Chris Carter - Gallery of the Dead

‘You called it, buddy,’ Garcia said, nodding at his partner.

‘What?’ Kennedy asked.

‘Robert had a hunch that this killer had offended before,’ Captain Blake replied.

‘How many victims so far, Adrian?’ Hunter asked.

Kennedy looked back at him and his reply was a simple head tilt accompanied by an eyebrow movement.

‘How many victims, Adrian?’ Hunter pushed, his voice calm albeit demanding.

‘I’m sorry, Detective.’ This time the reply came from Special Agent Fisher. ‘But that information is on a need-to-know basis and since this isn’t an LAPD investigation anymore, you don’t—’

‘Special Agent Fisher,’ Kennedy cut her short. ‘Why don’t you go get a coffee or something? I noticed they have a machine right at the end of the corridor. I’ll call you back in here when I need you.’

Agent Fisher paused, her mouth semi-open in dismay.

‘But sir, I was just replying to—’

‘ Outside , Agent Fisher.’ Kennedy’s hoarse voice seemed to gain a new depth. ‘I’ll call you back in here when I need you.’

‘Ooooohh,’ Garcia said playfully. ‘Someone just got handed the keys to the dog-house.’

Agent Fisher faced him while pretending to scratch the tip of her nose with her right middle finger.

Garcia winked back at her. ‘That’s cute. Did you learn that at the FBI Academy?’

As she exited the office, Agent Fisher had to call on all her willpower not to slam the door behind her.

‘How many murders so far, Adrian?’ Hunter asked one more time.

‘I was harsh on her, Robert,’ Kennedy replied. ‘But Special Agent Fisher was right, and you know it. That sort of information is on a need-to-know basis and, officially, this investigation doesn’t belong to the LAPD anymore.’

‘Hey, wait a second there,’ Captain Blake cut in. ‘How about a little professional courtesy, huh? You guys want us to hand over everything we’ve got on this investigation so far, right? How about you guys give us a little before taking everything?’

Kennedy peeked first at Special Agent Williams and then at the picture board. For a moment he looked deep in thought.

‘OK, I guess that’s fair,’ he finally replied. ‘But I have a better proposal.’ The pause that followed was clearly deliberate and Hunter could already guess what was coming next. That was why he refrained from asking the obvious question, unlike Captain Blake.

‘And that is?’

‘Why don’t the FBI and the LAPD join forces on this one?’

‘Excuse me, sir?’ The surprise in Special Agent Williams’ voice was almost tangible.

‘Remember when I told you that The Surgeon might’ve just made his first and worst mistake?’

‘Yes?’

Kennedy’s chin jerked in Hunter’s direction. ‘That’s his mistake right there.’

‘The Surgeon?’ Garcia asked, frowning at Hunter. ‘Mistake...? What...?’

‘Sorry, sir,’ Agent Williams said. ‘But I don’t follow either.’

‘The Surgeon’s last victim was murdered inside Los Angeles,’ Kennedy explained. ‘Which obviously falls under LAPD jurisdiction. And because he used excessive violence,’ he indicated the board, ‘the investigation was automatically assigned to the LAPD’s Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, which is headed by Detective Hunter.’

‘Yes... so?’ Agent Williams still looked puzzled.

‘Well, Robert Hunter is the best criminal profiler I’ve ever worked with,’ Kennedy said. ‘He’s the best criminal profiler the FBI has never had. I’ve tried to recruit him into the NCAVC so many times I’ve lost count.’

‘And flattery won’t get you there this time either, Adrian,’ Hunter said.

‘But that’s the thing, Robert,’ Kennedy replied. ‘I’m not trying to recruit you, not this time. What I’m offering here is a joint effort between the FBI’s NCAVC and the LAPD’s UVC Unit. This is not a job offer. You will not become an FBI agent. You’ll still be an LAPD detective, but you’ll gain nationwide jurisdiction for the entire length of the investigation. What I’m offering you here is a chance to stay in this investigation and to catch this sick freak.’

‘I’m sorry, sir,’ Agent Williams said. ‘I don’t mean to interrupt, but bringing outside help into this investigation isn’t necessary. I respect Detective Hunter’s work. I really do. I read his book and all, but if I may speak frankly, he doesn’t have the training or the ability for something of this magnitude. He’s just a PD detective and all he’ll do is slow us down.’ He looked at Hunter. ‘No offense.’

‘None taken,’ Hunter replied.

‘Well, I got offended,’ Garcia cut in, raising a hand. ‘Just a PD detective...?’

Kennedy lifted his right index finger to silence them for a minute. ‘What do you say, Robert?’

Hunter stayed quiet.

‘I know you, old buddy,’ Kennedy pushed. ‘I know that when you sink your teeth into a case, especially when it’s something as intriguing as this, you just can’t let go that easily.’ He paused again, studying Hunter. ‘I want you on this case, Robert. That’s the reason why I’m here. I didn’t fly all this way just to tell you that the FBI was taking over your investigation. I came here because I wanted to talk to you person to person and because I am the only one who can make this happen. I can make it official in less than fifteen minutes. All you’ve got to do is say the word.’

Hunter kept his eyes on Kennedy but his mind took him back to just a few hours ago, when he had been sitting face to face with Emily Parker, Linda Parker’s mother. As Hunter was getting up to leave, Mrs. Parker had reached out and placed a trembling hand on his shoulder.

‘Detective,’ she said in a voice strangled by tears. ‘Please promise me that you will catch him. Please promise me that you will make this sonofabitch pay for what he’s done to my daughter. She was my only child.’ With those words, Emily Parker broke down in sobs again.

‘We’ll do all we can to bring the person responsible for your daughter’s death to justice, Mrs. Parker,’ Hunter replied.

‘No,’ Emily Parker came back, her voice angry. ‘That’s not good enough, Detective. I don’t want to hear the kind of crap you feed the six o’clock news reporters. You can save that bullshit for the press. I want your personal promise that you will catch this sonofabitch. That you won’t rest until this sick freak is behind bars. Promise me, Detective. Promise me.’

Hunter wasn’t one to promise anything he wasn’t absolutely sure he could deliver, but right then he knew that Emily Parker was hurting in a way she’d never hurt before, and all she was really after was some reassurance that the people tasked with catching her daughter’s killer would not give up on her. Hunter phrased his answer the best way he could without having to lie.

‘Mrs. Parker, I give you my word that I won’t rest until the person who took your daughter from you is behind bars. That I can promise you.’

The conviction in Hunter’s voice brought a new barrage of tears to Mrs. Parker’s eyes.

‘How many victims, Adrian?’ Hunter asked again.

Kennedy could sense that Hunter was on the brink of giving in. It was only fair that he conceded some ground as well.

‘This is his third victim,’ Kennedy finally replied.

Hunter and Garcia exchanged a concerned look.

‘Where were the others located?’ Garcia this time. ‘We know they weren’t in LA, probably not even in California, so where has this guy struck before?’

Kennedy faced him.

‘Sir, please,’ Agent Williams intervened. ‘We really don’t need any help here.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Garcia addressed the agent. ‘We’re just mere PD detectives, right? All we’re going to do is slow you guys down.’