Aeipathy

CHAPTER 7.

TW: Typical case briefing, mature language, mentions of weapons, a stalker, significant injury, blood/gore and murder/death. Case based off 4x23.

"In the last twelve days two women have been killed by the use of a vehicle in Bend, Oregon. Local police have asked for our help. The first victim, Maria Delgado, twenty three, was hit during her morning jog and the second victim was a stranded motorist, Shannon Makely, forty three years old." JJ informs you all as she gestures to the monitor behind her.

Hotch takes over from her, relaying more information, "both women were driven back over after the initial hit and the treads at both scenes match, indicating large wheels and a raised bumper, so they're thinking either a large SUV or truck. Unfortunately, the tires aren't factory issue so they could be on a number of different models".

"No witnesses to either one of the killings? A hit and run is typically loud due to the large amount of force, somebody usually hears or sees something." Reid chimes in, not looking up from the case file as he commits it to memory.

JJ shakes her head "both victims were attacked in remote locations"

"Two tons of metal would make a hell of a weapon, it wouldn't be hard to pick it out of a lineup with that kind of damage" Morgan adds as he looks over the recent crime scene photos.

"Thrill kills perhaps? It's opportunistic and easy; he's got randomly selected targets in a secluded location." you suggest, placing the case file down and you see the others nodding in approval.

You'd worked your fair share of cases, but this was the first you'd seen with a vehicle being used as the weapon so you wanted to sit on your inner musings for slightly longer than usual before you voiced them. The jet hasn't even been in the air for ten minutes before the briefing continues.

"Back at the round table you said 'he's got randomly selected targets', what makes you think we're looking at a male here, Doc?" JJ asks you once you're on the jet.

"Well given what we know about road rage and dangerous driving, it's safe to assume so. The biggest indicator being that the vehicle in question is of a larger size, which is quite the phallic symbol".

"So what..he's compensating?"

Reid speaks up, offering an alternative point of view, "or overcompensating potentially he could be impotent. If the unsub sees himself as physically defective, the car would give him a certain amount of power, whilst also using it as a shield".

"So he avoids physical contact" Rossi offers, looking toward Hotch for some direction.

"Where are we with victimology, what does that tell us?"

Unfortunately, the victimology didn't reveal all that much, the only link between the two victims was their gender, but you were all hopeful you could learn something from the two crime scenes. Hotch instructed you to accompany Morgan and Rossi to visit the latest crime scene, whilst he and Prentiss would attend the site of the first attack, leaving JJ and Reid to head straight to the local precinct to set up. After walking through the site of the attack and doing a general sweep of the area looking for any missed evidence or signs of foul play, you headed back to the precinct with Rossi and Morgan to discuss the initial findings from the scene, but not before swinging by a local café to pick up hot drinks for the team; police station coffee, or tea in your case was nearly always nasty, especially after an early start that morning.

"What did you gather from the most recent crime scene?" Hotch questions as the three of you walk into the conference room, he and the rest of the team stood around the pinboard as they looked over maps, case notes and photos, writing down any workable theories. As Morgan hands out the freshly made coffee, you can practically see their eyes light up which elicits a soft chuckle from you as you pick up your own drink.