"So, is this guy on a spree or what?" Emily asks as they drive to the station.

"Presents that way but he's mission-based so that means he's really taking the time to pick the right victim."

"As soon as we get a name we can check out the police beat idea Reid had to see if it pans out."

"And then what? Warn all those criminals to be careful?"

Emily shrugs. "Seems like it's all we can do. I mean, yes, they are scum of the earth but they deserve justice, too. Right?"

Morgan nods. "Right. But if Hotch didn't make a good case to the press tomorrow's headlines will be demanding sainthood for this guy."

"No shit."

After a few minutes in silence, Morgan glances at her. "Teasing aside, things are good for you and Jayje?"

Emily smiles, her eyes lighting up at the thought of her wife. "Yeah, they are. We've had time at home to get things square with us. I know I was wrong to leave her and the kids. Especially the kids. But she knows she was wrong to let me push her away. She, more than anyone, knows that when I hurt I shove those I love away. Hurts her that she let pride and anger mask that knowledge." She glances at her best friend. "She swears never to let it happen again and has made Pen promise to smack her if she does forget."

Morgan chuckles. "That's my Baby Girl."

"Yeah, well, can you promise to smack me upside the head if I push Jen and the kids away again?"

Morgan nods. "I can. Because I am 99.9% sure I will never have to do that."

She reaches over and squeezes his hand. "Thanks, Derek."

"Anytime, Emily."

They see the lights illuminating the crime scene. Emily sighs.

"Show time."

"Yep."

Morgan parks and the two agents make their way to the cordoned off area. After flashing their credentials they go over to Detective Raul Ortiz. He shakes his head at them.

"Sorry to pull you out in the middle of the night but Hotchner said you all like to see the scenes fresh if you can."

Morgan nods. "True. Has the box been opened yet?"

"Nope. Print techs have dusted the hood of the cruiser but who knows how many people have touched it. They'll wait and process the box after the hands have been removed."

"Okay." He looks at Emily. "Let's take a look, Prentiss."

Emily nods and the two of them approach the cruiser. Emily scans the area.

"We've got camera's up the ass around here."

"Yeah, but if he's wearing that wide-brimmed hat again they won't be much help."

"True. Who knew Indiana Jones would turn into an avenging angel."

Morgan chuckles and starts to scan the car. "Placed the box dead center of the hood. He wanted to make sure it would be seen for what it is and not written off as something someone left behind."

"Yep. He's proud of what he is doing and he won't quit until we stop him."

Morgan thinks a moment. "Or until he finally takes out the real object of his anger."

Emily frowns. "What if he can't?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if he was waiting for justice for himself or a loved one but the suspect died before trial?"

Morgan considers this a moment. "Then this is his way of making sure no one else misses that closure he lost. I like that idea. Problem is how would he know if the man he has killed is really guilty? He's playing judge, jury and executioner for someone that may or may not be guilty."

Emily nods. "Except the first two victims had previous criminal records. Maybe he assumes that history is enough to make them guilty of their current crime."

"Could be. So, should we let the CSI's in?"

Emily nods. "Yeah. Let's wait until they remove the hands so we can see if anything in their state gives us any ideas."

Morgan nods and signals for the evidence team to come in. After doing preliminary work on the box, one woman carefully cuts open the top of the box. As she opens it up they see a flicker of confusion in her eyes. As she extracts the hands and lays them on a mat the agents see why.

"Those are women's hands," Emily states unnecessarily.

"Yep," Morgan agrees.

Their unsub had just thrown a major wrench in the preliminary victimology.

Emily is on her third cup of coffee when the rest of the team arrives at the police station. JJ runs a hand over her wife's head.

"You get any sleep?"

"Nope. I plan to grab Morgan later so we can go to the hotel and go to bed for a bit."

Reid grins. "Great! Was hoping you two would finally make it official."

Everyone laughs as Emily just shoots daggers with her eyes at him. Hotch walks up to the main murder board.

"A woman?"

Morgan nods and tosses a folder on the table. "Yeah. Norma Stiles. Long time prostitute and drug user. When she needs a fix and doesn't feel like, uh, earning it, she'll beat a John and take his money, license and, if he has one, wedding ring. Police have 3 people willing to testify but figure there are probably more who don't want to admit it."

"I don't blame them," Rossi says.

JJ grins at him. "Speaking from experience, Rossi?"

Everyone laughs as he glares at her. "Someone had a good night last night. TOO good," he mutters.

JJ just winks at him as Emily blushes. Hotch shakes his head in amusement.

"Did she appear in the crime beat section Reid and Garcia found?"

Emily nods. "Yes, she did. We also emailed Garcia to see if there are any instances where Stiles was accused of murder but that search turned up nothing. So far her crimes don't seem as, for lack of a better word, serious as the ones the other victims were accused of."

"So then why her when there are so many others more worthy of this type of revenge killing? Are we back to the 'personal to the unsub' angle?" JJ asks.

"That's what it's beginning to feel like," Hotch replies. He looks at Reid. "Get her life on the map. We need to know if she crossed with the other victims somewhere. It may be the paper or it may not be. Let's not get too caught up in that theory since it is so early in the investigation. The rest of you: financials. Where were these people spending money."

"You mean other than bail bondsmen?" JJ asks sarcastically. The other agents freeze and stare at her a moment. JJ raises an eyebrow. "What?"

