Agent Severide

Chapter 8

Quantico Virginia

"Rita Stuart, 25-second victim found in Rockford Illinois," JJ says to the team once their seated revealing 2 dead woman on the screen. Illinois? Zoey thought The photos were unlike anything Zoey had seen but the one thing that left her unsettled was how perfect and precise they looked. Not a single flaw in the detail of the lipstick, and eyeliner. Even down to a pearl necklace, the woman didn't even look like people more like mannequins to her. 

"Pretty public spot for a dump site," Rossi said looking at the crime scene photos on the screen by JJ. "You know, I think it would qualify more as a disposal site," Reid said replying to Rossi. During the briefing Zoey could feel Morgan's eye's on her, she knew he wouldn't likely drop the subject especially when it came to the people around him getting hurt. "You don't leave a body on a merry-go-round out of convenience," Reid added. "He took some time with her appearance, didn't he?" Severide says more than asks. "Yeah her nails were polished, her hair was cut, her clothes were brand new," JJ said. 

"He wants her to look her best when she's found, That's a lot of remorse," Morgan said. "who's victim number 1?" Hotch asks, Stacia Jackson, 26. She was found at a local playground" JJ says pulling up the photos of another woman who was of a completely different ethnicity to the first victim. "Quite the victimology change" Rossi noted, "What's the connection between these women?" Hotch asks. "There is none. Rita was married while Stacia was single, Rita worked at a diner, and Stacia worked as a lawyer, According to their credit cards they never came within 10 miles of each other." JJ said. 

"Both women were taken 2 months ago?" Hotch asks, "Yeah they led such completely different lives the police didn't tie their abduction together until now, Not to mention the first body was dumped almost 2 hours away from the other victims" JJ replied. "Where were the other victims dumped?" Prentiss asks. "Chicago," JJ said. "Was there any evidence of sexual assault?" Reid asks looking over the file that had just got passed around. "There was no evidence of violence of any kind," JJ said causing Zoey to furrow her brows in confusion. "So how did they die?" Severide asks. "Rita had a stroke, Stacia had a brain hemmoragge" JJ replies. 

"Look at this the unsub gave them a battery of drugs, Atracurium, Doxacurium, these are neuro inhibitors. They block signals from the brain to the muscles," Reis said looking over the file. "He put them in medical comas for 2 months," JJ said. "Actually they weren't in comas, You'd need phenobarbital to keep them unconscious, and they didn't have that," Reid said. A wave of disbelief hit Zoey, just when she thought people couldn't get worse. They had to prove her wrong, and in Chicago of all places. 

"So wait a minute, these victims were paralyzed but they were still conscious?" Morgan asks in horror. "They could open their eyes, hear, probably even hear stimulation," Reid replied. "Physical immobility but mental awareness, this unsub wants total domination over them" Rossi added in. "And he turns their bodies into prisons to do it," Hotch said. "Okay everyone wheels up in 20." Hotch adds as the team made their way out of the round table room. "Looks like we're heading home," Morgan says pulling the blonde into a hug as they made their way out of the office and towards the garage to meet at the airport. 

The drive didn't take long before Zoey parked her Camero at the airport before walking towards the gate to board the jet. When the blonde arrived Morgan was already on the plane along with Reid and JJ. Rossi, Prentiss and Hotch board shortly after Zoey allowing the Jet to take off back towards the windy city. 

"Keeping women in a conscious paralysis reads sadism" Rossi spoke looking over their own individual files. "Definitely dehumanizing, reducing them to objects," Morgan says looking over the photos in disbelief. "But there nothing else about this profile that takes us down that path," Rossi spoke. "These women were found in excellent condition, there was no evidence of bedsores, They were well fed through an IV." JJ replies. "If he has access to IVs and drugs he almost certainly has medical training," Reid states. "Are we sure this is a he?" Severide asks looking over the case. "The care this unsub gives their victims, although they are dehumanized, it profiles as female," the blonde adds. "What about the post-mortem posing? that's a lot of dead weight for a woman to carry" Hotch says, "These women are petite under 100 pounds" JJ agrees. 

"Alright if we reconsider the gender of the profile what changes?" Hotch asks the team. "Nothing, if anything it fits better," Morgan says. "Men kill to fulfill sexual compulsion women don't," Rossi said. "You see this in angel of mercy killers, Like Genene Jones and Amy Archer. They didn't care about race or hair colour. it's Men that do" Reid said. "Damn, straight men do" Garcia says appearing on the screens on the Jet. 

"Garcia what did you find out about the clothing the unsub's dressing the victims in?" Hotch asks. "At first only that both garments were made from chiffon but with the wonder twin powers of the Chicago police department and my impeccable eye for fashion. We have also determined that these garments fit ridiculously good, They're super flattering to each victim's exact measurements. Kinda exactly like the unsub whipped them up herself " Garcia said. "Maybe that's what connects the victims," Prentiss said, "How so?" Severide asks slightly confused. "Maybe she isn't just killing petite women because they're easier to abduct and pose but because of a physical type. She wants a body type" Prentiss spoke. 

"Sewing clothes for a specific size of women," Morgan says, "Please tell me she's not killing these women because she needs human models. I mean, there's gotta be more to it than that" JJ said. "there probably is, but at least we have a start on the victimology " Rossi replies, "Severide and Morgan I want you to interview the victim's families, talk to them about lifestyle choices, any body image issues these women may have had. Reid go to Rita Stuart's autopsy. see if the drugs point to any specific medical training the unsub may have had. "Rossi and Prentiss will go to the disposal sites and Garcia? " Hotch said. "sir?" Garcia replied, "I want you to check missing persons reports for the last 2 months, see if any abductions match what we know. We need to find out if the Unsub's already taken another victim" Hotch says as Garcia nods in understanding before disconnecting the call as the jet began to land at O'Hare and the team heads their separate ways.