Ashfield PD, Ashfield, Massachusetts
"Queen of all knowledge here, speak now squire or forever hold your peace," Garcia chirped down the phone.
"Hey Baby-Girl, got any information for me on these kids?" Morgan replied putting the phone on speaker.
"They are all connected, they all went to the same school, same clubs, same church everything," they could hear Garcia typing loudly as she spoke.
"Was there anything that they were part of that not all the kids in the town were?" Reid asked handing Alex over more pictures.
"Not in their records no," Garcia mumbled typing quicker.
"Anything come up strange about the bodies?" Morgan asked throwing a marker over to Alex to write as Garcia spoke.
"They all had crosses burned into their foreheads and there was traces of spices found on the bodies," Alex wrote that up on the board and then started to tap the marker on her head. She had read about something to do with this but couldn't remember it exactly.
"Oh and there's something else, last month Madison Musso went to a doctor outside of Ashfield complaining of stomach problems and was revealed to be pregnant," Garcia said sending the information to their phones, "it says here she was very vocal in her schools celibacy club, ironic isn't it?"
"Did it say who the father was?" Morgan asked they were all staring at the phone waiting on an answer. Garcia seemed to take a year and a half to answer them.
"Sorry to be anti-climatic but she never gave a name but there is a picture of her with Daniel Jones at their homecoming prom maybe he's the father," Garcia answered and they all looked up at the list. Daniel Jones was found the same time as Madison Musso.
"No, that's perfect Garcia listen, can you keep delving into school newsletters and see if the other victims are connected like that?" Reid said as Alex wrote up the connection between them.
"I'll ring you if I get anything," she replied hanging up the phone.
"I'm going to try Hotch again, call me if Garcia calls back," Morgan said leaving the room.
"Any ideas?" Reid asked sitting down on the table.
"A few, she would've kept the baby right? She's Christian and abortion is a sin, but having a baby out of wedlock is a sin too," Alex was rambling on looking up at the pictures.
"They had crucifixes burned on their foreheads too, maybe we should talk to the pastor here," Reid replied.
"Yeah, we should probably talk to their friends and families as well, if he's killing them because of their sins we should find out what sins made them targets," Alex said putting the pictures into the groups they were found in.
"What have you got so far?" Hotch said walking in followed by Prentiss, Morgan, Rossi and JJ.
"We think this UnSub is motivated by religion," Reid started, "he burns crucifixes on their foreheads and Madison Musso was pregnant when she was killed and we think Daniel Jones is the father."
"To the UnSub they're guilty of conceiving a child out of wedlock and that could've been the trigger for him to murder them," Alex finished.
"So if he's killing them because of past sins what about the others?" Morgan asked whilst helping the others settle in to the office.
"We're not sure, we were thinking of talking to their friends and maybe their pastor to see if it is sin that's the trigger for the UnSub," Alex replied.
"In that case, Alex and Emily go talk to their friends, Morgan and Dave go talk to the pastor, we'll continue working on the profile," Hotch said helping JJ with her bags. The four of them left getting into the separate SUVs and driving on.
"There's been a support group set up in the school for the friends of the victims," Alex said as Prentiss drove on.
"Best start there then," she said turning the SatNav off and relying on different road markings.
"What took you guys so long?" Alex asked double-checking she had her badge with her.
"That stupid SatNav, road signs were telling us the right way but Hotch followed the SatNav instead and we wound up in the middle of a field which according to it was Ashfield," Prentiss started to complain, "We told him to follow the signs but no Hotch is an Alpha-Male and decided that since he got the SatNav he'd pay attention to it and nothing else, he doesn't like being wrong. Typical man."
"Sounds just like my Father," Alex laughed as they left Ashfield and drove towards Buckland.
St. John's Episcopal Church, Ashfield, Massachusetts
"Gentlemen, how may I help you?" the pastor said picking up the mass leaflets.
"SSA David Rossi and SSA Derek Morgan, we have a few questions for you about the recent murders here," Rossi answered as they flashed their badges.
