That evening, Jack prepared two pots of soup and invited everyone over for a gathering. One advantage of working a local case was not being cramped in temporary offices or forced to eat questionable fast food.
One pot was a creamy lamb stew, sprinkled with freshly picked garlic leaves from Jack's backyard and a bit of salt—perfect comfort food for the chilly winter months, though Los Angeles winters weren't particularly cold. The other pot contained curry beef with potatoes, for those who didn't care for lamb. Some greedy individuals, like Reid, tried to have both, only to end up stuffed and burping on the couch.
It had been a while since Jack's house was this lively. Even Hotchner, still in a wheelchair, had come, pushed by his wife. Jack had also invited Hannah, bringing a certain attractive journalist into the mix.
The dinner wasn't just about food, though—it was mainly to give everyone a chance to gather and discuss work. They updated Hotchner on the case's progress, and as usual, he furrowed his brow in deep thought.
Hotchner couldn't quite figure out the killer's motive either. The use of both methanol and chloroform was perplexing, making this a type of serial killer none of them had ever encountered before.
However, he agreed with Jack and Reid's analysis of the killer's methods. His suggestion was to release the profile as soon as possible, not just to the police but to the general public as well.
On this point, Rossi, Hotchner, and Jack were on the same page, which was why Jack had asked Hannah to invite Taylor Kelly, the media anchor, to dinner. It was time for her to play a role.
It was a good thing Taylor Kelly hadn't read The Book of Women, or she might have teased Jack with a line like, "You only call when you need something." Whether she was the neglected or the favored woman in that metaphor would be up for debate.
Taylor Kelly, perceptive as ever, noticed the room full of FBI agents and knew there was a big case involved. She remained attentive throughout dinner, her ears perked as they discussed the investigation.
Having worked with the BAU for a while, she knew when it was her turn to ask questions and when it was best to simply listen.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Jack cleared the table quickly, and the group stayed seated to go over the profile. Taylor began furiously taking notes.
"We believe the killer is an adult male, driving an unregistered gypsy cab. He uses this modified vehicle as a tool, employing aerosolized chloroform in the back seat to subdue and abduct women.
We lean toward the theory that he works alone, which puts him somewhere between 20 and 40 years old. He's physically strong, capable of transporting the body of a full-grown woman by himself.
The killer is highly intelligent, possibly having received advanced education or being self-taught, specifically in chemistry. From what we've seen with the three victims, methanol was the cause of death, meaning the killer is precise in his use of chloroform," Jack explained as he stroked Emily's black cat, speaking steadily while the others occasionally added a comment or two.
Hotchner's wife, Haley, was watching them work for the first time. Holding their sleeping son in her arms, she observed with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
"From the randomness of the dump sites and the way the killer treats the bodies, it's clear he doesn't care about the police response. He's not concerned about the investigation and isn't worried about leaving evidence behind."
"Question!" Taylor paused her note-taking and raised her head.
"Based on what you're saying, doesn't that mean the killer is likely to be caught soon?"
Reid, still lounging on the couch, explained, "Not necessarily. The victims were submerged in methanol for an extended period, which erased any trace evidence left behind during the crime.
The killer also wrapped the bodies in plastic before dumping them, so… hic," he added, letting out a small burp, though his point was clear enough.
"Which is why we need the public's help," Rossi continued for him.
"The killer is an extreme antisocial psychopath. In his day-to-day life, he's likely isolated and unnoticed, but has a volatile temper. When encountering someone who doesn't match his target profile, there may be confrontations.
Someone has likely noticed him—perhaps even had a public argument with him. He wouldn't kill in plain sight, but there would be a noticeable reaction."
"Okay, so we're talking about a taxi driver, a loner with a strange attitude who might have had disputes with people. I've got all that. But if we release this profile, won't it cause panic or lead to protests from legitimate taxi drivers?" Taylor's question surprised Jack, who raised an eyebrow. She was starting to think more like the police now.
"That's why we need to stress in your report that the killer is a black-market cab driver. Licensed drivers hate these guys for stealing their business, so we might get tips from legit drivers if they suspect someone.
Also, it's important to highlight that the victims were women traveling alone. That's a key detail," Jack said, glancing around the room. Up until now, the BAU had always tried to keep a low profile, with most public statements being handled by local police or FBI offices. Jack had a new idea.
"Why not have Hannah make the public statement for the FBI? We could hold a press conference."
Both Hotchner and Rossi nodded, signaling their agreement.
"No problem. I'll organize a press conference as soon as possible. The public will hear about this by tomorrow's morning news," Taylor replied, nodding earnestly and putting away her notebook. When she got serious, she could be quite charming.
With the business side of things wrapped up, Jack stood up and brought out a large glass jar from the kitchen. It contained some homemade bayberry wine he had made in the spring, offering a unique flavor compared to the plum wine he had previously shared.
He poured everyone a little, added ice to reduce the alcohol content, and the fragrance of the bayberries, combined with the wine's evaporation, drew compliments from everyone.
Reid stared at his glass, lost in thought. Jack chuckled. "Don't worry, it's safe to drink. I haven't started brewing my own alcohol yet. This is premium Red Label vodka—nothing but ethanol, no methanol."
As soon as he said that, both Jack and Emily froze, their minds suddenly making a connection. Even Reid seemed excited as he sat up straight.
"Scent!" Jack and Emily exclaimed in unison.
"Distillation extraction!" Reid added quickly.
"Speak English, please!" came the confused request from the rest of the room.
Jack gestured to Emily, giving her the floor, and she jumped right in.
"Think about it—what's the purpose of Jack using bayberries in wine? It's to use ethanol, or alcohol, to extract the fruit's aroma. The killer might be attracted to the victims' scent. That could be the common trait among these women."
"You're saying the killer views these women like bayberries, extracting their scent? That's terrifying!" Haley, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but speak up, horrified by the thought.
Reid swirled his glass and explained, "Methanol can also be used for extracting scents and fragrances. In fact, it works better. If you immerse something in methanol for several hours, it extracts the oils and… uh… hic," Reid's explanation was cut short as he hiccuped again, though his point was clear.
"Ugh, sorry! That's just disgusting!" Taylor, who had just finished her bayberry wine, grimaced and nearly gagged.
Jack's face darkened. His carefully crafted fruit wine was now associated with this grisly case, and in such an unsettling way. Would he ever be able to drink it again without thinking of this case?
Fortunately, the rest of the BAU team wasn't focused on that. After a moment of contemplation, Rossi raised a question. "Most taxis have partitions, right? How sensitive must the killer's nose be to smell the scent that attracts him through a barrier?"
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