It would take at least six months to establish a new task force, and the BAU also needed to find a new recruit, so Jiejie didn't rush to New York.
As soon as Jack returned to New York, he called Jason Hayes of SEAL Team B to see if he could recruit one or two suitable veterans.
After all, hunting wanted criminals is a dangerous job, and recruiting a few skilled fighters is essential. The FBI has a special policy for veterans, even those who are a bit older.
Furthermore, while many veterans seek out PMCs for lucrative opportunities, the risks are actually higher, with the risk of injury.
While the FBI's treatment may be lower, Jason Hayes, working with Jack, could confidently introduce his friends and know they would be treated well.
If it weren't for another Jack, the hulking Jack Reacher, who was tired of the routine and wanted to wander the world, Jack would have considered him first, and Jiejie would have been a distant second.
This guy's fighting prowess was unprecedented, his attacks ruthless and brutal. Furthermore, Reacher, a veteran of the military, was also proficient in a wide range of weaponry. Jack suspected that even a head-on confrontation with Chris wouldn't be his match.
He was also adept at elementary deduction, possessing a formidable ability in logical reasoning. He was a classic example of a man of great size and intelligence. Unfortunately, Jack knew he could be a good short-term help, perhaps against one or two targeted enemies, but a long-term recruit was out of the question.
Even more frustrating was the lack of any word from the Navy SEALs. Jason Hayes was about to depart on a mission, presumably to a small African country. Luckily, Jack had plenty of time, so they agreed to reconnect in a month.
Of course, Dana Moger wouldn't let him idle during this time. He still had work to do before his promotion and transfer were officially announced. Shortly after the Christmas and New Year holidays, a call from the CSI New York lab summoned Jack.
"We might be dealing with a serial killer, a mysterious female ghost killer. I heard you're a consultant for the BAU, so we've requested assistance from the FBI." Mike Taylor looked exhausted, seemingly tormented by this new case.
"A female serial killer?" Jack's interest was piqued. He'd seen plenty of serial killers, but a female one was truly rare. Could it be a female agent from a movie who'd been exposed to CSI's forensic technology?
With a wry smile, Mike Taylor began describing a recent case the CSI lab had received: a seemingly ordinary murder of a husband.
The Carters were a middle-aged couple who had been married for eight years. They lived a happy, middle-class life, at least in the eyes of outsiders.
Three days earlier, Mrs. Carter had walked into the NYPD and confessed to having murdered her husband the previous night. The crime had taken place in their home, a luxurious apartment in an upscale Manhattan neighborhood.
The police were stunned when they arrived at the scene. The restaurant was a shambles, with plates, glasses, various foods, and wine bottles scattered across the floor. Blood spread from the dining room into the living room. A man lay dead at the table, his chest stabbed.
"Seventeen stab wounds!?" Jack gasped. What a grudge! "So the murder weapon was a steak knife. What was Mrs. Carter's motive?"
"She found a jewelry box in Kevin Carter's coat. Inside was a ring and a small card. It said, 'To my beloved Kevin.'"
Mike Taylor took a sip of the black coffee on the table, frowning at the bitterness. He paused, then gulped it down like a pill.
"Sounds like a woman who dares to love and hate." Jack shuddered, putting down the photos from the scene. This Kevin Carter was indeed handsome, but he didn't expect him to be a sea king. Ugh, what a scumbag!
"So what's the problem?" He was a little confused. Could it be that this Mrs. Carter, who sounded like a housewife, was once a serial killer discovered by the CSI through DNA matching? But since she had already turned herself in, why did they come to him?
"The problem is that we found DNA belonging to an unknown third party at the scene. It was on the handle of the steak knife that was confirmed to be the murder weapon and on half a loaf of bread that had fallen from the bread basket." Mike Taylor said, holding out a DNA report.
"Then this morning, when our researcher was conducting the DNA search, he made a small mistake and performed a double search request on both the national and local databases. Normally, these two databases are synchronized every one or two months."
"Wow, and then you discovered that this unknown woman's DNA matches evidence from 21 recent cases in surrounding states?" Jack flipped through the report.
"Murder, burglary, robbery and murder—all serious crimes, spanning Connecticut, New Jersey, uptown New York, Long Island City—a total of three states and seven different jurisdictions. Sounds like you've encountered a female killer?"
"My access only allows me to access information on two other cases, both in New York." Mike Taylor pulled two thick folders from a drawer and presented them to Jack.
"This was a drug-related home invasion and homicide that occurred in the Bronx more than a week ago. The victim was shot with a 9mm pistol, and we found related DNA on the bullet casings left at the scene.
This was a stabbing that occurred in a club in Queens in the early morning five days ago. The murder weapon was a dagger, but we found the suspected murderer's DNA on the rim of a red wine glass left at the scene."
"Uh," Jack frowned like Mike Taylor, "the murder weapon is different, the fingerprints are different, and the motives are different. There is no other information connection except DNA. It seems that your researcher's small mistake has caught a big fish. Could it be a female professional killer?"
Mike Taylor pursed his lips, very distressed, "The problem now is that we have only seen the vortex stirred up by this big fish, but the news is about to be lost, and some news media with a keen sense of smell are already ready to move."
"So you don't want to ask the BAU for help, but want to drag the FBI into the water to help you share the pressure, right?" Jack snorted and sneered.
"At least I don't think so. I need to gather the remaining case files as quickly as possible, and asking the FBI for help is the quickest way." Mike Taylor, despite his air of being a decent man and handling everything in a businesslike manner, couldn't hide the slightest smile on his face.
They were all so familiar with each other, and Jack was just being joking. He'd asked the CSI for help more than once before, so it was only right that he return the favor.
"Just send these lists directly to the FBI's New York office. Someone will contact the relevant departments to retrieve the case files."
Jack rubbed his hands, his face full of energy. "Until we gather those files, let's start with the recent murder case. How are things going?"
"Dr. Hammerbeck should be performing an autopsy on the husband right now. He's on the basement floor. I need to go to Director Reagan's office for questioning. Is there anything you need to bring?"
Mike Taylor handed Jack a high-security internal pass, picked up his coat from the back of his chair, and made a gesture as if he was about to leave.
Jack felt like he was being taken advantage of for free. He rubbed his chin. "If possible, have Detective Reagan be my partner. And isn't your medical examiner Dr. Hawke?"
He was quite impressed by the refined and handsome black medical examiner.
"Sheldon Hawke just passed his professional exam and is now a Level 2 researcher. He's the one who made the minor mistake that led to the discovery of this mysterious female serial killer." He had a round face, so a smile would naturally make him look more honest, but when Mike Taylor smiled, he always gave off a hint of cunning.