"It's absolutely terrible, I knew all of them very well, Alice and Sarah were members of the choir," he sighed putting the mass leaflets down next to the candles.
"Did any of them come to you with any problems?" Morgan asked checking the church out. There was a shrine dedicated to the murdered teenagers next to pictures of the choir and several other pictures from different events.
"Michael came to me frequently, he was worried about his Mother," the pastor said sitting down, "Amy was very curious about love as was Nicola they kept asking about the sins involved with love and how one could commit these sins."
"What did you tell her?" Rossi asked sitting down facing him, he sighed again and stroked his beard.
"I just discussed the subject with them, reminded them how it is a sin to have sex before marriage and I thought that was it, now that you mentioned it they were both awfully nervous about the whole subject and kept glancing at each other."
"What about the others? Did they come to you as often as the other three?" Morgan asked as Rossi wrote down that the pastor said.
"No I wouldn't say so, I mostly seen them before Easter when they came for yearly confessions,"
"Okay, thank you for your time sir, if you remember anything give us a call," Rossi said getting up. They shook his hand and left climbing into the SUV and driving back to the station.
Mohawk Trail Regional High School, Buckland, Massachusetts
"The group therapy room is in here," the Headmistress said standing outside of the room, "We weren't expecting any of them to return for a while but the parents believed it was better for them to be here than to be surrounded by, well you know."
"Thank you m'am," Prentiss said her hand on the handle. The Headmistress left them, her heels clicking down the hallway. Prentiss and Alex walked into the room and about fifteen teenagers stared up at them. They were sitting on the floor in a circle talking quietly.
"Uh, hi we're Agents Emily and Alex with the FBI," Prentiss said as they flashed their badges.
"Have you caught him?" a blonde girl asked staring up at the two agents.
"No, not yet," Alex replied, "We're currently working on the case and wanted to ask you guys some questions about your friends."
"Why are you questioning us? Shouldn't you be out there catching this guy?" a boy with a buzz cut asked glaring up at the agents.
"There are a few things we need to ask you guys to help us catch the guy," Prentiss said stepping forward closer to him. The boy attempted to match her gaze but gave up and looked away, defeated.
"Did any of the um, victims, talk to you guys about stuff that they thought was against your religion or stuff that they thought was a sin?" Alex asked looking over the students.
"What do sins have to do with this? You're not our pastor," the buzz cut boys friend said.
"It might be connected to these murders," Prentiss replied walking around to him showing the same position of authority to him. He looked away still ticked off.
"Maddy was pregnant, if that helps," one girl said looking up.
"It does yeah," Alex answered writing it down although they already knew that, "Did you all know she was pregnant?"
"It was so obvious, she used to be so skinny and she started gaining weight and quit the cheerleading squad, we all knew," one of the girls in a small group by themselves said showing no remorse for their murdered friend.
"What about the others?" Prentiss asked leaning up against the wall.
"Well, we all know about Amy and Nicole," the same girl said turning to her friends, they exchanged glances and one began to giggle.
"Well we don't," Prentiss said and the girl stopped her giggling, "Could one of you tell us?" The girls turned to each other again ready to laugh.
"They were going out," a boy said looking away, he was choking back tears. Prentiss and Alex looked at each other, Prentiss nodded for her to continue on.
"What about Alice Pullman, Marie Hughes, Tyrone Morgan and Melissa Hoffman?" Alex asked looking around the room. The three Cheerleaders looked at each other again. The middle one, who appeared to be the leader, nodded at them.
"They were having affairs," one of the girls said flicking her hair back. Alex looked at Prentiss and wrote down the information.
"John Doherty, Sarah Callahan and Michael Singer, any rumours about them?" Prentiss asked, the teens all looked at each other and for once the smaller group had nothing to say.
"Did they have anything in common?" Alex asked, if they didn't commit any sins then that would ruin the theory Alex was working on.
"None of their parents are married," a boy said from the back of the classroom.
