❝ But I'm only human
and I bleed when I fall down ❞
The Behavioral Analysis Unit team around Aaron Hotchner gets called in to assist on a serial killer case in New York where they meet the young and surprisingly talented Special Agent Skylar Brown...
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The delivery of the profile rushed by like a breeze of air, and as Hotch led the description of their unknown subjects, Skylar's ears pulsated. She found herself guiltily staring at Lucas across the room, watching him as he wrote down every last piece of information with his left hand, while the right clutched tightly onto the notebook. The veins on the back of his hand stretched, a clear sign of the sheer tension he had built up over the last few hours. Momentarily, the veins disappeared as he shifted, but then they reappeared once Emily stepped in with her part of the profile.
It sounded easier than it was. A group of trained hitmen killing for money. Their victims were chosen by contractors, but the contractors were picked out by the leader, and she was precise with her instructions. Rich, privileged targets with dark secrets. She saw herself as some sort of vigilante, probably. Making the world a better place one murder at a time. The problem was just that her view of the world was twisted. She enjoyed killing, she enjoyed the greed, the money, and the attention. She wanted everyone to know who was doing this without screaming too loud. But most of all, she loved the danger.
The leader's infatuation with law enforcement was just as twisted as her motivations. Though the picture seemed clear enough now, Skylar couldn't help but wonder if maybe, they were missing something crucial. They were blinded, once again, by considering the profile a path straight to their unsub. But it was too easy. The group was too smart and the BAU was too small-minded to understand just how far their reach could go. Skylar shuddered at the mere thought of a larger endgame looming on the horizon. And slowly she began to believe that theory too.
Just what were they getting Lucas and his team into?
She was abruptly shaken back to reality, like a slap in the face, when Hotch said, "Thank you, that's all."
Had she missed the whole profile because her mind had made a habit of thinking too much? Skylar shook her head and managed to fake a smile. The Agents around them scrambled, leaving them standing around Spencer's detailed map, and Lucas rose from his spot on the Mahagoni desk to approach them.
"Thank you," he said. "All of you." His eyes trailed to Skylar, but his smile faltered when he saw the forced expression on her face.
"We were glad to help," said Derek.
"I understand that your orders were clear to give the profile and then leave us to investigate. But if you want, you can stay around a little longer, see what happens. Your hotel is already paid for."
"I'm sorry, but Chief Strauss expects us back by the end of the day," Hotch said. The sadness in his voice was pretense. "We were called in as consultants because we lack jurisdiction in this case. This is an organized crime matter, a reoccurring, stable organization that you're familiar with and your boss was clear about our involvement being strictly to advise. We have a pile of cases that need to be evaluated back at Quantico, so we have to be on the road soon. But we appreciate the offer, Agent Silver."
