Original air date: October 31, 1998

Written by: Andrew Dettmann & Daniel Truly

Directed by: Chuck Bowman

Jarod assumes the identity of a criminal behaviourist in order to catch a copycat killer whose MO is identical to a psychopath Jarod helped capture twenty years ago.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Mexican Food & Chili

Jarod’s Occupations: FBI Profiler/Criminal Behaviorist

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod Ressler

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

Jarod matches wits with a brilliant psychopath he helped incarcerate twenty years earlier.

After viewing a television news report on the disappearance of a young girl named Sarah Rickman, Jarod suddenly abandons his latest Pretend, which was to have taken place in Florida.  Instead, he views a DSA of a simulation lab, one in which Sydney forces him to help solve the kidnapping of a young girl named Annie.  Shortly thereafter, Jarod assumes the identity of a criminal behaviorist.  He then travels to, and infiltrates, the latest crime scene, located in Maryland.  There, he observes the words “Blue Moon Rising” written on the victim’s bedroom mirror.  He also notes that the eyes of a Teddy Bear have been cut out, and ascertains that the bedroom curtains had been left open by the kidnapper.  Jarod informs Lieutenant Alison Fawkes and Detective Maxwell that the m.o. is identical to the behavior of a killer who was ultimately imprisoned for Annie’s disappearance twenty years earlier.  That man’s name is Douglas Willard.

Meanwhile, Broots, Miss Parker and Sydney storm the location of Jarod’s last lair.  They notice many clues pertaining to the abandoned Pretend that was to have taken place in Florida.  Later, Jarod faxes Sydney Annie’s photo, alerting him to the copycat killer.  Rather than risk Jarod’s capture, and thereby allow a dangerous killer to remain at large, Sydney keeps his knowledge a secret.  As a result, Miss Parker and Broots embark on a wild goose chase to Florida.  But Miss Parker begins to suspect that Sydney is holding back information.

Jarod convinces Fawkes that a copycat killer is on the loose.  He also explains that Maxwell struck on the second full moon in a calendar month.  As Willard has been in solitary confinement since the first day of his sentence, Jarod concludes the copycat is someone Willard met inside the prison system.  He convinces Fawkes that Willard must be transported to the scene for interrogation.  Fawkes reluctantly arranges the transfer.

Jarod interviews the psychopathic but brilliant Willard inside his holding cell.  As their cat-and-mouse conversation progresses, Willard eventually realizes that Jarod played a hand in his incarceration twenty years earlier.  Willard refuses to tell Jarod where the copycat killer would take his victim, for if he did so, he would only be sent back to solitary confinement.  With only 34 hours remaining before the copycat kills his victim, Jarod’s patience begins wearing thin.

Miss Parker recovers Annie’s photograph from Sydney’s office.  She refuses Mr. Raines’ instruction to return to Florida.  Later, Sydney tells Miss Parker to “leave this stone unturned.”

In flashback, a young Jarod moves through a recreation of Annie’s bedroom inside the simulation lab.  Assuming the role of the kidnapper, the young Jarod grows frightened, refusing to go deeper inside the killer’s head.  In the present day, Jarod disconnects the surveillance camera in Willard’s cell, giving them both more privacy.  Willard tells Jarod that all of the answers he seeks are right in front of his nose.  But Jarod is still unable to solve the riddle.  Willard tells Jarod to transport him to Sarah’s bedroom.  Only then will he be able to ascertain Sarah’s whereabouts.  Jarod assures him it would be impossible to arrange his request.

Police tell Jarod that they have discovered the identity of the copycat kidnapper.  That man is Carl Shuman, a guard who worked at the prison where Willard is incarcerated.  Jarod and his colleagues storm Shuman’s house.  Inside is a virtual shrine devoted to Douglas Willard’s crimes.  Jarod discovers letters in Willard’s handwriting composed as recently as the previous week.  Fawkes concludes that Willard climbed into Shuman’s head, “earwigging” him.  Jarod wonders if Shuman is a copycat…or a puppet.

Lieutenant Fawkes denies Jarod’s request to transport Willard to the crime scene.  As police begin transporting Willard back to the penitentiary, Jarod intercedes.  He knocks Maxwell unconscious and abducts Willard.  Jarod transports Willard to the crime scene.  There, Willard admits that there has never been any rhyme or reason to his modus operandi.  The truth, Willard confesses, is that he simply likes to kill.  Suddenly, Willard attacks Jarod, knocking him unconscious.

Willard travels to a desolate barn.  As he makes his way to the door, Jarod’s voice calls out.  Jarod explains that Willard’s transport to Sarah’s bedroom had all been a lie, and that police had been monitoring them all along.  The moment Willard headed up the mountain towards the barn, police moved in and captured Shuman.  Jarod tells Willard that one needn’t become a monster to face one.  Officers lead Willard away.  Moments later, Jarod and some officers storm the barn and rescue Sarah.  Jarod then discovers Annie’s locket lying in the dirt.  Annie’s remains are recovered.

Later, a lone figure reviews the DSA of young Sydney consoling Annie’s father.  That figure turns out to be Mr. Raines, who breaks into tears as he clutches his daughter’s locket.