CSI: NY

My first time?

Dumpster in an alley.

Near 59th.

It was filled with cardboard boxes

and tissue paper.

One match and...

the fire was raging in under a minute.

How did that make you feel?

Safe.

Like nothing or nobody could hurt me.

I made those flames dance.

I was in control.

After that, there was no going back.

I was never going to be scared again.

Oh, come on.

Hello?

Is there anybody out there?

Hello?

Help!

Somebody, please!

Help!

Aah! Help me.

Somebody help me!

Oh, my God, Mac.

Looks like those pipes were the source of the heat.

Someone turned this elevator into a boiler.

Somebody turned this elevator into a torture chamber.

Our vic's name is Rita Lowman.

According to one of her neighbors, she freelanced

a couple times a month as a private nurse.

Found this I.D. badge in her apartment and not much else.

And an old acquaintance.

Security cam outside the service entrance

captured an unscheduled visit

by the elevator repairman early this morning.

Leonard Brooks.

Door's clear, no trip wires.

NYPD! Brooks, open up!

Go, go, go.

We're good. Bathroom's clear, sir.

It's all clean. It's all clear.

Looks like he cleared out of here in a hurry.

Notify every roll call and media outlet in the city.

I want Brooks caught now.

What's his endgame here, Mac?

Whatever it is,

Leonard Brooks had 15 long years to plan it.

Train stations, port authority and airports

are all covered, and units are circulating Brooks's mug.

- Anything from his P.O.? - Hasn't heard from him in days.

Turns out Brooks has no known friends or associates,

which doesn't shock me, having met the man.

He's independent and self-reliant.

Makes him even more unpredictable.

Answer it.

Just say hello.

Hello?

It's for you, Detective.

Taylor.

Sorry about the lack of hospitality, Detective.

I wasn't expecting guests.

Brooks.

Press is wrong about me, you know.

Don't like being called a monster?

No, that part is accurate.

I am a monster, but please tell those reporters

my victim was anything but innocent.

Just surrender and tell them yourself.

Gracious offer, but I can't accept.

Who was she, Leonard?

Why'd you kill Rita Lowman?

I got to go now, Detective.

There's still more work to be done.

Brooks.

Fascinating.

What is?

Well, in spite of the severe external tissue damage,

internal structures were left surprisingly unscathed.

Based on the relative size and condition of her organs,

our vic was in seemingly good health.

Any external injuries sustained prior to thermal necrosis?

No indication of penetrating wounds or blunt force trauma.

C.O.D is hyperthermia.

Broiled, not burned.

The infrared radiation from above

was efficiently lethal.

Not a single flame touched her.

The stainless steel walls kept the compartment insulated

and the intense heat contained.

Yeah.

It overwhelmed her thermoregulatory system,

causing her core body temp to spike.

She suffered a debilitating drop in heart

and respiratory rate, followed by systemic

and lethal organ failure.

Her death was anything but quick and painless.

Hey, Sid, you see this?

Yeah, looks like a 12-step recovery pendant.

It's personalized.

Hmm?

"To Jen, with love""

Vic's first name is Rita.

So, who is Jen,

and why is Rita Lowman wearing her necklace?

You know, it didn't make any sense, Mac.

For years, Leonard Brooks has suffered

from sudden impulse control disorder,

compelling him to start fires,

but he did it to cause property damage,

never to cause bodily harm or to take a life.

So, why does his M.O. suddenly change?

And in such an extreme fashion?

Because, clearly, the relief that he got from starting fires

no longer had any value.

So torture and murder is his new drug of choice.

And when his emotional need shifted,

he needed to find another means to satisfy it.

- Why now? - This is a guy

who spent a large portion of his life in jail.

And now that's he's out,

those urges and sensations are magnified.

They're just overwhelming.

Control may not even be an option for him.

How do we find him?

We have to get inside Brooks's head,

figure out the origin of his disease.

If we can create a physiological road map, if you will,

then we can probably fill in a lot of blanks

and help us understand why he targeted Rita Lowman.

Brooks said there was still more work to be done.

There was something in his voice, Jo.

My fear is, if we don't catch him soon,

somebody else is going to die.

(groans)

Where do you think you're going?

Get up!

You're coming with us.

Oh, oh, I got him.

Impressive.

Growing up with three older brothers has its advantages.

Can I help you with something?

Yeah, I need a desk.

Looks a little something like that?

Yeah, what are you going to do with it?

My job.

Detective Jamie Lovato.

I just got my transfer orders from Narcotics.

My cover was blown, so now I work here.

Welcome to Homicide.

I'm Detective Flack.

As far as your desk goes,

the watch commander handles bullpen real estate.

- Thanks. - Mm-hmm.

Still no sign of Brooks.

But he's got to crawl out from under his rock eventually.

We trace the call he made to his apartment?

He used a burner. Dead end.

What about our vic, Rita Lowman?

She was living under an alias.

Rita Lowman isn't her name.

Checked every possible database I could think of.

Turns out there's no record of that name before 2000.

She was wearing a necklace engraved with the name Jen.