To Solve

Chapter 11: A real Rain

"Walter Derbin, age 52. His body was found in his cab in East Harlem."

From the crime scene photo it looked as if Mr Derbin had been dragged from the car. His upper body was lying on the road while his legs were still halfway over the driver's seat.

"He was blindfolded and shot once in the chest. Death was caused by a knife stabbed through his ear. The UnSub broke off the handle with the blade lodged in his brain."

"It's the same signature as two other murders. Rachel Holman, 24, found in her apartment three weeks ago on the Lower East Side. And Kaveh Surrani, 30. Police found him two weeks later inside his painting studio in Hell's Kitchen."

"Different locations, different victimology. It's possible we're looking for someone who will hunt indiscriminately."

"NYPD have any leads?"

"Guy's a ghost. He kills at night. There's no witnesses."

"Is the NYPD feeling the strain?"

"Well, they've withheld details so the press hasn't sniffed out a link between the murders."

"With no discernible victim patterns, a killer's practically impossible to stop."

"Did you know the original Zodiac Killer actually continually changed his victims? Young, old, men, women, white, black."

"Exactly. And he killed for 30 years without ever being caught."

~~

W. H. Auden said,

"Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures. So that society must take the place of the victim and, on his behalf, demand atonement or grant forgiveness."

"This is not how I planned to spend a few days home in New York," commented Elle as they flew over New York.

"I'd kill for an afternoon at Barneys and dinner at Il Cantinori."

"I'm looking forward to seeing New York," said Spencer.

"You've never been to New York?" asked Derek

"We've never had an UnSub there."

"Reid, it's a one-hour flight. And a three-hour train ride, man."

"We can stay a few more days after the case," Parker suggested. "I'll show you around."

The young agent looked at Hotch, who nodded.

Parker's grin widened and he nudged Spencer with their elbow. They couldn't wait to show Spencer around town and get out of the office for a few days.

"You've been to New York before?" Elle asked.

"A few times. My parents are theater and musical freaks and they always took me with them," said Parker.

"Okay, here's what we know," Hotch changed the subject. "Blitz attackers are almost always male."

"The fact that he kills in a major urban setting without detection indicates he's highly intelligent."

"How intelligent can he be? I mean, blitz attackers are textbook disorganized killers."

"Yeah, but he brings along a murder kit. Blindfold, knife. How disorganized can he be?"

"We'll split up. We'll take the last two crime scenes. In the meantime, let's talk about what we can agree on. Blindfold likely means one of two things."