S1E15 - “Unfinished Business”
We open in Washington DC at a book signing. Retired FBI BAU Investigator Max Ryan is promoting his new book about a serial killer he used to investigate. We learn about the Keystone Killer- a serial killer who killed seven women in two years. The Killer also sent letters to the press and “word search puzzles” (much like the Zodiac except they were called “Cyphers” which is MUCH cooler). He also had a signature knot. The Keystone Killer has been dormant for 19 years and there are many theories why.
After the presentation Max and Gideon discuss the Keystone Killer. Max reveals to Gideon that he’s currently living in Philadelphia, where the Keystone Killer was based out of. As they’re chilling, Max receives “fan mail” from one of the fans at the book signing. EXCEPT IT’S NOT FAN MAIL- IT’S FROM THE KEYSTONE KILLER! it’s a cypher from possibly the Key Stone Killer, along with the ID card of his last victim and a new victim.
“Who in his mind has not probed the black water? Aren’t visits from old friends refreshing? Especially when we’ve occupied so much of each other’s mind. We’re like two volumes of the same book, Max. Why don’t we add a few more chapters. I will lead you to me. If you break the code. It is far too long. I am alive again. KK.”
The BAU reconvenes. Goobs looks at the cypher and sees messages from the Key Stone killer regarding the last victim (Amy Jennings) and his newest victim Carla Bromwell. Police just found Carla suffocated by a plastic bag. JJ informs the BAU that the killer has also contact the new stations. Morgan does not like that Max is on the case.
The BAU arrive at the crime scene in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. One of the cops on the scene asks if they think it’s the Keystone Killer and Max is like YES! Also he’s rude to Elle. Spence and Hotch find another cypher which says to expect another gift in two days. Then we get a cut scene of the Keystone Killer looking through HIS SCRAPBOOK???? We see pictures of a blonde woman we will later learn is named Sylvia Gooden.
The team gives the profile. Max sulks out after Hotch asks him if he wants to share his original profile. We only get a partial profile because we follow Gideon going after Max.
The team discusses the differences in Carla Bromwell’s murder to the previous murders- Carla was strangled by a plastic bag instead of the unsub’s bare hands. Her hands and feet were bound with flex cuffs, not the signature knot, which suggests less meticulousness and a less personal attack. Carla herself is older than the other victims were when they were killed. Very unusual, as unsubs normally have a “type” that they stick to unless they’re devolving. In his cypher the unsub wrote that she didn’t put up a fight, so why did the unsub hit her?
Morgan suggests just starting fresh and creating a new profile. Treating the killer like a new unsub. To which Gideon says “But he’s not new”. Goobs finds the name “S Harbin” in the cypher, who was an original suspect. Max is like- it’s not him, he’s in jail. And Morgan is like, I’m gonna look into it anyway. Also Harbin was paroled, so he’s not in jail. The SWAT team breaks in to Harbin’s house and the BAU arrests Harbin. The team looks around the house and it is meticulous. Everything is labeled! Morgan notices that Harbin might have a military background. Elle goes the fuck off on Harbin. Morgan and Hotch notice that the underside of Harbin’s bed is hollowed out. They pull it out and find a naked woman tied up underneath???? She’s credited only as “Tortured Woman” AND THEY NEVER DISCUSS HER OR BRING HER UP AGAIN
The Keystone Killer leaves a note on Max’s car and is like “Isn’t Harbin the worst? I fucking hate that guy. Anyways, I’m gonna kill someone tomorrow tee hee!”
The BAU is like- why is the profile so different? Ah yes it’s because he’s older and weaker from an injury or accident? The team decides that it must have been a serious injury that left him permanently incapacitated (like a stroke). There must be a paper trail of hospital records. Gideon says: “Call our girl Friday” to Morgan. JJ gives the press conference and describes the profile…
PROFILE
- White male in his late 40s
- Military background
- Well educated
- Has a need for power and control (probably has a job with some type of authority”
At this point completely iconic lady reporter credited only as “Female Reporter” cuts of JJ to say: “You’ve just described half of the men living in Philadelphia”. And that’s it? We never get more of this *original* profile?
Max blames himself. He has a heart-to-heart with Elle where she’s like yo forget this case and MOVE ON. She’s like: “Don’t you wanna relax? Spend some time with your family?” And he’s like “Family? Never heard of them! In terms of relaxing- the BAU doesn’t employ many agents with the ‘relaxing’ kind of mentality.” Ahem Garcia.
Max reveals to Gideon that he wanted to “draw out” the Keystone Killer by writing a book about him, knowing subconsciously that it would drive the killer crazy. He blames himself, yada yada. Gideon is like “It’s okay bro. You know this killer better than anybody! You can totally do it.” Gideon is like, let us help you find this guy.
The BAU looks for car accidents resulting in injuries in Philadelphia based around the time the killer stopped. Garcia and Morgan realize that the killer is Walter Kern, who was in a car accident where he broke his back. His backstory matches up- military background in the air force. Received a degree in criminology. He was a claims adjuster and a social worker at one point, meaning he had a reason to knock on people’s doors. Also Kern and Harbin were installing home security alarms together??
The BAU knock on Walter’s door and his wife answers the door. She tells the BAU to get the fuck out. Max asks Mrs. Kern if her husband has a secret man cave in the house, and she says yes- his dark room. The BAU explores Walter’s lair and checks out the scrapbook. We find the scrapbook and realize that Walter had already pre-planned everyone he was gonna kill (he was in Carla Bromwell’s neighborhood when he had his car accident) and now he’s gonna kill Sylvia Gooden like he always intended.
The BAU team rush in just in time to save Sylvia. Morgan grabs Walter and like man grabs him and yanks him off the bed. Gideon lets Max arrest Walter. Walter says to Max: “We are inseparable, you and me.” And Max says “Let’s test that theory.”
Abraham Lincoln- It’s not the years of your life that counts. It’s the life in your years.”