deep end, cm [ 1 ]

049. scared to death

Jessica is leaning against Spencer's desk while he sits in his chair and is holding a letter Gideon gave him. Derek is sitting on the desk and Emily is standing next to them.

"Gideon left everything." Penelope states, walking out of the man's office with a box of stuff. "Except the photographs."

"He always said those were like his family." Spencer says, not looking away from the letter.

Jessica winces, wishing she could do something to comfort him. She reaches out, playing with the ends of his hair.

"What should we do with all of this?" Penelope asks, walking away.

JJ comes over and informs them about a case before going to Hotch's office to tell him. Derek and Emily leave.

"Spence?" Jessica gently tugs on a lock of hair.

"Yeah." He mumbles, putting the letter back in the envelope and getting up. Jessica links her arm with his, walking with him to the round table room.

~ ~ ~

"Okay, we have four victims in Oregon. Two male, two female." JJ says as she and Hotch walk into the room.

"I got this." Hotch says.

"Uh, sure." JJ says.

"I know that we've all been wondering what this was all about. And, uh... you know I've known Jason for many years, and I can tell you, I have no idea. But it doesn't even matter. What matters is we're here, and we're gonna continue."

Jessica glances at Spencer, her chest aching at his sad, kicked puppy expression. She reaches out, tapping his leg. Spencer glances down, looking at her outstretched hand. After a moment of consideration, he grabs her hand, Jessica gently squeezing his hand, the man keeping their hands on his leg.

"Portland field office uncovered a mass grave with three bodies, killed six months ago. Nearby they found another body. Causes of death range from burning alive to asphyxiation. No sexual assault."

"Well, the torture's clearly sadistic." Derek says.

"The lack of sexual preferences could make it hard to tell if the unsub is male or female." Spencer says.

"Typically, female serial killers stick to the same M.O. It looks like this guy's all over the place." Jessica says.

"Most recent victim is Jenny Wittman. Asphyxiated, discovered yesterday." Hotch says.

"How long was she missing?" Spencer asks.

"She was never reported missing." Hotch states.

"What about the others?" Spencer asks.

"Only one." Hotch answers.

"Out of four?" Jessica asks.

"Rick Holland was reported missing nine months ago, but the search was called off." JJ says.

"Family discovered his car at the train station, but more importantly, they received emails from him saying that he needed time to figure things out." Hotch says.

"And his family bought that?" Derek asks.

"Well, I guess the alternative was too hard to accept." Hotch says.

"Reaching out could be a sign of remorse." Spencer notes.

"Psychopaths don't apologize for their behavior. This guy's covering his tracks." Hotch says.

"Well, it's working." Derek comments.

"So... three victims he buried in one grave and then only Jenny Wittman in the other." Emily says.