Criminal Minds Series Rewrite: Season Four

The Big Wheel: Part One

"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present." - Francis Bacon

You carefully fold the piece of paper into a triangle and continue folding this piece of paper until you've created your very own cootie catcher. You open the four flaps and write two things on each so that each response is different. While JJ is getting the briefing room set up, you're having a bit of fun beforehand.

"What are you doing?" Spencer asks.

"Making a cootie catcher. Wanna play?"

"How? What do you do?"

You roll over to his desk with a smile and set up the game in front of him. On the front are different shades of color he can pick from.

"Pick a color."

"Green."

You move the cootie catcher five times and open it further to reveal the numbers you've written.

"Okay, pick a number."

"Seven."

You open that number flap and read what you've written there.

"You're going to get a gift from someone who loves you."

"Is that gift going to come from you?"

"If you're lucky," you smirk and kiss him quickly.

"Is that a cootie catcher?" Emily gasps and bounces her way over. "I haven't played that game since I was a child."

"Alright, pick a color," you smirk and start the game over.

"Blue!"

You move it four times.

"Now pick a number."

"Two."

You open the flap and reveal what's been written.

"There is a surprise waiting for you at home."

"Unless it's from my cat, I don't think there will be," she laughs.

"Briefing room, five minutes," Hotch calls from above.

"Sorry, Derek, you'll get your turn next time," you say and put away your toy.

"I don't think I want a turn," he chuckles.

The team moves the small party into the briefing room where Hotch, Rossi, and JJ already are. Once everyone is settled in, JJ puts a picture of a young woman on the screen.

"Her name's Michelle Watson who was a realtor murdered in Buffalo a week ago. Until yesterday, they didn't have any leads until they got this."

JJ plays a video of someone inside a bathroom. They must be holding the camera in front of them because you can't see who the person is, just what's in front of them. He turns the sink on and off and shows that the mirror is covered with duct tape. He leaves the bathroom and goes outside where there is an unsuspecting couple by their car who don't seem alarmed that they're being filmed.

"Buffalo PD received it from an unknown source yesterday."

"Were they able to trace it?"

"No. It was sent through an encrypted server from Ukraine."

"There's no sound."

"Yeah, at first glance, there doesn't seem to be a single frame to identify who shot it. He even covered up the mirror."

"I've seen some crazy things sitting at this table, but that... Why send that to the police?" Penelope asks.

"Maybe it's a taunt to show the police how smart he is. You know, catch me if you can sort of thing."