" Tesla mumbled coming up to the table and taking a seat at a relatively empty spot. "Got paper?" she asked as she pulled out a pen. JJ handed her a piece from a pile next to the computer she had turned on. "Thanks."
Without further word the team began their various tasks and soon the table was covered in papers from the boxes and files that had to be removed from the table to make more room. Each member had a small space at the table to work with general information in the center that was being depleted as it was sorted out. Rossi had disappeared out into the bull pen ten minutes after they had been given their assignments.
Reid had to go out and ask for a second map as here had only been one provided. As soon as he got the maps pinned side by side to the cork board with inches to spare, he commandeered a few files from the table. With frightening speed, at least to Tesla as the rest of the team had been through this, Reid was coving the maps in various colored push pins. He only got part way in before grumbling and having to go out again to ask for more pins. The women on the team smiled and Morgan had laughed once he left. Hotch had just shook his head, and continued looking and rearranging some files he had set aside for himself after giving out his orders.
When Reid came back he was accompanied by Rossi.
"There are four main officers helping us and a relief officer if we need him. They should be here in five minutes after they finish the tasks they have right now" Rossi reported to Hotch who nodded.
"I've got Garcia on standby, she wants a check in before we head out for the evening," JJ said coming over to the table.
"That's my girl" Morgan smiled.
"That's fine, JJ I saw quite a few news clippings in some of the files and a tape labeled as old news footage. See if you can get a Player that we can hook up to the T.V. and start going over all the coverage. We might find a clue as to where our copy cat did or didn't get his information." Hotch pointed to a small stack in the center of the table.
JJ took the files and the tape to a space of open table close to the flat screen. Then she went out to ask for a VCR. She came back a few minutes later followed by an officer pushing a cart with some older machines on it. They included a VCR and an old tape player machine. The officer helped her connect the VCR and then stepped back out of the way eyeing the team.
Moments later there was a knock on the door and Reid stepping away from his now almost finished multicolored maps opened it. Four officers including McKay and Jones were outside. Reid steeped out of the way so they could enter. They gravitated towards the wall with the window so they could see the whole room and to cut down on the glare of the sun which was coming into position to stream full force through the windows now.
The team continued to work as Hotch got up from his seat and approached them. "Chief Walter's has you all working this case." It was more of a statement then a question. The officers nodded and looked about taking in the various team members. "Then we'll start the briefing after we get the introductions over with."
At this point the team had stopped working and stood up, except for Tesla. She remained sitting but looked at each officer as if trying to judge them.
"I'm SSA Hotchner, this is my team SSA Rossi, Morgan, Prentiss, SSA and Media liaison Jareau, and SSA Dr. Reid. We also have a consultant Tesla who for the remainder of the case will be treated as a part of this team. Any questions about that?" Hotch pointed out each member. None of the officers spoke up. "We have met officer's McKay and Jones. Now we would like to know who you are."
"I'm officer Fisher" the only female in the group introduced herself. She was short and willowy with blond hair in a bob cut and blue eyes.
"Officer Nickles," a tall youngish man with red hair and beard with gray eyes and glasses introduced himself next.
"Officer Pike" the last man introduced himself. He was older, short and thick with black hair and brown eyes that were slightly slanted.
"All right, now I assume that all of you know something about this case to a degree." Hotch went on.
"Yes sir," officer Nickles nodded.
"Good, what we are going to give you is a basic profile of our unsub based on what we know about his killings and information from the original. You will be looking for a man between the ages of twenty and thirty five. He appears to be a normal member of society, he has a job, pays his taxes" Hotch started.
"What makes him different however is that despite how he seems he can only fake getting along with all the people around him. He may seem charming and shy at times when in truth he is very closed off, he prefers to work by himself, he avoids large gatherings." Rossi took over from there, continuing the profile. "He will work a job that allows him freedom to move about and not check in often with his superiors."
"Once he makes a connection to someone however he will project himself towards that person so much his true self will be brought out. This is a person with little boundaries regarding the others feelings and physical and emotional state. He will be convinced that person will like him and any interaction will only urge him on. If rejected he will become hostile and aggressive." Morgan spoke out his turn.
"He has a specific target range of people he's looking for and a large area to operate out of." Reid took over standing next to his maps. "He will be in good shape, and know his way around a large area having lived in or studied the places he works out of and where the bodies were found.
"What makes this case harder however is the fact that out unsub is copying a case from nearly two decades ago. This case in itself was hard to solve and our unsub will have learned from his predecessors mistakes. He is also so closely aligned that on fist look the cases are exactly the same. Also the only victims to be found so far are previous victims of the original killer." Hotch brought the basic profile full circle.
"How is it possible that the victims are the same?" Officer Fisher looked confused.
"Some of them lived through the first attack," Tesla's voice drew all of their attention. "Your copy cat is preying on the children that got away." Tesla's voice was hard and her face slack but her eyes were watery.
"We will have more details tomorrow when we brief the rest of the officers. You can go now, we will see you tomorrow" Hotch drew their attention back to him.
The officers nodded and left the room, not looking at any of the team members and keeping themselves focused on getting out. Once they were gone and the door closed the team went back to working on their assignments. But they all snuck looks at Tesla who had seemed to have herself composed again. This wasn't going to be any easier in the morning.
