deep end, cm [ 1 ]

035. no way out

"1996. The ribcage of a male was found in the Desert Rose National Park. It was never identified. This morning, the remains of two victims were found in almost exactly the same area." JJ informs.

"Well, one year later is cause for concern, but ten years?" Emily asks. "That could be a coincidence."

"It would be if the unidentified male wasn't missing a right rib bone." Spencer says.

"And the torso this morning is missing exactly the same bone." Hotch says.

"Both of them seem to be surgically removed, and the advanced rate of decomposition on the male means that he died far before the female." Spencer says.

"Oh, uh, Katherine Hale. They found a bracelet on her wrist." JJ says. "She ran away about two weeks ago from her small Colorado town."

"Unsub's crossing state lines." Hotch notes. "He's mobile."

"If the remains are related to the same killer, where's he been for ten years?" Derek asks as Gideon walks in with a box.

"Killing." Gideon says. "Unsolved case files going back 30 years." He opens the box and drops a handful of files onto the table and they all look through them. "Every case, the victimology is the same. The unwanted. This box is just the tip of the iceberg. 13 cases spanning 30 years. Same M.O. Right rib bone is missing. It's him, Hotch. It's the same killer."

"All the remains were dumped in remote areas and all near Interstate 80. And up till now, no remains this intact or this close to the actual time of kill have been found." Hotch says.

"Never two victims dumped at the same time in the same place." Gideon says.

"All of these killings are the work of just one man?" Jessica asks.

"The most prolific serial killer ever." Gideon states.

+++

Spencer, Jessica, and Emily are at the police station and the cop behind the desk walks away.

"Is it just me or do you get the feeling we're not welcome here?" Spencer asks.

"No, it's not us. It's what we represent." Emily says as they walk back. "Government's not all that popular out here."

"You can't make me go! I know what my rights are!" A woman screams as a cop tries to drag her out. "No, I don't want to go home! I know my rights!"

"What are you looking at, princesses?!" The woman shouts at Jessica and Emily.

Jessica frowns, struggling for words as she tries not to look back at the woman.

"Okay, okay! That's the way you want it, Jane, back to jail." The cop says, starting to drag her back.

"Okay, okay, okay." Jane says. She shoves him away and grips onto the front of Jessica's shirt, the brunette letting out a small squeak.

"I--" Jessica mumbles.

"Uh, ma'am. Ma'am." Spencer reaches his arm out, trying to pull Jessica out of the woman's grip.

"He's coming. He's coming back, and there's nothing you can do about it." Jane sneers, walking forward which forces Jessica to walk backwards, Spencer stumbling along with them.

The cop rushes over and tries to pull Jane away.

"Do you hear me? Nothing. Nothing!" She screams as the cop finally gets her off Jessica. Spencer steps in front of her, his hand resting on her side.

"You okay?" Spencer asks with a concerned frown.

"Uh... I-I think so." Jessica mumbles, watching Jane get dragged away.