Change My Mind ~ Criminal Minds (Aaron Hotchner x OC)

79.0: Ready For Change & Race Day

A/N: Continuation of 7x16 A Family Affair

TRIGGER WARNINGS: TALKS OF PROSTITUTION, SEXUAL ACTS, AND S**CIDE

"Life is neither static nor unchanging. With no individuality, there can be no change, no adaptation and, in an inherently changing world, any species unable to adapt is also doomed."
― Jean M. Auel

The team was in the board room when Morgan came back in from his phone call with Garcia, "Julie Harmon was a sexual surrogate." Emily raised an eyebrow, "Sounds like somebody felt a little progressive prescription might fix everything."

"Well they were wrong," JJ stated and Hotch looked at the team, "That's not just going from high to low-risk victims, a sexual surrogate's a very specific type." Crystal hummed, "It's like they're trying to fix something."

Emily tilted her head, "They do treat patients with all types of disabilities whether it's developmental, physical, or emotional." Morgan shrugged, "This guy most likely had all 3. Physically this guy's got the upper-body strength to kill, but the victim's have bruises that tell us he's using restraints."

Rossi frowned, "But they aren't around the hands and feet where you'd typically restrain a victim, they have the bruises on the things." Reid nodded, "It's like the victims are straddling a chair....physical infirmity, strong arms. What if the unsub's in a wheelchair?"

JJ eye's widen, "That would explain why the van parked in the loading area, handicap permits gran access all over the city. I'll call Garcia." Hotch gave a nod and JJ left the room, Hotch looked at the team. "We should talk with social workers, physical therapists, anyone who deals directly with the disabled."

"Given the anger and inability to perform, those injuries aren't recent." Morgan stated and Reid sat up, "His explosive outbursts could be built-up frustration which usually manifests out of control like an accident."

Crystal took a sip of her tea, "Okay, so let's go with that. Whoever's helping the dominant has a definite loyalty." Morgan nodded, "Responsibility even, the submissive is under the dominants complete control."

"The caregiver could be the cause of the impairment." Hotch stated and Rossi tilted his head, "He is the one who shows remorse, could have a sense of morality." Emily sighed, "If that's the case, the best way to destroy the partnership is to drive a wedge between them."

Morgan folded his hands, "The key to doing that is to tell the caregiver he's forgiven, give him strength to leave the dominant." Hotch gave a nod, "I'll tell Agent Brooks to organize a press conference."

___

JJ finished giving the press conference hours ago, they were just waiting now. Crystal was looking through files with Reid while Morgan stood by the board, he sighed and walked over to his seat. "Everything about Julie Harmon's murder was different, it was the most violent and remorseful. It's like the partners were each at their extremes."

Emily looked over at the board, "All of the bodies were disposed of in a nurturing way, but Julie was wrapped in plastic. It's neat, almost too neat." JJ shrugged, "Maybe the caretaker's a woman, by nature women use cleaner disposal methods."

Morgan sighed, "I don't know, I mean that terrain was something serious. No offense ladies, but Reid and I hiked up that Ridge and there's no way a woman, physically fit or not, could carry a dead body all that way."

Crystal closed her file, "And we profiled that the partner's in a wheelchair, he couldn't have helped her." Emily looked over at them, "Then there's a third person involved, but that rarely works."

JJ stood up and walked to the board, Reid nodded at Morgan's words. "There's always two against one, so they trust each other completely. What relationship has that dynamic?"