"You mean they were born out of wedlock?" Alex pressed. Prentiss looked up at Alex confused, she didn't know why Alex was getting excited about this information.
"Yeah," he grumbled and Alex jotted it down.
"Okay thank you, that's all we need," Alex said nodding to Prentiss and leaving the room. Prentiss followed her out confused.
"What's going on?" she asked but Alex hushed her she was ringing Garcia.
"Hello Garcia? What spices were found on the body? Uh-huh, you sure? Okay cool thanks," Alex was writing notes as she listened getting more excited, "We need to get back, I know what this guy is doing."
Ashfield PD, Ashfield, Massachusetts
Alex and Prentiss returned back to the station, she ran her theory by Prentiss on the way back and Prentiss agreed that that was the UnSubs motive and course of action. They walked in and the team were running theory's past each other but were basically stumped.
"Did you guys get anything?" Hotch asked hopefully.
"Well, basically, Alex has it mostly figured out," Prentiss said nudging Alex forward.
"Really?" Morgan asked surprised that she was able to figure it out by herself.
"Really," Prentiss smiled, "Go on Alex tell them."
"It's a Witch hunt," Alex said walking over to the board to start writing everything up, "The UnSub is killing them because he sees them as sinners and is performing purification rituals involving burning away their sin. The bodies were all found with traces of Frankincense, Myrrh, Styrax and Copal on them." She crossed over to the pictures of the Teenagers and Prentiss started to talk as Alex wrote around them.
"Amy and Nicole were involved in a homosexual relationship. Madison and Daniel had sex before marriage and perhaps aborted a baby. John, Sarah and Michael were born out of wedlock, basically born into sin and Alice, Marie, Tyrone and Morgan were all having affairs," Prentiss looked at the team as they started compiling a more thorough profile.
"Good work ladies, we should be ready to give the profile in a few minutes, I'll go let Burke know," Hotch said getting up and leaving.
"The UnSub is incredibly religious, he'd attend services every day and would pray constantly," Hotch started addressing the few Police that the town had and the members of the Neighbourhood watch that had been set up following the first deaths.
"He's targeting sinners, he's killing these teenagers because either they themselves have sinned or were born into sin," Morgan added, he noticed the officers and volunteers shifting uncomfortably. They had all sinned one way or another and now worried about the fate of their children.
"He's basically initiated a Witch Hunt on Ashfield. This state is well known for the Salem Witch Trials between 1692 and 1693 but this isn't like those trial's, the UnSub doesn't believe he's killing them he believes he's cleansing them and has launched this Witch Hunt to catch sinners," Reid rambled on, "He believes God sent him here on a mission to cleanse this town of young sinners."
"The UnSub is white, devoted to God, about 40 to 50 years old, he's someone you all know and trust, he doesn't stand out in a crowd but you'd still notice that he's there," Alex continued, "he smells of spices all the time. He often says things like 'God be with you,' and makes the sign of the cross every time he passes the church."
"We need you to get this profile out to as many teenagers as possible, it's the only way to ensure their safety," Hotch finished, as he spoke a woman came rushing in frantically.
"There's been another murder," she said staring at the men in front of her. The team looked at each other in shock before following her out. She led them to the back of the Town Hall were two bodies were left in the exact same state as the previous ones.
"Christ almighty," Chief Burke said removing his hat.
"Who is it?" Reid asked as Alex started to move away. The smell of the bodies was making her sick.
"Paul Carling and Nick Armstrong," the chief sighed, "They weren't even reported missing."
"He's escalating," Rossi said observing the bodies.
"He didn't burn them as well as before," Reid said getting closer to Paul Carling who's back was visible, "He whipped them."
"He scourged them, just like the Romans did to Christ," Hotch said looking away from the bodies as the church bells chimed.
"Guys, our UnSub could be in Church right now," Prentiss said before Morgan and the officers ran towards the Church.
"Wait, guys," Reid shouted chasing after them. Morgan and the officers stood in front of the church planning how they would confront the killer.
"If we go in guns blazing he'll know we're on to him, we have figure out who he is first," Reid panted trying to catch his breath.
