Heurism | Spencer Reid¹

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: THE VIGILANTE

"Better to be violent if there's violence in our hearts than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence."

     — Gandhi.

—

Ever since our suspect was left in the interrogation room, he's been co-operative. He just sits there, staring straight ahead, answering every question. He is a pale, nervous-looking man, lean but too tall to fit our profile. When we arrive in the observation room, we find JJ and Reid scrutinising him through the one-way mirror. "Name's Will Sykes. He's a security guard at a boutique in SoHo," Elle informs them.

Morgan still scowls, crossing his arms and glaring through the window. He's been this way ever since Sykes's entrance. Something about it majorly pissed him off. "He was a mugging victim last year. Spent two days in intensive care."

"Fits the profile."

Again, Reid's words are optimistic. We can all feel the other shoe waiting to drop. Something isn't right. "He talk?" I ask a little tersely.

Glancing over her shoulder at me, JJ shrugs. "He just confessed to all the murders."

The intercom buzzes and we hear Bennett's voice from inside. She stands behind Gideon, glaring down our suspect. "So, what were you doing in the park?"

Sykes answers without hesitation, "It's full of animals. Muggers, scum, drug dealers. I knew one of them would try to prey on me."

"That's not your usual method." Gideon's words render him silent. He tries again, "I mean, you target them. You don't let them target you."

He processes this and nods. "I made that point. Now I'm making this one."

"Which is?"

"If you hunt us on the street, you will die the way you lived."

None of us are buying it. Bennett asks, "So, why turn yourself in now?"

His expression is colder now. I get the sense that he knows we doubt him. "I can't change this city without help. People need to be inspired. They need to see me. They need to hear my voice."

"Can you tell me about the cab driver, Derbin?"

I can already see what Gideon is building to. My eyes never leave Sykes's face as he responds, his voice remaining even, "He was a thug. A wife beater."

"And the priest?"

He shrugs. "What's to know? He preyed on young boys."

Nodding slowly, Gideon asks the final decisive question, "Is that why you stabbed him in the groin?"

"It's what he deserved."

"Thank you." Nothing left to ask, he leaves.

JJ huffs, frustrated by this diversion in an already-problematic case. "Why would he confess to murders he didn't commit?"

"Because he has narcissistic delusions," Morgan answers easily. "He wants the glory. He wants to be a star."

Elle raises an eyebrow. "He went into the park hoping that somebody would mess with him."

The door to the observation room enters, and Gideon and Bennett enter. "He killed your undercover cop, but not the others."

She shoots a glare through the window. "So where does that leave us?"

"We know our UnSub has a heightened sense of right and wrong," Reid begins. "If he knew that he inspired a would-be vigilante to murder an undercover cop, he might feel remorse."