deep end, cm [ 1 ]

060. a higher power

"Three months ago, a fire in the Shadyside Rec Center killed 14 children." JJ says.

"I remember that." Derek says.

"What does that have to do with us?" Rossi asks.

"Well, over the past 3 months, there have been 5 suicides. All of them lost a child in the fire." JJ informs. "The last one was Paul Baleman. He was found electrocuted in his bathtub yesterday. I received a request for our help."

"Why do they need our help? They're suicides." Derek says.

"All of the suicides were within 2 weeks of each other." Spencer notes. "It could be some kind of pattern."

"Detective Ronnie Baleman, Pittsburgh P.D. thinks that something's going on." JJ says.

"Well, of course he does." Derek says.

"Why do you say that?" Emily asks.

"He's related to that man, right?" Rossi asks.

"His brother." JJ says.

"A cop who doesn't believe his brother committed suicide." Derek says. "Come on, next case." He starts to leave.

"Now, wait a second." Emily protests. "5 suicides in the same neighborhood within months? That's a serious spike."

"Suicides don't spike after a tragedy. It's the exact opposite, they go down." Jessica says.

"Yeah, following World War 1 and 2, right after Kennedy was shot, and following 9/11, suicide plummeted." Spencer confirms. "Within a society, external threats usually create group integrations."

"People come together." JJ says.

"So if there's reason for doubt, which there obviously is, don't those families left behind have a right to know?" Emily asks.

"Yes, they do." Rossi says.

"Okay, sure, they deserve to know, but let somebody else tell them, like social services." Derek says.

"Contact Detective Baleman. Let him know we're coming." Rossi says. JJ nods and leaves.

+++

"Hotch would have never taken this case. And I say case in the loosest sense." Derek says.

"Good for Hotch." Jessica quips. "And do you know how whiny you sound today?"

"We'll follow the facts as they are without bias." Rossi says. "Isn't that what we do?"

"What facts, Rossi?" Derek asks. "Look at us. We don't have a single file."

"Okay, let me help you out." Rossi says. "Jump right in anytime." He tells the others. "Fact one -- there are no files, so it seems no case."

"But what if there is one?" Emily questions.

"One fire, fourteen deaths, five suicides." Spencer says.

"All the suicides are connected to the original fire." JJ says.

"And all exactly two weeks apart." Jessica says.

"Come on, Derek, you can't tell me that doesn't feel a lot like a pattern." Rossi says.

"And a timeline." Emily adds.

"Right?" Rossi remarks.

"A lot of people lost their kids in that fire." Derek says. "That's a whole world of grief, and for a few... suicide's their only way out."

"Or someone decided it was." Rossi says.

"And made it look this way?" Derek asks.

"What if they have?"