Chapter Text
Everyone was seated at the round table when Derek and Spencer finally entered the room. The occupants looked on in surprise at the younger boy walking slightly behind his brother. Derek ignored everyone looking on and leaned over to talk to his brother.
“You can sit over there,” He instructed as he pointed to the couch pushed into one of the corners of the room. Spencer nodded his head lightly before he made his way over to the couch. He sat down and silently pulled out his book and opened it.
Derek took a seat at the table. His co-workers still looked at him in surprise but they decided not to mention it. They all looked to their boss who got up from his seat and grabbed the nearby remote.
“We have three victims in Flowing Wells, Arizona. The first victim, Michelle Harrison, was found in a nearby park.” Hotch pulled up a photo of a blonde woman in her early 30’s. “She was sexually assaulted and she was tied to a pole and lit on fire.”
“Was an accelerant used?” Emily asked.
“Some was found on the ground below but none found on the body. There was also a handwritten note found a few feet away from the body.” Hotch clicked to show another photo of a note.
“ She is a liar by nature’. Maybe her and the unsub were in a relationship and she cheated on him?” Derek suggested.
“Her boyfriend was questioned and had a solid alibi.” Hotch supplied before pulling up another photo of a blonde woman in her early 30’s. “Victim number two, Rebecca Payne, was also found sexually assaulted and burned. This time the body was found at a park three blocks away from the first body.” Hotch pulled up another photo of a note.
“ They are evil, lecherous, vain and lustful’. It’s possible that these women could just be a surrogate for who he truly wants to kill.” Emily contributed. The team nodded slightly at the statement.
“That is possible,” Hotch pulled up another photo of a woman in her early 30’s. “The last victim, Jenna Andrews, was also found at a local park, sexually assaulted and burned. The note left behind reads ‘She is more carnal than a man, as is clear from her many carnal abominations. ”
“Well, all the women are blonde and in their early 30’s, so they are all probably surrogates for someone in the unsubs life, like Emily stated.” Rossi began. “We also know that he isn’t impotent. We just have to figure out why he is choosing fire.”
“He probably thinks they’re witches.” A nervous voice spoke up from behind the group. Everyone in the room turned their heads toward Spencer who was no longer looking at his book and was looking up at the screen where a picture of the last note was still being displayed.
Derek looked at his brother in disappointment. “Spencer, you said if we let you in here you would be quiet.”
“I know. It’s just that the notes left by the..uh...unsub are actually from a book, Malleus Maleficarum. The book was written in 1487, so it’s not very popular, but the book is about how to catch and convict witches. I figured since the quotes are from that book and he is burning them he probably thinks they’re witches.” Spencer finished, looking at his brother.
“How do you know that?” Rossi questioned.
“I read the book,” Spencer said, looking down at his hands.
“But how did you remember the quotes? Are those ones important?” Rossi continued to question Spencer.
“I have an eidetic memory. Everything I have read I remember.” Spencer informed the room.
“So, you’re a genius then?” Rossi asked. The rest of the team looked on in interest at the boy who wouldn’t look up from his hands.
“I don’t think that intelligence can be accurately quantified, but along with the eidetic memory, I have an IQ of 187 and can read 20,000 words a minute. I also have two BAs, one in psychology and another in sociology and I have a doctorate in mathematics.” Spencer said. Everyone in the room, except Derek, looked at him in a mix of astonishment and confusion. “Yes, I’m a genius,” Spencer added once he saw the looks from the group.
“Okay.” Hotch began, getting everyone’s attention back on to him. “We have to go to Flowing Wells, Arizona. Wheels up in thirty.”
Everybody exited the room except for Spencer and Derek. The brothers stood awkwardly for a moment before Derek grabbed Spencer by the shoulder and began to lightly drag him toward the bullpen.
“I don’t have to go on this case if you want me to stay here instead,” Derek assured. Spencer looked up at his brother and shook his head.
“This is your job. I don’t want to hold you back from something you love.” Spencer replied.
Derek looked at his brother for a moment, trying to see if his brother was lying to him. When he was satisfied with what he saw, he smiled. “You want me to give you a ride home or do you already have the bus route memorized?” Derek asked, chuckling slightly, knowing his brother hadn’t left Chicago without already knowing the bus routes.
“You know the answer to that,” Spencer laughed. “I can take the bus. Besides ‘wheels up in thirty,” he used his hands to put quotes around the statement, which made Derek laugh loudly.
“Alright,” Derek quickly pulled out his wallet and handed his brother a pile of bills. “For the bus and food. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone but I’ll call when I can, okay?” Spencer nodded his head in affirmation.
Derek watched his brother leave the bullpen before going to his desk and grabbing his go-bag.