Ep 20. ...A Thousand Words

In Criminal Minds season 5 episode 20, titled "A Thousand Words," the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is called to aid in the case of a successful Kansas City businessman who has gone missing. The man's wife and daughter receive a package in the mail that contains a picture of the missing man's severed finger, along with a taunting message. The team begins to investigate and begins to uncover a harrowing tale of professional rivalry, greed, and secret lives.

The investigation leads the team to the man's business partner, a successful real estate developer named Steven Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald seems like a perfect suspect, with a history of violence and a motive for the crime. But as the team delves deeper into the case, they realize that things are far from what they seem.

The team begins to piece together clues that lead them to an underground culture of "trash parties," where attendees indulge in drug-fueled, violent orgies. The investigation leads them to a photographer named Luke Dolan, whose specialty is taking explicit photos of the partygoers. The team discovers that the missing man's wife and daughter were also involved in the parties and that the severed finger was a message from Dolan to Fitzgerald, indicating that he knew of their secret lives.

As the BAU team tries to locate the missing man before it's too late, they must navigate a maze of lies and deceit. They discover that the case is much darker and more complex than they initially thought, and that the people involved will do whatever it takes to protect themselves, including murder.

"A Thousand Words" is a gripping episode that highlights the psychological complexities of criminal behavior. The team must use their expertise in behavioral analysis to identify the perpetrator and unravel a web of secrets before time runs out. As always, the show offers a realistic and intense portrayal of criminal behavior that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.