FBI Headquarters: Quantico, Virginia, United States of America
July 30th 2009
"Look alive people! we have people dying and no arrests!" comes Aaron Hotchner's commanding baritone voice " Conference room in ten team!" Hotch marches through the BAU bullpen towards his office. Once there, he gathers up the required files and clutching his thermos filled with the nectar of gods he makes his way to the conference room to set up.
Back down in the bullpen, the BAU team are frantically gathering themselves in anticipation. Resident genius Supervisory Special Agent Spencer Reid turns to Prentiss "Any idea what kind of case we're looking at today?"
"I got nothing" replies Emily.
The team begins to pack up their things and makes their way to the conference room, each wondering what the day will bring.
Grabbing any seat that was available, the team look up at their boss in anticipation. They can see that Hotch has already filled the whiteboard with various files and notes relating to the case, all surrounding the words "UNSUB" in the middle. Hotch himself is quietly contemplating the information dump before turning to face his team.
"Ok team, we have nine victims in nine separate locations, no motive and no real clues towards who the unsub is or where they are currently, however the last victim was killed in Anaheim Los Angeles" Hotch is down to business and focused on delivering the important parts of this case.
"Hotch, where were the other eight killed?" asks Morgan.
"We have two in California, three in New York, one in Georgia, one in Ohio and one here in Virginia" replies Aaron.
Picking up the file closest to him, Spencer skims through the detail. "It says here that there was a letter written in blood on his shirt, do you think there was something similar on the previous victims?"
"Great observation Reid, it's worth another look - grab a file guys and see if we can find any connections" Hotchner says hoping to find something to help them with this case.
There's a lull in conversations as the team starts to review the files and all that can be heard is the scratching of pencils on paper as they take any relevant notes.
Once he started to see the movement of pencils slow to a stop, Hotch returns to the front of the room ready to add notes to the whiteboard. "Ok guys, what have we got?"
"I'll list some of the things I've noticed and then we can go around the room and mark off which facts have similarities in each case" states Rossi.
"Victim number five, 5"9, of a skinny build, black hair, and hazel eyes. He was found with multiple stab wounds to his chest, no doubt piercing the heart and lungs, definitely the cause of death in this case. Coroners mentioned that there had been a symbol carved onto his wrist but there's no mention on what that symbol was. Finally the letter 'P' was written in blood on his forehead" lists David.
Hotch hurries to take down the main points on the whiteboard allowing space for any other observations brought up by the team.
"Number two. 5"7, also of skinny build, blue black hair and green eyes. He was found with a slit to his throat but no other telling injuries. Oh get this! he was found with a lightning bolt carved on his forehead and the letter 'H' painted in blood on his leg" at this, Garcia turns the picture around of the victim to show the symbol.
"You know, it might not be a lightning bolt but rather the Elder Futhark rune Sowilo or Sol. Sowilo symbolizes strength, energy and success. It is said to resist the negative forces of death, of destruction and a triumph over darkness" rattles off Reid with a slight blush to his complexion. "Sorry" he smiles embarrassingly. "But actually I don't see how that connects with the victim so maybe not"
"Yes, well thank you Reid" replies Hotch, though no one missed the fact that he added a shortened description of the rune to the notes on the board.
No one saw the slight worry on their newest agent's face after the last two victims were mentioned. There was something niggling at the back of his mind as soon as the symbol was brought up.
"Victim four. 5"9, more of a muscular build...black hair, green eyes. Femoral artery severed. Bleed to death within minutes I would say. Oh look, a lightning bolt and a letter - the letter "M"" pronounces Prentiss.
"Right, are there any other points to add that is not already on the board from the rest of you?" asks Hotch. When nobody replied, Aaron moves forward with the investigation and drops a bombshell.
"As you all may have noticed, all victims were found shoved into closets or small rooms and left there for other patrons or cleaners to find" says Hotchner. "and they were all found in the same chain of hotels. The Marauder."
This time no-one missed the sudden paling of one Neville Longbottom.