A FRACTURE IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS ✓

JOSH

When Josh landed in Washington D.C., he was the first on the ground. It had been the first time since they found Tyler that Josh had been so far away from him and he wasn't coping well.

"I need to call Tyler, just to make sure he's okay," he said, pulling his phone out before he even stepped out of the plane.

"Joseph is a tough guy," Jenna scolded, pushing him so he got off of the steps. "Plus, Weekes told me he and the family are there with him. He'll be okay two weeks without you."

Josh groaned, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Fine. I can't believe I'm even here. I have paid leave, you know."

"I know. I'm the one who gave it to you."

"Is Dun being hypervigilant again?" Brad asked from somewhere behind them. Josh and Jenna moved to allow the others to get off the plane.

Jenna laughed. "Isn't he always?"

"I told you, you didn't have to come with us." Brad patted Josh's shoulder as he passed him. "Just because we're understaffed doesn't mean I want you to tear yourself a way from Joseph."

"I know." The truth was, Josh couldn't stand to stay another night in that apartment or hospital. He needed to work or else he'd loose his mind. "But I'm calling him when we get to the hotel."

"Not gonna happen. We got a dead victim this time," Judah said, phone in hand.

Josh threw his hands up. "We never get a break."

"It's almost like this is our job," Sarah said teasingly.

"I'll fight you, Orzechowski."

Judah and Jenna headed to the police station while Sarah and Mark went to talk to the living victims at their homes.

The latest victim was a college student was found raped and strangled in his hotel suite, tied to the bed post with rope the unsub most likely brought themselves. Oddly enough, all of their victims had been exclusively men. There was a high chance of there being more victims than they knew of because of the shame of coming forward about a rape, and they needed to find the very first victim to help profile their devolving killer.

"We don't need this being on the front cover of the papers," The deputy said to Brad over the phone as he and Josh made their way to the latest crime scene.

"Yes, sir," Brad responded. "But we may need the media's help to stop this unsub before she kills again."

"She? I thought you said we were looking for a gay male."

"That was our original thought in the preliminary profile, but that's because women serial killers are rare because their motivations aren't usually sexually charged. Besides the rape, there's nothing about these kills that could be sexually gratifying to the killer."

Josh shut the thin file in front of him. "Plus, how else could a killer get drunk alpha males like our victims away from their groups unless she was an attractive woman on her own?"

"Wait, how is she raping them then?"

"We don't know yet, but that's what we're here to help you find out."

"... Shit. I heard you guys were good. Look, Agent Heaton, I know you hate getting involved with politics, but this isn't going to look good for us."

"We understand, but right now my only concern is catching this woman." Brad hung up and leaned into his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't know if you've heard about this, but the Bureau is getting on my ass about Spencer's escape."

Josh's head dropped into his hands, groaning. "Oh, right. I forgot to tell Tyler about that."

"That's not all. They're concerned with my efficiency to lead this team."

"Meaning?"

He looked at Josh sternly, making him unconsciously straighten his back. "Meaning Black will be replacing me as the leader of this team at the end of the month. It won't be permanent, just until we recapture Spencer."

"Are you kidding? That's ridiculous," Josh said.

"It's either that or I get reassigned. I won't let this team be separated, you know that."

Josh huffed, staring out the window. "Of course I know that."

At the crime scene, the hotel room was fairly clean besides scratches on the floor from the bed post shaking. Brad looked at the bathroom and balcony whole Josh went over the rest of the room.

"So, how could one woman hold down a man while he's shaking like that?" Detective Knight, one of the officers helping them investigate, asked.

Josh pulled open the wardrobe, noticing an empty hanger. "It's possible that there's two unsubs, but I think that's highly unlikely. Was there any traces of DNA on the body?"

"We found a hair strand in the bathroom sink. Our forensics team is analyzing it as we speak."

"Good." Josh glanced at the body still tied to the posts and then at the robe. "Weird."

"What's weird?" Brad asked from behind him.

"The victim was strangled, right? With what?"

"Uh..." Detective Knight scratched his head. "With a bathrobe."

Josh turned and held up the hanger. "She's taking memorabilia from her kills."