BAU Headquarters
Quantico, VA
Christina had just exited the elevator at the BAU when her phone rang. Letting out a silent curse, she gestured for the boys that she will meet them in the conference room. Christine knew that when her phone rang, that she needed to answer it as soon as she could. Considering that almost all of her contacts are either Military, Doctors, or various Government types, she made sure that she only every missed or declined a call if she absolutely couldn't answer. Seeing the area code for Washington D.C, she figured that it was either her oldest brother Seeley or Gibbs. Clicking accept, she was greeted by the formers voice.
"Chris, we got a problem." The serious tone of her brother's voice and the fact that she didn't even get a hello alerted her to the fact the something was wrong, and she got a gut feeling that it had to do with her case. Considering that Seeley also work's in the FBI but he has a higher clearance than her, she is not surprised that he knows what cases she is working on. Seeley and even Gibbs had made sure to keep informed on any case that she works, which is a blessing rather than the annoyance she would normally find it considering that she often gets more info and help from them whether she asks for it or not. It keeps her safer to their relief and keeps her bosses happy and her employed. It's a win-win for everyone.
"Seeley? What's going on?" Christine asked, leaning against the wall outside of the conference room, giving Hotch a shrug when he squinted at her in worry. Hotchner knew that when she was done Christine would tell him what was wrong. Hotchner knew that she usually gets essential information that usually helps to solve the case whenever she gets off of the phone when at work. That is one of the reasons beside being a damn good agent is what keeps him from reprimanding her for answering her phone during work hours, that, and her contacts.
"I just got the transcripts of the police call and the case file for the case you are working on-" Seeley began before I interrupted him to confirm that the case, he thinks is the one I am working is the same. There have been mix-ups in the past to my chagrin, luckily it didn't cause issues. But she didn't want the headache she would no doubt get trying to sort out which information is for which case. "The Seattle Strangler?"
Giving a grunt for her interruption but understanding, Seeley continued as he continued to look over the casefile that his sister is working.
"Yeah. Anyway, you might need to speak with the M.E. There are some inconsistencies that don't make sense for a case like this. Not to mention that this case sounds like a similar case that a buddy of mine in Boston worked on a while back. The Boston Strangler, if it is anyway similar to that case, then I want to know about it. I need you to check with the local cops and ME, find out if any of them were strangled after being sexually assaulted. I need to know if there any notes afterwards. Like an apology or a taunt."
Bewildered at her brother's request, she racked her brain for the case her brother mentioned and remembered. There was a string of Strangulations in Boston in 1962 until 1964. The Unsub, raped his victims, strangled them often with Nylon Stockings and then left a note with a simple Sorry. The cops thought they caught him, a man name Albert DeSalvo, the man even confessed but many people never believed it, it was thought that there was a partner, or that DeSalvo was a scapegoat. There was a lot of controversy with the case because besides the theory that DeSalvo wasn't the Strangler, they had so many dead ends that they brought in a Parapsychologist who used some sort of ESP to examine the case and he determined that it was a single Unsub. The case was so controversial and filled with cross jurisdictions with the local BPD, FBI and even the Navy was involved due to DeSalvo posing as a Naval Officer. By the time the case was deemed close with DeSalvo's death, nobody wanted to open the case again. A Buddy of Booth's had a family member who was a victim of the Strangler and was convinced that DeSalvo wasn't the killer. So, it is not surprising that he would think that the Seattle Strangle might have a connection and want Seeley to check it out. But since he was stationed in Washington, Christine would be the best to investigate.
Christine had no problem checking it out, but she highly doubted that this had anything to do with the Boston Strangler. But she would keep him apprised, she told him so and after a relieved thank you they hung up. Since they were both working, they had no time to catch up. Christine promised herself and her brother that when the case was over, she would give him a call. After hanging up, Christine ran a stressed hand through her hand and let out a sigh. Giving herself a moment to breath and hope to anyone listening that the cases weren't connected, she entered the room just as Hotch started the debrief.
"His first victim was twenty-six-year-old Melissa Kirsh," Reid informed them as the debriefing began. Christine leaned back in her seat next to Derek, her case file on her lap, leg crossed over the other. Christine furrowed her brow in confusion as she listened with one ear to the debrief while reading the case file over.
"Stab wounds, strangulation," Reid continued as he read off the victim's injuries. Before he could continue, Derek interrupted him, his nose scrunched, eyes narrowed in confusion as he questioned them. "Wait, wait. Back up. Back up," Morgan's voice was baffled as he question his colleague. "He stabbed her… and then strangled her to finish her off?"
"Other way around," Christina absently corrected him as she flipped the page in the report to look at the toxicology report. The report didn't show any signs of drugs, then again this wasn't the full report, there were still tests that they could run. But this was the report for basic toxicology, unfortunately Christine doubts they would need to run anymore tests. Christine suspects that this is an Unsub that wants his victims aware when he rapes and kills them. There wouldn't be any drugs if he wanted his victims aware.
