Chapter 267: Collapse
"This is the fastest method we can think of, but regardless of your choice, we won't give up searching for your daughter," Rossi said sincerely, his voice steady and powerful.
"I'm sorry, I can't do it. I'm sorry, Bruce, I can't do it." Mrs. Owen struggled out of her husband's arms and stumbled out of the room.
Jack glanced at Hannah, who immediately followed her out.
No matter how heartbroken the parents seemed, until the truth was uncovered, they were still suspects. Self-directed kidnappings weren't uncommon.
Having Hannah follow Mrs. Owen was both to prevent any mishaps and a form of covert surveillance.
"Jason, I don't think this is a good idea."
The middle-aged, overweight man who claimed to be Jason Vaughn's friend, Pat Mannan, had been whispering in his ear incessantly, but Jason Vaughn remained stone-faced and unresponsive.
Jack glanced at the man with a hint of curiosity about his identity. Jason Vaughn didn't seem to like this guy. Did he really have such a friend? The guy seemed overly enthusiastic.
"Let's start."
Seeing no objections from the two fathers, everyone gathered around the computer as Hotchner opened the audio file sent by Garcia.
"Stop. Please stop. Stop, Daddy, help!"
"Don't resist!"
"Oh my God, stop! Help! Stop!"
"Don't let them know you're scared!"
"Let go of me. Don't do this to me. Stop, Daddy, help me. Daddy, save me!"
While listening to the recording, Jack kept his eyes on the two fathers. Pain, relief, sympathy, and worry flashed across Jason Vaughn's face.
Disbelief, sadness, pain, heartbreak, and doubt were written all over Bruce Owen's face.
"Play it again." Bruce Owen was already in tears after hearing the recording.
No more words were needed; the BAU team already had their answer.
"Mr. Owen," Hotchner began softly.
"That's not Katie. I know her voice. That's not Katie. Play it again, please, play it again," Bruce Owen shook his head continuously, trying to deny everything in front of him.
"Bruce," Mrs. Owen, supported by Hannah, reappeared at the door, crying uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Owen," Emily walked to the door, wanting to comfort her but unsure how to start.
"No, dear, it's okay. That's not her. I can tell it's not her voice. Trust me."
Seeing Bruce Owen on the verge of collapse, Jason Vaughn stepped forward and hugged him.
"Bruce."
"Jason, that's not Katie, right? You know it's not Katie's voice."
Bruce Owen's voice was half pleading, half wailing, and by the end, he was sobbing uncontrollably.
"That is Katie." Jason Vaughn's words shattered his last bit of hope.
"No!!! My Katie!!!" Bruce Owen cried out in agony and despair like a wounded beast.
"We should go out. Come on, come with me." Jason Vaughn, though not tall, was quite strong. He effortlessly helped the collapsing man out of the office.
After sending the two families out, Hotchner turned to Hannah, who was assisting with the case, and gave orders.
"Immediately release the photo of the other girl, Lindsay. I want her picture all over the city by dawn, in newspapers and on morning TV news."
"No problem," Hannah nodded.
"Let's go together. I have a few media contacts we can use," JJ offered, linking arms with her.
The two pretty girls, looking like close sisters, left the office together.
Rossi refocused on the evidence board. "They tortured and abused Katie for a long time. It was very cruel and violent, and the phone recording shows the girl was screaming all the time."
"But it didn't alert any neighbors. Why?"
"I've checked the police reports from that time. There's no related record," Emily displayed the documents in her hand.
"Basement?" Jack quickly dismissed his own guess.
In California, due to the sandy soil, basements are usually expensive to construct. In areas where land prices are low, like southern Los Angeles, few people dig basements.
"I'm done," Reid, who had been working quietly in a corner, stretched and discarded his marker.
The transparent map board was filled with dense symbols and lines.
"The girls were kidnapped on the southern edge of the city, near the suburbs, nine miles from the dump site. I suspect the murder scene is somewhere in between."
Reid pointed to the large circle on the transparent map board.
"The area is large, but if we consider concealed and controlled environments, we can narrow it down to wooded areas, industrial zones, and abandoned houses."
He marked some places with X's as he spoke.
Although the remaining area was still large, it had significantly reduced.
Seeing Rossi and Hotchner looking at him, Jack, as a former LAPD officer, understood immediately.
"Got it. I'll coordinate. The Southeast District's manpower won't be enough. I'll talk to the Wilshire Division and get some help."
The FBI could directly communicate with higher-ups or simply assign the search task to the Southeast Division.
But for execution and efficiency, Jack contacting his local connections would be better. That's the advantage of being a local.
Hotchner checked his watch. "Tomorrow morning, Rossi, you take Reid and Jack to investigate Jason Vaughn's home."
"Emily, you and I will visit the cinema where the two girls disappeared."
---
Contacting Blackface Captain Gray went smoothly, probably because a certain drug cartel's yacht had recently been nearly launched into orbit by an unknown good Samaritan. Life had been relatively easy for the Wilshire police.
As street patrol officers, they always had endless work, but the old buddies all showed up, with Tim leading the team personally.
After greeting Tim and John, Jack arranged the search tasks and then went home to rest. He arrived home at midnight, slept for four hours, and got up to start his busy day.
At 6 AM, delivery man Jack brought dozens of steaming chestnut cakes, donuts, and large cups of coffee to the LAPD officers who had worked all night.
His chest still felt tight, especially in the afternoon. Damn it, he should schedule a physical next week.
___________________
Read Ahead
P@treon.com/Mutter