Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. That would be CBS and ABC.

Loss

Freehold Raceway Mall

Freehold, NJ

Morgan slid his sunglasses on as the detective approached their team, ponytail swaying with every step.

"Thank you for coming." She glanced over her shoulder. "Although I wish we had called sooner."

"Why didn't you?"

Hotch nudged him.

Her lips twisted. "Wasn't my call. Hi, I'm Detective Joy Marriott, no relation to the hotel chain." She held out her hand. Hotch shook.

"SSA Aaron Hotchner. This is my team, Agents Rossi, Morgan, Prentiss, Jareau and Reid."

"Nice to meet you." Marriott jerked her head towards the police tape. "This is the latest crime scene. Wish I could show you the others, but it's a mall parking lot. We don't get a lot of time."

"Tight parking?"

"Apparently people don't really care why they can't park somewhere; they park anyway." Marriott shrugged. "Body's already in autopsy."

The blood stained the blacktop.

"Body was dragged," Rossi crouched down.

"Streetlight," Marriott pointed. "Killer needed to see to write."

Morgan shifted his gaze from the site to her. She was shielding her eyes, even with sunglasses, scanning the lot and the crowded mall.

"I remember when those stores weren't around," she murmured. "I was only a teenager, but Borders, Cheesecake Factory, Jared's… those are still new to me."

"Grew up around here?"

She nodded. "Shopped here. Mostly at the Barnes and Noble across the street."

"What can you tell us?"

"All the victims were employees, not shoppers. Don't know what that means since Matthews was a manager for Sears, Kline was floor sales at Bath and Body Works, Block worked for the Game Stop and Lear was a clerk at the Borders."

Reid glanced up. "Anything else?"

"All were killed in these outer lots, isolated areas where people try not to park unless there's no other option. Lear was killed late- she was a closer, Matthews and Kline got off at seven and were killed around then and Block was killed early in the morning- opening shift."

Prentiss glanced around. "People are barely slowing down."

"Well, after the first three, they're used to seeing us. Plus, Mall Security has been around recently." Marriott rubbed her temples. "We don't stand out anymore."

"Even with the first murder, they didn't stop. Detective Craig Scott." The male detective grinned.

"My partner," Marriott mumbled.

"Did you find witnesses?"

Scott shook his head. "None that came forward. And people mostly ignore what's going on around them here. They're more interested in getting their shopping done."

"Do you have a place for us back at the station?" Reid asked. "I would like to start working."

Marriott nodded. "I'll take you back. Scott, you got things here?"

"Go on, Joy. I'll check on you later."

"Reid, Prentiss, JJ go back to the station. Rossi, Morgan and I will continue working here."

"Good luck," Prentiss said as she followed the female detective.

Detective Scott's eyes followed the group until the SUV pulled away.

Morgan glanced at the Detective. "You more than partners?"

Scott shook his head. "No. Come on. I can show you the other scenes, for all the good it'll do. They're all nearby."

Police Station

"Mama!"

Joy found herself with an armful of toddler. She grinned and scooped her son up. "Were you good for Brittany, Tyler?"

He nodded and hugged her neck, peering over her shoulder. "Who you?"

"Introductions in a moment, Baby." Joy crossed the room to her desk, where her mother waited impatiently. "Sorry."

"I've been waiting."

"Leave him with Dad."

Diana Marriott rolled her eyes. "He'll teach the boy bad habits."

"Thanks for bringing him by, Mom. I've got him now."

"Joy, don't bring him to crime scenes again."

"Love you too, Mom."

Joy pursed her lips as her eyes followed her mother out of the station. With a sigh, she turned back to the BAU agents. "My apologies. We've set a conference room aside for you. I hope it works."

"Who's this?" JJ smiled at the toddler, who scrunched his nose and played with Joy's ponytail.

"My son, Tyler."

The biracial boy blinked at them over his mother's shoulder.

"Tyler, these are agents Reid, Prentiss and Jareau."

JJ held out her hand. "You can call me JJ."

"JJ!"

Reid took off his messenger bag. "Want to see a trick?"

Tyler nodded excitedly.

Reid began to make pens and paperclips disappear for the boy while JJ and Prentiss helped Joy move the white board.

"Do you need anything?"

"Coffee?" Reid asked, making another pen vanish.

Joy smiled when Tyler clapped. "How do you take it?"

"Very sweet and very light."

JJ grinned. "He likes coffee with his cream and sugar."

"Hmm. We've got one like that. Ladies?"

JJ shook her head. "I'm good with water."

"Just cream," Prentiss said.

The detective scooped up her son again. "Back in a moment. The files should be up in a moment. If you need anything, ask for Detective Marriott or Chief Marriott."

"Chief?"

She shrugged. "My father."