"We took risks. We knew we took them. Things have come out against us. We have no cause for complaint." - Robert Frost
"All say, how hard it is that we have to die - a strange complaint to come from the mouths of people who have had to live" - Mark Twain
It had been a few hours since Hotch, JJ and Morgan had left to follow up on their assignments and Prentiss was getting board. Nothing of note had happened so far except Garcia calling to say that the previous information they wanted would be there in the morning and she couldn't get it any sooner despite her various computer powers. She had been looking over the same files again and again hoping to find something new. She's been staring so long at victim number 3; Evan Thompson's file so long the words were blurring together.
"Has the medical examiner called back yet?" Reid asked interrupting her thoughts. She looked up from her file to see him looking at the map they had put up and tapping his foot and opposite hand on his moving leg. He was most likely as board as she was but he showed it.
"No and we might not get an answer until tomorrow" Gideon looked up from his file. He had been sitting in the same chair since the others left, glasses sitting on the end of his nose, rereading the files one by one. Prentiss envied him in this respect, his focus and patients.
"Wouldn't there be a rush on this information?" Prentiss looked back at Gideon then back to Reid.
"They are busy and they will get to it as soon as they can I assume. There are other bodies that need their attention too. We are just confirming something that we already know, and as important as that is, it's no longer new thanks to Reid's discovery of it. Just be patient, both of you."
"I hate waiting like this" Prentiss shifted in her seat and went back to looking at the file in front of her.
"Don't complain Prentiss, it's not so bad. We'll think of something we just had to look harder" Reid was beginning to pace a bit.
"I'm not complaining I'm just…" she stopped as something she'd read popped into her head. "Reid you really are a genius, thank you."
"Of course I'm a genius, you already know this. Oh wait was it something I said?" Reid looked confused as Prentiss sat up and reached across the table pulling all the files towards her.
"What is it?" Gideon had a small smile on his face. He knew that Prentiss had just cracked a part of the case like Reid had done several hours ago.
"Just a second" she flipped several papers in the various files before lining them up. "There," she pointed to some of the lines in a few of the files. Reid walked over to her side and bent down to look. Gideon just leaned in his chair knowing Prentiss would explain.
"I see it, that's interesting. I've got these things memorized how could I miss that?" Reid cocked his head looking from file to file, his eyes scanning the words again.
"Mind sharing" Gideon was still amused at the two younger profilers.
"Complaints, all the victims had recent complaints filed about them" Prentiss turned to a white boards and began to write. Within minutes the victim's names and dates of death were lined up. There was also a new date next to all the names. "These are the dates the complaints were files, all of the victims were killed between two and three weeks after. This could be what makes the unsub pick them."
"But there are hundreds of people in this county with records and I'm sure many of them get complaints, maybe more than one." Reid shook his head.
"What's your point, and please not a mouth full of statistics until tomorrow."
"What makes these victims so special out of all the people with complaints?"
"Reid has a good point. You have just discovered quite the break in our case but if we can narrow it down we may be able to catch our unsub before he gets his next victim." Gideon got up and stretched. "I'll give Garcia a call, see if she can get us a list of all local criminals with complaints filed within the past two weeks." He went over to the computers and hit a few buttons. A moment later a new screen popped up and the perky blonde Garcia smiled at them.
"Office of all knowing what can I do for you today my lovelies?"
"We need more files looked up. All criminals in Flathead County that have had a complaint files in the last two weeks. Fax it over then it's done."
"That's going to be quite the list. But I'll have it for you in two shakes of a fluffy lambs tail." With that she was gone from view.
"I'll get the fax, and it's time for more coffee. You guys want any?" Reid was halfway to the door.
"No, just the fax" Prentiss sat back down. Gideon just shook his head in response. With that Reid disappeared out the door.
"Why don't you call Hotch, I'll call Morgan, it could be helpful information to them." Gideon went back to the chair he had been sitting in but just stood next to it. As patient as he seemed and the seats being somewhat comfortable even Prentiss guessed he was in no hurry to sit back down.
"Sure" she took out her phone and hit the well warn number 1 on speed dial. As she did so Gideon had pulled out his own phone. She turned back to the board to separate them a little while they talked to their respective team mates.
(Sorry this chapter is so short and took so long, but RL is kicking me right now, but I'll have more soon and a much longer chapter coming up. Thanks for reading.)