Polar Opposites ~ Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 1

"Charles Luvet was found floating in a Miami marina last night," JJ explains.

"What a way to start the morning," I chuckle dryly, taking a sip of my coffee. Derek and Emily both chuckle lightly at my sarcasm.

"Local M.E. thinks that he was only in the water about an hour,"

"Any attempt to weigh the body down?" Hotch asks his usual serious face on. He's always had a serious demeanour, only smiling every once in a while. Not that his brooding serious face isn't attractive, cause it is.

"Doesn't appear to be," JJ answers. JJ's really sweet. She's fairly happy and smiley but is a force to be reckoned with when she's serious.

"Well, the dumping could be convenient as opposed to a means of hiding the crime," Derek offers. Derek is my older brother, four years older to be exact. We're pretty close, having kept in touch even into adulthood.

"Well, he's the third victim found in Miami over the last two months," JJ points out. "Though the locations of the bodies are different, many of the elements are the same. All males, 25-35, all travelling, all asphyxiated with no signs of sexual assault,"

"But tourists could mean just simple robbery," I politely counter.

"Well, there are some personal items missing,"

"He's targeting travellers for a reason," Rossi pipes in. David Rossi is one of my favourite people. He's funny and sarcastic, but mysterious and introverted. He kinda reminds me of the Italian uncle, you know?

"I am so sorry," We all turn to see Penelope. Penelope is a chipper and quirky person. Her personality alone can brighten up a room.

"Hey, half-day today?" Emily quips in a joking matter. Emily and I are great friends, inside and outside of work. We enjoy each other's company and have a lot of laughs.

"I--the alarm, sir, I overslept, I am so sorry," Penelope proceeds to profusely apologize as she takes her seat beside me.

"Everyone's allowed to be late. Once," Hotch says simply.

"Won't happen again," Penelope promises.

"You guys notice the red flag on the autopsy reports?" Rossi asks.

"Yeah, none of the hyoid bones were fractured," Emily agrees, looking at the file.

"No visual signs of trauma, no ligature marks, yet the UnSub still managed to asphyxiate grown men," Hotch comments.

"Maybe a chokehold. Wouldn't leave any signs of trauma," Derek offers.

"It would also be a way of controlling a male," Spencer begins. Spencer is really sweet and insanely smart. He has his shy moments but enjoys making sarcastic comments. "A powerful grip from behind gives the UnSub all the leverage. None of these victims look out of shape or easy to control,"

"They all look remarkably fit actually," I point out, looking at the pictures up on the screen.

"Well, as I said, the recovery locations are very different," JJ informs. "Charles Luvet was found in the water, Daniel Brown was partially buried in a shallow sand dune, Paul Hayes was stuffed in a dumpster,"

"That's not much of an effort to hide any of them," Emily observes.

"They were all found on high-traffic areas," Rossi adds.

"Miami P.D. is asking for our help," JJ cuts in. "Considering there are currently four other men missing that match this victimology,"

"I can dig up what I can on the victims from their hometowns," Penelope says.