"What did we miss?" Emma demanded as she charged into the room followed closely by Detective Wade.
"Sorry I'm late," the man apologized. "I was busy updating my people on the latest victim."
"Well, you may have to update them again," Hotch told him. "We've had to revise our profile."
"What's changed?" Emma asked.
"The age," JJ explained. "It appears that this unsub began killing at a very young age, which affects the current age range we need to be looking at."
"How young?" was Detective Wade's question.
"We figure he may have started as young as 8," Reid spoke up authoratively. "That means we may be looking for someone as young as 18."
"A high school student?" Emma quickly analyzed the new data.
"Or as old as 21 or 22," Blake hastened to add.
"That does make a difference," Detective Wade said thoughtfully. "Let me get with the sheriff and we can make arrangements to get the information out to both of our departments at the same time." He pulled out his cell phone and pushed a button.
"Emma?" an unfamiliar man's voice sounded from the direction of the doorway.
When everyone looked over, they saw a medium height, slightly chubby, blond haired man, wearing a short sleeved golf shirt and chinos, standing just inside the door.
"Gary!" Emma voice rang out as she hurried towards him. "What are you doing here?"
"I knew you had an early counseling session, followed by several others, and then you were coming over here," was the reply. "I figured you probably didn't have time to eat breakfast, so I brought you an early lunch." He held up a bag from a sandwich shop.
"Is that lemonade?" Emma demanded, staring pointedly at a cup holder he was also carrying.
"It sure is," Gary smiled at her. "I got you some lemonade from Jack's place. He was just opening up so it's fresh."
"You are such a sweetheart!" Emma exclaimed as she claimed a cup. "You are spoiling me rotten!" She gave him a huge smile.
As the team watched in amusement, Gary blushed furiously.
"Derek Morgan," Morgan decided it was time to find out what was going on and walked over to introduce himself. He held out his hand to shake.
"Gary Mueller," was the reply. "Please excuse me for not shaking hands. Both of mine are rather full at the moment. Besides, there is the germ issue to be considered."
"Where are my manners?" Emma asked with an embarrassed smile. "Everyone, this is my friend, Gary. Gary, as you probably guessed that is Derek Morgan standing directly in front of you. And, over here, we have Aaron Hotchner, JJ Jareau, Alex Blake, David Rossi, and Spencer Reid." She pointed towards each person as she mentioned their name.
"They are all members of the BAU team I told you about last night," she added.
"Glad to meet all of you," Gary treated them to a smile. "It is nice to meet some of Emma's friends."
He looked over at the evidence boards and shuddered. "Although – "
"What do you say we eat out on the deck?" Emma linked her arm through his as she drew him towards the outside door. "We can move one of the tables into the shade and enjoy this nice weather. Everyone - " She nodded in the team's direction as she began leading the way out the door.
"And, that is?" Rossi looked over at Detective Wade who had been watching the proceedings with great interest.
"Gary Mueller," the detective smirked. "I was wondering when he would put in an appearance."
"An ardent admirer?" Blake guessed.
"Oh yes," the detective affirmed. "He appears to be totally smitten by the doctor."
"What can you tell us about him?" Hotch questioned. "Just curious," he quickly added.
"In whom?" Sheriff Gardner asked as he walked into the room.
"Gary Mueller, the pharmacist," was the reply from Detective Wade.
"Good young man," was the assessment. "After finishing high school, he went to college and got his pharmacist's license. Then, he came back here to help his father run the drug store his dad owned, down the street from the state police post in Duncanville. After his father died, about two years ago, he sold out to a national chain, but stayed on to run the pharmacy. Said he wanted to be able to concentrate on taking care of people's prescription needs without having to worry about counting toothbrushes. Takes good care of his mother – Still lives with her in the house he grew up in as a matter of fact. Why are you interested?"
"Still trying to get a feel for this area," JJ was quick to assure him. "It helps us if we get to know some of the locals."
"He's a local all right," Sheriff Gardner chuckled. "In the day he was one of Mrs. Jenkins prize students."
"What did Mrs. Jenkins teach?" JJ asked curiously.
"Senior English," Detective Wade told her. "And I can tell you from personal experience that her reputation as a demanding teacher is well deserved."
"In other words, she would have known just about every student who went through the local high school," Hotch could see where JJ was going with her question.
"Of course," Sheriff Gardner replied. "There have been some years when the graduating class was too large for one teacher to handle so another teacher picked up a class but, basically, she knows everyone."
"Maybe you had better have a word with her," Hotch nodded towards Rossi. "And, why don't you take Blake with you?"
"She'll probably be in the snack bar area," Sheriff Gardner told them as they left the room.