We open with a man hurriedly digging a hole with a body next to him. Hey, it’s Criminal Minds. Nothing new to us!
Charles takes a long, dangerous ride in season 11, episode 2 of Criminal Minds.
Cut to the same man in his car, listening to morning radio. After cleaning his shoes with some bottled water, his boss calls asking where he is. The fella seems dejected, and after some back and forth, we learn his boss is also his wife. It’s clear that marital issues are leaking into their work life.
After the conversation, our possible unsub looks up and sees his bus fly by. A few minutes later, the same bus wildly careens into a group of waiting passengers. Someone walks into the bus and discovers everyone on board is dead!
The case
Garcia gives us, and the team, the lowdown. The bus fell victim to a poison-gas attack, leaving 10 dead. While on the plane, it’s confirmed that the chemical sarin was the culprit. The attack feels like terrorism, but no groups have claimed responsibility. Reid advises that sarin gas is very hard to control, meaning its use could be hiding a real target.
The BAU team combs through the evidence in season 11, episode 2 of Criminal Minds.
Meanwhile, our nervous friend (Charlie) arrives at work. After seeing the news footage of the attack, he gets a message on his computer that says, “I KNOW WHAT YOU DID!” Charlie, understandably panicked, asks what he wants. The answer? Break into a house and steal a laptop.
Back at the BAU, FBI agent Natalie Colfax (Marisol Nichols) is helping Hotch and the team comb through security footage. Both terrorist groups and suicide killers have been ruled out. So, how did the unsub release a gas that kills within minutes without being killed himself?
The investigation
At the crime scene, Reid and Rossi find the answer. A homemade device, much like a fish feeder, was placed on the bottom of the bus and released the sarin. Since it works on a time release, it could have been there for six weeks.
The tiny device responsible for ten deaths in season 11, episode 2 or Criminal Minds.
But how does one get their hands on a chemical that’s been banned by international governments? A search for angry chemists reveals Johan Geitman. Thanks to some online rants, he may be a suspect. They also discover some suspicious surveillance footage of an odd guy sitting in a parking lot by the bus cleaning his shoes with bottled water. They quickly ID him at as our buddy Charles.
Rossi and Tara interview Charles at his workplace and get a stack of lies. He claims he had nothing to do with the gas attack. Where was he the night before? Driving around depressed because of the anniversary of his mother’s death. Also, according to Charles, his marriage is hunky-dory. Rossi and Tara leave convinced that he didn’t plant the gas bomb, but they know he’s lying about something.
Hotch and Tara grill a suspect in season 11, episode 2 of Criminal Minds.
That night, Charles goes to do the mysterious caller’s bidding. He arrives at the house and discovers it’s already been broken into. Charles jumps in, grabs the laptop, and as he leaves, finds a dead body behind the curtain. He does what I would have done. Runs!
The ramp-up
The dead guy is IDd as Johan, our upset chemist. While there was no sign that he created any sarin, he was probably the supplier. And thanks to some security-camera footage at a nearby gas station, guess who we know was in the neighborhood. Our man Charlie!
Cut to Charlie eating breakfast with his daughter Jolene. As he’s getting ready to take her to school, his new phone rings. It’s mysterious guy with another mission. Go to a warehouse and pick up a package. We also get treated to a flashback where we learn Charlie’s secret: He confronted his wife’s lover, Theo, and accidentally killed him.
Back at the BAU, Garcia dives deeper into Charlie’s past. He’s squeaky clean: no criminal record, no bizarre purchases. Not even a traffic ticket. Other than him lying about his dead mother, he’s 100 percent boring. But further digging reveals his rage about his wife’s affair. More than enough motive!
Meanwhile, Charlie heads to the warehouse and picks up the package. Inside, there’s a gas mask. Charlie puts two and two together and starts freaking out on the mysterious phone guy. He refuses to be set up for the gas attack. After threatening to go to the police, phone guy gives the big reveal: He’s been following Charlie ever since he murdered Theo and now has his daughter. Suddenly, a dark van drives by, and when Charlie sees Jolene in the passenger seat, he drives off after them.
The closing-in
As Charlie gives chase, the BAU puts together the pieces. Theo and his brother Mitchell were planning a terrorist attack, but Theo fell in love with Tracy and got cold feet. In an attempt to get his partner and brother back, Mitchell plotted to kill Tracy with the bus gas attack. But when Charlie found out about the affair and killed Theo, Mitchell saw the whole thing and decided to use Charlie as a scapegoat for the terrorism. Mitchell is the man on the phone and the mastermind of all the attacks. Whew …
Hotch and company also discover Mitchell’s next target: the FBI building they’re currently in! Charlie, in pursuit of Mitchell, drives into the FBI parking deck and quickly gets arrested. As they evacuate the garage, they try to find Mitchell, who they believe will be nearby to witness his carnage. Just as the gas is released, Hotch finds Mitchell and places him under arrest. The gas is released, but nobody is harmed.
Afterward, Charlie says a teary goodbye to Jolene, knowing he’s going to jail for the death of Theo. Despite some humor between Tara, Reid, and Morgan, it’s a bittersweet ending to a twisted and slightly confusing episode.
Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 9/8C on CBS.