Jack and Reid shared a knowing smile, while the bald medical examiner stared in shock at how seamlessly the two young FBI agents had painted a vivid profile of a sadistic killer right in front of him.
After leaving the coroner's office, Jack dropped Reid off at the BAU's field office and picked up Emily to visit the scene of the third murder—the townhouse complex where Patricia Brannon had been killed.
A uniformed LAPD officer stood guard at the entrance. Jack didn't recognize him since the crime scene wasn't within the Wilshire Division's jurisdiction. The community looked newly renovated, with security measures like tall iron gates and surveillance cameras giving a false impression of strong security.
As soon as Emily stepped out of the car, she began analyzing the situation from the killer's perspective. "How do you think he knew which house to target?"
"Probably similar to how burglars operate," Jack replied, glancing up at the surveillance cameras. There was only one camera positioned at the entrance gate, mounted too high to capture anyone who ducked under its view.
"Could've been tracking the victim, leaving a marker, posing as a delivery driver—or just walking in," Jack said as he gave the gate a gentle push. To his surprise, it swung open. The lock was broken.
"Well, that explains a lot," he muttered.
The layout resembled a row of small townhouses rather than traditional apartments. Outside of downtown and commercial areas, multi-story residential buildings were rare in the Los Angeles suburbs, a stark contrast to cities like New York.
After inspecting the crime scene, Jack and Emily came up empty-handed. They decided to walk around the courtyard, knocking on doors to question residents. However, most gave the same responses: they hadn't heard or seen anything suspicious.
"This community is tiny," Emily remarked. "Just two rows of houses, about thirty units, all facing a shared central courtyard. And yet, no one saw or heard anything when Patricia Brannon was killed."
"That fits Reid's profile," Jack said thoughtfully. "The killer is methodical, experienced, and knows how to move unnoticed."
He pointed to two cameras mounted high on opposite ends of the courtyard. "These are way too obvious. They practically show intruders where to avoid."
A new thought crossed his mind. "Before you suspected it might be an inside job, did you check for any known offenders living nearby?"
"Of course," Emily replied. "Garcia pulled records on every criminal in the Los Angeles area with a history of BDSM, binding, or similar offenses. We narrowed it down to three suspects. By the time Rossi called you, we had just cleared the last one."
"They had alibis?" Jack asked as he politely opened the car door for Emily.
"The first two did. The last guy went back to prison the day before yesterday."
"Thanks," Emily said with a smile as she climbed in. Jack teasingly kissed her hand, making her laugh. "Careful, Jack. You're getting close to winning my heart."
Jack gave her a mock French salute, though he knew not to push his luck. Joking too much with someone he was close to could easily backfire. He was already wary of JJ's growing shooting skills thanks to his training sessions with her.
Back at the BAU office, Reid was still the only one present, busily organizing evidence. Hotch, JJ, and Rossi remained in the SCIF, inaccessible by regular phone lines. However, Jack had a workaround.
He headed to Garcia's office, which was a riot of color and chaos. Cute plush toys, quirky trinkets, and neon lights from her computer equipment created a surreal, cyberpunk-esque atmosphere.
Jack placed a caramel macchiato—complete with a heart design—on her desk and pulled up a chair beside her. She was wearing a pink Bluetooth headset and chatting with Rossi.
"Yes, sir," she said. "There are no recent reports of lost or stolen FBI credentials. I also cross-referenced the travel logs of every male FBI agent who came to Los Angeles for work or personal reasons.
Only three agents from the local field office were near two of the crime scenes within the past week. However, none of them were present at all three locations."
Jack glanced at the agents' recent movements and gestured for Garcia to hand him the headset.
"Rossi, it's Jack. I just came from the scene with Emily. It's not them," he said confidently.
"Why not?" Rossi asked.
"Because during the third murder, all three agents were near Long Beach. With LA's infamous traffic at 8 PM, there's no way they could've made it to the crime scene in time, even if they had help."
Jack could hear Rossi exhale in relief. "That's good news. We can probably rule out our own agents. But we still need to check other federal law enforcement agencies. JJ, prepare a carefully worded internal bulletin."
Rossi had wanted Jack on the case not just for his investigative skills but also for his combat prowess. If the killer turned out to be a trained federal agent, things could escalate quickly during an arrest. Jack's presence would minimize the risk of casualties.
Additionally, if the investigation uncovered any sensitive information the FBI didn't want leaked, Jack's reputation for "decisive action" ensured that the killer could be neutralized if necessary. Jack understood the implication immediately.
Later that evening, Jack decided to unwind with a few of his old colleagues from the Wilshire Division. He invited John, Angela, and Tim out for a small gathering.
John was delighted to see Jack staying in LA, but Tim and Angela exchanged uneasy glances. As a detective and police captain, they were privy to local news, including reports of a serial killer operating in a neighboring precinct.
Jack didn't hide anything from them. He explained the case in broad terms, advising them to stay alert.
Angela took the warning in stride, being a seasoned detective. However, Jack was more concerned about John, who still patrolled the streets daily, and Tim, who occasionally joined his officers on patrol.
Given Jack's past experiences in this chaotic world, he suspected that if the killer wandered into Wilshire's jurisdiction, John's "trouble magnet" tendencies would likely draw him in. Jack preferred to prepare them in advance rather than risk them being caught off guard by a suspect posing as a federal agent.
After a brief but serious conversation, Jack left early, having only had two glasses of lemonade. He returned home with JJ to rest at his recently rebuilt house.
The next morning, Jack barely had time to settle into the BAU office before another call came in. There had been a new murder, matching the previous cases. This time, the crime had occurred within the Wilshire Division's jurisdiction.
Jack and JJ drove to the scene in the armored "Mammoth" SUV, while Emily and Reid followed in a Suburban. Upon arrival, they weren't surprised to see John, Tim, and Angela already there.
(End of Chapter)
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