American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop

According to Hotchner, the person he previously met, Tom Shaughnessy, had been the lead investigator on the "Boston Reaper" case. 

Ten years ago, a serial killer emerged in Boston, murdering 21 people over the span of three years. The victims were of various ages and genders, with no apparent pattern to the times or locations of the crimes.

After realizing he was helpless against this mysterious "devil," Tom Shaughnessy reached out to the FBI for assistance.

At that time, Rossi had already left the FBI, and Hotchner had just become a full-fledged profiler with the BAU. Strictly speaking, the "Boston Reaper" case was the first one Hotchner handled independently.

As mentioned before, prior to Rossi rejoining the FBI and forming the current special unit, profilers mostly worked in offices, writing analysis reports based on the compiled case files.

By the time Hotchner realized the gravity of the situation and applied for fieldwork, heading to Boston, the Reaper had already claimed 19 victims. The intervals between murders had shortened dramatically, with new bodies turning up almost every week.

Strangely enough, just as Hotchner had started building his profile and the victim count reached 21, the serial killer suddenly stopped.

After six weeks of no progress, Tom Shaughnessy halted the investigation and sent the FBI team, including Hotchner, away.

Thus, the case became a cold one for the next ten years, until recently, when Hotchner received an invitation from Tom and was given an address.

In a rundown apartment, Hotchner met the now elderly man, who was on a ventilator.

Tom Shaughnessy revealed that the reason the "Boston Reaper" had stopped killing was because of a deal he had made with the killer. He called it "a deal with the devil."

At this point, Hotchner pulled out an evidence bag containing a letter typed on mechanical paper, which read:

"If you leave me be, I will spare the innocent until death breaks this contract. If you agree, post a private statement in The Michigan Post."

Hotchner sighed. "Tom followed through. He said he was utterly desperate at the time and just wanted to see if it would work. If not, he planned to continue the investigation."

Reid frowned in skepticism. "How could he be sure the killer really stopped? The Reaper could have just changed locations or methods."

Hotchner sighed again. "I asked the same question. Tom said he had been monitoring serial killings across the country, just as the killer had been watching him. He swore the Reaper had upheld the deal."

"He had no right to make that decision. We can't allow criminals to get away like that," Rossi said, visibly upset.

Hotchner looked even more troubled. "Tom said he had no choice. At the time, we hadn't even gotten close to identifying the killer. The bodies terrified him, and he couldn't imagine how many more innocent lives would be lost before the Reaper was caught.

He asked me to apologize to the families of the victims. I've spent the last few days calling them."

Emily seemed to piece things together. "So, why did he reach out to you now?"

"To reopen the 'Boston Reaper' investigation. Tom was in the final stages of liver cancer. The day after I visited him, he passed away. Which means..."

"It means the deal is off, and the killer will start again," Rossi finished.

Hotchner's voice lowered. "He already has."

He opened the latest case file JJ had handed him. At the top was a crime scene photo. On the side of the victim's car was an eye symbol, drawn in blood.

"The 'Eye of God'—the signature of the Boston Reaper. The crime happened last night."

"Tom Shaughnessy really...," Jack shook his head, unsure how to describe the detective's actions. Then, he asked Hotchner, "If this 'Reaper' offered you the same deal, what would you do?"

Hotchner answered without hesitation. "I'd refuse. I never make deals with criminals."

"Alright, let's focus on the killer," Rossi interjected with a cough, redirecting the team's attention. Hotchner had been carrying this burden alone long enough.

Jack followed suit, "We can start by analyzing why the killer made that deal. From these cases, it's clear that the Reaper is driven by a need for control and dominance. So why would he offer a deal that suppresses his desire to kill?"

Rossi, resting his chin on his hand, thought for a moment before speaking. "Murder gives him the thrill of controlling life and death. But after a while, that thrill diminishes. He decided to change tactics. By forcing the police to surrender through a written deal, he would experience a higher level of satisfaction than from killing."

"But if he already won, why start killing again?" JJ asked, puzzled.

"Because the only person who knew of his victory, the cop who made the deal, is dead. He lost the source of his pleasure," Emily replied.

"He's a narcissistic serial killer who craves recognition from others. I suspect that the deal with Tom wasn't just about stopping—acknowledgment was part of the satisfaction."

Hotchner tossed a book onto the table titled The Night Reaper.

Reid flipped through it. "I've read this. The author details all the public information about the Boston Reaper cases, written in a documentary style. At the end, the conclusion is that the Reaper may have stopped because he was imprisoned or died from an illness."

Emily added to her earlier explanation, "Maybe he's killing again to correct that misconception."

Curious, she asked Hotchner, "So, what was your original profile of the Reaper?"

"I only completed part of it before Tom dismissed me," Hotchner replied, pulling out an old notebook.

"The Boston Reaper is similar to the Zodiac Killer—highly intelligent, self-disciplined, and obsessive. He also craves media attention."

The Zodiac Killer was to the FBI what Jack the Ripper was to the UK—a serial killer who had evaded capture for half a century, remaining one of the great unsolved mysteries.

"Speaking of the media," JJ groaned, "once word of this latest murder gets out, it'll be chaos. If the press even catches a hint, Boston PD will be swarmed."

Jack, feeling sympathy for his sister, mulled over a solution. "Maybe we could claim it's a copycat. If the Reaper is truly that narcissistic, he might reveal himself."

"Let's go with that for now," Hotchner said, assigning tasks. "Once we land, Rossi, Reid, and Emily, head to the local FBI office and review all available records.

JJ, Jack, and I will go to the crime scene."

Jack glanced at Rossi. "I think we should involve CSI. Forensic technology has advanced. What we couldn't find ten years ago might be detectable now."

Rossi grinned as he pulled out his phone. "Time to call in a favor from Russell and have him pay off that debt he owes you."

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