Wow! Thanks for all the responses and follows! Starting with this one, the chapters will be much longer. Two things to know: First, I don't believe SDPD has a Major Crimes unit, but they do in this story, and two, EJO is wearing blue contacts for his role as the Captain (as obviously he has brown eyes in real life). Thank you to angelof9 on Tumblr for pointing that detail out as confusing :) Enjoy!

Chapter Three

"Dammit Flynn get them out of here. They are ruining my crime scene!" Flynn rolls his eyes at Provenza's drama queen antics. He politely handles the various personnel currently trampling through the scene.

Provenza rubs his hand over his temple. When he looks up, it is to see the Captain leaving her car and proceeding toward him. He sighs in relief, catches himself, and puts a scowl back on his face.

"Sorry to wake you, Captain. It's pretty gruesome. However, we need you here because-"

"Because of me, I presume."

Sharon turns around to come face to face with a handsome man dressed in a suit. Assistant Chief Taylor stands next to him.

"Captain, I would like you to meet Captain John Mason of the SDPD Major Crimes Unit. He happened to be up here for the retirement party of a mutual friend when we got the call. We drove together and, well, John, you can tell the Captain the rest."

Captain Mason extends his hand. Sharon finds his handshake firm, but warm. She gets an instantly good feeling about this man. She's always been a good judge of character. She trusts him immediately. The fact that he has the bluest eyes she's ever seen surely has nothing to do with it.

John lifts his arm and points in the opposite direction. His other arm rises to her back, his fingers brushing her waist. She inhales deeply as she works gloves over her fingers.

"Captain, if you will follow me, I can tell you why you were called in."

"Sounds good." She follows willingly. John begins to talk as they make their way to the crime scene.

"About a month ago, a murder came through our unit. Young girl, 14 years old. Raped repeatedly, chain marks on her wrists and ankles, practically starving. She had been missing for a week when we found her in a ravine in Alpine. The killer kept her for seven days, then killed her and dumped her body. The killer called it in on a throwaway phone. We have prints, semen, the works found on the body, but we can't find the guy. He's not in any databases. It's like the guy doesn't exist. He's a ghost."

"Cause of death?" Sharon asks as they approach a young female lying on the ground. Captain Mason takes his glasses off and rubs his eyes.

"Various stab wounds to the torso and mutilation. He cuts off their breasts and their backside and places them next to their bodies. He cuts out their intestines and internal organs and places those in a circle around the body. So far, he doesn't touch their face. He leaves that in pristine shape."

Sharon takes a closer look at the female body on the ground. She squints her eyes and looks back to John.

"As if he wants them to see what he's done," she surmises.

John shakes his head. "Yes. That was our thought as well. He's definitely vain. He wants to see their pain, their anguish while he does these things to them."

Sharon hums in agreement. She bends down at her knees, and John is amazed that she can get this close to a dead body. Most women would keep their distance.

"You mentioned 'they.' I assume you found more than one body?"

"You assume right. In the last month, we've found three bodies. The problem is where we found them."

"I don't understand."

"Well, the first body was found in Alpine. The second one a bit north in Julian. Same MO. The third body was found in Mount Palomar. Again same MO. But now…this girl fits the profile, Captain. Young girl, signs of rape, mutilation of the body but not the face, signs of being chained at her wrists and ankles, traces of semen on her body. The murder was even called in. What doesn't fit is three of these murders happened in San Diego, and the fourth just happened in Los Angeles."

Sharon rises to her feet, a look of panic on her face.

"He's traveling. Which means-"

"Either he's improvising because he had to leave San Diego, or he is now capable of committing murder while in transit. Only certain types of killers are transient serial killers, Captain."

Sharon walks around Captain Mason, scanning the young girl's body, deep in thought.

"From what I know, most serial killers operate in a defined area. It has to do with comfort zones, areas that are an anchor for them, like where they work or live. Serial killers will only expand their area once their confidence has grown or to avoid being caught. Generally the serial killers who travel interstate are people who move frequently, those who are homeless, or those whose work allows them to travel, such as truck drivers or someone in the military. Interstate serial killers operate in a very wide comfort zone of operation. They are quite confident in their actions, and from what I can see of this young woman, our killer is also, like you said, vain, and grandiose. It looks to me as if he fancies himself just a bit. What do you think?" Sharon takes a peak at John over her glasses.

"Wow. I'm impressed. I don't suppose you read up on serial killers for fun, do you?"

Sharon blushes slightly. "I attended some seminars a few years back. I find it very interesting, how the minds of serial killers work. I hate what they do, but their interesting to say the least."

"I agree. Look, it would seem the best approach would be if our two teams work this case together. If our killer is really on the move, it is likely he won't be going back to San Diego anytime soon. That means we need to be here to catch him, and you need our information and help in catching him. What do you say?"

Captain Mason extends his hand again. Sharon reaches for it, warmly shaking it.

"I think that is a wise decision. We need the best team you can bring us, and all the information you can get us. I assume you will take charge of your team, correct?"

"Yes, and I assume you will take charge for your side?"

"I will. Why don't you take primary. You and your team have worked this case longer. You know this guy. You know his profile and his victims. I'll take secondary. Agreed?"

John smiles. "You know, I don't meet many Captains willing to give up the lead in a serial killer case. You are definitely…one of a kind."

"Thank you. I'm not here to win any fame, Captain. I believe in giving the lead to the best person for the job, and in this case, that person is you. Why don't you get a hold of your team, and get them and that information up here ASAP. We will meet up again at headquarters, get our teams selected, contact the necessary people, and get everyone up to date. Sound good?"

"Yah, sounds great."

Sharon finally lets his hand go, turns around and begins to walk away. At the last moment, she turns around and makes eye contact with John again.

"Oh, Captain. Do you have a place to stay? Shower, eat, change clothes?"

"Uh…I suppose Taylor will let me bunk with him. Why?

"I was going to offer my couch. But I'm sure you will be more comfortable at Taylor's. See you soon." She saunters off toward her team as John lets out a sigh.

"What a woman. Dammit. Why did I mention Taylor?" John berates himself as he reaches for his phone to call his team.

From a little ways away, Andy watches the interaction between the two Captains and grits his teeth. He tries valiantly to ignore the chemistry going on. He almost has a lock on his emotions until he hears his Captain's remark to John.

"Let it go man. Just let it go. It doesn't mean anything. So what if she's never offered you her couch. Why would she?" He watches as Sharon looks at Captain Mason out of the corner of her eye. She smiles as if she has a secret. Andy sighs.

"Shit. I'm not gonna get any sleep until this is over."