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"there are years that ask questions and years that answer." - zora neale hurston

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"Morgan e-mailed these over. The three on the left are the bomb from yesterday. The one on the right's from the evidence room at Quantico," Hotch said, bringing four photographs up on the computer in the briefing room in the PD station.

It was the next day and the team were all tired, but they were powering through so they could end this case, soon.

"They are all identical. They are made with steel reinforcement rods," Spencer said.

"Adrian bale," Gideon muttered.

"Who?" the police detective on the case said.

"He held our agents in a standoff in Boston last year. He took out 6 agents and a hostage with one of his bomb," Hotch said.

"So you're thinking he's behind this?" Elle said.

"Possibly, but he's in prison. He's got kind of a cult following, almost like Manson. It could just be a copycat," Spencer said.

"There's one way to find out. Let's put the screws to this guy," the detective said.

"No, no, no. Bale's too smart. If we want information from him, we have to handle him carefully. Even then you have to assume that road will lead nowhere," Gideon said.

"You're saying the connection to Bale doesn't help us at all?" the detective asked.

"No. I'm just saying let us handle Bale," Gideon said.

"Look, we just heard from local Texas P. D. You were right about Clurman's nephew. He admitted the bomb stuff was his, which is great for the Clurmans, but it leaves us with zero suspects. So what do you suggest my men do now?" the detective asked.

"Proceed from the profile," Gideon said.

"I didn't know we had a profile," the detective said.

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"We're dealing with a bomb. We're talking about someone who's non-confrontational. If you bumped into him in a cafe, he'd apologize. Even if it wasn't his fault," Gideon said.

They were gathered to deliver the profile, Hotch and Gideon stood at the front while Elle, Spencer and Delilah sat at the back of the room with their notebooks.

"We would classify this bomb as highly organized, based on the meticulous design of his bomb. It means above average intelligence. He probably has a kill job, a trade, one that allows him to work alone. That's how he was able to make a sophisticated device without raising suspicion. Furniture maker, jeweler, et cetera," Hotch said.

"Background in explosives?" a detective asked.

"No, not necessarily. You're thinking about a type who likes to blow things up. Gives them an emotional or sexual release. That's secondary," Gideon said.

"Then what's this guy doing?" a detective said.

"Murdering. Bombs are his weapon. And these attacks, they are not random," Gideon said.

"Well, how do you know that?" the lead detective asked.

"The process of elimination. We know bombers fall into a discreet number of categories according to motive. There's the terrorist whose aim is to spread fear. We'd expect him to strike in a populous area like a subway. There's the politically motivated bomber. He makes a statement by choosing a symbolic target like an abortion clinic. Then there's our unsub. He makes bomb designed to kill and he chose his victim specifically by placing the bomb at their stoops. That tells us he has a direct motive. Statistically he bombs for profit or to conceal a crime. And it tells us how we're going to find him- through the people he kills," Hotch said.

"Somewhere among the three victims, there is a direct motive. Keep digging," Gideon said.

"Thanks. Any questions, we'll be around," Hotch said.

Delilah slid off the desk she was sat on, heading into the conference room with Elle so they could start looking at victimology.

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"How we doing?" JJ asked, walking into the room where Hotch, Elle and Delilah were looking between the victims to find the recurring motif of their unsub.

"Frustrated. I can't see why anyone would want to kill a little old lady who collects cats and coins," Elle said.

"Unless somebody wanted the coins. I spent a good chunk of my childhood looking for a 1944 penny worth thousands," Hotch said. The three girls looked at him. "Yes, I was a little bit of a nerd. Is that so surprising?" he said.

"Not to me," Elle said. The phone rang and Hotch pressed speaker.

"Morgan?" he said.

"Yeah. I just got the lab results from the powder residues on the bombs. Ammonia nitrate, potassium chloride, and aluminum powder. Nobody uses that mixture, Hotch," Morgan said.

"Nobody but Bale," Delilah said.

"That's right. And the closer I look at these things, the more they're the same. Same weld pattern, same switch assembly, same thread sizing. It's weird, man. This guy's not building bombs, he's forging them. That's the other reason I'm calling you. Bale wrote addresses on his packages in block letters with blue ink. I'm thinking our guy's doing the same," Morgan said.

"Okay. I'll set up a press conference, make sure the public knows," JJ said, leaving the room.

"Thanks, Morgan," Hotch said, ending the call. His mobile rang and he excused himself from the room.

Delilah looked back at the file for Barbara Keller.

"These coins, are they expensive ones?" Delilah said.

"I don't know, why?" Elle said.

"Some coins can be worth a lot of money. I mean, I wouldn't blow people up over coins, but I wouldn't completely rule it out as an option. People do stupid things," Delilah said.

