While private prisons in the U.S. are notoriously flawed, state prisons are generally managed with more rigor—at least enough to prevent a convicted felon from being impersonated. When Jack and Jubal arrived at the state prison, they confirmed that the man in custody was indeed Kerry McMay.
"What's going on here?" Jubal, though berated by McMay, wasn't angry. Instead, he was perplexed and uneasy.
"Let's head to the CSI lab and see if their DNA analysis can offer some logical explanation," Jack suggested. He had an inkling of what might be going on but needed experts to clarify.
By midday, the two found Mac Taylor slurping instant noodles in his office.
As the aroma filled the room, Jack finished his sandwich and explained, "Hannah is currently contacting McMay's sister to ask if he ever donated bone marrow. I know bone marrow transplants can result in genetic chimerism, but doesn't that typically only affect blood cells?"
In genetics, a chimera refers to an individual with two distinct sets of DNA. The English term, derived from chimera, evokes the mythical Greek beast with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
Chimerism occurs when different genetic traits merge within one individual. For instance, if a fraternal twin embryo is absorbed during development, the surviving twin may inherit genetic material from the other, resulting in two DNA profiles.
Bone marrow transplants are another cause. Since bone marrow produces blood cells, a recipient's blood DNA may be replaced by that of the donor.
However, Jack was puzzled because CSI had analyzed epithelial cells from the killer's skin—not blood. Could this phenomenon extend beyond blood DNA?
Mac Taylor thought for a moment before pulling up a case study on his computer. "Actually, it's not just blood. Recipients' epithelial cells—and even semen—can sometimes adopt donor DNA."
He clicked on an article. "Take Chris Long, for example. Eight years ago, he underwent a bone marrow transplant in Nevada for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Three months post-transplant, his blood DNA changed. Later, donor DNA was found in cheek swabs and even in his semen."
"Wait, are you saying this is real?" Jubal, though educated, struggled to process the science-heavy explanation.
"So your instincts were correct," Jack told him with a grin. "Kerry McMay wasn't the killer three years ago."
Jubal's emotions surged, leaving him unsure whether to feel relieved or distressed.
"Don't overthink it," Jack reassured. "You're not to blame. Even your former partner won't face repercussions for this. Cases of chimerism are extraordinarily rare—completely outside normal expectations. At the time, your judgment may not have been at its sharpest, but your investigative process was sound.
"What matters now is correcting the mistake and stopping the real killer before another victim appears."
After thanking Mac Taylor, Jack and Jubal left the CSI lab. Before they even reached the FBI field office, Hannah called to confirm that Kerry McMay had indeed donated bone marrow at age 20.
Jubal, now reinvigorated, exclaimed, "All we need is the recipient's medical records! Isobel, request a warrant to access those records immediately. We'll catch that bastard before anyone else gets hurt!"
Isobel, waiting for them at the office entrance, wore a knowing smile. "I think we might already know who the killer is."
"Is it the children's hospital volunteer whose car was supposedly stolen?" Jack asked, his calm contrasting Jubal's excitement. On their way back, he had pieced together the clues, suspecting the man who had survived leukemia.
Isobel smiled, her respect for Jack evident. "Exactly. Surveillance footage from an ATM near Sigbee's café captured several faces. We cross-referenced them with timestamps of the suspect computer's logins to the website. While we initially planned to investigate the frequent visitors, Aubrey immediately recognized Peter DeLeon."
In the operations center, DeLeon's photo and profile were displayed on the screen. The man appeared harmless—overweight with curly brown hair and a warm smile. Yet, in light of recent revelations, his image now seemed darkly ironic.
"Once we connected the dots and matched the timeline, I contacted the judge. Local police arrested Peter DeLeon an hour ago, and Aubrey is en route to bring him in. Meanwhile, Hannah and JJ are searching his apartment," Isobel explained.
"It looks like you're settling into your role quite well," Jack complimented.
Jubal, clearly uneasy, asked hesitantly, "Do you mind if I lead the interrogation?"
Jack nearly laughed. "Did you forget you're still in charge of the operations center?"
After two days of observation, Jack was convinced Jubal was fully committed to sobriety. It hadn't been easy, but the past had clearly left a lasting impact on him.
About an hour later, an energized Aubrey escorted Peter DeLeon into the interrogation room.
Jack, satisfied with how the case had unfolded, chose to step back. The investigation—from evidence collection to deductions—had been a team effort. His role had been more of a catalyst than anything else. Watching from the observation room, Jack felt a swell of pride in his team's performance.
"I'm Supervisory Agent Valentine," Jubal introduced himself sternly, tossing a file onto the table.
DeLeon, his hands cuffed to the table, greeted them with his usual disarming smile. His tone was slow and measured, as if trying to reassure everyone around him.
"Can someone please tell me what this is all about?"
Jubal paced methodically around the room, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "You had acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a child, correct?"
DeLeon shifted slightly in his chair, his fixed smile betraying a hint of discomfort. "What's the problem with that?"
"You underwent a bone marrow transplant, didn't you? The donor wasn't related to you, but the procedure was successful. You were effectively cured."
DeLeon's gaze flicked to Aubrey, standing by the door, before returning to Jubal. "Yes… how do you know all this?" he asked, feigning curiosity.
(End of Chapter)
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