Beauty and the Genius

Chapter 6

Rossi and JJ came out of the church and they headed to the police station.

"There's no evidence that any of the local kids were into devil worship or the occult," Derek said.

"No, this is not a group of teenagers," Emily agreed.

"Unless they stumbled on the body and thought it'd be funny," Gwen suggested, "It's been known to happen."

"It's definitely a serial killer," Derek said.

"And considering what he did with her fingers, a sadistic one," Emily added.

"That, I wouldn't say just yet," Rossi told her.

"Why?" Gwen asked.

"Gwen's right," Emily said, "He cut off her fingers and he made her eat them. If that isn't sadistic..."

"If it was, that's the only sign of sadism present in the crime," Rossi noted.

"If he was purely a sadist there would have been more signs of torture."

"The fingers are a message."

"What the hell's the message?" Derek asked as Hotch entered the room.

"She's not my first. None of the fingers found in Abby Kelton's stomach were hers and six of them were index fingers," Hotch said.

Gwen felt her stomach turn. She stood up and left the conference room, stepping outside for some air.

"Hey, you okay?" Spencer asked her.

"I'm fine. Just a bit lightheaded is all."

"Your blood sugar is probably low." He checked his watch. "There should be some place open for lunch."

They walked around the town until they found a diner. They sat down at a table and a waitress walked up.

"What can I get you to drink?" she asked.

"Water," Spencer answered.

"Sweet tea," Gwen told her.

The waitress came back with their drinks and Spencer ordered a sandwich while Gwen ordered a salad.

"A sandwich would help with your blood sugar," Spencer said.

"I'm vegetarian."

"For dietary reasons?"

Gwen shook her head. "Having Rossi for a father...let's just say I've seen way too many cannibals to ever be able to eat meat again."

Towards the end of their meal, Spencer's phone rang. "Hey Hotch. Uh yeah. We'll be right there." Spencer hung up and grabbed his bag. "Hotch is ready for the profile briefing."

"Okay. Let me just pay and we'll go."

"You're not paying."

Gwen looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

Spencer blushed. "I just meant...please let me pay."

"You don't have to pay for everything, Spencer. I have money."

"I know. It's just...it's the chivalrous thing to do."

"You're mama taught you well, didn't she?" Gwen asked, winking.

Spencer quickly paid and they left.