Police in America

Hiding Lindsay in an empty school over the weekend was a clever move, almost too clever, as it hadn't crossed the minds of the BAU team. Reid's map analysis did include the area, but it was marked as a lower priority.

It just goes to show, sometimes teenage logic is unpredictable and illogical, especially in this country.

"Jack, we've got information on that Ryan Phillips. He's 21 years old, used to attend this high school but was expelled a few years ago for drug use."

After getting the call from JJ, Jack watched as Kisen, gun in hand, charged into the school. Jack quickly followed.

"You'd better hurry and bring an ambulance. I have a feeling this won't end well."

"Got it. We'll be there in 10 minutes. Jack, be careful," JJ added quietly before hanging up.

After the call, Jack considered her advice, opened the trunk, and put on a bulletproof vest with "FBI" emblazoned on it. He then drew his Glock and followed Kisen inside.

"Hey, did you get any specifics on where they're keeping her?"

Kisen glanced back at him, slightly surprised. "That kid said she's on the first floor. Aren't you going to stop me?"

Jack gave him a quick look, holding his gun with both hands as he walked past him.

"My team won't be here for another ten minutes. If you're not worried about what might happen in that time, I could cuff you here and search the place alone."

"I'm starting to like you," Kisen said, dropping the small talk. The two of them, guns drawn, entered the building side by side.

Even though it was only one floor, searching it was challenging for just two people. There were five or six classrooms and a bunch of smaller rooms like locker rooms, activity rooms, teacher lounges, and bathrooms.

Fortunately, most of the rooms had large windows, so they could see inside without needing to open the doors.

They crouched low, moving in small steps as they quickly searched the area. When they reached the end of the hallway, Jack heard voices coming from the boys' bathroom—a man and a woman speaking.

"Honestly, I don't like Katie that much. I'm more into you. You're special."

"Don't bother hiding. Are you finally scared?"

"Screw you! Do whatever you want, but my dad will make you pay a hundredfold for anything you do to me."

Jack carefully and quietly opened the door. The next second, Kisen rushed in.

"I'm so scared. Why don't I show you how well I can treat you? Let's see if you can still talk tough after this. Hahaha—"

"Bang!"

When Jack walked into the bathroom, Kisen had already knocked Ryan Phillips to the ground with the butt of his shotgun.

"Kill him, Dad, kill this bastard!" Lindsay, whose hands were tied behind her back, was helped up by Kisen.

Her clothes were mostly intact, though her face was bruised. Having been plunged into despair, she didn't break down in tears upon seeing her father. Instead, after standing up, she kicked the scumbag on the ground in the groin.

"He's the one who did it. He brought two others who raped Katie in front of me. I couldn't do anything. He killed Katie."

"Katie begged him to stop, but he just laughed at her, kept laughing!"

Seeing Kisen's gun aimed at him, Ryan Phillips, lying on the ground, was scared out of his mind. Despite the pain in his groin, he begged for his life.

"No, please! I just acted on impulse. I won't do it again, I swear! Please don't kill me."

When Ryan saw Jack enter the room, wearing a bulletproof vest with "FBI" emblazoned in large yellow letters, he thought he'd found a savior.

"Save me! Please, save me! He's going to murder me. I didn't resist. He can't kill me, he can't!"

Click! Kisen cocked the shotgun.

"Shoot him! You're a cop! You can't just stand by and let him kill me! Shoot him!" Ryan Phillips screamed in desperation. Jack sighed and holstered his gun.

This idiot had a bit of a brain, but not much. Watching him struggle on the floor, half his pants off, pleading pitifully, Jack was speechless.

"Kisen, are you sure your testimony is crucial?" Jack asked, seemingly out of the blue, making Kisen pause before a slight smile crept onto his face.

"Yes, very important."

"Alright then, let's follow the procedure."

Jack straightened up, and to the confusion, surprise, and puzzlement of everyone present, he began delivering a speech with no emotion or change in tone.

"Kisen, you can't do this. He's no longer a threat. Even though he raped and murdered an innocent girl, illegally detained your beloved daughter, and attempted to assault her—"

"But he's just a young man driven by hormones or maybe a tragic childhood. Killing him won't bring more than a moment of satisfaction, a bit of comfort to the grieving Owen family."

"Lindsay has already suffered enough these past two days. She needs medical attention and psychological support. You should listen to her, help her learn how to protect herself better in the future."

"Alright, I'm done."

Jack finished his monotone speech in one breath, leaving Ryan Phillips more desperate than ever. Jack then took a deep breath and added with a smile, "I'm starting to love this job. No worries about carrying a body cam or anything."

"Lindsay?" Kisen looked at his daughter.

"Huh? Yes, Daddy." Lindsay, overwhelmed by Jack's monologue, snapped back to reality only after her father's prompt.

"Kill him. I want to avenge Katie."

Kisen raised his gun and aimed it at Ryan Phillips again.

"No, please! Forgive me. I was wrong. I beg you, please!" Ryan pleaded once more, now in utter despair.

"Wait, almost forgot something," Jack interrupted again.

Ryan, thinking he had been saved, gasped for air, hoping the FBI agent had changed his mind.

"Bang! Bang!"

Jack fired two shots into the ceiling, then shouted, "Stop, Kisen! Your life has already been filled with violence. When will it end?"

Seeing Kisen pause, Jack tilted his head, indicating that they'd followed the procedure to the letter.

"Tomorrow."

"Bang!"

Kisen pulled the trigger with an impatient expression.

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