Copycat//Criminal Minds FanFic

Profiling

"Why did the Unsub pick, Frank? There are more well-known killers out there," Morgan shook his head.

"Maybe it's just coincidence," Prentiss tried.

"I don't think so. It's too weird that he picked a killer that we've dealt with personally." Reid twirled the coin he was holding, making it disappear and reappear.

"So, you think he knew we were coming?" Rossi looked up from the paper he was reading.

"Yes." Reid nodded in confirmation. "The probability of him picking a killer that had that big of an impact on this team, like Frank, is very small."

"What? No exact number?" Morgan joked.

"Well, the U.S. has about 85% of the world's serial killers and between 20 and 50 active serial killers that are yet to be noticed so that means that-"

"We get it, Reid, next to no chance," Morgan chuckled.

Reid closed his mouth, giving a half smile and looking at the desk. He always seemed to miss it when they were asking a rhetorical question.

"In that case, the Unsub has to be in law enforcement or close to the police officers."

"Hotch, that's pretty much the entire town. This place is so small, I wouldn't be surprised if they were all brothers and sisters," Morgan shook his head.

"It also has to be someone that might have access to the case files or has been keeping track of us."

"I know just who to call," Morgan smiled as he dialed a phone number.

"You've contacted the Goddess of Love and Knowledge, speak!" Garcia answered the phone.

"Hi, sweet lips."

"Is that my chocolate god of thunder?"

"It is indeed," Morgan smiled.

"In that case, you're wish is my demand."

"We need you to run background checks on all of the police officers in this town. We need to know everything that they've done and if any have ever had access to our case files. And we need any records you can get on the victims."

"Honey, I can get you their favourite colour if you want me to." keyboard clicks were loud in the background as Garcia got to work.

"Thanks," Morgan said as he cut the connection.

"In the meantime," Hotch added. "We need to run background checks on the victims again and see if they were picked to go along with the killings. And we need to give a profile to the cops."

Five minutes later, the BAU team stood in front of the gathered police, preparing to give their profile.

"The killer we're looking for is most likely a white male in his late thirties to early fourties," Hotch began. "He probably doesn't stand out much. He works in law enforcement or has a large interest in crimes. He would be at every police call, every break in. He would stand at the back, but he would be watching closely."

"The killer most likely is mentally unstable, even though he would hide it well. He might look tired. He's trying to recreate a perfect kill of past serial killers to live a fantasy or to satisfy a need he feels," Reid added.

"If you notice anyone at the crime scenes or at the press conferences that doesn't seem as upset as the rest of the crowd, or extremely interested in what's going on, that could be our man. Remember, it could be anyone and sometimes your gut feeling is the correct one," Morgan finished up.

The crowd of cops scattered. Reid went back to the office with Hotch and Morgan. It wasn't long before Garcia called back.

"You got what I need, baby girl?"

"Yes, my prince. I'm faxing it to you right now."

"Thanks, baby girl."

"You're welcome, of course this means you owe me."

Morgan laughed as he hung up the phone.

"Hotch, shouldn't we be looking for the next victim?" Prentiss questioned.

Hotch rubbed a hand over his face. "Unfortunately, we have no idea how to find the victim. It could be anyone. As of right now, it looks like the killer only copies the kills, he doesn't copy the types of victims. Our only hope is to catch this guy before he decides to kill again."

"If he knew we were coming and picked a killer that we know to copy, then he's most likely going to kill very soon," Reid commented.

"Which is why we have to get started on the records of these policemen right away." Right on cue, the fax machine fired up and spit out a giant stack of documents. Hotch picked it up and passed it out to the rest of the team. Reid, of course, got the biggest stack.

"Don't decline anything," Hotch said, even though he was teaching to the esemble.

It was completely silent in the room as everyone read their files. Morgan reclined with his feet propped on another chair. Prentiss relaxed, resting her head on her hand. Rossi and Hotch both sat bent over the table. Reid drank a cup of coffee as he studied his. Every file that had the least bit of promise was pulled out and placed on the table in a separate pile.

Hotch knew his team well; all of them finished reading at about the same time.

"What did you guys find?"

"A couple of DUI's..." Morgan offered.

"I got a robbery charge, from a guy when he was twelve..." Prentiss shrugged.

"Reid, what do you have?" Hotch asked.

"I found a drug charge," Reid answered. It had been years, but he still got worried glances when he mentioned drugs. Today was no exception. It probably didn't help that he had looked horrible the last few days.

"Who was that?" Everyone knew that drugs could be related to mental stability in cases like this.

"A Sergeant Blaine," Reid answered without even glancing at the paper.

"Okay, let's find him an-"

"Agents, there's been another murder."

The BAU looked at each other. This did not fit their earlier profile. The killer had gone from waiting a week between victims to only a few hours.

"Let's move."