"Here is that list you wanted," Tesla said a few minutes later passing the paper she had been working on down to Hotch. "I would appreciate it if you kept the list either with you or let me have it back when you are done. I don't really want it to be sitting out in the open with the copy cat trying to kill the people on it."
"I'll hang on to it, it will be safe" Hotch replied looking over the list. "Why don't you help JJ sort through the media coverage." He would have liked Rossi to do that and had she work with Prentiss. But having had a nightmare on the plane and to confront the officers after bringing up everything to convince them to help this morning he could see she was wearing thin in emotions. Having her look through the medical files would be useful but painful. It could wait till tomorrow when they were all better rested and more balanced, the first day shock having worn off. None of the team would ever admit it but they all suffered first day shock as he thought of it. The news of whatever case they worked, those first looks into the facts and then the mind of some unsubs crimes, and it was a shock. One they got over as they focused but it was always there. "Rossi, help Prentiss with the medical files, I'm sure there is a lot there."
The older profiler nodded, understanding Hotch's choice. He sat next to Prentiss and she passed over some of the files.
The team kept busy sorting, looking over, comparing and rearranging files until the sun was setting and their stomachs started to complain. They had worked through lunch and now they were regretting it.
"Alright lets pack it up for tonight, there isn't much more we can do right now." Hotch said and the rest of the team quickly set aside their work.
As they got up and stretched a bit Morgan went over to the computer and hit a few keys. Soon Garcia's image filled the monitor.
"Good evening my lovelies, what can the fountain of knowledge refresh you with today?" She smiled at all of them as they wondered over to the screen.
"We are done for the night and checking in as requested baby girl" Morgan spoke up.
"Oh good, it is never a good idea to work until you fall asleep at the table. I will be off then myself, but if you need anything you have but to call."
"Good night Garcia," most of the group said almost as one.
"Oh so cute! Goodnight my doves" and she was gone from the screen. Morgan turned off the monitor after putting the computer into hibernate mode to save energy as the computer was never turned off until the investigation was over.
The team gathered their go bags and headed out to the SUV's as Hotch went to tell Chief Walter's they were leaving for the night. As he went to do that Rossi had taken his bag so they could leave faster. They split up into the same groups they came in as they climbed into the SUV's and slowly made their way down the strip. Forty-five minutes later they were off the main strip and onto one of the lesser areas side streets. There were smaller casinos and more space where some even smaller stores had found purchase. Further down there were a string of hotels, nothing like those on the strip but better then the run down chain hotels even further on the outskirts of the city. They pulled into one that had a ramp leading down to a small underground garage. Parking and getting their bags they walked to some elevators on the opposite end of where they parked. It was just big enough to hold them all standing almost touching. The music was old time swing and show tune that was supposed to remind visitors of Vegas yester years. When the doors opened to the lobby it was empty except for a single clerk behind a small reception desk. The clerk, a short older woman with graying hair in a bun and dull green eyes looked up at them. She had looked board until she noticed how large their group was and the fact that some of them had guns present. However she didn't flinch or panic like some clerks would do seeing armed people enter. She had made the connection between the guns and the professional look they wore and their ease of arrival.
"Can I help you?" she asked as they approached.
"Yes we have a reservation. Three rooms under BAU and Hotchner" Hotch set his bag down and waited for the papers he would have to signed.
The woman typed on her computer before hitting them print button and a copier behind her came to life spitting out several papers. He turned and grabbed them, sorting them and placing them on the counter with a pen. "Sign here," she marked several lines with x's and turned away.
As Hotch signed, skimming over the papers which were really the same at all the hotels they used she woman opened a drawer and pulled out several cards. She began typing on her computer again and sliding the cards through a machine. Finally she slipped the cards into little envelopes and handed them over to Hotch as she collected the now signed papers.
"You have rooms 203, 205 and 207 on floor two. Anything else I can do for you?"
"Do you have a dining area or know of a place close by," Hotch gathered the envelopes.
"Third floor all the way at the end of the hall, only open for another hour" the woman answered.
"Thank you," and Hotch picked up his bag and took a few steps towards the team who had hung back. Morgan and Reid room 207, JJ and Prentiss you are with Tesla in room 205 and Rossi and I are in 203." He handed out the envelopes with the key cards. "Get settled in and meet in the hall in fifteen. There's a dining area on the third floor, we'll eat there tonight."
The team nodded and they all crammed back into the elevator for the ride up to the second floor. From there they dispersed to their rooms. The rooms were identical, two full beds, a couch, small table, two chairs, a T.V., single night table with telephone. The closet held the usual large suitcase holder, small safe and ironing board. The bathroom had a single sink, combination bathtub and shower, toilet and a hair dryer. They all set their bags down and locked guns away before exiting into the hall. They were all too hungry to worry about beds at the moment. They once again climbed into the elevator and headed up. When they got to the third floor and started walking down the hall they could smell food from the dining area. This would probably be the last time they could sit down and rest while eating for a while once the case shifted into full gear in the morning. They all hope they could make it last for a while.
(Okay not quite much longer as the last chapter but enough. Soon we meet some of Tesla's friends and another update from our unsub. And I am not a profiler but I got their profile as close as I could to hopefully be real enough. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed, more answers to come. Feel free to review.)