"Why do you think he started using the belt with the second murder?" Gideon question their only female team member in the room. Christine hummed as she thought, pausing her perusal of the report to give Gideon and the case her attention as she thought about it. "It depends on what kind of killer he is," Christine hummed to herself thoughtfully, brow furrowed as she arranged her thoughts. "The unsub could lack the restraint to take his time with the first victim, so he stabbed her before he got a hold of himself to continue with his plan to strangle her. Due to that, his next victim was strangled first as he planned." The moment she said it, Christine was certain that didn't fit the unsub. Before Gideon or anyone else could correct her or give their opinions she continued her thought process.
"Or the unsub didn't have the strength required to strangle his victim the first time. It is much harder to strangle someone to death than is believed. You would be more successful in knocking someone out before you managed to kill them. Depending on how he strangled them, if he used a chokehold, his bare hands, a necktie, or another object to give him leverage. So, when he failed the first time, he probably tried to strangle him, found out it took too long, and/or too much strength…"
"So, he stabbed her instead." Morgan finished as he began to get the feeling that this was the reason. Christine nodded at him in agreement as she too felt that this was the reason.
"And realized it would be hours of cleaning up the blood," Hotchner continued as he followed their thought process. This scenario making the most sense to him.
"Next time, our boy's got a method-" Morgan began,
"-the belt." I finished for him and smiled slightly at the grin he gave me for thinking alike. Leaning back into my chair I sighed and ran a hand down my face as I realized just what kind of sicko we are dealing with today. Gideon stating my thoughts aloud perfectly.
" He's learning, perfecting his scenario," Gideon sighed grimacing as he grimly said, "becoming a better killer."
Hotchner looked over at Christine who had her eyes closes and was massaging her eyes to rid herself of the tension headache at the information.
"What did your brother want," Hotch took a guess as to who had called her before she came in the room and was proven right when she told him about Seeley's suspicions about the Seattle Strangler having a possible connection with the Boston Strangler and his orders to report her findings. Considering that Agent Booth has a higher clearance level and rank that him, Hotchner didn't protest. Though, he like Christine doubted that there was any connection between the two cases, he didn't dismiss it either. With a sigh, he grimly told his team to gear up, wheels up in thirty and they all left the debrief room for the jet.
Seattle P.D.
Seattle, WA
1:30 PM EST
The team entered the building, going through the metal detectors. Christina was keeping a vigilant watch of her surroundings for anyone or anything out of place. Old habits from the Marines had her casing all entry and exit points, all possible attack and defensive positions for an ambush and watching people for possible hostile movements. That was something that she always does when she enters a room, she has done it so many times that she can do it so subtly and quickly, that only the most observant or those similar to her know that she does it. Gideon and Hotchner are the only ones on her team who had noticed, but never brought it up to her relief. Gideon unlike her, is not as subtle. Derek began to prove that as he quietly shared his concerns to Hotch, Reid and Christine as he watched Gideon ahead of them as he entered the bullpen.
"He never stands with his back to a window," Morgan told Reid, ignoring his confused face and Christine's eyeroll, he continue airing his observations, "When I was between him and a doorway, he asked me to move."
Christina had no idea what Morgan's issue was. Obviously, Gideon would have some PTSD issues, hell it takes one to know one. But if it wasn't effecting his performance on the job, why did he have to bring it up. Especially behind Gideons back? Besides, considering all of the ways she could think of how someone could be attacked out in the open, in front of a window and even in between or before a doorway, she would have thought that Morgan could understand. Guess not, Christine frowned at Morgan as she left them when she was done with the metal detector. The last thing she heard before she was too far away from them was Hotch telling them that everything was okay.
Seattle P.D. Bullpen
Seattle, WA
2:00 PM EST
After setting up the crime scene photos, notes, and a map of the area in the office that one of the detectives offered them, Christine joined her team in the Bull pen just as Hotch began introducing them.
"This is Supervisory Special Agent Gideon, Special Agent Morgan, our expert on obsessional crimes. Special Agent Grey-Booth, our Military and Government Liaison. Finally, Special Agent Reid," Hotch introduced before Gideon interrupted him.
"Dr. Reid," Gideon gently corrected to Reid's pleasure. Giving both men a nod, Hotch corrected his mistake.
"Dr. Reid, our expert on, well everything and after two years of busting my butt in this office, I hope you remember me." Hotch chuckled a few of the detectives laughed along with him, Christine smirked at Hotch in amusement. As the chuckles died down, she told the room her observations. While Hotch was talking, Christine had been studying the map that showed where the victims were found and the possible route to and from the crime scenes and their possible connections. "He's willing to travel with the body," Christine told them as that was the one obvious thing about these routes. The dump sites were too spread out and erratic to be transported on foot and the unsub would need an inconspicuous car to be able to transport the bodies. Something simple and common, like an SUV or a van that can conceal the body without drawing attention to both the van, the driver, and the body.
