Special Agent Angel (Criminal Minds fanfiction) [Season 1]

LDSK [2]

"2 weeks, 3 shooting incidents," Hotchner explained to the team. "First and only fatality, Henry Sachs, Married, Father of 3," he clicked the remote to show the victim's image. "Shot in a shopping center parking lot. 9 days later, Doug Miller and Kevin Parks were playing basketball at a community center. Franklin Park, 4 days later, Jerry Middleton, Kate Murray, and Tim Reilly. Des Plaines Police have found no link between the victims,"

"Ballistics?" Morgan questioned.

"He's using frangible rounds, which fragment on impact, making ballistics comparisons impossible,"

"The good news is that all the park victims are gonna make it." JJ said "The bad news is that none of them saw anything. However, one of the patients does have an intact bullet lodged in his spine,"

"What's the prognosis?" Gideon asked.

"Well, there's a disagreement among surgical staff as to whether they can remove the slug without paralyzing the patient,"

"Well, without a useful witness or a solid piece of evidence..." Morgan reasoned.

"The profile's all we'll have," Hotchner agreed.

***

"LDSKs are so rare, we haven't been able to build a standard profile," Hotchner explained on the plane. "Here's what we do know: they're always male, and they frequently have law enforcement or military experience, and they always contact the police or the media,"

"To take credit or relive the experience?" JJ wondered.

"Both," Gideon replied. "All serial killers attempt to relive the ecstasy some use souvenirs taken from the victims, and others return to the dumpsite to interact with the body. Contact which, by definition, long-distance serial killers don't have,"

"The Beltway shooters left a tarot card at one of their crime scenes," Samarra recalled. "Later they called a tip hotline, which ultimately led to their capture,"

"But our unsub hasn't contacted anybody." Morgan pointed out.

"He will," Hotchner said.

"Until he does, what do we have?" Elle asked.

"Sometimes it's not what the unsub does that reveals the profile." Gideon explained "Sometimes it is what they do not do,"

"He doesn't kill his victims," Reid said.

"Underkill's a unique signature. The question is, does he shoot them in the stomach intentionally just to wound them, or is he just aiming at the biggest part of the target?" Hotchner voiced. "Specifically, does the unsub lack the skill to make the headshot, or simply the will to take it?"

***

Samarra hurried after Reid, Morgan, and Hotchner as they walked up to the lead investigator of the case.

"Agent Hotchner," the officer greeted.

"Detective Calvin, this is Agent Morgan, and Agents Reid," Hotchner introduced.

"Thanks for comin' follow me," Detective Calvin pointed around the park "The cones mark the places where the victims were,"

"So we know he fired from somewhere in this area. Close enough to hit all 3 victims, but far away enough not to be seen,"

"His wounding his victims intentionally would classify him as a sadistic killer," Reid noted.

"That would help us?" Detective Calvin asked.

"We know a lot about sadists," Morgan explained.

"But most want to be close to their victims to watch them suffer," Samarra pointed out.