Chapter 3

The team gathered around the middle of the jet as they began going through the files.

"Have they managed to get any DNA off the victims?" Rossi asked as he looked at one of the ME's reports.

"Some but no hits in codas," Emily said with a slight shrug. "I've asked Garcia to go through each of the victims lives to see if their paths crossed"

Hotch sighed slightly "Emily, what was your first take on this?" he asked his voice seeming softer than normal.

"At first I thought it was someone whom was struggling with their sexuality, male late 30's, white. Though once I came across the other file where all the victims are female I came to the same conclusion though I then discarded that the unsub was struggling with his own sexuality. I asked Morgan to take a look at both files before we brought it to your attention. I still believe this is the work of one man" Emily said slightly firmer than she meant to.

"They all seem to have been blitz attacked from behind, though the male victims all died from their head wounds, or it lead to their deaths, the female victims were all brutalised though the ME couldn't confirm or deny rape. The unsub seemed to have lashed out more with the female victims than the males. As though he is proving a point" Morgan finished just as Garcia popped up on the screen.

"What have you found Garcia?" Hotch asked not giving anyone else a chance.

"All four of the male victims had been charged with solicitation and as you know three of the female victims were prostitutes, the alley in which all the male victims were found is known for prostitution, whereas the alleyway in which the females victims were found was just a normal alleyway people cutting through from one street to the next, there had been no dealings with police or anyone before other than these murders"

"Keep looking Garcia" Hotch said before the screen went black. "Prentiss, Morgan go to each crime scene and see what you find," "Reid, JJ you go to the station and set everything up, I want all the files and evidence they have collected on these victims, also arrange interviews with their family members" "Rossi and I will go to the morgue" each of them nodded before heading back to their seats each of them relaxing before they would hit the ground running.

Emily had made her way to the back of the jet setting herself away from the rest of the team. JJ looked over at her friend sadly, "Has she said anything to you Morgan?" JJ asked as she sat across from him.

He could only give a soft smile as he shook his head, "Not a word, she seems more distant than ever" Morgan said and even JJ could hear the worry in his voice.

"I know she is pushing us all away" JJ said with a sigh, "I guess the only thing any of us can do is be there when she finally stops shutting us out" Morgan could only nod as he looked across at his partner.

They had both seen this before, Agents withdrawing into themselves before quitting they could only pray that this wasn't the case that they would have their Emily back but with each passing day they seemed to lose her a little more.

JJ gave a soft smile before moving towards the back of the jet where Emily was sitting, her eyes seemed fixated on the clouds, JJ wondered what she was thinking, they had become close but Emily had pushed her way each and every day to the point JJ didn't know this woman that she was now sat across from.

JJ took her time to study her as they sat in silence though JJ wondered if she knew she was sat there, Emily hadn't so much as blinked when JJ sat across from her, dark rings covered her eyes, her once shining chocolate eyes were dull and lifeless, and her pale skin was now a pasty white. She also noticed that Emily had begun biting her nails again, everything that was Emily seemed drained, worn out.

"I can feel you staring" Emily said softly before turning to face JJ.

"Sorry" JJ replied softly as she looked away slightly.

Emily could only give a soft smile before she turned her head back towards the window allowing herself to daydream, although she would cast the odd glance at JJ.

Once the jet had landed they split up into the pairs before heading off, Morgan had set the route on the satnav before taking the short drive towards the crime scene, the town was only small the population just reaching over 15,000. Although that really didn't mean much they could be looking for someone whom lived elsewhere and with no real DNA that tied each murder together they could only summarise who they were looking for.

"You still think white male?" Morgan asked as they pulled up at the crime scene.

"Yes, although my first profile is slightly off, I doubt we are looking for someone confused about their sexuality" Emily grumbled, "I thought I'd already said that?" she said in more of a question.

Morgan pulled up turning the engine off, "You did, I was just seeing if you had come up with something else" the words travelled easily off his lips as he gave her a soft smile.

The alleyway they had pulled up at was a fresh crime scene police tape stretched across it closing it off to the public, although that hadn't stopped the swarm of people gathered round as though these murders where something they didn't see, or it was the only thing that happened within this small town. They both made their way toward the officer that was stood near the tape flashing their badges and stating who they were. The officer nodded before lifting the tape slightly for them to duck under.

Emily looked at the young crime tech, before her eyes drew back towards the crowds of people. "Can you take pictures of everyone that is here for us please?" Emily said giving the young girl a soft kind smile.

"You think our unsub is here?" Morgan questioned.

"Wouldn't be the first time they came back to look at their work" Emily mused with a slight shrug. "And the rate this guy is going I think we will have more crime scenes and bodies before this is over" Emily said as they made their way towards the victim's body.

"What can you tell us?" Morgan asked as Emily knelt down to take a closer look at the body.

Emily moved the trap she couldn't help but give a sad smile as she took in the long dark hair, her pale complexion, she was of slender build, the gash to her head told her she had been taken by surprise, bruising had started to form on her neck as though she had been held in a choke hold. Her hands showed signs she had struggled. Emily placed the tarp back down before she stood up next to Morgan.

"Do you have an ID for the victim?" Emily asked.

The short stocky officer gave a kind smile "Not yet we will run her finger prints through the dater base, I have asked the ME to run her dental records but it could be awhile before we get a hit."

Emily nodded slightly "The attacks are getting more violent" she said softly.

"This is the worse we've seen," the officer said in agreement.

"Any signs of sexual trauma?" Morgan asked,

"We won't know yet, but the way her body was found it is highly likely that she has." Morgan nodded.

"Where is the other crime scene?" Emily asked as she looked back down at the body which was now being placed into a black body bag. "Hopefully she managed to get a piece of him" Emily mused as they lifted her gently on to the gurney.

"Five blocks over, I can take you if you want" the officer said as they began to walk away from the scene.

"If it is okay with you we would rather go alone" Morgan said kindly.

"Meet you back at the station" Emily said with a kind smile before they ducked under the tape making their way back to the SUV.

He watched on as the police hurried around closing off the alleyway with thick yellow tape the brown tarp that had been placed over the body so no one could see, but as he closed his eyes he could picture her, the deep purple dress she was wearing, her long hair bobbed in the gentle breeze the smell of her perfume everything about her reminded him of Casey.

Everywhere he turned her saw her, he had wondered for months after her body had been found if she was really living a life and that he knew nothing about her. This was the woman that he loved that he had spent most of his life with and the way the police questioned him was as though they were accusing them both of either going with prostitutes or that Casey was leading a double life.

Weeks had turned into months with still no solid answers the lingering glances from people he had known all his life, being blamed for her death was bad enough but being accused of her murder was worse. He would have given his life for hers, without asking any questions being asked.

Although six months ago he had been to the corners inquest and every aspect, every degrading thing that had bestowed his beautiful life was summed up into nothing other than her brutalised body, the injuries that been done to her, the details of how she was raped, the bottle someone had used to knock her down to violate her with after she had been raped was now all that played in his mind.

But standing in that crowd as the FBI Agents showed up his eyes fixated on her. He felt his stomach swirl with want and desire as he watched her kneel down next to the victim, but before anyone had seen him he had disappeared into the shadows giving him the ability to follow her without anyone noticing him.