"Most people sell their souls and live with a good conscience on the proceeds" - Logan Pearsall Smith
JJ and Reid drove around looking for a coffee shop that look busy and found a Starbucks about three miles away that had the parking lot full. They parked in the lot next to Starbucks and making sure their credentials weren't showing and Reid's gun was secure in the glove compartment they went inside. The place was busy with both business men and women and what looked to be housewives catching up after dropping their children off at where ever they were supposed to be. There were also a few college and high school looking students who gathered closer to the doors. The noise level was bearable if a little on the louder side to be heard about others or the constant working of the coffee machines.
"I'll walk around chat up the women while you get coffee, then you mill around the business people while I get something for us to eat. We'll check out the younger people before we leave" JJ said as she leaned into Reid a bit. He nodded and went to stand in line and JJ wondered over to a table with a large group of women slightly older then her. There was a newspaper on the table and the women seemed to be discussing it.
"Did you see the ad for the dogs Sara?
"Yeah, I can honestly say I thought about it."
"I know, I thought about getting a puppy for Jake in the winter but I might get one now for the protection."
"Didn't you used to go to a restaurant close to the shop where that lady got kidnapped."
"I've been avoiding that area now."
"Yeah but aren't all the people who have been taken and killed lately been criminals?"
"I think so but I'm not sure. The paper never said and I wasn't paying attention till the third one. But better safe than sorry."
JJ listened to them saving her thoughts for later before moving on to a smaller group of women. Unlike the other group she had to pretend she was looking at the menu to get close to them without alerting them that she was eavesdropping
"Charlie said he might think about taking us on vacation till the police sort out this serial killer stuff. He said he overheard that they were bringing in the F.B.I. so it would be over pretty soon."
"Are you sure? That would be nice to tell Thomas, he has been a bit nervous."
"Now don't get me wrong those people may have done some bad things but to be murdered. Well I'm all for jail but I think it's creepy that someone is out there doing that to them."
"It is a little strange but I'm sure it will be over sooner or later."
JJ didn't get to hear more as Reid walked up to her then with a carry tray full of coffee cups.
"Decide what you're going to get?" Reid asked.
"Yeah, give me a minute to order and we'll get the last bit of what we need and we can get back." JJ left Reid and went to stand her turn in line.
When she was gone Reid walked over to were to coffee condiments were. The small side bar with packages of creamer and sugar and those thin stir sticks was surrounded by people in business suits and attire. Reid had heard a little gossip while in line for coffee but now was when he could really pick something up. Or he hoped anyway. He waited till he saw a opening and slip into it to grab some packets and listen.
"My wife is getting scared but I told her she has nothing to worry about. This guy or whatever is only going after the criminals. Not our problem, we'll be fine."
"You don't know for sure, the paper or news haven't said if they were all criminals."
"Well whatever is going on the police better do something about it soon. We moved out here to get away from that kind of stuff in the city."
"I don't think there is ever a place to really get away from it but I get what you're saying Hal."
"I'm just glad we have a dog that will warn us or anything."
"Weren't these people just picked up off the street though?"
"Ready to go?" JJ's voice came from behind Reid. He turned and nodded at her leaving the small side bar and following her. She carried a bag with a few smaller paper bags inside. When they got close to the door she stopped to look at the paper in a stand just to the left of the door. There were younger people milling about here talking with each other or texting.
"Peter, Dane said the police brought in the F.B.I. to work on this serial killer."
"I still can't believe there's a killer in this town, it's kinda weird. Like something you read about not expect to be around."
"Relax it's not so bad. They were criminals not like we knew any of em. Besides how long do you think this guy can get away with it now? People are already nervous, a few more killings and the criminals might leave on their own."
"Yeah but if there are no more criminals around do you think that the killer will go after normal people?"
"Who knows but I doubt it. It reminds me of all those comics you used to read Ben."
JJ nudged Reid to get his attention and tiled her head towards the door before going over and pushing it open. Reid followed and they walked back to the SUV and after some shuffling getting in. They didn't talk on the ride back and went straight to the conference room and the team. They set down the coffee and food but it went untouched for several minutes.
"What did you pick up?" Hotch asked obviously not talking about the food.
"It's a mixed bag of things" JJ started. "People are a bit worried, but not overly so as they have the general idea of the type of target group. Words out that we are here but it's not widespread."
"It appears the older generation is the most worried. Of course they have more to lose statistically and have overcome the common theory and ideal of youth immortalization. Doesn't sound like they are panicking yet but if we don't find something soon they may do something on their own" Reid finished for JJ.
"Alright then we know that we need to inform them that they are safe and we are narrowing the target field down. JJ can you have a statement for the local press and all the area papers for after our profile to the police here?" Hotch looked over to her as she sat down.
"Of course, I've got a bit of a basic outline. I'll get some extra stuff for the papers put together."
"Reid, the Medical examiner called we'll head over in a few minutes. Drink you coffee and look over the list Garcia sent" Gideon pushed a copy over to him as sat and talking a cup of coffee started pouring in several sugar packets. He pulled the list over and began to scan it as he stirred.
"What I wouldn't give to know what out unsub was thinking right now. That way we could just grab this guy and stop trying to put all these crazy pieces together," Morgan grabbed a cup of coffee and one of the paper bags of food. He pulled out a blueberry muffin and leaning back bit into it.
"Wouldn't we all" Prentiss took her own cup of coffee and another paper bag.
"We'll head out in fifteen, but be back by twelve thirty so we can share before we give out the profile" Hotch only took a cup of coffee.
CMCMCMCMCMCM
She watched them park and get out of the SUV walking to the Starbucks a little ways over. She parked Across the street and followed moving quickly but not running. She watched from the glass door for a moment as the man got in line the woman began walking over to a table of women. She entered and moved to stand around a group of youngish people. She ignored them looking up at the menu board but keeping the women in sight from the corner of her eye. She focused her hearing towards the women as her target listened to them. Nervous women whining about getting a dog to keep them safe. She was annoyed and a little angry. She was doing them a favor and they were whining. The man walked up to the women not long after she had moved to another area. They talked and she went to stand in line, the man moving over to the other side of the coffee store. He began listening to the people there so she did too. More people talking about her favors. But they seemed full of themselves and more confident then the women but still a tinge of whining could be found there too. When the woman came back to the man they went to the door but didn't leave. Again they stood and listened. They were close and she stood behind a group of taller people so she wasn't seen. She could hear what these people thought of her favors and took this group in stride. They weren't as whiny and she had thought about what they said but knew some things they didn't. Her targets left after a moment and she waited before following knowing they were going back to the station. She would go check on George now and follow him for a bit. She would come back to see the hunters after lunch.
(Yes things are beginning to pick up now that the team is catching on and the pressure is on our unsub. Sorry for the wait got lots going on. Next chapter we see the fall of George, the team getting a major clue and the unsub cracking…. Hope you enjoyed, thanks again for reading and reviewing.)