In the next episode of "Criminal Minds," the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) led by Agent David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) investigates a series of mysterious homicides in D.C.

The trailer and promotional photos for the upcoming installment, which is titled "Cure," were just recently released, and they show the agents meeting at headquarters to get briefed on the recent serial homicide case. They realize that it involves the use of clues by the killer and that they need to decipher codes once again. They travel to D.C. to survey the crime scene and notice a number of visual clues on the walls. Dr. Spence Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) notices a sign on a wall showing a snake curling around a spear of some sort. "This one is just getting started," he says in a determined tone.

In a strange turn of events, they find that a note is wedged in the mouth of the victim. Rossi and Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) retrieve the note, and they take it back to the lab for analysis. They compile all the messages from the killer, including the ones from past victims. As they scrutinize the notes, they realize that there is a secret message hidden within the codes. This might finally lead to the identity of the deranged killer. However, Prentiss remarks with gloom as she figures out the code, "Oh no, we're too late."

In the last episode, the team investigated strange murders that they thought were done by a wild animal. It turned out to be a disturbed individual who suffered a traumatic experience when his son got killed by a mugger. The killer wanted to get back at robbers in the park and kill them.

"Criminal Minds" season 13 episode 13 will hit the airwaves on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 10 p.m. EST on CBS.