deep end, cm [ 1 ]

020. charm and harm

Jessica is focused on the file on her desk, her chin resting in her free hand.

"What?" She hears Elle ask making her look at the woman before turning to Derek who is looking over at Elle, observing her.

"We've only been here an hour. You've made 2 calls." Derek says.

"And?" Elle asks.

"You hate the phone, Elle." Derek says.

"I don't hate the phone." She argues.

"Actually, you do." Spencer counters.

"You despise the phone." Jessica confirms with a knowing smirk.

"Hey, did you know that Alexander Graham Bell and Eli Gray both simultaneously invented electronic sound transmission devices? It came down to a race betwixt the two."

"Yeah, and Bell beat Gray to the patent office by a matter of hours." Elle states. Spencer frowns. "Common knowledge."

"Why are you acting so weird?" Derek asks.

"We're sitting with a guy who knows that there are 800 kernels of corn on the average cob..." Elle jabs her finger in Spencer's direction.

"Arranged in 16 separate rows." Spencer states, not looking away from his computer.

"And you're calling me weird?" Elle asks.

"Well, just cause he's... him doesn't mean you can't be weird, too." Jessica comments.

"You're getting some lovin', aren't you?" Derek smirks. "I knew it. You got a boyfriend."

"You are basing this on, what, exactly, the fact that I don't like the phone? That's all you got? That's your best? You've been a profiler for how long, Derek, and that's-- that's weak. That's weak."

"You're getting really defensive for somebody who's single." Jessica comments making Elle glare at her.

"What's weak?" JJ asks, walking over.

"Morgan thinks Elle has a boyfriend." Spencer informs.

"Nothing." Elle dismisses, following JJ.

"Nothing. See, you just denied it." Derek says as the other three start to follow the two up to the round table room.

"Do you?" JJ asks.

"It's more fun not to answer that question." Elle says.

"That right there is a yes, baby." Derek remarks. "I knew it. I told you."

"She didn't really admit to anything, man." Spencer says.

"Thank you." Elle tells him.

"Reid, trust me. You've got a lot to learn." Derek says.

~ ~ ~

"FBI Tampa has been investigating a series of murders over the past 2 months along Florida's central gulf coast." JJ informs.

"I consulted with the SAC down there. They had a strong lead." Gideon says.

"And DNA evidence. All four women were killed by this man -- Mark Gregory." JJ states.

"If they know who he is, he's not really an unsub." Spencer says. "Why are they calling us?"

"They weren't able to arrest him before he disappeared." JJ answers.

"They let a serial killer get away? How long has he been missing?" Hotch asks.

"About 36 hours, along with this woman--" JJ puts the woman's photo on the screen. "Nicole Wegener."