Unspoken - S.R

The Price of Truth

Monday rolled around quickly. Adeline dreaded going into the office today. Of course, they were greeted with a case. Penelope was presenting to the team, four men in Westbrook, Connecticut have been murdered. They were bound and disfigured before being stabbed in the heart.

The first victim was Victor Malone aged 45, a respected businessman, was found dead in his office, which was meticulously arranged to highlight his infidelities. Personal letters and documents detailing his extramarital affairs were scattered around the room. The papers were arranged to spell out words like "LIAR" and "DECEIVER" on his desk, making the nature of his betrayal clear.

The second victim, Isaac Hooper, aged 42. He was a coach at the local school. He was found murdered in a hotel room, surrounded by evidence of his affairs. His personal items, including photos and love letters, were scattered around the room. The room was arranged to reflect his dual life, with one side showing his professional persona and the other a chaotic display of his personal failings.

The third victim, Tony Clough, aged 48. He was a dentist, found in his dental surgery office by one of the nurses. The room was filled with handwritten love letters addressed to various women, some of which were found in patient files. His desk was covered with personal photos and messages showing his unfaithfulness. The office was arranged to symbolize his deceit.

The latest victim, Brian Laverne, aged 52. A local shop owner. Found deceased in his storage room at the back of the store. The room was filled with stock and supplies, but a message was written on the wall in blood: "CHEATER."

It was clear to the team that these murders were in revenge for infidelity in marriage. The words left behind, the documents detailing text messages, photos of each of these men caught in the act. All the victims were completely emasculated, to put it politely. And then the final touch of being stabbed in the heart. Although these deaths were violent, the team had a suspicion that the unsub was a woman.

"We've seen a clear pattern," Hotch said, his voice steady and authoritative. "Each victim was meticulously staged to highlight their infidelities. It's not just about the murders; it's about sending a message. Wheels up in 30. Let's stop this person before more people are killed."

The team got themselves prepped and ready and boarded the jet heading to Connecticut. Spencer had noticed that something was wrong with Adeline. She was quieter than usual. Of course, he had no idea what had happened over the weekend with her personal life. On the jet, Spencer made his way over to Adeline and sat beside her.

"How was your weekend?" He asked.

"Meh, not the best. But it's over now." She said, not pulling her eyes away from the pages of her book. "How was yours?"

Spencer relaxed into the seat, "Same old. Read a little." That conversation ended as quickly as it started. Spencer just assumed Adeline and Elliot had an argument or something and she didn't want to talk about it. "Anything interesting in there?" Spencer asked, attempting to draw her out of her shell.

Adeline finally looked up from the book, her green eyes duller than usual, betraying a weariness she couldn't fully hide. "Just a distraction," she replied with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Nothing too riveting."

Spencer frowned, sensing the undercurrent of sadness in her tone. He wanted to press further, to ask if she was okay, but he also didn't want to push her too hard. Adeline was strong, but she was also someone who kept her cards close to her chest, especially when it came to her personal life. He decided to let it go for now, respecting her space.

"We'll figure out what's going on with this case quickly," Spencer said, changing the subject to the work ahead. "It's unusual for an unsub to target men specifically for infidelity, but the pattern is clear. This is deeply personal."