"That's a good point," Elle mumbled, starting to rummage through the piles of information for notes on the coins.

"I'll grab more coffee," Delilah said.

"Is that your eighth or ninth cup of coffee today?" Elle asked.

"Fourth, actually, but I'm sure I'll hit nine before the day is over," Delilah grinned at her, standing up and heading out of the room.

She walked over to the coffee station, pouring two cups and adding sugar and milk for herself and Elle. She heard footsteps and looked over her shoulder, smiling when she saw JJ.

"Hey, coffee?" she said.

"Yes, please," JJ sighed.

Delilah grabbed another cup and poured JJ some coffee.

"Sugar? Milk?" Delilah said.

"Two, and yes, please," JJ said, leaning against the counter as she typed on her phone. "Press conference is in a few hours," she said, watching Delilah put two sugars and milk in, then stir it three times clockwise, anti clockwise, then clockwise again.

"Cool," Delilah nodded, handing JJ her finished coffee.

"Thank you," JJ sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. "Okay, it does taste better than normal," she said.

"Right?" Delilah chuckled.

"Right," JJ said. She sighed, running her hand through her hair. "I better go and sort things for this press conference," she said.

"And I am going to study an old woman and her coins. How exciting," Delilah said. JJ chuckled.

"Are cases always this..." JJ trailed off, waving her hand in the air.

"Tense? Boring? Complicated? Confusing?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah," Delilah said. "And it never gets old," Delilah smiled, sipping her coffee and grabbing Elle's off the side. "See you later. Good luck with the press conference," Delilah said, heading back towards the conference room.

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"Hey, here's something," Delilah said.

"Yeah?" Elle looked up from her files.

"So, Barbara Keller was trying to insure some coins, said to be worth around twelve grand, but the insurance company thought they were fake," Delilah said.

"So, the insurance company blew her up?" Elle said.

"No, 'cause they don't fit the profile for the other victims," Delilah said.

"Okay, well, that's something," Elle said. "I'll tell Hotch?"

"Go ahead," Delilah nodded. "I'll keep looking into this coin thing," she said.

Elle nodded and left the room, Delilah continuing to look at the files on the table. She frowned when she saw a copy of Barbara's calendar that the police had brought to the station, seeing something scheduled for in a few days.

"Okay," Delilah mumbled, quickly standing up and grabbing the file. "Hey, Elle?"

She hurried out of the room, Elle and Hotch looking over at her.

"Elle told me about the coins," Hotch said.

"Look at this," Delilah said, handing them the calendar. "She's got a meeting scheduled with a coin dealer, David Walker. Probably to challenge the insurance company," Delilah said.

"He might know who sold her the coins," Hotch said.

"Yeah," Delilah said.

"You two go and speak to Walker, okay? Call me as soon as you know anything," Hotch said.

"On it," Delilah nodded, following Elle towards the doors out of the station.

"Hey, where are you two off to?" JJ looked up from her file as they passed her.

"We think we have a lead," Delilah said.

"Good luck," JJ said.

"Thanks," Elle said.

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"Personally, I couldn't think of anything more boring than coins and old papers. Are you single?" Mrs Walker said, leading Elle and Delilah towards the backyard where David would be.

Elle and Delilah shared a look.

"Yes," they said.

"I have a word of advice. Don't marry the first guy that proposes. I wanted a pool table back there, but David insisted on making it his workshop," she said. She sighed as she heard a car engine roar. "What's he up to now?" Mrs Walker groaned as Elle's phone rang.

"It sounds like a car," Elle said, pulling her phone out of her pocket.

"I hope he's not committing suicide. I won't be able to collect life insurance," Mrs Walker groaned. Elle put the phone to her ear.

"Yeah," she said.

Delilah frowned when she heard a creak, looking away from Elle to see the garage door was opening and a car was waiting to speed off.

"Get out of the way!" Elle yelled at Mrs Walker, grabbing Delilah and tugging her back because only Delilah was in arm's reach.

The car sped forward, Mrs Walker's body slamming into the front of it. David slammed on the breaks and Mrs Walker rolled off onto the grass, whimpering in pain. Delilah quickly ran to her side, Elle running after the car as he sped out of the driveway and down the street.

"Shit," Delilah muttered, looking at Elle as she turned back and shook her head.

"I'll call Hotch," she said.

"And an ambulance," Delilah said.

"On it."

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"You okay?" Hotch asked, walking over to Elle and Delilah as they watched the paramedics put Mrs Walker in the ambulance.

"Yeah, we're alright, but Mrs. Walker..." Delilah trailed off.

"Yeah. Guy's a real peach. Morrison's got a county-wide search out for the car. Uniforms are going to try to find out where his haunts are. An ATF should be here any minute. Sure you're all right?" Hotch asked.

