The Chase (Criminal Minds)

Evolving

 Reid sat on a bench outside the North Dakota Police Station as he took a final scan through the recent case file, making sure he didn't overlook any important details. But he couldn't have. He's Spencer Reid. There was nothing else to do while he waited, though, so he kept reading.

Lloyd Finnow.

He continued to stare at the victim's name. A shiver went down his back. This name sounded familiar to him.

Why?

Just then, the beautiful, yet badass, Jennifer Jareau walked into view. Her black high heels clicked rhythmically with each step as she walked up the sidewalk towards Reid. When she got to the bench, she smiled brightly and took a seat.

"What's up," She asked.

"You look lonely out here all by yourself."

Spencer nodded. It wasn't the first time he's heard that before.

"I was just waiting for you guys to get here. I didn't want to walk in and introduce myself alone."

JJ looked at him, eyebrows furrowed.

"You do remember you're a part of the FBI, right? You're not some random stranger walking into a police station to work on a case."

Reid broke eye contact and stared at the wooden planks beneath him.

"Still…" He said, shrugging.

JJ stood up, brushing off her fitted skirt. She held out her hand.

"Well, lucky for you, I'm here," She announced.

She grinned, widely.

"Let's go catch us a killer."

Reid took JJ's hand as they walked, ready and determined, into the one and only, North Dakota Police Department.

...

"Guys," Morgan said, abruptly as the rest of his colleagues were facing the opposite direction, towards Emily, who was sharing one of her interesting story about her days working at Interpol.

"…And that's when a huge crane swooped down and-"

Emily stopped mid-sentence, turning her attention to Morgan. The rest of the team did the same.

Morgan stood tall, the sleeves of his shirt rising just enough to show a hint of the tattoo on his left arm.

"I think we have the wrong idea about our unsub."

Hotch stared at Morgan intensely, wanting more information.

"Why do you say that?"

Morgan leaned on the conference table, the case file resting under his hand.

"The file says he killed Lloyd Finnow the same way he did the first two victims. But by picking to kill a victim like Finnow, he risked changing his MO completely, which we automatically assumed was because he was delvolving,"

"And…" JJ trailed on, not knowing what point he was trying to make.

He looked over at Reid for a second and then back at JJ.

"I don't think he's devolving," Morgan stated.

The team was clearly confused.

"He's evolving."

Rossi tilted his head slightly and walked over to Morgan.

"You think he's evolving?"

Morgan paced back and forth, explaining his logic.

"Think about it. He killed his first two victims in the same town, only days apart. It took less time for him to kill them, because they were easy targets, considering they both had a mental illness. But for his next victim, Lloyd Finnow, he flew halfway across the U.S. just to kill him. It was obviously personal. He also took longer to kill him, unlike the first two victims. He wanting Finnow to suffer. Most likely for revenge. This unsub is clearly doing whatever it takes to get to his next victims. This is far from being over. He's just beginning."

Morgan took a deep breath as he waited for the team's reaction.

Prentiss was the first to speak. She was certainly impressed with Morgan's theory.

"…I think he may actually be correct, Hotch."

Morgan raised his eyebrows.

"Actually?" He remarked, a pessimistic tone in his voice. Prentiss ignored his commentary as she waited for Hotch's reply.

Hotch looked at the center of the conference table they were standing around. A wired phone and speaker set were hooked up in the center, waiting to be put to use.

"Let's call Garcia."