" Then he drives a vehicle capable of concealing one," Hotch spoke her thoughts out loud as he came to the same conclusion as Christine. Christine hummed in an agreement, tilting her head as she studied the map and thought about anything else that could narrow their profile down further.
"1 in 7.4 drivers in Seattle owns an SUV," Reid rattled off one of his beloved statistics as he too tried to narrow the profile and help in his own way.
"Explorer with tinted windows," Morgan suggested.
"Explorers rate higher with woman," Christine disagreed as she knew that this would not drive a car that could be dubbed a chick car. "Besides, an SUV is too common, something tells me the unsub is compensating for something and would go for a more flashy or uncommon car. Something that would stand out, draw attention. The best way to hide is more often than not in plain sight, what is more plain that a car that would grab attention." Christine expanded as she thought about it more, it did seem that this would be the kind of logic for the unsub. Gideon gave Christine an impressed look that she missed as she was writing a list of possible cars on the whiteboard.
"What about a Jeep Cherokee?" Hotchner asked as he tried to fit a car that would match Christine's profile of the car. Hotch agree with Christine, the car would stand out in some way. Either in size, make, year, how expensive it was or not or how common. They just need to narrow down what makes the car rare and match it to the unsub.
"Jeeps are more masculine," Reid disagreed with Hotch as he narrowed his eyes at the board, reading not only the information that was already on the board, but the list Christine was making. Reid hoped one of the names of the models of cars that she was writing would jump out at him. So far, no luck.
"We all know how an unsub feels about asserting his masculinity," Gideon joked sardonically. Christine snorted and looked over her should at the boys with a smirk as she snarked, "another reason being a lesbian is a perk. I don't have to deal with men and their masculinity, assertion or otherwise. The unsub is just proving my faith in the make gender, or lack thereof." Derek chuckled at his from winking at her to her faux disgust, she smirked at him though to show she was joking. Reid made a weird face at her statement but otherwise didn't react. Hotch and Gideon both smirked back at her, eyes full of mirth.
"Getting back to the case," Hotch brought their attention back to the case. "When did the Bureau become involved in the case?" Hotchner asked the nearest out loud.
"After the fourth body," an Agent who had been listening to the group answered, "he dumped that one out of State." The Agent pointed to photo of the fifth victim.
Like a light bulb went of in her head, Christine grabbed a highlighter and connected the victims starting from the first victim, until the fifth victim. Christine noticed that while it seemed random, there was one common denominator, they are all going in a lateral direction. The fifth one being the first Stateline victim. That suggests knowledge of law enforcement either the unsub has been in prison or in some sort of position with law enforcement. Sur enough the team seem to agree as she continued to observe the map.
"On purpose," Hotch surmised as he watch Christine seem to have an epiphany and trace the map with a highlighter. Leaving her to her process, he was familiar enough with her to know she won't share until she has all of the info, she feels she needs, he left her to it and brainstormed with his team.
"If so, knowledge of law enforcement does suggest a criminal record," Reid ventured as he too observed his female colleague but left her too it.
Or that he watches television. May I?" Morgan asked as an agent handed him a red folder with a list of possible suspects.
"So, you want to see our suspect list?" The agent asked as he handed Morgan said list, Morgan grunted in disagreement as he tossed the fold on the conference table with all of the other files. Morgan knew what his team leader was going to say, and he was proven right when Hotch confirmed his suspicions.
"No, we won't look at a suspect list until after we come up with a profile. It keeps our perspective unbiased," Hotchner explained to the confused agent. That was the reason the Morgan took the file, so there were no bias until they gave the profile, then they can look at it. Until then, it stays on the table.
" When do we sit down with your task force?" Gideon asked the Agent curiously as he kept reading the file of the wound patterns on the fifth body.
"Four o'clock," the Agent answered to Morgan and Reid's shock and the Christina, Gideon's and Hotch's expectation. Christina figured that they wanted that Profile ASAP. Considering how many bodies have been piling up, the SPD is probably desperate to catch this guy before it escalates further.
"That's not a problem," Gideon confidently stated, much to Morgan consternation and Reid's shock. Christina smirk at the boy and raised an eyebrow at them in challenge. Morgan rolled his eyes and grunted in disagreement but didn't say anything. Morgan knew that if he did, Christina would make a snarky comment that riled him up. The woman was the definition of annoying little sister. Reid followed Morgan's lead having also come to the same conclusion as his hot-headed friend and figured that it just wasn't worth opening his mouth.
"Agent Gideon where would you like to start?" Hotch asked his senior colleague as the man studied the pictures of the victims, deep in thought. Shaking his head slightly, he glanced at Hotch as he pointed at the picture he was starting at as he told the team their first move.
"At the site of the last murder."