A/N: Thanks for the reviews to those that reviewed this story (the encouragement I'm getting keeps me going) and for the one-shot I also wrote.

It was nearing midnight when Hotch received a call from Morgan. Together with Rossi and JJ, he had spent the rest of the day visiting the crime scene, conducting phone interviews, and coalescing with Reid and Garcia to complete background checks. Now, as Rossi and JJ updated the lead detective on their theories and findings, Hotch had excused himself to take the call.

Rossi had just finished updating Detective Simmons on the case when Hotch walked in, steely faced and phone in hand.

"Everything okay?" Rossi asked.

"Detective, could you give me a list of the buildings and their occupants within a kilometre radius of where Rachel Sanders was found?" Hotch asked, ignoring Rossi's question.

"Sure thing," Simmons nodded and excused himself.

"What's up Hotch?" JJ asked.

"Usher's body was found underneath the window of a local tutoring company in Oakland," Hotch informed. "The alley where he was found runs between two buildings that sublet their offices to companies. According to Morgan, it looks as if Usher was killed beside a dumpster and dragged a few feet towards the window."

"So we've got a school and now a tutoring company," Rossi mused. "It could be a coincidence..."

"Or he's making a statement about education," JJ theorised. "He's staging the bodies – that can't be a coincidence."

"That would explain why he's only attacking the heads. The brain is his target," Rossi conceded, watching as Hotch made his way across the room and began to scrutinise the crime scene photos that had been pinned to the whiteboard there. "What do you see?" he directed the question at Hotch.

"I'm not convinced this is the first time this UnSub has killed," he confided, turning back to face his colleagues.

"Why do you say that?" Rossi queried.

"The M.O is too particular in all victims," Hotch explained and JJ and Rossi joined him at the board. "If Usher was his first kill, he would have been sloppy, maybe even hesitant. But there's not even a scratch on his body – he knows what he's doing."

"And there's no sign of experimentation," Rossi caught on quickly. "No perfecting his skills on the other two victims. Killers don't usually know their signature until after their first kill, but this guy already has his down pat."

Hotch pulled out his phone and dialled Garcia's number. "Whatever the link is between the victims, they're not the first."

Garcia's voice suddenly echoed around the room. "You've reached the mystical and wondrous lair of tech goddess Garcia, how may I be of service?"

"Garcia, I need you to look into unsolved murders in the past ten years," Hotch instructed quickly. "Look for victims whose heads have been destroyed but the bodies untouched."

"You think he's done this before Hotch?" Reid's voice cut in.

"It's likely," Hotch replied.

"Should I look only in Maryland and West Virginia?" Garcia asked and Hotch could already hear the pattering of her fingers as they raced across her keyboard.

"Search the whole east coast," Hotch said.

Garcia gave a grunt. "That's pretty wide, sir," she said. "Do you have anything else?"

"Look for murders with overkill on the head or specifically targeting the brain," Rossi suggested.

"The brain?" Reid asked, sounding puzzled.

"The first two victims were dumped outside places of education," JJ explained. "If he's dumping the bodies outside these places and then demolishing the brain, he could be sending some kind of message about educational institutes."

"Wait, that's it!" Reid sounded excited. "Usher and Rachel were both high risk victims: Usher was a wannabe porn star selling drugs on the side and Rachel was a runaway and prostitute. Garrett studied hard, but still couldn't find a job," he took a breath. "Maybe he's saying that the education system failed them. Maybe that's what links the victims."

"That would explain everything," JJ admitted.

"Except why he crosses state lines," Rossi countered.

"Good work Reid," Hotch praised. "Garcia, unsolved murders..."

"On it like Cersei on Jaime."

Hotch and Rossi exchanged quizzical looks as the phone went dead.

"It's a book," JJ explained, smirking and shaking her head.

Xxx

Garcia had immersed herself so deeply in her research that she was completely oblivious to the Thai Reid had placed next to her on the desk. It wasn't until Reid had very loudly and dramatically cleared his throat did she look up.

"What is this?" she exclaimed, looking horrified.

"Thai?" Reid replied uncertainly, taken aback by her reaction.

Garcia seemed to have regained her composure somewhat and smiled up at Reid. "Oh Reid, my beautiful, beautiful genius," her voice was overly sweet. "Thankyou, but if you ever put food next to my babies again," she patted her computer screen, "I will have no choice but to create a Dr. Reid fanpage on Facebook."

Reid grimaced and snatched the food off the desk.

Garcia smirked. "You're lucky you're so darn cute Dr Reid," she said before snatching the Thai back out of Reid's hands.

Reid grabbed his own noodle box which he had set down near his crutches on an empty table nearby and retook his vacated chair.

"Have you found anything yet?" he asked, nodding his head towards the computer.

"Turns out the head is the preferred target for most killers," Garcia said, digging into her Thai. "So there's a lot of unsolved murders where the head has been bludgeoned in some way, but nothing that would point to our guy."

"Well Hotch is right," Reid said. "The UnSub has killed before and –"

There was a beeping noise coming from Reid's pocket. He slid his hand inside and pulled out his cell phone. Putting his Thai down on the computer desk in haste – much to Garcia's chagrin and hissing – he flipped his phone open and read the message.

"Didn't I just tell you?" Garcia seethed.

Reid looked up and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry Garcia, but I have to go," he said, his food forgotten.

"It's almost midnight!" Garcia replied. "Where do you have to be?"

Reid pocketed his phone, stood up, swung his messenger bag over his shoulder and adjusted his crutches. "It's important. I wouldn't leave if it wasn't," he assured.

A look of understanding dawned on Garcia's face and she gave a sly smile. "Oh okay," she said, a cheeky tone lining her voice. "Have fun," she winked. "But you better be here early tomorrow!"

"I'll be here at six sharp!" he promised, already heading for the door. "If the UnSub keeps to his timeline, we shouldn't find another body until morning. It's doubtful that he's accelerated again after this long."

"And what am I meant to tell Hotch if he asks?" she shouted after him.

"I went home," Reid shouted back, already out the door.

xxx

Morgan and Prentiss walked into the Preston County police station. It was now well past midnight and they were exhausted. They were directed by a uniformed detective to a room that had been set aside for the BAU and were greeted by Hotch, Rossi and JJ on their arrival.

"How was the drive?" Hotch asked when they walked in.

"Long," Prentiss said simply.

"It was only a half hour," Rossi chuckled softly.

"Yeah," Prentiss sighed. "Like I said, long."

Morgan shook his head and took a seat at the table beside JJ who appeared to be writing a media statement.

"So what's the game plan here?" he asked, his exhaustion showing. "We just wait for another body?"

"We have no choice," Rossi said.

"But we have enough to give the profile," Hotch informed.

"You didn't get a DNA match on the semen found on Rachel Sander's underwear?" Prentiss asked.

"Inconclusive," JJ said simply. "Whoever this guy is, he's smart."

"We've instructed the Preston County officers to patrol places with an emphasis on education," Hotch informed. "Hopefully we'll get lucky."

Xxx

A/N: Ok so things seem to be wrapping up – the operative word there being 'seem'. This is only the start of the story and things will be less boring in the next two chapters hopefully. Thanks for reading!