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Reid, Morgan, and Emily climbed out of the SUV, looking up at the house that now contained yet another dead man and his grieving widow. They ducked under the crime scene tape, being watched closely by the rest of the street, the residents all curiously peering out the windows of their homes. Detective Skinner was already waiting for them at the front door, and launched right into telling them about the newest victim.
"Norman Jenkins. Aged seventy seven. He lived here with his wife, Millie. She told me that a delivery boy showed up at around nine thirty this morning with the flowers."
"Nine thirty? Isn't that pretty early for deliveries?" Emily asked as they walked into the living room, where the body was located.
"I asked her about that. She said that she'd commented on it to the delivery man, and he said the company he worked for had just started opening at nine," Detective Skinner replied.
"What business is that?" Morgan asked.
"She said it was a locally owned place. A small shop called Sandy's Floral, downtown."
"Okay. We're gonna need to talk to the owner of that place. It could lead us to our UnSub," Morgan said.
"Hey guys, look at this," Reid called from the kitchen. They followed his voice to find him standing next to the kitchen table, which held a vase of two roses, two small cards, several bottles of medication, a stack of mail, and a clipped out newspaper article.
"It's definitely the same guy, then," Prentiss said, flipping open one of the cards. "My Apologies, and My Condolences. One white, one red."
"And the article I found, I remember reading it earlier," Reid said. "Norman was just just featured because he's a historian for the town library, which was been standing for over a hundred years three weeks ago."
"Okay, so we know the article that put him where he is now," Emily said, walking over and scanning it.
"Which is laid out on his easy chair and being examined by a bunch of police officers and a medical examiner," Morgan said, shaking his head as he walked back into the living room.
"He was killed by poison again," Reid said, following and kneeling next to the table to examine the half empty glass. "The UnSub killed the first victim by poison as well. He might have a cycle that he repeats with how he kills."
"Kill by poison, kill by shooting, kill by fire, and then repeat?" Emily said, raising her eyebrows.
"Possibly. Or he might just be picking whatever is easiest at the time," Reid said.
"Or just whatever he's in the mood for," Morgan said disgustedly.
"It's probably the same poison as used last time," Reid said slowly, barely listening to the other two. "Clear, tasteless, odorless… Completely undetectable."
Morgan's phone suddenly went off, and he pulled it off of his belt holster. "Hey Baby Girl, what's up? … Alright, hold on, let me put you on speaker."
Morgan clicked a button on his phone and held it out, so Garcia's voice was clearly heard by all of them. "Bow down to me, peasants, for I am your fair and beautiful ruler of technology and breakthroughs in freaky murder cases."
Detective Skinner looked at the phone strangely, causing the three Agents to share amused looks.
"Alright, what have you got for me mama? It had better be something good," Morgan said.
"Oh, it is. I just put a crack in your murder case, because I know who your killer is."
"That's our smart and sassy tech girl," Morgan said, smiling a little.
"You forgot sexy, sweet cheeks. Anyway, in my many searches across the interwebs, I discovered something. Actually, several somethings. In the last few years, all around the country, there have been murders happening with the same signature as yours, the roses. Usually anywhere from a week to a few months apart and never in the same place, at least until now."
"Okay, so we have a travelling killer on our hands who isn't travelling anymore?" Emily said.
"Oh, hold on my lovely, because I haven't even gotten to the best part yet. All of these murders are the work of a hit man that has been nicknamed 'The Gentleman'."
"I suppose that makes sense, seeing as he apologizes to both the victims and the families before he murders," Emily muttered, tilting her head to the side.
"What all is known about this guy?" Morgan asked.
"Ah. That my friends, is where the trail runs cold. This guy is like a ghost. No one knows what he looks like, what he drives, anyone he knows, basically who he is. He's never been caught or seen. And so far, with this last murder, he's killed thirty five people."
"In thirty five murders, not one person has seen this guy? He hasn't slipped up once?" Morgan asked disbelievingly.
"This guy is good. Crazy good. Totally off the grid," Garcia said. "And you know if anyone could find out information on him, I could."
"True. Alright, thanks Baby Girl," Morgan said, hanging up the phone.
"That's quite the Techie you've got there," Detective Skinner said, still looking mildly confused.
"She's the best," Morgan said.
"And now we know the name of this guy," Emily said. "Or at least, what people call him."
"But we're no closer to catching him than we were before," Morgan said.
"Plus, now we've got to track down two different people," Reid said. "This Gentleman guy and the person who is employing him."
"That changes a lot of things," Morgan said.
"Alright. Well, let's get back to the station," Emily said. "Garcia will probably have a bunch of information waiting for us. And if she hasn't already, we can tell the others."
"See you all back there then," Detective Skinner said. "I've got to finish up here."
The three agents bid him farewell, walking back to their SUV, again being watched carefully by the people observing the crime scene all over the street. But this time, one man in particular was watching them with a hat pulled over his eyes, chuckling to himself as they drove straight past him and didn't even spare him a second glance. He stared after them as they disappeared down the street, turning the corner towards the police station.
How were they expecting to catch him if they looked right over him? He laughed. Perfect.
So, how was it? We know a bit more about the UnSub now! And things are gonna start picking up soon!
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