Police in America

"Lindsay is like a big sister, always protecting Katie. You know how girls their age are easily attracted to bad boys." 

Upon hearing this from Kisen, Rossi leaned in closer and, with a serious tone, proposed a scenario.

"So, what if a group of boys that Katie knows stops by the roadside and offers them a ride? What do you think would happen?"

"Lindsay would probably go with them, to ensure her safety," Kisen nodded.

Rossi exhaled deeply and remarked, "You have a good daughter. Thanks to your guidance, she might still be alive today."

A bitter expression appeared on Kisen's face. "I taught her to stay away from men like me."

After finishing their conversation with Kisen, Jack and Rossi walked out of the meeting room, only to bump into Hotchner and Emily, who had just returned from visiting the parents of the second victim, Douglas Silverman.

"We didn't get any useful information. The kid's father is a busy blue-collar worker who works overtime on weekends, and his mother was out of town visiting her family," Emily said, her face showing her discomfort. It's never easy dealing with the families of the deceased.

"The father mentioned a name, Ryan, a new friend Douglas had made, but he didn't know the last name. Garcia hasn't been able to narrow down the search yet."

As the four of them talked, JJ and Hannah also walked out of another meeting room.

"The Owen couple doesn't have much impression of this boy, but Bruce Owen's behavior was strange. He seemed eager to leave the police station."

"We suspect he might know something, but it's clear he's lost patience with the police," the two women expressed their concerns.

"You mean to say that he might have recognized Douglas and even knows who he was hanging out with?" Hotchner said, already thinking about heading to the room where the Owens were, but Rossi stopped him.

"Wait, if he's determined to seek revenge, questioning him further won't get us anywhere. The Owens aren't suspects; we can't interrogate them."

"There's less than two hours until dark. If we wait until tomorrow, we all know what Lindsay will face," Hotchner fumed. Bruce Owen had just lost his daughter, and driven by hatred, whatever he planned to do wouldn't bode well for the missing Lindsay.

"Reid, do you have any good news from your map analysis?" Rossi asked, looking at Reid, who had been busy at the map board.

"Not yet. If we could identify this Ryan, it might help," Reid said, scratching his fluffy head with the end of a whiteboard marker, clearly frustrated.

"Uh, I have a terrible idea. It's risky and doesn't quite align with our official stance, but it might work," Jack said hesitantly.

"Let's hear it; we don't have much time," Rossi encouraged him.

"Bruce just lost his daughter Katie, so whatever he does, in his rage, he might not care about another girl's life. But what if we involve Lindsay's father?"

Emily stared at Jack. "You mean to have Kisen Vaughn deal with Bruce Owen, force him to reveal what he knows? That's insane."

"This is a police station. Are we seriously going to stand by and watch a former gangster force a confession out of a civilian?"

"Of course not. But why not have Bruce go to Kisen Vaughn on his own?" Jack replied with a mysterious smile.

——

"I already told you, we don't know the boy in the photo. Now, I just want to go home with my wife and mourn our daughter," Bruce Owen said. He and his grieving wife looked utterly exhausted, their eyes bloodshot, clearly having not slept well since learning of their daughter's death.

Standing opposite them were Jack and Hannah. Hannah softly comforted Mrs. Owen, while Jack maintained a stern, businesslike demeanor.

"Sorry, but you can't leave yet. The Vaughn family's identity is sensitive, and until the federal marshals give the green light, you'll need to stay here," Jack's fabricated explanation made Bruce Owen believe him, showing some surprise on his face.

"Why? We don't know anything secret about them."

"Well, we've been friends for four or five years. I know Kisen is a tough guy, but so what? He's just a bit overprotective. I know he taught Lindsay how to shoot, but this is the West, isn't it?"

"Hey, relax a bit. Have some water," Jack said, walking over to the water cooler and pouring him a cup, his expression showing a mix of helplessness and sympathy.

"It's a federal marshal's requirement. You know what they do. In this case, even the FBI has to cooperate. Did you see that fat guy with Kisen? He follows him almost 24/7."

"I don't understand, and I don't care. If Kisen didn't do it, why are you still holding us?" Bruce demanded.

Jack raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise as he began to spin another tale. "You really don't know what he used to do? He must be a great actor then. The guy's taken out more people than any criminal I've ever encountered."

Seeing Bruce's disbelief, Jack played the role of a loose-lipped rookie agent. "But he's an important figure now. Our orders are to prioritize his safety, so unfortunately, you'll have to stay put."

"Once the federal marshals' protection team arrives to escort him away, you'll be free to go home, I promise."

After hearing Jack's spiel, Bruce Owen fell silent, deep in thought. After a while, he looked up and asked, "Can I talk to Kisen alone? I want to apologize. You know, I was a bit harsh on him earlier."

Jack poured himself a cup of water, masking the hint of glee in his eyes, and nonchalantly shrugged. "No problem, as long as Kisen's 'bodyguard' doesn't object."

——

"Are you sure you can handle him?" Rossi, who had appeared beside Jack at some point, asked with concern.

Watching Bruce Owen push open the door to the other meeting room and say something, the chubby federal marshal, Pat Mannan, got up and walked out, cigarette in mouth, heading toward the back door of the police station.

The BAU team, who had been discreetly observing the whole thing, all breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was going according to plan. Bruce Owen clearly knew something.

"Isn't it the federal marshal's job to keep an eye on him? I'm just stepping out to grab us some dinner," Jack said with a mischievous grin, tossing his car keys in the air.

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