Cowboy Like Me: Criminal Minds

Lo-Fi

The familiar rhythm of the office surrounded Sloane as she worked at her desk, her focus shifting between a case file and her screen. She glanced over at Reid, who was absorbed in a hefty book on urban behavioral patterns. He was hunched over, pencil in hand, occasionally scratching notes in the margins, oblivious to the rest of the bullpen.

Sloane smiled, then called over to him. "Hey, genius. Aren't you supposed to be on a break?"

Reid looked up, blinking as if he were coming out of a trance. "This is my break," he said, grinning slightly. "And technically, this reading is directly related to work. Urban behavior patterns are relevant to over 65% of our cases."

Sloane raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "And what percent is 'personal downtime'?"

He gave her a slight smirk, clearly enjoying the banter. "I consider reading personal downtime. Besides, it's more productive than, say, sitting around doing nothing."

Sloane laughed, giving him a friendly shove. "Alright, but remember, socializing counts as downtime too."

Their lighthearted exchange was cut short as JJ walked into the bullpen, her face tight with concern. "Guys, we need you in the conference room. We have a new case," she said, her tone all business.

Sloane and Reid exchanged a look before setting aside their work. JJ's serious expression said it all: this wasn't just any case. Following her, they joined the rest of the team in the conference room, where Hotch was already standing near the monitor with a case file open, waiting to begin.

JJ took her place beside Hotch, who gave her a quick nod to start. The lights dimmed slightly as JJ brought up photos of grim New York City streets. Each image held a sense of finality, the victims lying lifeless in random locations—a sidewalk, a narrow alley, a park bench. Sloane felt a pang in her chest at the stark brutality.

JJ's voice was steady but grim as she introduced the case. "We have four victims so far. All of them were killed execution-style, each in a different location but within the same borough in New York. The randomness of the locations makes it difficult to predict where he'll strike next."

Morgan leaned back, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "Execution-style murders? We're looking at either a gang conflict or someone trying to make a statement."

"Possibly," JJ acknowledged. "But NYPD is struggling to find a common link between these victims. None of them have gang affiliations, and they come from varied backgrounds."

Reid, studying the photos, tapped his pen against the table. "If he's leaving the bodies in public spaces, he's not trying to hide his actions. He's making a statement—but what's unclear is who he's targeting, if he's targeting anyone specific at all."

Hotch spoke up, his tone firm as he addressed the team. "This unsub is organized and deliberate. Whether he's working alone or as part of a larger group, our job is to identify his motives and find a pattern. Until we have a profile, every location in that borough is a potential danger zone."

Sloane's eyes shifted to Hotch, her gaze meeting his for a brief moment. His usual professional demeanor held an intensity tonight—one that reminded her to stay vigilant. She nodded slightly, understanding the silent message: this case required the utmost caution.

"We'll be working closely with NYPD," Hotch continued. "Captain Houston is leading their efforts, and he'll be briefing us on potential leads they've found. Everyone, gear up. Wheels up in 30."

The team settled into their usual spots on the jet, with Reid quickly diving into his stack of case files while Morgan and Prentiss discussed the logistics of the case. Sloane noticed Emily listening attentively, nodding along and occasionally asking insightful questions. She was new, but her natural curiosity and intelligence were already making her a valuable addition.