Chapter 74: The Man with the 8x Scope
"...Impulse is dangerous. Maybe someone just snapped when they heard the news?" The lead agent remained unconvinced, making one last stubborn attempt.
"People can certainly lose control in extreme moments," Chuck nodded. "But someone who's lost their mind wouldn't use newspaper clippings to create an untraceable message. And if that were the case, you'd already have a suspect. After all, you're colleagues—you should be aware of each other's emotional states. Do you?"
"...No!" The lead agent fell silent.
"I believe you," Chuck nodded, exchanged a glance with Gideon, and returned his attention to the crime scene.
They all understood what the lead agent was thinking. He was pushing so hard for an alternative explanation because he didn't want to be connected to Red John or anything similar.
Because compared to seeking revenge for a murdered family member, it was more morally defensible, giving all the agents a soft justification for the upcoming internal investigation.
Nobody liked those kinds of investigations!
Especially agents like them!
As federal law enforcement officers, once they're targeted for investigation, they're bound to have vulnerabilities exposed.
And as long as all agents coordinated their resistance with subtle tactics, their superiors would come up empty-handed, leaving the case unsolved.
"If it really is this Red John, didn't that punk girl claim to be his daughter?" The lead agent had lost his composure, but raised his doubts. "And this doesn't match Red John's pattern. Every time Red John commits a crime, he leaves a blood-red smiley face somewhere prominent."
"Not always," Reid continued. "A methodical, intelligent serial killer like him only leaves his signature when he's savoring the hunt. Whenever a case might expose his location or identity, he chooses to stay under the radar or use misdirection. That's why interviewing them after capture often revolutionizes our understanding of their methods. The cases we know about are just the tip of the iceberg of their actual crimes."
"People like that don't experience normal emotions," Morgan added. "Besides, he didn't necessarily do this personally. Red John operates on the West Coast in California, but this is New York on the East Coast—three thousand miles away. This had to be done by an associate."
"Leaving a note disguising this as revenge by a victim's family, or maybe someone with a strong sense of justice acting as a vigilante to reduce FBI scrutiny," Gideon, the BAU's senior profiler, observed thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "It gives the investigating agents a choice: either ignore the leads and simply dismiss Red John as a troublesome and difficult case to pursue, or if they do investigate, they can pretend they didn't. A case of righteous revenge can be left unsolved with a shrug. Even if everyone suspects the truth, they'll likely turn a blind eye. But fresh leads about Red John force us to approach this seriously and commit our full resources. Failure to make progress will negatively impact our careers."
"The Director chose the third option..." the lead agent said with mixed emotions.
He felt both frustrated with the Director's decision to launch this internal investigation and respect for her determination.
After the scene examination, everyone returned to the conference room to discuss the case with Unit Chief Hotchner and his team.
"There were 14 agents and staff on duty last night, and we can't rule out the possibility of unauthorized personnel entering the building," Director Kate explained in her distinctive British accent.
"I've already interviewed these 14 individuals and asked them to provide corroborating witnesses for their whereabouts. I've also verified their statements. So far, nothing appears suspicious. Garcia is also investigating whether anyone gained unauthorized access last night," Unit Chief Hotchner said as he drew a floor plan of the federal building on the whiteboard and marked the positions and timelines of the 14 personnel from the previous night. "Dr. Wolfe, I understand you're skilled at reading micro-expressions. Could you help verify their statements again?"
"Certainly," Chuck nodded.
"We could have them take polygraph tests," Director Kate expressed some skepticism about micro-expression analysis.
"Some individuals, through natural ability or training, can control their heart rate, pulse, and other physiological responses, rendering polygraphs ineffective," Reid explained. "While Chuck's micro-expression analysis isn't 100% accurate and doesn't work against naturally gifted liars, it's more reliable than polygraphs for most people who've learned deceptive techniques."
"Unfortunately, there are many people with antisocial personalities in this world. They're emotionally detached and often maintain very controlled or stable emotional responses. With minimal conscious effort and practice, they can fool both polygraphs and micro-expression analysis," Morgan shook his head ruefully. "And many of the people we encounter fit exactly that profile."
"That's because my micro-expression recognition isn't advanced enough," Chuck said calmly. "With sufficient skill and proper deductive reasoning, you often don't even need to listen to what someone's saying. Ask the right questions and all the necessary information will be revealed through their responses."
His enhanced capabilities were already exceptional. In this complex world, he wasn't Batman, but he could certainly match Daredevil's investigative abilities. Now, after the cognitive enhancement serum, all his attributes had been amplified. His investigative skills were relatively recent, so his accumulated knowledge and experience weren't as extensive as a certain curly-haired detective who might go bald. But when it came to detailed observation, he was unmatched.
What does it mean to have enhanced perception?
"I'll bring them here immediately." "Send them directly to the scene," Director Kate, noticing Chuck's confidence, glanced at Unit Chief Hotchner, pressed the intercom button, and instructed her assistant to notify them.
When everyone arrived at the crime scene, the group of 14 personnel also assembled.
"The Bureau's consultant has some questions for you," Director Kate announced. "Answer them carefully."
Chuck stepped forward, surveyed the 14 individuals, and asked, "Who did this?"
All 14 looked at each other, remaining silent.
Chuck approached the wall and drew the iconic Red John symbol using a pen dipped in blood. He asked, "Who here works for Red John?"
All 14 shook their heads, denying involvement.
"None of them," Chuck told Gideon, the BAU's senior profiler.
"Then someone infiltrated the building," Gideon nodded and looked at Unit Chief Hotchner. "Have Garcia expedite her investigation."
"Any word on her mother?" Chuck looked at Director Kate. "We should visit her home and speak with her mother. She passed along all her memories of her father to her daughter, so there might be crucial leads there."
"We're still investigating," Director Kate replied.
"Find them quickly," Gideon, the BAU's senior profiler, cautioned. "And once we locate them, we must provide maximum protection. We cannot allow what happened here to occur again."
(End of Chapter)
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