"JJ, find out who secured their bonds every time they were arrested. It's as long a shot as any but we're going to check it out. If it's multiple agents, find out who works for them or who their bank is. Also if any have any loans out that would be in jeopardy if the crooks bailed."

JJ nods. "Uh, right. On it now."

She leaves to go get the court records which would have that information. Rossi sighs and states what everyone is thinking.

"This may be one of our toughest ones if we don't find what puts them on the unsubs radar. If it's just the crime beat listings he could be after any of them."

"True," Hotch agrees. "Until we can narrow down the profile I'll see if I can get that listing pulled from the papers. It's a long shot that we'll get that cooperation but I'll try."

As Morgan, Rossi and Emily start of the financial histories of the victims, Hotch steps out to make a call to the local paper. Reid starts to plot points on his map but soon knows it will not prove helpful. There just didn't seem to be an overlap in the life of this woman and the two men who were killed. He shakes his head as he continues to plot points.

JJ raises her eyes at the huge stack of papers the court clerk hands her.

"You're serious? For just three people?"

The clerk rolls tired eyes. "Honey, that's just Tildes. We're still pulling the other two."

JJ nods. "Ah. Of course. Got a desk I can borrow?"

The clerk gestures to a desk covered with file boxes, staplers, and other extra office supplies. She clears off a small area and starts to go through the information on who posted bail for Tildes over the last 13 years. She shakes her head.

"A waste of damn money if ever I saw it," she judges.

When the clerk walks over with an equally large stack she sighs. "Stiles?"

"Yep," he answers. "Peroles doesn't look to be as large. Might be a page or two less," he jokes.

JJ chuckles and rolls her eyes. "Gee, lucky me."

"So, what exactly do you do for the FBI? Just work like this?"

"Sort of. We're profilers. We look into the lives of victims and into the way they were killed to figure out who killed them. Once we know the why and how it usually isn't long until we know who."

"Ah, cool. So, like, it's just grunt work."

JJ thinks of some of the situations they have gotten themselves into. She can't help but smile. "Yeah, just boring old grunt work."

"Cool. Well, let me grab you the stack on Peroles. If you need anything else give me a yell."

JJ nods. "Great. Thanks."

Hotch hangs up and takes a deep breath. He already knows the answer but he decides to ask anyway. He pops his head into the conference room.

"Prentiss? Got a second?"

Emily nods and follows him down the hall to an empty room. She frowns at the strange desire for privacy.

"If you're making a pass at me I hate to tell you but I'm happily married," she says to ease the tension radiating off of him.

Hotch manages a grin. "If only it were so easy. The editor-in-chief of the paper will pull the crime beat page for the next edition if you allow one of his reporters to write an article on you."

"Oh, for fuck's sake."

"Yeah. He said she approached you about it but you were less than courteous in your answer to her."

Emily pinches the bridge of her nose. "I refused her request and told her it was a team effort not the results of just one woman. And I stand by that Hotch. I won't give her the interview. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I asked even though I would rather you not give it. The choice was always yours and there's not a damn thing wrong with your answer."

Emily nods gratefully. "Thank you."

He nods and the two head back to the conference room. Morgan looks up as they walk in.

"All okay?"

Emily nods. "Yep. Someone was trying to get me to steal Rossi's title of media darling. I didn't have the heart to do it to the old guy."

Rossi laughs. "Gee, thanks, kid."

Reid turns and looks at Emily. "Emily, if it's not there can it be somewhere else?"

Emily thinks a moment then nods. "Sure. Which could mean it's always been in the same place just hidden from the naked eye."

Morgan drops his pen to watch the mindmeld. Rossi just rolls his eyes and goes back to his papers. Hotch watches, a small smile tugging at his face.

"So if it's not where we looked we have to look where we didn't look and see if it's actually somewhere else just looking like it's not there," Reid states.

Emily nods. "Exactly. Need help with it?"

Reid frowns. "Not yet. I'll know as soon as I know where to look for what's not there."

"Okay. Well, let me know," she offers.

She sits down and starts back on the financial statement she was deciphering. Reid starts…whatever it is he is starting. Morgan just starts to laugh.

"Damn it's good to be whole again."

Hotch and Rossi just nod as Emily and Reid look baffled by the amusement of their teammates.

At noon JJ walks into the conference room. "You have no idea how many times these three people have needed bail money."

"A combined 174 times," Reid answers immediately.

JJ glares at him. "Okay, you know. The rest didn't, nerdling."

Emily grins. "You didn't specify, Jen. All your fault."

"Whatever, woman. Anyway, I have several bail bond companies that show up multiple times. Garcia is running down their employee records to see if there is any crossover there. She'll also check for common banks or debt companies involved with them."

Hotch nods. "Good job. Based on your idea about bail companies, I had her pull the names of the officers and clerks that were on duty when the bails were posted." He points to a stack at the end of the table. A LARGE stack.

JJ winces. "You know, I thought when I became a profiler I wouldn't have to do this much combing through papers."

Emily laughs. "Wow…you really did tune us out a lot, didn't you?"

"Hell, yeah. Plus I'd hide away in the media spokesperson's office and weed through tip line leads. I didn't realize just how boring you people really are."

The team laughs as JJ sits down to start to go through the files to see if there were any common names for all three victims so far.