To Solve

Chapter 26: Distress

"This is Houston's Fifth Ward. It accounts for a large percent of the city's growing homicide rate due to gang violence and a bustling narcotics trade. Although in the last 48 hours, there have been three distinctive murders in the Ward."

Images of the area appeared on the screen.

"Distinctive?" Derek asked.

“Three men, three different socioeconomic groups, all killed on the street with their necks snapped,” reported JJ.

And now pictures of the three victims could be seen.

"There appears to be no other injury and there's no apparent connection between the victims or motive–"

JJ stopped and everyone looked at the door. The meeting started long ago, but Spencer shuffled into the room and sat down without a word of explanation or apology.

Since no one said anything, JJ cleared her throat and continued talking.

"The Ward's detectives are inundated with homicides. Gang violence is a big problem. Shootings, armed robberies, is an everyday occurrence, but this type of street attack is new to them."

Although no one says anything to Spencer, Parker wouldn't just let it go.

"We'll talk later," said Parker inaudible.

The young genius rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the conversation.

“Could it be gang-related?” Emily wanted to know. "Maybe some new type of initiation rite?"

"The gangs in the Ward use guns. In fact, no known gangs exhibit this type of MO."

"What about dope?" Derek asked. "These guys come up with pretty freaky ways of killing the competition to get their message out."

"Yeah, but there just doesn't seem to be any connection between the victims and the drug world," said JJ.

"Homeless man, a construction worker. Security guard."

"Just three dead men and no witnesses."

"We're looking for a homicidal serial criminal in a neighborhood populated by criminals. The challenge will be separating him from the rest."

"Yet we have no evidence, no apparent interaction between the UnSub and the victims pre or post-mortem, and an indistinguishable MO. Should be simple," commented Spencer.

~~~~

"Our life is made by the death of others."

Leonardo da Vinci.

"We got a construction worker, outsider in the community. We got a security guard, that's an authority figure. And then we've got a homeless man that's a powerless victim that no one would notice missing," summarized Derek, as the Jet was in the air.

"So who is he targeting?"

"Let's see if any of the victims frequented the same stores or sites."

"He used blitz attacks, which means he most likely lacks the interpersonal skills needed to coerce his victims into coming close."

"He also used the element of surprise which means he may have stalked his victims before killing them," Parker added.

"Well, if that's the case, I want to go to the last crime scene and see where he may have been hiding," reported Derek.

"I want to see the neighborhood for myself. I'll go with you."

"Good, the rest of us will go to the precinct and set up shop," Hotch instructed.