American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop

California and Massachusetts are three hours apart, and although the Gulfstream jet was faster than a regular commercial flight, by the time they landed, the sun was already setting.

Two Suburbans awaited them at the airport as usual. Hotchner helped Jack load two large crates of equipment into the trunk, watching as the weight caused the car to sink noticeably, his face twitching slightly.

As planned, they headed directly to the crime scene, with Hotchner taking the driver's seat.

This was something Jack appreciated about Americans. Despite being a leader, Hotchner always insisted on driving himself whenever they went out. It was a habit Jack admired.

The drive was quiet, and they followed the GPS to a secluded mountain road. The police tape hadn't been taken down yet, and a group of reporters was gathered around a senior plainclothes officer, listening to his press conference.

"I worked on the 'Boston Reaper' case for 18 months. If there's any evidence proving that this horrific crime isn't a copycat, I'll inform the public immediately," the officer stated confidently.

Hotchner got out of the car alone, frowning slightly as he stood quietly on the sidelines, waiting for the impromptu press conference to end. Once the crowd dispersed, he approached the officer and shook his hand.

"Sorry, I didn't have time to return your call. As you can see, I've been swamped," the police chief, Vaughn, said. He looked about the same age as Hotchner, though the hair on his head was noticeably thinner.

Hotchner had a classic, masculine face—long with a square jaw, wide forehead, thin lips, and thick eyebrows, giving him a stern and commanding appearance. If he were a bit younger, his looks might not rival Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman, but he'd definitely outshine Tyler Hoechlin from the TV series.

Despite being middle-aged, Hotchner's full head of dark hair made him stand out. People often said that thinking too much caused hair loss, but the members of the BAU seemed to have enviable amounts of hair.

"This wasn't a copycat, Chief Vaughn," Hotchner said bluntly, hitting a nerve. If they hadn't known each other beforehand, Vaughn might have exploded.

Seeing Vaughn's expression darken, Hotchner uncharacteristically explained further, unsure if it was an apology or a form of reassurance. "I wish it were, but unfortunately, it's not."

Vaughn's face turned pale, then flushed with anger. "Really? But you don't have the authority to make that judgment. And I didn't invite you here."

Hotchner held up the letter from the late Detective Tom Shaughnessy. "Shaughnessy did."

They spoke in low tones, Vaughn's face shifting from blue to red, his eyes darting nervously.

"Do you need us to join the investigation?" Hotchner asked.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Vaughn's face, but he forced a smile and nodded reluctantly.

Hotchner waved to Jack and JJ, who were still in the car. They got out and walked over to join him.

"What was Tom thinking? Didn't he realize doing this could ruin the entire police department?" Vaughn muttered, still in disbelief.

"Yes," Hotchner replied simply, then introduced everyone.

"We'll be stationed at the FBI's Boston field office. All media-related matters will go through me. For now, we're sticking to the narrative that this was a copycat crime. Hopefully, that will…" JJ explained, discussing media strategy with Vaughn.

Meanwhile, Jack's attention drifted toward the crime scene beyond the tape. The bodies had been removed, but the "Eye of God" symbol drawn on the side of the victim's car remained. He also noticed a familiar figure in a wool suit by the vehicle.

"Oscar Finlay, I thought you said you were retiring once you got back to Boston," Jack called out.

The short Black man by the car froze at the sound of Jack's voice, then slowly turned around. When he saw Jack, his eyes widened behind his glasses in disbelief.

"Jack?!" Finlay exclaimed, standing up straight and giving him a strong hug.

"I never thought I'd run into you here. How'd you end up with the FBI? I always figured you'd join the IRS."

Jack chuckled. "I'm with the BAU now. You've been hitting the gym?"

Finlay flexed his biceps with a grin. "How do I look? I've been keeping in shape, worried that one day I'd run into you and your reckless ways again."

His comment reminded Jack of that bloody night in Margrave. It felt like it had happened just yesterday. Back then, Finlay hadn't been much of a fighter—certainly not as tough as the southern girl Roscoe. Was he planning to redeem himself?

Jack patted Finlay on the shoulder, feeling amused. Silently, he cast a long-lasting healing spell on him. It was his way of ensuring that good people like Finlay, despite their shortcomings, lived long lives. One of Jack's simple beliefs was that good people deserved to live longer.

As the others finished their conversation, they walked over to Jack and Finlay. Jack introduced them to each other.

"Alright, I'm done here. Full cooperation with the FBI, Detective Finlay," Vaughn said curtly, showing little warmth towards Finlay before walking off.

"Typical political animal," Finlay muttered under his breath.

"Still not well-liked anywhere you go, huh, Finlay?" Jack teased.

"Let's get down to business."

The case had occurred the previous night, and the file JJ had was thin, consisting of just a few photos and a single sheet of paper.

Finlay nodded, pulling up the crime scene photos he had taken on his phone as he began explaining the victims' identities.

"The victims were Nina Hale, 19, and Evan Harry, 23—a young couple. Nina had her throat slit and was stabbed 46 times. Evan was hit in the head with a blunt object, then shot in the head. I couldn't find a shell casing at the scene, though."

"Was it a .44 Magnum revolver?" Hotchner asked.

Finlay looked surprised but nodded. "Yeah, it was a .44 Magnum. How'd you know?"

Hotchner opened his notebook. "The killer prefers using a .44 Magnum revolver and usually carries a knife. The younger the female victim, the more time he spends on them."

"Ten years ago, Hotch was involved in the 'Boston Reaper' case," Jack explained, causing Finlay to realize the connection.

"So you're Aaron, the guy Tom always mentioned. We worked together for a short time, but I got along well with him."

Finlay continued, showing the pictures on his phone. "I found a mark on the female victim's wrist, like she'd been wearing a watch or something similar."

Finlay might not have been the most physically capable, but his sharp mind was impressive. While he didn't have the main character aura of someone like Jack Reacher, his attention to detail and wealth of investigative experience made him an invaluable asset.

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