Mandarin Garden Restaurant

Chattanooga, TN

The team sat around a large round table in the corner of a busy Chinese restaurant. Conversations criss-crossed the table until Jason Gideon cleared his throat with a little too much gusto. All heads turned to face him – free-time was over. Gideon looked to Aaron Hotchner.

"So far no one has admitted to telling the media about the victim connection . . . ."

"And we don't know what damage that information has caused." Elle threw in with only the slightest hint of sarcasm. She looked at J.J. "I realize that this is no one fault. . ."

"We have been able to convince the media to "update" the story. This evening's press conference left out what we wanted left out but it did include the information about the car. It's a start." Hotchner gave J.J. an approving nod.

"Alright, what do we know?" Gideon looked at the team members, waiting for the information they had discovered over the past few days to hopefully fall into place. Elle was the first to speak up.

"The unsub has a background, or at least an interest, in theatre. We know, based on precedent, that since the unsub hasn't contacted the media or the families that he did have contact with the victims. These women were chosen."

"Which leads us to suspect people involved in all three theatre companies. Reid, how is Garcia doing with the list?"

"She is still trying to narrow it down – it was a long list this afternoon."

"Do we know if the victims were sexually assaulted?"

"No, we don't. Ms. Novotny wasn't, we do know that . . . but Lily Sanchez . . . there was no way to find out. . . . there had been too much time, too much decomp."

"Morgan, why do you ask?" Gideon looked curious.

"I was thinking . . . . does the unsub have to be male? What is the motivation for taking these women and then killing them? If we assume that there was no sexual . . . ."

"To end their suffering." Reid whispered so quietly, only Elle sitting next to him seemed to hear him.

"What?"

"To end their suffering . . . . the unsub sees the actress and the character as one person. In the play the character kills herself . . . . ."

"So these are mercy killings?"

"Yes, at least the unsub sees it that way. He. . . " Reid looked at Morgan. "Or she might have a medical background."

"Not necessarily." Hotchner took focus. "The drug tests on Ms. Novotny revealed rohypnol and versed – two drugs that are readily available illegally through the internet. Using a syringe doesn't take medical training. We can pursue the lead but it would not be a good idea to limit our search to those with medical experience."

"What would cause someone to help a person commit suicide?"

"Psychologically the unsub feels a connection, an empathy, with the victim – maybe he or she failed in an attempted suicide in the past or a close family member committed suicide." Reid shrugged his shoulders. "None of the victims seem like they would . . . . want to die. Everything we've been told, all three were doing well."

Hotchner looked to Gideon. "We have identified a potential victim. The final performance of the play is tomorrow night."

"I called the school today and spoke to the teacher in charge. We have an appointment to meet first thing tomorrow morning. The cast information has already been sent to Garcia."

A silence fell over the table as Gideon finished speaking. Hotchner looked around the table at this team, taking a moment to look each of them in the eyes. He knew the high caliber of work they each did and he realized he didn't always acknowledge it. He reached over and picked up his water glass, raising it towards the middle of the table.

"To bringing this case to a close tomorrow." The rest of the team repeated his action.

Once again the talk around the table turned casual.

Aaron Hotchner's hotel room

Hotchner's first thought was that the ringing phone would wake Haley up. By the time he grabbed his phone he remembered Haley wasn't with him, she was home. As he answered the phone he looked at the clock and was not happy to see that it was almost one in the morning.

"Hotchner."

"Hotch, there's been another . . . another actress is missing."

"When?"

"A two hours ago. The theatre company was using the University Theatre on the U.T.C. campus."

"Morgan, I want the team at that theatre now. And call Garcia . . . and Ann-Elise, I want them in the office now! A mistake has been made by someone and I need to know how right now!"