"Mrs. Walker said her husband spent most of his time in the garage," Elle said.

"Let's check it out," Hotch sighed.

They walked over and opened the door, stepping into a typical workshop. It was organised, with equipment still on the table from where David had clearly been working before leaving in a hurry.

"Well, we got the organized part right," Hotch said, looking around the room curiously.

"I've seen these. It's for electroplating," Elle pointed at something on the desk beside them.

"Look at the date on the coin," Hotch said, holding up the coin.

"It's half-gone," Delilah said.

"He was using this to build up the metal so he could change the dates on the coins," Hotch said.

"To increase the value," Elle said.

"Exactly," he nodded.

"Like what he did with Barbara Keller's coins," Delilah sighed.

"Look over here. Check this out," one of the police officers with them said, waving them to a pinboard he'd uncovered.

There were cutouts of Bale's bomb newspaper reports pinned onto it, with Bale's name circled.

"The best," Hotch said, reading Walker's writing underneath it.

"This is why he chose to use Bale's design. He was working on something," Elle said. Hotch turned to the officer.

"Make sure Morrison tells your officers that this guy is smart, dangerous, and has absolutely nothing to lose," he said. The officer nodded firmly, moving to leave the room and radio his people.

"So, uh, where do we go from here?" Elle asked.

"We go back to the station, figure out where Walker is," Hotch said.

"Great. I need coffee," Delilah sighed.

"I'm starting to think you're too dependent on caffeine," Hotch said.

"I am. At least it's not heroin," Delilah said.

"Why would you pick heroin as an alternative?" Elle asked.

"To prove that my caffeine addiction is not the worst addiction I could have," Delilah said.

"That's fair," Elle nodded. "It could be worse," she said.

"Let's go," Hotch sighed, looking away from the newspaper articles. "You can get coffee when we're back at the station."

"Yay," Delilah grinned, following him and Elle out of the hut.

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Delilah followed Hotch, Gideon and Elle into the police station they had set up base in, blowing bubbles in her bubblegum as she listened to them talking.

"So far, nothing from the search. What do we know about Walker?" Gideon said, asking the police detective leading the case.

"He's a quiet career criminal. Spent 4 years in prison for a series of forged checks when he was in his early 20s. He's now 46. Past 18 years, he owned a store which sold coins, maps, and historical documents. We raided the place as soon as you gave us Walker's name. Most of his inventory was fake, forgeries valued in the millions," the detective said.

"But the walls had started to close in on him. We talked to some of his clients, and he was in debt up to his ears and promising stuff he didn't have time to forge," Hotch said.

"Then Barbara Keller found out that the coins he had sold her were fake. She threatened to out him," Delilah said.

"And if she had, all the forgeries would have been discovered. He would have done 20 years," Hotch said.

"So he had to shut her up? He planted all those bombs just to kill one little old lady?" Gideon scoffed slightly.

"Yeah, and to throw us off, he made it look like it was much bigger than it was," Hotch said.

They heard footsteps and they turned, seeing a man step in with a metal collar around his neck. They all raised their eyebrows slowly.

"Please...help me," the man cried, pulling open his jacket to reveal a bomb strapped to his chest. Delilah stepped back slowly, shaking her head.

"Nope. Not my area," she whispered, continuing to back away.

"Everyone back, now. We need bomb squad in here," the detective said loudly.

"Please...it's not me," the man cried, trying to step forward.

"Don't come any closer. Put your hands up and walk slowly back out," the detective said.

"I can't. He'll kill me," the man sobbed.

"Who will?" Gideon asked.

"I don't know. He held a gun to me, put this on me. He said... You'll know who he is," the man said.

"What does he want?" Gideon asked.

"A helicopter. And passport. He's watching. Once he gets what he wants, he's got instructions to defuse the bomb," the man said.

"Walker's close by," Hotch said quietly.

"Let's get snipers around the perimeter," the detective said.

"Get snipers on the roof," one of the other detectives said into his walkie.

"Ok, we understand. We're not gonna leave you," Gideon said, holding up his hands as he stepped forward.

"Please...take it off," the man said.

"We need to figure out how the bomb's put together first," Gideon said, stepping closer to the man.

"Tracy, you're in," the detective waved another one over with a camera.

Delilah stepped completely away from the area, slipping around the police officers to get to the kitchen area. She poured herself a cup of coffee, quickly adding her sugar, milk and stirring it, then chugging it in one. She nodded to herself.

"This is fine. We might all blow up, but this is fine," she whispered.

"Sounds fine," JJ's voice came from beside her.

"You need to get away," Delilah said, looking at her.

"From... From you?" JJ blinked.

