With a final few taps of his hammer, Jack inspected the waterproof layer he had just installed and carefully repositioned the tiles on the roof. Satisfied with his work, he climbed down the ladder, smiling proudly as he admired the fully restored house before him.
"I honestly don't know how to thank you all," Ray Higgins said, standing beside Jack with an emotional expression. His home looked completely transformed.
"No need to be too grateful; we did agree on payment," Jack teased, accepting a stack of twenty-dollar bills from Higgins. He counted through it quickly—$1,000 in total—compensation for three days of hard work by Jack, Jubal, and Aubrey.
Over those three days, they had cleaned up Higgins' overgrown yard, removed large piles of junk, replaced rotting siding and old wiring, and installed new flooring to replace the creaking wooden boards. After painting both the interior and exterior, Jack had finally repaired the roof, which had been damaged by a fallen tree branch.
JJ and Hannah also contributed significantly, taking on much of the logistical work. Hannah handled shopping for supplies, while JJ prepared the meals.
Jack divided the $1,000 evenly among the team members, giving each person $200. Aubrey, delighted beyond measure, beamed as he held his share.
"I swear I'm going to frame these ten $20 bills," Aubrey said, laughing. "This is the hardest-earned money of my entire life." The former Wall Street banker found humor in the irony of his situation.
Hannah stuck her tongue out at him playfully. Over the past few days, Aubrey had eaten the most while doing the least. He was also accident-prone, often hurting himself—whether by dropping wood on his foot or hammering his own hand—making him about as effective as a third-rate handyman.
In contrast, Jubal performed impressively. Despite being a city dweller from New York, he lived in the suburbs and had a well-equipped workshop at home. He handled tasks like painting and basic carpentry with ease, showing skills that rivaled some veteran handymen.
Still, the majority of the work had fallen to Jack, who had initiated the project to help the elderly police chief in the first place.
Higgins' house wasn't particularly large—around 3,000 to 4,000 square feet across two stories. Although he received a tax reduction as a senior citizen, the property taxes, insurance, and upkeep costs still posed a significant financial burden. Many elderly homeowners in similar situations would sell their properties, invest the proceeds, and move into assisted living facilities. Higgins had been considering this as well, especially after the emotional toll of the Gabriel incident made him want to leave the area.
However, to sell the house, he needed it to be in good condition. Before their renovations, it had been in such poor shape that it would've been difficult to attract buyers. Unlike the dilapidated farmhouse Gabriel had chosen, Higgins' property was in a decent neighborhood, with good potential value once properly maintained.
The fugitive task force didn't harbor much sympathy for Gabriel himself. They had risked capturing him alive mainly out of concern for Higgins. As a kind-hearted man, the chief didn't deserve the heartbreak of losing someone he had once treated like a son.
Although Americans didn't have an exact equivalent of the phrase "good deeds are rewarded," they did have expressions like "Whatever you put out there comes back to you." Gabriel, however, was unlikely to see freedom again. He would probably spend the rest of his life in either a federal maximum-security prison or a psychiatric facility.
Knowing that, the team had readily supported Jack's suggestion to help Higgins. To ensure Higgins wouldn't feel indebted, Jubal had cleverly asked about the budget Higgins had initially set aside—around $10,000—and then proposed a labor fee of $1,000.
Wooden houses in the U.S. followed standardized construction and repair systems, making materials reasonably affordable. The real expense was labor, which often cost tens of thousands of dollars for large-scale renovations. By charging a minimal fee, the team gave Higgins a substantial discount without making it seem like charity.
Jack explained that this approach wasn't just for Higgins' benefit—it also helped the team cope emotionally. Dealing with too many tragic cases could leave agents feeling powerless. Successfully altering a story's trajectory, even in small ways, provided a sense of hope and accomplishment. Plus, Jack quipped, "It's better than spending all our bounty money partying with supermodels on yachts." A bit of manual labor was good for the soul.
After finishing the repairs, the team bid farewell to Higgins and returned to New York. With no new cases at the moment, Jack took the opportunity to visit Los Angeles with JJ.
Chris had finally auctioned off the abstract Pollock-esque painting in his RV. Although it didn't fetch hundreds of millions as a real Pollock might, the anonymous sale still brought in over $30 million. These funds were being reinvested in a new internet startup, which would appear to be under the Anderson family's control. From the outside, it would look like this influential Californian political dynasty was branching into the tech sector.
In reality, Jack and the Wolfe brothers held a 51% stake, while the Anderson family—represented by Zoe—controlled 40%, with the remaining shares reserved for future distribution.
The Anderson family's bank had provided an initial $50 million in financing and promised an additional $200 million over the next few years. Jack didn't fully understand the financial intricacies but knew that this venture was part of a long-term political strategy to boost Zoe's career. The goal was for her to secure a U.S. Senate seat within three years.
The U.S. Senate consisted of 100 seats—two per state—with staggered six-year terms and no term limits. In many ways, the Senate held more enduring power than the presidency, which was limited to two four-year terms.
Jack's trip to Los Angeles involved signing a mountain of important documents related to these assets. Some of the paperwork even had to be filed with the FBI. Meanwhile, JJ returned to the BAU to wrap up some unfinished business and reconnect with old colleagues, having left somewhat abruptly last time.
Hannah opted not to join them, knowing Jack was there for business. Besides, Clay's baby provided plenty of entertainment to keep her occupied.
(End of Chapter)
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