Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Coveted Twins (Part 4)
"Have the lists of household staff and the recent litigants Evan has dealt with been checked?"
Rossi asked, taking the laptop from Reid to review the recent call logs and the series of question marks in the notes.
"The local FBI office has sent a detailed report, but given how well the kidnappers know the Davenport family, we should investigate further."
Reid took another laptop and began working.
"What's your take?" Rossi asked Jack while signaling JJ to follow Cheryl, who had run to her room to cry in private.
Jack quickly organized his thoughts before speaking.
"Tracy seemed somewhat disoriented on the phone, likely drugged. She mentioned seeing the moon, which I suspect is a light, possibly a bare bulb in a basement or garage."
"What worries me is that Tracy could see things, meaning her eyes weren't covered, and the perpetrator was nearby. If she saw his face, once he gets the money, he might..."
Seeing Evan Davenport emerge from his daughter's room, Jack stopped talking. This was not the time to alarm the family.
Rossi quickly changed the topic, analyzing the call logs and Reid's notes.
"The kidnapper's demands seemed pre-written, lacking emotion and pauses."
A term popped into Jack's head, 'scripted,' but he couldn't find the right English word for it.
"But his tone when talking to Cheryl made me very uneasy."
Jack struggled with the right word in English to describe 'greasy' and thought, saying 'OIL' wouldn't make sense.
Fortunately, the others had similar feelings. Reid nodded in agreement, "That's why I think the kidnapper knows the Davenport sisters."
At that moment, Cheryl, having calmed down with JJ's help, came out of her room, forcing a smile.
"I'm ready."
Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the phone rang again.
"All tasks must be done by Cheryl alone. Cheryl packs the money, Cheryl delivers the money. If she has a tracker or a stand-in, Tracy dies."
"Cheryl drives her car alone. No one accompanies her, no one follows, no aerial surveillance. Any such monitoring is unacceptable."
"I will give instructions via phone while Cheryl drives. The money must be delivered by 3 a.m. sharp, or Tracy dies!"
As the call ended, everyone fell silent. After a long pause, Rossi spoke to Evan Davenport.
"How soon can you get $1 million?"
Evan Davenport was dazed, taking a moment to respond.
"I've already had the accountant preparing it. It will be ready by tonight."
Despite being labeled as an 'assistant,' Evan Davenport's position as an administrative assistant in the Federal Prosecutor's Office meant he was a bona fide civil servant, protected by the civil service system and not subject to dismissal with election cycles.
In other words, the entire prosecutorial structure of the country was supported by over 3,000 administrative bureaucrats like him. The elected prosecutors and their assistants, with their short terms, often played more political roles.
So, while $1 million was a strain, it was feasible for the Davenport family.
This seemingly ordinary kidnapping case warranted the urgent deployment of the BAU team, still in the process of formation and lacking full staffing.
"Jack and JJ, get ready. We can't let Cheryl go alone," Rossi ordered.
"But the kidnapper said if he sees anyone else..." Evan Davenport was worried.
Rossi reminded him, "Cheryl is your daughter too."
Jack reassured, "Don't worry, we'll use an ordinary car with tinted windows. It won't be noticed."
Evan sighed, still anxious, "Please be careful. If we're discovered, Tracy will be killed. If my daughter dies, I..."
Cheryl hugged her father, soothing him, "It's okay, Daddy. I trust them. Besides, we have no choice."
Leaving the Davenports in the house, Rossi signaled the BAU team to follow him to the backyard.
"Something's off. All of this feels wrong. I strongly suspect the kidnapper isn't after money," Rossi said firmly.
"Tell me, Jack, if you were the kidnapper, how would you make demands?"
Jack recalled various crime shows and his FBI Academy training.
"No police, unmarked old bills, no trackers or dye packs in the money bag."
Reid had a revelation, "But the kidnapper didn't mention any of that. In the second call arranging the ransom, he kept emphasizing Cheryl's name. He wants Cheryl."
"Then we can't let Cheryl go. She'll be in danger," JJ said urgently.
"No, the kidnapper holds the advantage and the biggest leverage. The exchange must proceed; we can't disregard Tracy's safety," Rossi said, looking at Jack.
"If the kidnapper is alone, can you ensure Cheryl's safety?"
Jack's voice was relaxed and confident, "If he plans to abduct Cheryl too, give me an AR-15. Even if there are four or five, I can take them all out in three seconds."
"No." Rossi raised his hand to stop him.
"We need a live suspect. We can't take that risk until we know Tracy's location. Just ensure Cheryl's safety."
Jack shrugged, "No problem. I can scare him off, but then what? We still won't know where Tracy is."
Rossi smiled mysteriously, "Once he makes his move, it will be our turn."
---
At 2 a.m., Cheryl got into a yellow Beetle with a large bag of cash, heading to the location specified by the kidnapper.
Jack drove a black Mercedes with JJ in the passenger seat, maintaining over a hundred-meter distance from Cheryl's car.
Modern cars come with GPS, and Cheryl's phone was being monitored. With Reid providing updates through the communicator, they just needed to follow from a distance.
Rewriting the plot is exhausting, trying to avoid logical errors. In BAU's first case, I won't make major changes. If there are perfect plots, I won't heavily alter them. Many cases in the original show were logically flawless and very exciting. Of course, I will have Jack step in to prevent overly tragic or regrettable outcomes.
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