Criminal Minds Series Rewrite: Season Two

The Last Word: Part One

"If men could only know each other, they would neither idolize nor hate." - Elbert Hubbard

"This is what you get for running late. Your tie is messed up. Come here."

Spencer scoots his chair closer to you so you can fix his tie properly. He was in a rush this morning because you two were up late last night watching some movies in Russian. He was translating everything for you, but you must have fallen asleep halfway through the movie because you have no idea how it ended.

"You're the one who kept me up last night."

"Don't give me that bullshit," you giggle. "You're the one who put on that movie in Russian. It's not my fault that I fell asleep in the middle of it."

"You were asleep?"

You roll your eyes playfully as you fix his tie and collar. You smooth down his collar and run your hands down his tie and chest, grinning at how perfect it looks.

"So handsome," you compliment. Spencer's cheeks dust with pink. He's still not used to having compliments handed to him, especially by women. You turn back to the files right in front of you, catching the smile that's on Derek's face. "What are you grinning about?"

"You two look like you're doing good."

"We are," you and Spencer say at the same time.

You look to the right at the open door to see if Hotch and Gideon are on their way here when you see someone new. She is tall, about the same height as JJ, but with wavy black hair. She is carrying a box filled with office things, you assume. Is she a new transfer? Is she replacing Elle? Is she going to be somewhere else? She walks into Hotch's office without a glance to the open briefing room.

"Is she replacing Elle?" you ask.

"I have no clue," Derek replies.

Not even five minutes later, Hotch and Gideon leave their offices and head to the briefing room with JJ on their heels.

"Who was she?" you ask Hotch.

"No one. Let's get started."

You don't question why he deflected you like that.

"St. Louis is in trouble. They've got two serial killers," Hotch says.

"The first is the Mill Creek Killer. This killer abducts his victims from public places and dumps them in the woods. They consulted us months ago after the third murder," Gideon says.

"Well, now it might be up to six. Ellen Carroll's been missing since yesterday. The first two victims were found near Mill Creek, in Mark Twain National Forest."

"No wonder it takes days to find the bodies. The forest is 1.5 million acres and 78,000 of that is wilderness," Spencer says.

There are two different case files, so that means two different profiles and victimology. The Mill Creek Killer has a lot more than the other one. The other one only has eight under his belt... that you know of.

"What's the story with these eight women?" you ask and point to the two lonely victims off to the side.

"Eight victims. All prostitutes. The latest is Marci Mitchell. She was killed last night with a .44 magnum. All are tied to a serial shooter claiming responsibility. He's contacted Jim Meyers, a reporter at the Missouri Herald," JJ explains.

JJ shows everyone pieces of paper that have notes. All of them are signed by the same person, same handwriting.

"So, he's not getting the attention he thinks he deserves. He signs these papers 'The Hollow Man'. He's naming himself for the press."