"He's in there right now, we need to go in and get him before he kills another kid," Morgan argued.
"And who exactly are you arresting?" Reid answered, the officers nor Morgan didn't have an answer, "Come on we better go back to the station and figure this out."
Ashfield PD, Ashfield, Massachusetts
"Is Reverend Jackson the only pastor in the area?" Rossi asked Garcia over the phone. The officers had alerted the families of the two latest victims and were giving the profile to the teenagers in the town.
"He's the only one registered," Garcia answered typing away.
"What about former pastors?" Morgan asked and Garcia typed some more.
"Six," Garcia answered.
"Have any of them been released from a psychiatric hospital recently?" Alex asked and the team looked at her, this wasn't included in their profile.
"One, Frank Copland, he was administered after trying to burn himself to death," Garcia replied, he sounded just like their guy.
"Was there a reason as to why he tried to kill himself?" Reid asked looking over at Alex; they both knew he was their guy.
"It doesn't give one but according to the Doctors notes he referred to everything as being a sin," Garcia answered, "I think this is your guy."
"Can you send us his address?" Morgan asked getting up and grabbing his gun.
"Already sent to your phone sweet cheeks," Garcia said cheerfully.
"Thanks baby girl," Morgan replied hanging up.
"How did you know he'd be a psychiatric patient?" Rossi asked Alex.
"I don't know, I just had a hunch he would be," she shrugged.
"Another girl has been reported missing," an officer said opening the door.
"Come on, we know who he is, we might be able to save this girl," Hotch said, "Morgan, Prentiss with me, the rest of you stay here." The three of them left leaving the other members hoping they got to him in time.
"Nice work Alex," JJ said handing her a coffee.
"Thanks, I just hope that girl is okay," she replied taking a sip.
Frank Copland's House, Ashfield, Massachusetts
The house was small and smelt of burning. The FBI and officers pulled up and could hear screams from inside. They were far enough way from the town that no one could hear the screams.
"You two and Prentiss take the back entrance, Morgan, myself and Burke will take the front, be prepared to shoot this guy he might be armed," Hotch said looking up every so often at the house. They broke up and took the separate entrances.
"FBI!" Morgan shouted kicking the door down, the screams grew louder as the advanced. Prentiss and the two officers met them almost as soon as they burst in. They all began to shout 'Clear' as they searched the house.
"It sounds like it's coming from under the house," she said trying to find the entrance to the basement. Morgan found it almost instantly and kicked it down.
"FBI," he shouted again running down the stairs followed by the rest of the officers. They entered the basement and found the UnSub whipping a young girl manically, she was crying and screaming but he was shouting more and more bible passages at her.
"FBI stop what you're doing," Hotch said raising his gun.
"This girl has sinned," Copland screamed whipping her more.
"She hasn't committed any sins," Morgan shouted. Copland turned around and attempted to whip Hotch, he missed his body but whipped his hand sending his gun flying. He attempted to whip the officers away but kept missing. As Hotch knelt down to pick up his gun keeping his eye on the UnSub he whipped his back causing Hotch to fall to the ground and Morgan to shoot him in the shoulder.
"You're going to burn in hell!" he screamed before fainting. One of the officers rang for an ambulance as Morgan helped Hotch up. Prentiss ran over and tried to put pressure on his wound but it was useless.
"He's dead," she announced standing up as the girl was released by Burke from the post Copland had tied her to. She was shaking uncontrollably and asking for her Mother. Prentiss took off her jacket and wrapped the girl in it as the EMT's arrived.
_
Ashfield PD, Ashfield, Massachusetts
"They rescued her but Copland died," Rossi said getting off the phone with Hotch.
"Is she okay?" JJ asked.
"Far from it," Rossi shook his head sitting down. Alex and Reid got up and started to remove all their notes from the board.
"At least it's all over," JJ whispered running her fingers through her hair.
"Yeah that's something at least," Rossi said thankful that the case was over.
Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven – Henry Ward Beecher.