Intrigue

When bodies begin turning up in the cornfields of Indiana, the team must catch a pack of serial killers targeting exotic dancers.

In separate incidents, three exotic dancers have been found dead in corn fields in Johnson County, Indiana. The women were abducted following their shift at work on a Friday night, and killed sometime at the end of the weekend on Sunday. The latest victim, Meredith Joy, had the DNA of two people under her fingernails, meaning that there are at least two unsubs. In reviewing the site where Meredith's body was found, Morgan and Rossi determine that there are probably three unsubs who are locals since they seem to know the area well. Another dancer, Stephanie Wilson, has just been determined missing, leaving the BAU less than two days to find the unsubs before she will be killed. As the BAU come up with profiles for the unsubs, Garcia finds an interesting connection of the case to the sheriff's office, Sheriff Salters with who the BAU have had a problematic relationship. Meanwhile, after the unsubs see reports of the murders on the television news, the true nature of their relationship is revealed.—Huggo

We open in a cornfield, where a truck chases a woman through the tall plants. The truck eventually stops and a group of men, wearing burlap sacks over their heads, emerge. Finally, one of the men catches up with poor Meredith and roughly grabs her. "Let me know when you're finished," says another of the masked men to his buddy. Gross.

CUT to BAU headquarters, where Garcia explains that farmers in Indiana are finding more than corn in their fields. They're also finding dead exotic dancers. Hotch notes that two DNA samples were found on the most recent body, indicating a team. "They let them go so they could chase them again," Derek observes. Some sick puppies, for sure.

Later, the team arrives in Indiana. Hotch introduces himself to Sheriff Salters, who has opted to keep the details of the case secret so that the unsubs aren't tempted to skip town. Salters also has a decidedly low opinion of the dead women, which rankles Hotch. "I won't have you telling me how to run my show," Salters says. Too bad, Salters.

The details soon show up on the TV news. CUT to a bar, where one of the unsubs, Chris, works as a bartender. Another unsub, Scott, enters and demands to know why the women are dead. He says the plan was just to "play" with them -- and that he had been promised they wouldn't remember anything. Chris tells his nervous partner to keep his cool. They then visit the third unsub, Michael, who admits to killing the women. "If we let them go, we'd all be in jail right now!" Michael yells. "So what if the Feds are here?"

Emily and Spencer, meanwhile, interview a coworker of a missing exotic dancer named Stephanie. She explains that two men had come into the club the previous night and invited the ladies to a "party." After noticing nothing damning on the security video, Emily notes that Stephanie was likely abducted from the parking lot following the end of her shift. "Stephanie was going to that party whether she wanted to or not," Emily says.

CUT to Chris, Scott and Michael, who huddle in a makeshift apartment equipped with a stripper pole. Poor Stephanie, wearing a blindfold, is being forced at gunpoint to dance by crazy Michael. Chris and Scott watch, but they're clearly uncomfortable. Later, Scott tries to comfort Stephanie, who begs to be set free. "I don't want to die!" she cries. "I have a daughter! She's only two!" Scott promises to help the dancer.

Back at police HQ, Hotch floats the theory that the unsubs are college students, explaining why the killings coincided with the start of the fall semester. "Right now, we're canvassing colleges in the area," Rossi says. Spencer explains that the "pack" is likely led by an alpha male who has convinced the other weaker ones to follow.

Sure enough, pack leader Michael tells Chris that he must "take care" of Scott, who is obviously trying to distance himself from the situation. So Chris takes Scott out into the middle of a cornfield under the guise that they're going to dump the truck. Michael soon drives up in a different truck ... and Chris begins beating his friend Scott. Michael then tosses Chris a baseball bat. "Finish the job," Michael demands. So Chris does.

The next morning, the team arrives at the cornfield, where a thresher inadvertently runs over Scott. "We said they might eliminate the weakest link," Derek observes. Only one problem: the unsubs knew exactly where to be in order to avoid police patrols. "You think they have an inside man?" Garcia asks. Rossi deems it "possible" -- and then tells Garcia to perform background checks on all the local police, including Salters.

Chris, meanwhile, vomits into a toilet. He is sick with guilt and grief. Moments later, Chris dials the sheriff's office ... but can't bring himself to say anything before hanging up. Inside, Michael punches Chris in the face. "Who you calling, buddy?" Michael asks. He hits redial on the cell phone and the sheriff's office answers. Michael is NOT happy.

Garcia then breaks big news to the team: Salters has a college-aged son whose record is mysteriously wiped clean. Hotch confronts Salters. "Your son Chris has a sealed record, but I think I know what's in it," Hotch says. "You've covered up domestic disturbance violations and drug offences. Have you covered up anything else?" Salters' face falls. He admits wiping Chris's record, but says he had no idea his son was involved in this case.

Garica then hunts up a name: Michael. Turns out Chris and Michael attended school at the same time before Michael was kicked out of school for sexual assault. Salters recognizes the name, saying Michael was responsible for starting a fight at Chris's bar. "Tell me you have an address, baby girl," Derek says. Indeed, she does.

Seconds later, the team is roaring down the street in a series of cruisers and SUVs. In the meantime, Michael tells Chris he must prove his loyalty by shooting Stephanie. They drag the girl to their truck ... but are intercepted by the BAU and Salters. "Christopher, walk this way and we'll work it out," Salters tells his son. Michael holds a gun to Stephanie's head when Emily holsters her weapon and approaches Michael. "No one wants to shoot a cop's kid, but you?" Emily says. "I might shoot you myself."

Emily then explains that Michael has done this before -- and killed his last pack members. Chris begins to cry. Michael points his gun at Chris ... and Salters opens fire, killing Michael. Salters then approaches Chris, who puts his gun to his own head. Dad fires again -- hitting his son in the arm. Chris falls to the ground, wounded but alive. "I had to son," Salters whispers. Chris is cuffed and taken away in a cruiser. Later, Stephanie is reunited with her father and two-year-old daughter. Case closed, but not the episode.

Hotch approachs Salters and offers some advice on how to deal with Chris. "Be there for him," Hotch says. "Make amends ... help him do the same." The two shake hands.