Chapter 1091: Visit to NCIS (Patreon)

"It looks like the killer had motives beyond just murder."

Jubal's gaze once again swept across the scene, silently praying it wasn't the worst-case scenario. "Jack and Clay, you two go to the coroner’s office. You know what I mean."

The two exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding. Since the first victim, Adam Weiner, was possibly a Navy SEAL and the killer might have known him, there was a good chance the suspect was also a SEAL.

Whatever the motive was, given the public nature of the killings at the scene, it likely meant more bodies were waiting for them.

Of course, Jubal wasn't sending them to the coroner’s office just to wait for more corpses—he hoped they could analyze the killer’s methods and draw some conclusions.

Half an hour later, at the autopsy table.

"I’ve never seen such clean and efficient killing techniques. One slash to the abdomen severed the hepatic artery, and the cut to the neck simultaneously severed the trachea and carotid artery. The wounds on all three knife victims are nearly identical."

A forensic pathologist in his fifties was working with two assistants, scrambling to manage the numerous bodies. He was so busy he didn’t even look up as he spoke.

"What about the ones shot?" Clay asked, though he already suspected the answer.

"Each was hit twice in the chest or back with a .45 caliber round. Except Adam Weiner—he took one more round to the head at close range. Technique looks like... what’s that shooting method again?" The coroner looked to his assistant for help.

"Mozambique Drill," Clay answered dully.

"Exactly. So, it’s reasonable for you to suspect the killer has a military or law enforcement background." The coroner nodded affirmatively.

—

Jack drove the Audi R8 to rendezvous with the command vehicle. As usual, Jubal had coordinated with local police to park the big rig in the station’s rear lot.

Noticing that Clay hadn’t said a word and wore a grim expression, Jack tapped the steering wheel in a comforting gesture.

"Don’t look like that. Maybe it’s PTSD, or something else—maybe drug use. You can’t expect every SEAL or DEVGRU vet to smoothly reintegrate into society."

"No, Jack, you don’t get it." Clay, irritated, rolled down all the windows, letting in a gust of wind that still carried a hint of chill.

"Every SEAL receives training specifically to deal with PTSD and undergoes regular evaluations. Even after leaving the service, it’s rare for non-disabled vets to mess with that stuff."

Jack understood why Clay was upset. There were SEALs who turned to crime after discharge. In fact, quite a few had ended up committing serious crimes for various reasons.

Still, joining the military was a decent path in the States, especially for those who made it into elite units.

Whether T2 or T1, most veterans ended up with at least middle-class incomes and social status after leaving.

Even if some fell into crime, they typically became pro-level hitmen or top-tier enforcers. After all, killing was still a skill.

What upset Clay wasn’t that the suspect might be a former comrade—it was the betrayal, the idea of fighting one’s own.

The more elite the unit, the greater its sense of honor. Right now, all signs pointed to the killer being a former teammate of the deceased Adam Weiner. That was unacceptable to Clay.

—

"The suspect we’re tracking is a physically strong male, likely between 30 and 40 years old. There’s a high chance he’s a military veteran. He’s armed and extremely dangerous.

He may kill again. We don’t yet know who the next target is, but it’s likely to happen soon."

When Jack and Clay arrived at the police station, JJ was briefing a room full of officers with a profile.

"Releasing a profile this early... Hmm, we haven’t done this in a while," Jack remarked, recalling the last time they’d issued one to local police. That had been in Korea, targeting a female serial killer obsessed with plastic surgery.

Most of the time, their fugitive task force dealt with known high-risk individuals. Of course, barring surprises, they would likely identify the suspect soon this time as well.

Jubal had gotten a call while they were en route back, and explained the update:

"The only employee who wasn’t present at the company has been ruled out. His name is John Owen, and he’s attending a Doctor Who convention in San Diego.

Alice found his leave request in the company’s system from a month ago. Gotta say, that guy got real lucky."

"Were all the company contracts reviewed?" Jack asked, thinking of the papers strewn across the CEO’s office.

Aubrey nodded. "Those were just backup copies. We checked all the digital contracts. Other than a memorandum of understanding with the DIA, there was nothing particularly sensitive."

"Defense Intelligence Agency?" At the mention, Jack instinctively thought of a company called "New Era Technologies."

"It checks out. It’s just an MOU. ‘Senalock’ is a reputable new cybersecurity firm. Alice looked into their background.

Some projects involved the Department of Defense, but that only indicates CEO Adam Weiner had good relations with the Navy—nothing sensitive enough to get him killed."

Aubrey paused and leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

"Alice also checked Adam Weiner’s service record. It says he only served as a communications specialist in a naval surface-to-air missile unit. Is it possible you’ve got the wrong guy?"

"The Navy Cross is the highest decoration in the Department of the Navy. The only one higher is the Medal of Honor, which isn’t branch-specific. You want me to believe a regular comms guy earned that kind of medal during peacetime in 2019?"

Jack gave the man a disdainful look for his lack of "common sense."

"We’ve temporarily ruled out company-related motives for this massacre. The other employees at Senalock appear to be collateral damage.

Hannah is currently meeting with Adam Weiner’s family to see if we can get a suspect list."

After summarizing their progress, Jubal turned to Jack. "I think you should contact NCIS. They might know something."

Jack checked the time and nodded. "We’re not far from Washington. I’ll head straight to the Navy Yard."

He turned to JJ and gestured politely. "I’ll need our liaison officer to accompany me."

The Navy Yard Jack referred to was the Washington Navy Yard, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., and currently the administrative headquarters of the U.S. Navy.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service—NCIS—also had its office there. A tall, slim man with snow-white hair, who didn’t look old despite the color of his hair, welcomed the two FBI agents.