To Solve

Chapter 34: Scared to Death

Parker still couldn't believe Gideon quit a few days ago. It seemed so surreal to them.

The others didn't seem to understand either. Least of all Spencer, who read the letter for the 276th time.

"Gideon left everything, except the photographs," said Garcia.

The technical analyst stood at the office door with a small box.

"He always said those were like his family," Spencer murmured.

"What should we do with all of this?" Garcia wanted to know.

Nobody really knew the answer to that. They didn't want to throw away Gideon's things, but they were painfully aware that he wouldn't be back to pick them up.

"I'm taking the plant from you," Parker announced.

The young agent walked up the steps to the offices and carefully picked up the small potted plant out of the box.

They then placed Fearn (that's what Parker called the plant) on their desk.

~~

As always, the team gathered in the conference room at the same time.

JJ and Hotch were last.

The young woman handed everyone a file.

"Okay, we have four victims in Oregon. Two male, two female..."

"I got this," Hotch interrupted her.

"Sure."

The profiler stood at the front.

"I know that we've all been wondering what this was all about. And, you know, I've known Jason for many years, and I can tell you, I have no idea. But it doesn't even matter. What matters is we're here and we're going to continue," Hotch addressed the team. "Portland field office uncovered a mass grave with three bodies killed six months ago. Nearby they found another body. Causes of death range from burning alive to asphyxiation. No sexual assault."

While Hotch summarized the situation, the agents looked at the photos of the mass grave on the screen.

"Well, the torture is clearly sadistic."

"But the lack of sexual preference is gonna make it hard to tell if the UnSub is male or female."

"Typically female serial killers stick to the same MO. It looks like this guy's all over the place."

"The most recent victim is Jenny Wittman, asphyxiated, discovered yesterday."

"How long was she missing?" Parker wanted to know.

"She was never reported missing," Hotch reported.

That made Parker sit up.

"What about the others?"

"Only one."

They were aware that not everyone had a good relationship with their family, but that three were not even reported missing...

If Parker didn't check in with their parents twice a week, Parker wouldn't have to be surprised if the police showed up at the door.

"One of four?" Spencer repeated, also irritated.

"Rick Holland was reported missing nine months ago, but the search was called off," explained JJ.

"The family discovered his car at the train station, but more importantly they received e-mails from him, saying that he needed time to figure things out."