"Well, right now, yeah. You might get blown up and, uh, that's a shitty way to die, so," Delilah said.

"There are good ways to die?" JJ asked

"Better ways than being blown up," Delilah said.

"That's... That's a good point," JJ said.

"I know," Delilah chuckled. "But, like, seriously, keep your distance, alright? I don't want you getting hurt. Bombs are not in your job description," she said.

"Noted. I will keep my distance," JJ said, a small smile on her face. "You be careful, alright? I don't want you to blow up the day after I meet you," she said.

"Yeah, that would be shit," Delilah said bluntly. "I'll be careful," she said.

"Good," JJ smiled, watching Delilah sigh before walking back over to Hotch.

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"This is a really sophisticated device. It looks like it was probably made by a master bomb maker, which means tampering with any part of it could set it off," Tracy told Delilah, Hotch, the detective and Elle.

"Isn't there some way to just cut the whole thing off him?" Hotch asked.

"Not without cutting these wires. See how they're threaded all around the collar? They could be booby trapped, or there could be a hidden secondary trigger," Tracy said.

"How do we find out?" the detective asked.

"Without knowing how it's put together, it's gonna take a while. I'll have to x-ray it, try to figure out which are the real triggers, but... I don't think there's enough time," Tracy said.

"What do you mean?" Elle frowned. Delilah pointed at the screen on the back of the bomb.

"There's a timer. We've only got about 3 hours left," she said. Tracy nodded.

"Exactly," he said.

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"I don't get it. If this guy's a hostage, then why hasn't Walker tried to negotiate with us?" Elle said, following Hotch and Delilah back into the room with the hostage, main detective and Gideon in.

"Maybe he's scared or maybe he hasn't figured out what his next move is yet," Hotch said.

"We got a bead on Walker. Sniper spotted him in his scope. He's sitting in an office building across the street. It looks like a storage room with a small window facing us," the detective said, motioning on the street map on the table.

"We could surprise him," Elle said.

"Good idea. If he feels cornered, he might give himself up," Hotch nodded.

"Why do you say that?" the detective asked.

"Because bombers are generally cowards. I'll take a team in and we'll go in through the back of the building," Hotch said. "Elle," he nodded. She nodded and followed him out of the door, leaving Delilah with Gideon and the hostage.

Delilah sat up on the desk, watching Gideon talk to the man strapped to the bomb to keep him calm. She pulled out her phone, checking the few messages from her sister. She sent back a quick reply, then put her phone away and watched the hostage shake in fear.

Delilah's phone buzzed and she pulled it out, answering the call from Derek and putting it on speaker.

"It's me," Morgan said.

"Go," Gideon said, looking over at them.

"I just found an email Bale sent Walker two weeks ago. Listen to this, my only regret is giving myself up. And for what? To be stuck in a cage for the rest of my life. Don't make my mistake. If they catch you, whatever you do, don't let them keep you," Morgan said. Gideon's face drained as he realised what was going on.

He grabbed the walkie talkie and pressed the button.

"Walker's not a bomber. He's a forger. Get out of there now! Now!" he said.

"Out!" Hotch's voice came from the walkie before it went silent.

Delilah tensed up on the desk, staring at Gideon with wide eyes. She quickly ended the call to Morgan, hand shaking as she clicked on Hotch's name. She tried him three times before he finally answered, Delilah relaxing again as she put it on speaker.

"We're fine. Everybody made it out. Everybody but Walker. Is the hostage okay?" Hotch said over the phone.

"He's fine. For now," Gideon said.

"How much time do we have?" Hotch asked.

"2 hours, 24 minutes," the bomb guy said.

"With Walker dead, I'm all out of options," the detective said to Gideon.

"I've got one," Gideon said, looking at the man from where he was sat on the cage's floor. "Bellerose," he said.

"I'll stay here, man the floor," Delilah said. He nodded and stood up, making to leave to meet Hotch and Elle. He stopped, putting his hand on Delilah's shoulder.

"Do not get within blast range of that man," he said.

"I can handle myself, Gideon, don't worry," Delilah said.

"I know," Gideon nodded, squeezing her shoulder before walking away.

Delilah watched him go, eyes following him out of the station with a small frown. She didn't know where he was going, but she was acutely aware of the fact that she was the only profiler left in this station, with only JJ from the FBI as company until Hotch and Elle got back from their bomb site.

Delilah sighed and rubbed her face tensely.

"What are you thinking?" she asked Tracy, walking over to the cage they were sat in to deactivate the bomb.

"I'm thinking your guy better have a good lead," Tracy said.

"Yeah, me, too. Just checking we're on the same page," Delilah said, nodding as she turned back around and walked back to the desk she'd been sat at.

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