deep end, cm [ 1 ]

031. the last word

Jessica is sitting at her desk and working. She happens to glance up, frowning when a woman with raven colored hair walks up to Hotch's office with a box in hand. She watches the woman knock on the door and go in after a moment, assuming Hotch called out.

Once the door shuts, Jessica immediately wheels her chair over to Spencer's desk, pulling on his arm.

"Who was that?" Jessica asks.

"Who was who?" Spencer asks, looking around.

"Some woman just went in Hotch's office. She had a box, like a "start a job" box." Jessica says.

"I don't know." Spencer shrugs. "Maybe they hired someone else."

"But Elle just left." Jessica frowns.

"I don't know." Spencer shrugs.

~ ~ ~

"St. Louis is in trouble." JJ states after Gideon and Hotch walk into the room.

"They've got two serial killers." Hotch says.

"This killer abducts his victims from public places, dumps them in the woods." Gideon says. "They consulted us months ago after the third murder."

"Well, now it might be up to six." JJ says. "Ellen Carroll's been missing since yesterday. The first two victims were found near Mill Creek in Mark Twain National Forest."

"No wonder it takes days to find the bodies. The forest is 1.5 million acres and 78,000 of that is wilderness." Spencer says.

"What's the story with these women?" Hotch asks.

"Eight victims. All prostitutes. Latest is Marci Mitchell. She was killed last night with a .44 magnum. All are tied to a serial shooter claiming responsibility." JJ says. "He's contacted Jim Meyers, a reporter at the Missouri Harold."

"So he's not getting the attention he thinks he deserves." Hotch says. "He signs it the Hollow Man, names himself for the press."

"Why Hollow Man?" Jessica frowns. "Does he feel empty inside or something?"

"He uses hollow point bullets." JJ informs. "No one even knew this guy existed until he sent this letter."

"Well, he's killed more victims, but look who he's chosen." Hotch says. "Hundreds of victims go unnoticed because they're social outcasts and never make the front page."

"When Mill Creek kills, the Hollow Man shoots another prostitute." Spencer says.

"So one doesn't want to be outdone by the other." Derek says. "Sounds like sibling rivalry to me."

"My sibling rivalry stayed in Monopoly, bro." Jessica mutters.

"They've been killing independently of each other for a year now." Hotch says.

"With each kill they're learning something... from the other." Gideon says.

+++

They're on the jet and going over the file. Jessica looks up at Spencer, frowning at the thoughtful, troubled look on his face. She reaches out, lightly kicking his shin making him look up at her.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"Did you know there are roughly 30 serial killers at large in the U.S. at any given time?" Spencer questions.

"Yeah." Jessica nods.

"It's an incredibly rare occurrence to have them operating in the same city." Spencer says.

"How many times has that happened?" JJ asks.

"To my knowledge, three times." Spencer says. "There was a guy killing at the same time as the Son of Sam. And then again in New Orleans, and most recently with the Phoenix murders."