""This car was hit by a tractor-trailer," said JJ, displaying a picture of a completely wrecked vehicle on the screen.
Gale examined the image closely. "Any survivors?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"The truck driver walked away unharmed. However, Jonathan and Rebecca Gallen, the passengers in the car, were DOA," JJ explained. "When the local Sheriff arrived on the scene, he noticed several things... no blood spatter inside the car, no seat belt burns, and no lacerations from the airbags."
Reid's quickly pieced the puzzle together. "They were dead before the accident," he concluded.
JJ nodded, confirming his deduction. "The autopsy confirmed that, revealing the cause of death as blunt force head trauma. Additionally, evidence of rape and torture was found on the woman."
Hotch spoke, his voice steady and determined. "The unsub wasn't very successful at hiding the fact that he murdered two people."
"Well, there's a chance that he has gotten away with it before," added JJ. "After I spoke to the Sheriff, I had Garcia look into any similar accidents near the California-Nevada border. She found two cases with a similar modus operandi in the past couple of weeks. Both involved couples in a car, hit by a tractor-trailer."
Morgan scanned through the files on the table. "It's always a man and a woman stopped right in the middle of the road," he observed.
"And it always occurs at night on a remote highway," chimed in Prentiss.
"It can't be a coincidence. The victim type and this very specific MO are the same in all three cases," Rossi stated.
Hotch's gaze remained focused. "Was Garcia able to find any connection between them?" he asked, seeking further insight.
"One thing they have in common is that they all disappeared for 48 hours prior to the accidents," JJ revealed.
Rossi's face hardened. "We know what he does to his victims during that time," he said, a mix of determination and concern in his voice. "We just need to figure out where he finds them." said Hotch.
The team gathered their belonging at embarked on another plane ride, this time to the California-Nevada border. On the flight, they determined the unsub needed privacy to commit his crimes. They also determined that the unsub probably had no idea that they were investigated the cases as crimes and not accidents. It was the first thing JJ advised the police officers when they arrived. What the unsub doesn't know, the better. 
Not knowing that they would go on a case so soon, Gale had only packed one of clothes in her go-bag. The clothes themselves were fine, but she regretted packing her new loafers. Not only were they too expensive to ruin while on a case, but they were also starting to rub against her heel. Irritated, she rubbed her feet while driving to meet the truck driver. Morgan looked over to her from the driver's seat, "Why would you pack those shoes to begin with if they hurt your feet."  he asked.
Gale playfully hit the back of Morgan's chair, "You forget me, Morgan. A case isn't going to stop me from pushing the rules of fashion."
Prentiss laughs from the seat beside Gale as Gale slides back on her shoe. "It's sentences like that that remind me why you and Garcia are such good friends." 
Gale looks over to Rossi in the passengers seat. "Come on, back me up Mr. Italian shoes." she jokes.
Rossi merely nodded is head in subtle agreement, "Beauty is pain." he says, earning appreciation from Gale and a chuckle from Morgan. 
They met up with the truck driver on the side of the road, taking a moment to explain the situation to the man. The driver was relieved that he was not responsible for the accident, "If you don't mind, I'd like to go home now and tell my wife that I didn't kill that couple," the driver pleaded.