be the one ⇢ s. reid

xii.

"J, thanks for coming." Melanie greeted with a hug as JJ walked into her apartment.

It's been a couple of days since Melanie agreed to help the team with the current case they were on. But because they didn't want Barnes to know, or be suspicious for that matter, they had to keep things on the down low and it would be better if JJ went alone to Melanie's instead of the whole team going.

"Of course! I am short on time and I don't want Barnes to suspect that I'm up to something but at the same time I don't really care so what have you got?" JJ asked as the two of them took a seat on the couch.

Melanie grabbed her laptop from off the coffee table and opened it up to show JJ the three victims' social medias.

"Okay so. None of these girls actually knew one another. Shocker right? But if you look at them physically you would see that -"

JJ cut her off. "- that they all look similar. Brown hair, tan skin, chocolate brown eyes." She then looked over at Melanie. "...kinda like you. You actually literally look like the victims."

Melanie nodded slowly. "Similar, yeah. So of course I was intrigued. I did more digging and found out these women have been seeking refuge here in this country. I called Penelope to see if there was something that could've linked them together and she sent me screen shots of conversations they were having with someone named Justin."

Melanie pulled up the screen shots for JJ to read herself.

"It seems like he promises safe haven for these girls and would protect them from getting deported. But I just...I don't understand the mutilation of the genitals. All I'm seeing is a man who's just racist or isn't too keen that immigrants are coming in which is why he kills these women. Though...why women?"

"You think he had a bad experience with one and just assumed one bad apple made all of them be terrible to him?" JJ asked.

"Probably. That seems to be the case with a lot of thee cases you guys have. The victims end up being surrogates." Melanie hummed softly. "J...I had a crazy idea on how to catch this unsub but I need you to not freak. And after you agree with me, I know you will by the way, I want you to go to Barnes and say that it was your idea."

JJ gave the journalist a skeptical look but nodded anyways. There was no use with fighting with Melanie. When she had her mind set on something it was hard to change it.

"What if I message Justin? Or find a way to get in contact with him? He goes on this forum site to scope for girls and since I match the description perfectly, it should be easy. I say that I'm on the run from ICE and need a place to crash. We could meet up at a parking lot or even at the airport and you guys would be there ready to come out. I don't even have to be present. He just has to fall for that I've arrived." Melanie explained to JJ.

JJ couldn't deny that that was an incredible idea. Was she absolute wary about the situation Melanie volunteered to put herself in? Of course. But it wouldn't be the journalist's first rodeo when it came to danger.

"That sounds insanely dangerous, Mel. You know Luke would kill me if I suggested this idea right?" JJ questioned.

"You guys have any other alternatives?"

JJ's silence proved Melanie's point which made JJ sigh softly. "Alright. I'm only agreeing because this is our only shot at getting this man."

Melanie couldn't help but to grin which made JJ raise her eyebrows. That's when she had realized.

"You messaged him didn't you?" JJ said, groaning softly.

"Yup. Told him I was flying in from Washington so we have about three hours to spare and set up some kind of stakeout." Melanie said, closing her laptop. "You ready for this?"