To Solve

Chapter 16: Psychodrama

"Over the past two months, the L.A. Field office has been tracking a series of 4 bank robberies in the L.A. Metro area", JJ started. "It's one individual wearing a black ski mask. He's highly skilled. It's his unique M.O. that put him squarely in our court. This happened two days ago."

The profilers turned their gaze to the screen.

The footage showed the UnSub taking turns aiming his weapon at the hostages as they put out their clothes.

"He's making her undress?"

"He takes their clothes and locks them in the vault, then he goes for the cash."

"Smart. Nobody's going to run after him butt naked."

"It's also a psychological advantage. Make the captives feel exposed, intimidated, and much less likely to fight back," said Spencer.

"That, and the gun he's waving around."

"– mac-10. Boy's got a lot of firepower."

"But why is this case for us?" asked Elle.

Parker wondered the same thing.

The fact that the hostages had to take off their clothes was unusual, but not 'BAU-unusual'.

"Because in the last robbery, two things changed," JJ replied. "One, he beat the security guard nearly senseless, and two, after he made everyone undress, he forced two pairs of victims together at gunpoint, then he made them simulate sex with each other."

JJ clicked on her remote and showed the team a middle-aged woman and a man, a young man and an older woman.

"It's remarkable. By utilizing a practical M.O. The UnSub has stumbled on to a psychological signature. It's fascinating."

"He's a sex offender now."

"Fueled by violent rage. Only our UnSub doesn't know it yet. If he did, he wouldn't be robbing banks anymore."

"So, he's a violent sex offender in denial."

"And a sexual predator who's just escalated his crimes."

~~

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you the truth."

Oscar Wilde.

Parker handed JJ one of the coffee cups and sat down in one of the empty seats.

At that moment, Elle was standing at the fax machine and receiving the fax that Garcia had just sent to the others.

"'Stripping bandit'", Elle read the headline. "That's terrible. That makes it sound like the bandit's doing the stripping."

"What would you call him?"

"Pervert."

"Scumbag."

"Son of a B...  Mother," Parker replied.

"I'd call him an ass–"

"Hey, focus, please," Hotch tried to change the subject. "We have the details of the 4 bank robberies to learn before we get to Los Angeles."

Parker placed the file on their lap and opened it.

"At this point is he more a bank robber or a sex offender?", Spencer asked an important question.

"Seriously. What's he going to do next, rob a bank or rape someone?"

"I'd say we need to know more about how he robs the banks and who he chooses to victimize," Elle suggested