Jack spent three days in Los Angeles, where, in addition to signing a mountain of documents, he toured an underground "radiation shelter" located 15 meters below ground, connecting Chris and Braxton's family farm with his own.
Inspired by the plans Jack had shared earlier (in Chapter 568), the brothers had constructed a large-scale version of a secure underground facility to house Justin's secret data center. They even built a tunnel linking the two farms.
However, California's geology wasn't ideal for shallow underground structures. Being situated along the San Andreas Fault, the state experienced frequent earthquakes. Excessive groundwater extraction for agricultural irrigation had also caused significant land subsidence in many areas, especially in the Central Valley.
Despite these challenges, the brothers had pressed on, sparing no expense to build the facility. The project had drained most of their funds, including money they had seized during a run-in with a Mexican cartel. This was also why Chris had to sell his abstract painting.
Although some of Jack's money had been spent on the project, he didn't mind. It was included as part of his stake in their new company, and Jack understood the importance of security in their unpredictable world.
The facility would take at least another year to complete, with issues like earthquake resistance and server cooling still needing to be addressed. However, compared to the upcoming social media and short-video platform startup—expected to burn through tens of millions of dollars—this was a relatively minor expense.
The new startup's funding was essential for Zoe's political ambitions. While the Anderson family wielded significant influence in California, they lacked sufficient clout on the federal level. To avoid the same fate as a certain TikTalk platform from Jack's previous life, securing a Senate seat for Zoe had become a top priority.
Just as Jack was preparing to return to New York with JJ, a call from Rossi summoned them to a different underground facility: the SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) beneath the FBI's Los Angeles field office. The last time Jack had been there was during a crisis involving Emily, where they had met with executives from the private security firm "CWS" (Clearwater Security).
This time, there were no outsiders present—just Rossi, Hotch, and a female supervisor named Natalie, who had previously been Hannah's direct superior on homicide cases.
"You're in the middle of investigating a series of home invasion rape-murders, right? Did something unexpected come up? It's not another damn terrorist, is it?" Jack asked, feeling a twinge of dread.
The BAU hadn't been able to meet with him yet because they were tied up with this case. According to JJ, three women in the greater Los Angeles area had been attacked and killed under similar circumstances. The LAPD and California state police (LASD) were overwhelmed and had called in the BAU for assistance.
"No, it's not a terrorist," Rossi said, motioning for Jack and JJ to sit. "But we found something unusual—something that might lead to a scenario no one wants to face."
Hotch began explaining as surveillance footage played on a large screen.
"This footage is from the gated community where Patricia Brannon, the third victim, lived. We caught the suspect entering the area before the attack," Hotch said gravely.
The screen showed a man dressed in formal attire—black suit, white shirt, neatly styled brown hair—walking toward one of the townhouses.
"He looks very professional," JJ noted, raising an eyebrow. The atmosphere in the room and everyone's serious expressions gave her a bad feeling.
"Garcia used the image analysis software from the New York bombing case," Hotch continued, "but the footage isn't very clear. Based on height comparisons, the suspect is estimated to be between 5'7" and 5'10" (170-178 cm) and weighs around 160 pounds (72.5 kg)."
Despite Hotch's usual stoic demeanor, Jack could tell from subtle microexpressions that this case had him deeply concerned.
The footage had been edited and stitched together from various angles. While there was no audio, the video quality was decent. It showed the suspect knocking on a townhouse door. A middle-aged woman answered, and the two engaged in a brief conversation.
"Do we have a shot of his face?" Jack asked. The suspect kept his head down, avoiding cameras. The only time he looked straight ahead was when his back was to the surveillance camera.
"No," Hotch replied. "He's cautious and composed. Other than intentionally avoiding the cameras, he walked through the complex as if he lived there."
In the footage, the suspect made a subtle motion with his hand, prompting the woman to trust him enough to invite him inside.
"Is he showing her some kind of ID?" JJ wondered aloud. The gesture was all too familiar to her, as she often did the same thing when identifying herself as an agent.
Watching this scene unfold, Jack quickly grasped why Rossi had called him in. A stranger gaining immediate trust from a lone woman strongly suggested the suspect was impersonating a law enforcement officer.
"LAPD and state police officers typically just display their badges—usually worn on their belts or on a chain around their necks. They rarely flash identification cards. So, you're worried he might be one of us?" Jack asked.
By "us," Jack was referring to federal agents, not just FBI field agents but those from any federal law enforcement agency. Of course, FBI agents were the most recognizable of the bunch.
"Exactly," Hotch confirmed. "We need to rule out that possibility or catch him quickly. If word gets out that a federal agent might be a serial killer, the fallout will be catastrophic."
If the media got wind of such a case, the damage to public trust would be enormous. The FBI maintained strict oversight of its agents. Vehicles and issued phones were equipped with GPS trackers, and while internal misconduct existed, it usually involved corruption or abuse of power—not serial murder.
Even if the suspect wasn't an FBI agent but someone from another federal agency, the team couldn't afford to take any chances. Jack leaned toward the theory that the suspect was an impostor, but they couldn't dismiss the worst-case scenario.
Even if the killer was merely using a fake ID, it would still erode trust in federal agents. No one wanted a situation where federal officers were met with suspicion—or worse, armed hostility—when presenting their credentials.
Natalie, the homicide supervisor, looked particularly tense. Her agents would naturally be among the first to come under scrutiny.
The footage paused on the moment the suspect displayed what appeared to be identification. Unfortunately, the camera angle and image resolution weren't sufficient to reveal any details. If Jack had a clearer view, he might have been able to use his lip-reading skills.
"You understand why I called you now, right?" Rossi said, his voice uncharacteristically harsh. "If this son of a bitch is one of our own, I want you to be the one to take him down."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]