71. "Geographical profiling"

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Y/n pov

The morning begins with the whole team gather in the precinct conference room. Hotch stands at the front, his expression calm but serious as he introduces us to the local police, who look anxious but eager to help. I sit off to the side with my notebook open, jotting down points as we prepare to present the profile.

Reid stands up first, adjusting his tie nervously before launching into his usual rapid-fire explanation. "The unsub is likely male, in his 30s to early 40s, highly intelligence but socially isolated. His methods suggests a meticulous nature, possibly someone with medical or anatomical knowledge based on the precision of the mutilations. He likely lives alone and operates within a defined area, choosing his victims carefully."

I glance at Hotch, who nods slightly, then back at the officers." We believe he's experienced some form of personal trauma, likely involving a woman, which has caused him to act out this violence in a controlled manner. His need for control is paramount, and we suspect he's choosing women who remind him of someone from his past."

Morgan steps up next, his tone more direct. "The victims are all found in public areas, but the attacks themselves are happening elsewhere. We need to focus on areas with isolated buildings, abandoned warehouse, places he can take his time. We're looking at someone who's blending into the background during the day - likely employed, functioning, but with an increasingly fractured psychological state.

I watch as the police officers exchange glances, some taking notes, others asking questions. There's an energy in the room, a focused intensity as we lay out the details. It's strange being here and not in the field, but i'm still doing my part.

Once the profile is done, Hotch splits us up into teams for the day. "Morgan and Prentiss, head to the latest crime scene and talk to anyone in the area who might've seen something. Rossi, you'll take JJ and interview the family of the first victim. Y/n, you're with Reid. I want you two to work on refining the geographical profile. I'll be at the coordinating with the sheriff."

As the others head out, i glance at Reid, who's already deep in thought, likely running algorithms in his head. "Ready to map this thing out?" i ask with a smile.

He nods. "We'll need to gather data from all four crime scenes and cross-reference it with the locations of the victims' homes and workplaces. If the unsub is staying within a particular radius, we should be able to narrow down his comfort zone."

We set up in the conference room, spreading our maps and documenting across the table. As we work, i occasionally pull out my phone and shoot a quick text to Temperance. Still slive, not in the field today, but making myself useful, i type, attaching a selfie of me sitting next to a stack of case files.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzes with her reply. Good to hear you're behaving. Focus on the case, i'll see you soon.

I grin and tuck my phone back in my pocket. Then, i send a similar message to Penelope, just to make sure she knows i'm okay, and joking. She's been texting me nonstop, reminding me to stay cautious. I send her a picture of me and Reid surrounded by files. You can tell Mom i'm being good. Doing the geek work today.

Penelope's response is almost instant. Proud of you, sugar. Stay safe, okay? And tell Reid i said hi!

I laugh softly and nudge Reid, who looks up from the map, his brow furrowed. "Pen says hi," i say, and he smiles, offering a small four abduction points.

I lean over the table to examine it more closely. Reid's right - the pattern is becoming clearer. The unsub is working within a defined radius, and we're getting closer to pinpointing his exact location.

The day passes in a blur of calculations, mapping, and witness interviews. We break down the unsub's movements, analysing his behaviour in relation to his victims and their locations. Every few hours, i send Temperance updates,letting her know how things are progressing. It's comforting to keep that connection, even from afar.

By late afternoon, we've made significant headway. Reid and i narrow the geographical profile down to a few specific neighbourhoods. It's not definitive, but it's enough to give the team something solid to work with. A si finish typing up our findings, i glance over at Reid. "Good work today."

He smiles slightly. "You too. I know it's thought not being out in the field, but this - what we're doing - it just as important."

I nod, feeling a little grounded. "Yeah, i know. I'm just glad to be back in some capacity."

As we wrap up for the day, i check my phone one last time. Temperance has sent me a picture of her lab, captioned: Waiting for you. I smile at the thought of her, the warmth of her keeping me focused even in the midst of all this chaos.

With our findings ready to present to the team, i look forward to seeing how tomorrow unfolds. It's been a challenging day, but i feel like i'm getting back into the rhythm of things, even if it's a slower pace than i'd like. And with Temperance and my team's support, i know i can manage.

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