safe inside, criminal minds [ 1 ]

031. a place at this table

"Where are we on the multiple homicides?" Hotch asks, walking into the room.

"It's in Bethesda at the home of Frank and Donna Kingman." JJ informs.

"She's the former Donna Stancroft, heiress to the Stancroft Electronics money." Derek says.

"We're setting up a live feed transmission from the crime scene." Spencer says.

"Sergeant Carlson, can you hear me?" Penelope asks and the video goes up on screen.

"Sure can. How about on your end?" Carlson asks.

"Loud and clear." Rossi answers. "Why don't you walk us through it, sergeant?"

"Okay, here we go." He turns the camera around to show the scene.

"When were the victims found?" Danielle asks.

"About an hour ago." Carlson says. "Neighbor noticed the front door was left open, called the police."

"Nothing's been disturbed?" Kate asks.

"No, ma'am. You're seeing what the responding officers saw." Carlson says.

"Is that music I hear in the background?" JJ asks.

"Yeah. A photograph in the study playing "Jingle Bells."" Carlson says.

"Sleigh bells in April?" Rossi asks.

"Christmas is a state of mind." Danielle says. Everybody looks at her. Spencer gives her a disgusted look. "I'm sorry not everybody can be a Halloween nut." She sneers at her brother.

"The unsub may have been trying to recreate the atmosphere of a holiday meal." Derek says.

"It looks like their hands were bound." Rossi notes.

"They're bound, shot in the head execution style." Carlson says.

"Four victims but six place settings." Spencer frowns.

"Maybe two of the intended victims were no shows." JJ says.

"Or managed to escape?" Kate adds.

"Well, escape seems unlikely given the highly organized--"

"Over here! Get him!"

They watch the police chase someone.

"Get the hell away from me!"

"Police!"

A cop tackles some guy. The cop kicks Carlson, breaking the camera.

Hotch gives out his orders, the others starting to leave.

"Danielle, you're back with Garcia." Hotch says.

"Wha--" Danielle frowns.

"Your leg." Hotch motions to the cast around her leg.

"Oh, come on. Spence breaks my leg and I get benched?" Danielle complains.

"Wha-- me? I didn't break your leg." Spencer protests. "You broke your leg on the case. If you want to blame someone, blame the unsub."

"You didn't warn me about that freaking hill. Or the giant log in the way." Danielle hisses.

"I thought it was an obvious observation." Spencer reasons.

"Whatever. You better be more bearable than your brother." Penelope says.

"Wha-- what did I do?" Spencer frowns.

"Nothing, I guess." Penelope sighs.

+++

"So, eldest son, Dylan Kingman, has a fancy car and a fancy apartment, but no visible means of support." Penelope says. "So I did some digging, and presto."