Peter: "Alright, you have plenty of ti to get to know each other, let's get to work. Jimmy, you're in charge."
Jimmy glanced at Hope and nodded, "Let's go then."
Jimmy and Hope left Peter's office, first grabbing Hope's gear bag and then heading to the parking lot. Hope led him to the Suburban, with just the two of them, it seed Hope had Peter's full trust.
Jimmy handed the keys to Hope, not familiar with DC, it was better for Hope to drive, allowing him to study the map and note down the route and surrounding neighborhoods.
Jimmy: "Hope, what cases have you worked on before?"
Hope replied while driving: "Anti-Terrorism Center, temporarily seconded here for support."
Jimmy nodded: "Have you gone through this case yet?"
Hope wasn't among the people at yesterday's eting, which was odd. Under normal circumstances, those in the eting room yesterday would be the ones investigating this case, and Peter hadn't introduced them to Jimmy.
Hope: "Yes, rest assured, I've reviewed all the clues. I'm also responsible for coordination with other agents, so whatever you need, just let know."
Jimmy: "OK, I understand, we'll go to the scene first, then to the DC office."
Jimmy's approach was correct; Peter hadn't assigned him to solve the case following the normal investigative route.
Jimmy and Hope got out of the car in the suburbs, the area indeed felt a bit desolate, with the nearest building two hundred ters away, and no roads leading to this area.
Two hundred ters isn't too far, but for most people, both sight and hearing beco largely ineffective at that distance.
Standing at the previously investigated scene, Jimmy examined the numbered tags on the ground and various markings in white spray paint, starting to piece together the relationship between the clues. Hope stood behind him, surveying the surroundings.
According to the previous investigation by the DC office, there was only one person's blood at the scene, Agent Benjamin Walker.
Agent Walker was recently transferred to a field position, previously an intelligence officer with little experience. The scene's situation suggests one possible explanation: Alex Becker and Benjamin Walker followed a lead to this place, either voluntarily or forced, and were then held at gunpoint.
Perhaps due to Walker's inexperience, or because he said sothing that enraged the assailant, he was shot, causing him to bleed. However, based on the amount of blood, he likely didn't die, aning the assailant didn't hit his heart or brain, nor severed an artery.
Senior Agent Alex Becker, on the other hand, was experienced. To beco a senior agent, he must have had considerable field experience. Perhaps recognizing the situation, he refrained from provoking the assailant, avoiding being shot, or at least, not being shot in a way that left blood. There were no footprints found, as the ground wasn't the type that easily captures shoe prints.
Given these possibilities, they were likely brought here.
Jimmy surveyed the surroundings. On foot, the area could be accessed from any direction, with no walls or trenches to indicate their path. If they ca by car, the only road was two hundred ters away.
With no clear tire tracks, they likely approached from that direction on foot.
Jimmy expanded the investigation radius in concentric circles from the blood traces, quickly finding the evidence he sought. Earlier investigations might have missed it—a patch of grass was flattened. Hard to see from afar but visible up close, the grass appeared lower. Jimmy's heightened sense of sll picked up a faint scent even after three days.
Jimmy used a pen to part the grass, finally spotting slight blood traces after thoroughly searching the area. "Hope, get the cara and evidence bags over here."
Hope ran back to the car while Jimmy took photos, then donned gloves to collect so blood-stained soil and grass blades into evidence bags. "Keep this safe, rush it to the lab when we return. We'll continue investigating."
Hope secured the evidence bags, watching Jimmy thodically circle outwards. He nodded in recognition of Jimmy's skills; the fa was well-deserved. This minor trace had gone unnoticed before, yet Jimmy found it quickly. DC office folks might be frustrated when the results co in.
Jimmy found another blood trace nearby, smaller this ti, and saw no others. Sothing was off—a gunshot victim, even with urgent bandaging, would leave more than just these faint traces unless transported by vehicle.
Returning to the car, Jimmy eyed a nearby house. Agents had already questioned the residents, and Jimmy reviewed the notes. Locals reported nothing unusual, no gunshots heard.
Jimmy instructed Hope to drive while he walked a bit further, eventually spotting his target: a gray-blue tent beside so cardboard boxes.
Holess people were a common sight across U.S. cities, except where local policies or community efforts restricted them. Generally, they could be seen anywhere, moving often, giving the impression of larger numbers, though a major city might only have tens of thousands of holess.
Jimmy had Hope buy a couple of burger and cola als, then approached. Conversations with holess people tested Jimmy's patience; this one probably hadn't visited a shelter in ages, nor bathed or gotten a haircut—worse off than Jimmy ever was.
Suppressing his discomfort, Jimmy offered up the al, half a pack of cigarettes, and so cash, finally gaining the information he needed.
Back in the car, Jimmy directed, "Hope, drive back, arrange to access traffic surveillance. A gray van left shortly after the gunshots, and he's sure it wasn't a local vehicle."
Citizens typically didn't have high trust in the FBI and feared retaliation, so they might withhold information. For the holess, living day-to-day, Jimmy's generosity was an unexpected blessing, providing food and cigarettes—enough for a couple of good days.
With only one holess person nearby, Jimmy couldn't cross-check the information, and had no choice but to pursue this lead.
His second target was gang mbers, but arriving at the scene, he realized his thoughts were too simplistic. This wasn't New York City, where gangs were widespread. Here, only scattered suburban hos surrounded the scene, unsuitable for gang activity unless any residents were gang-affiliated.
Jimmy lacked ti for a comprehensive investigation, temporarily shelving his second target. But opportunities would arise, especially if the holess man's tip proved accurate—the vehicle's route would inevitably intersect with soone, clarifying the investigation's direction.
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