Jack's words left Jubal with a bitter smile. "You're right, but as a psychologist, I thought you'd express it more gently."
"Because what you need isn't a psychologist," Jack replied matter-of-factly. "I'm not billing by the hour, and I even bought you dinner—as a friend."
Jack still had another year before earning his master's degree, a stepping stone to filling what he considered his last professional gap.
In the U.S., a master's degree is the minimum requirement to become a licensed clinical psychologist. It requires not just the degree but also 3,000+ hours of supervised clinical experience and meeting rigorous criteria.
Looking ahead, Jack knew his education wouldn't stop there. He was torn between pursuing a PhD or a PsyD.
A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is academically focused and emphasizes research, while a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) leans toward practical application and clinical expertise. Either way, Jack knew furthering his education would be essential for professional growth and raising his "ceiling."
For now, Jubal didn't need counseling or guidance. What he needed was support from a friend.
"I can't make any guarantees," Jack continued. "But by bringing up the McMay case, you've effectively reopened an old wound. What happens next is no longer entirely in your hands or mine."
The reason Jack had spent so much time on the case yesterday wasn't just to find inconsistencies; he also wanted to ensure Jubal hadn't made any procedural errors. After all, this new task force was supposed to be led by Jubal, and Jack didn't want his team to start off with a leader compromised by past mistakes.
Jack wasn't yet fully acquainted with Jubal—there hadn't been enough time to build that level of trust. But based on his review, Jubal appeared to have followed proper protocol during the McMay case, aside from the questionable coffee cup filled with vodka.
This reassurance allowed Jack to focus on the present, even if the McMay case did turn out to be a wrongful conviction.
Jubal's transparency in sharing his past was a sign of trust, though Jack remained cautious. Offering blanket assurances or taking on someone else's burden without due diligence was neither mature nor wise.
Still, he couldn't just ignore Jubal's plea.
"My advice hasn't changed," Jack said. "Put McMay on the back burner for now and focus on the active case. And to prevent history from repeating itself, maybe you should crash at my place for a few nights. I'll make sure there's no alcohol around."
Though Jack had other plans for the evening—plans involving one of his teammates—he knew keeping an eye on Jubal was more important. For now, his "catch of the day" would be an old friend instead of a new flame.
The next morning, Jubal emerged from Dana Moge's office looking noticeably more composed.
But the reprieve was short-lived. Another body had been discovered, though not in Central Park, which remained heavily restricted and filled with construction crews.
This time, New York State Police found the body in a wooded area near a lake in North Westchester. The victim was a young woman in her twenties, bound with electrical wire, and, like the others, nude.
Jack, accompanied by Hannah, JJ, and Aubrey, rushed to the scene. The state police had already cordoned off the area.
An older sheriff, sporting a beer belly and a meticulously groomed beard, greeted the FBI agents and provided a rundown of the situation.
"The victim likely matches a missing person report filed last night," the sheriff said. "But we'll need confirmation from the family. Cause of death appears to be strangulation. I saw the FBI's bulletin about the Central Park murders and figured I should loop you in immediately."
The group trudged through thick layers of fallen leaves and damp soil. Despite the summer heat, the shaded woods were chilly and clammy, making the atmosphere eerily uncomfortable.
"Are there snakes here?" Aubrey asked, stepping cautiously and scanning the ground nervously.
"Of course," the sheriff replied with a chuckle. "Mostly garter snakes—harmless. Unless you're afraid of their stripes."
Garter snakes, known for their striped appearance, are common in the northern U.S. and Canada. Though harmless, their sudden movements can startle those unfamiliar with them.
After 20 minutes of trekking through the woods, the team arrived at a narrow, partially dried creek. The victim lay face-up in the shallow water, with a light trickle running beneath her.
Jack immediately noticed a key detail: the body appeared freshly deceased, likely less than 12 hours. This increased the likelihood of recovering viable DNA evidence from the scene.
Crouching beside the body, Jack examined the bindings. The victim had been tied with 14-gauge electrical wire—the same type used in the Central Park murders. However, unlike the previous cases, there were no weights attached to the body.
"There are clear drag marks leading from the roadside," the sheriff pointed out, gesturing toward a muddy trail.
"My guess? The killer intended to dump her in the lake but either got spooked or ran out of energy. This creek might've seemed like the next best option."
"Thank you," Jack said, acknowledging the sheriff's insights before turning to his team. "All right, let's hear your thoughts."
Hannah was the first to speak. "We should start by reviewing the road's surveillance footage. There's only one road nearby, and it was nighttime. The pool of vehicles to analyze should be relatively small. We can cross-reference those against the Central Park footage to narrow it down further."
"Good suggestion. Anything else?" Jack nodded in approval.
JJ knelt beside the creek, shining her flashlight over the body. After a moment of close inspection, she hesitated. "If the body was dragged this far, there should be significant abrasions. But I don't see any major injuries on the exposed parts of her skin."
"That means the killer must have used something to wrap the body—plastic sheeting or a tarp," Aubrey deduced. "And they were careful enough to take it with them afterward."
"What does that tell us?" Jack prompted.
Aubrey hesitated, glancing at JJ. After all, she'd been the one to notice the detail first.
JJ smiled and motioned for him to continue.
"This means even if we can't recover DNA from the body, we might find traces on the drag marks—pieces of plastic or fabric. Those materials are excellent carriers for DNA. The killer might've left something behind." Aubrey's excitement grew as he explained.
"Good thinking," Jack said, impressed. "I have a feeling the killer is meticulous enough to leave little to no DNA on the body. Your idea might be the breakthrough we need."
With that, Jack pulled out his phone and dialed CSI's Mac Taylor.
(End of Chapter)
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