The BAU work on a case on the urging of Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss, Emily's mother. The Chernuses - husband and wife, and their adult daughter Natalya - are a working class Russian family that knew of the Ambassador when she was posted in the Ukraine. The family now lives in Baltimore, Maryland having been smuggled out of the Eastern Bloc in 1988. Mr. Chernus has just been kidnapped. The family received a ransom note which includes Chernus' ring finger. Among other things, the note states that another body part will be cut off every six hours until the ransom is paid. In speaking to Josh Cramer from the FBI's Organized Crime Unit, the BAU learn that this case is typical of the Russian mob. Their victims are hesitant to speak to the authorities in general because of mistrust of the Russian authorities. In addition, the victims, generally with much money, are usually criminals themselves. Mr. Chernus does not seem to fit the typical victimology, the family having no money and he not being a criminal. Ambassador Prentiss hopes her old connections in Russia can assist in breaking this case. A local Russian mobster named Lysowsky seems to know what's going on and taunts Natalya for going to the FBI for help instead of going to him. But Natalya also seems to know more than she is letting on.
—Huggo