Thanks to the state police securing the crime scene diligently—and the fact that the area was remote—CSI lab researchers had their work cut out for them. They meticulously followed the intermittent drag marks stretching hundreds of meters, hoping to find evidence.
Though not a virgin forest, the woods were classified as a natural secondary forest, with an ecosystem that had largely recovered.
Amid the summer heat, the temperature in the woods, near the lake, was much cooler than the asphalt roads. However, the damp, decomposing leaves emitted a smell that was far from pleasant.
Had the killer not mistakenly chosen a path worn down by a fisherman—who happened to also be a police officer—the disposal might have gone unnoticed. It was only the officer's professional instincts that led to the discovery.
These mosquito-ridden, snake-infested wetlands were hardly a camping destination for casual nature lovers. Such campers were more likely to be lured by "creek ghost" stories into setting up along the reservoir's downstream river.
After leaving the scene in the capable hands of Mac Taylor and his team, Jack and his group returned to the operations center. There, they discovered unexpected progress in analyzing road surveillance footage.
As they entered the main office, Jubal and a technician were huddled over a computer screen, scrutinizing a car's license plate.
"Any leads?" Jack asked, glancing at the large screen. The latest victim's identity had already been confirmed: Maria Elena Ramos, just 20 years old, also married.
"A Toyota Sienna minivan," the technician explained, enlarging two surveillance images on the screen. "It was captured entering Central Park on the night Beatriz Santos disappeared. Last night, it was seen three miles from your crime scene. It appears to be the same vehicle."
The technician pointed to the muddy license plate. "The killer likely covered it intentionally, but we managed to make out three of the digits."
As the printer whirred to life, Jubal eagerly grabbed the freshly printed page and handed it to Jack.
"There's a report of a missing minivan matching this description from a small town in western North Westchester. It was stolen four months ago, right before the first murder. The owner's name is Pete DeLeon."
Jack glanced at the document, then noticed Aubrey's eager expression and handed it over. "You and Hannah take this one."
Not long after returning to his office, Jack heard a knock. JJ entered, carrying a folder.
"We've found the latest victim's name on that chat site, and CSI has transported her body to the forensic lab. Her wedding ring is also missing, like the others."
"So, we can confirm the killer is finding his victims through that site?" Jack asked.
"Looks that way. But IT hasn't matched all the IP addresses to identities yet," JJ replied.
Jack scratched his head, bemused. "Tell the techs Alice will be back in a month, and we'll throw a party. I'll have Aubrey invite his model and actress friends."
JJ grinned mischievously. "Speaking of secrets, you and Jubal seem to have one you're keeping from us."
"What? No secrets here. I've already explained what Jubal's been dealing with."
Jack had no reason to keep anything from Hannah or JJ. He'd already told them about Jubal revisiting an old case, omitting only the more private details, like the extramarital affair.
Curious, he walked to the door and leaned out to see what had caught JJ's attention.
From his vantage point, he saw the back of a woman marching purposefully toward Jubal's office.
"Who's that?" he asked.
"Rina Trenholm, Newark Field Office Supervisory Agent," JJ replied, pointing her thumb toward the woman. "We met at the elevator earlier. She said she used to be Jubal's partner, but judging by her expression, she's not here for a friendly catch-up."
Jack suppressed a laugh. Doesn't look like an ex-lover's reunion either, he thought. He could guess why Rina was here—most likely to confront Jubal about reopening the old case they'd worked on together.
Jubal had mentioned that Rina was seeking a major promotion. If the case unraveled, it would put both of them in hot water. From Rina's perspective, Jubal's actions likely felt like a betrayal.
Jack decided to stay out of it, briefly explaining the situation to JJ before they returned to their work.
When Aubrey and Hannah returned, Rina had already left, though Jubal still looked tense.
The Toyota Sienna's owner, Pete DeLeon, was a volunteer at a children's hospital in western North Westchester. Friendly and cooperative, he initially thought Aubrey and Hannah had found his stolen car.
Unfortunately, DeLeon couldn't provide much information. He admitted the theft was partly his fault—he'd likely forgotten to remove the keys when he got home.
To be thorough, Aubrey and Hannah also spoke with his neighbors.
"We visited two other households nearby," Aubrey reported back. "Everyone says DeLeon is a good man. We verified his backstory too. He had leukemia as a child, which is probably why he volunteers at the hospital.
"Two years ago, he hurt his back at work. We confirmed that too. Nothing suspicious came up."
Jack nodded. "Send his license plate number to state police. Have them notify us immediately if the vehicle is spotted."
Jubal turned to JJ. "What about the chat site? Have we matched any of the visitors' IP addresses to identities?"
JJ projected a file onto the large screen. "We have one potential lead: Kenneth Sigbee, 28, runs a coffee shop in the North Westchester suburbs. He lives above the shop, has no criminal record, and is married."
"Married?" Hannah frowned. "Why would someone married frequent an 'involuntarily celibate' support site? Just to find victims?"
Jack shrugged. "Possibly. He's worth investigating. Before we bring him in, though, let's dig into his background."
"And what about the DNA analysis from CSI?" Jubal asked. "Their new equipment can produce preliminary results in under four hours."
"We need someone there to oversee it," Jack agreed. "Who's up for the job?"
(End of Chapter)
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