=Past=

"I know how you feel." She began, trying to be as helpful as she could. "When I was younger, I fell deeply and madly in love with this one guy. We had a very intense relationship for a few months, but after a while he disappeared suddenly. Like he was lifted off the face of the earth. I finally found out that he went off to find a house elsewhere for his new wife and kid. I was so depressed, I cried for weeks. We learn to accept these things, though. And I know you can, Hotch." He gave her a partial smile and offered to fill her glass again, but she politely declined. 'Have to drive tomorrow' she stated. He filled his own glass instead and replied to her speech.

"I care about everyone at the BAU like I care for my family. And I couldn't just leave my family, could I?" The smile she gave him was warm and friendly, unlike any she had given him before. As he looked into her eyes, he noticed a shine to them that he hadn't noticed before. It was beautiful. He had to admit that she was a very attractive woman. But he had never given it much thought before. Or was it the scotch that was making him feel this way?

=Present=

The victims were found in their home like the previous murder and were also killed with a knife. But this time the victims were of Mexican descent, not Asian. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales were found lying in a pool of blood on their kitchen floor, stripped down to their underwear. Nothing was moved around, but there was a streak of blood across the floor as if they were dragged.

When they got there, Emily and Hotch immediately saw a new face within the group of familiar profilers. She was an older woman with strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and a face full of freckles. At first glance she seemed like your average country girl, but in reality she was a professional city woman who enjoyed buying and wearing expensive jewelry and suits. Hotch knew.

"Guys, this is Detective Alexandra Halls from the Hartford police department. Detective, this is Agents Prentiss and Hotchner." Rossi introduced. The woman smiled and shook each of their hands warmly before speaking.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. The-" She was interrupted by the ringing of her cell, and she stepped away to answer it. Hotch unintentionally listened in to the conversation, and overheard some of the speech. Halls came back to them minutes later claiming that it was a minor work call.

"I don't believe that you're telling the truth, detective. You're a mother, aren't you?" Hotch interrogated. He didn't mean to be rude, but profiling was part of his job and had become a difficult thing not to do. Halls let out a sigh and confessed.

"Alright. I have a 16 year-old daughter who is constantly going to car dealerships and looking at cars without my permission. She calls often when she finds a car she likes. But how did you know?"

"You're wearing a short-sleeved jacket that shows most of your arms. On your left arm, you can just see a tattoo of the names of your daughter and son. I also overheard your conversation. It's alright; I have a son as well." She rubbed her arm instinctively and shook her head.

"You damn profilers and your instincts. Well I suppose that's why you're so great at your job, huh? Now, let's get back to the crime scene. Notice the stab wounds on the victims. There's much more than the previous murder. Usually killers get better as they go, so there's no need for this many wounds. Another difference between this murder and the other is that there are more wounds on the female victim, not the male like last time."

"Well, our victim is definitely psychotic." Emily pointed out. A voice from the next room caught her attention, and she turned to see a woman who was sitting in a chair. She seemed very distressed. "Who's that?"

"That's Rachel James." JJ answered. "She's a friend of Mrs. Gonzales' and the one who contacted police. You might want to go and talk to her."

Hotch and Emily made their way over to the woman and introduced themselves. Reid soon joined them. She immediately started talking, like a jack-in-the-box that was wound up all the way and then opened.

"Sophia mentioned that a woman in a black hooded sweater was riding around her house on a bicycle. That's why she kept Alehandro inside." She explained.

"Just like the previous murder." Hotch whispered to Emily. She nodded and jotted it down in her notebook. Reid, who had been thinking for a while, turned to the woman.

"Who is Alehandro?" He pushed.

"Sophia and Ricky's son. He's at school right now. Oh, I don't know how I'm going to tell him!" She broke out into a fit of cries and covered her face with her perfectly manicured hands. But Reid was onto something.

"What school does he go to?"

"St. Kyle's Jr. High."