American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop

This girl really didn't see herself as an outsider. Jack caught a glimpse of her pale skin and turned his head awkwardly. It had only been a few months, but Jane seemed like a completely different person. She now moved and spoke with a whirlwind of energy, far from the rookie she once was.

Before coming, Jack had already reviewed the recent activities of the anti-kidnapping task force. In nearly three months, they had dismantled six human trafficking operations, making their achievements quite impressive.

The team included two FBI agents, with the rest being young field officers from neighboring border cities, all in their early twenties. The DEA and DHS provided intelligence support but didn't participate directly in the operations.

These young officers had undergone short-term professional training, all aiming to eventually join the FBI. Their motivation was sky-high.

As for Jane, being a female special agent leading this team and doing a good job at it was a testament to her rapid growth—true protagonist material.

"Captain, the operations room is ready," said a male officer from the Phoenix Police Department, knocking on the office door and poking his head in.

"Come along. You've come at just the right time; we've got a cleanup and rescue operation scheduled for this afternoon."

Jane tilted her head slightly toward Jack, her expression carrying a hint of pride. During their time in Wind River Valley, she had been completely out of her element, practically a tag-along to Jack. Now, although Jack held the title of consultant, he was technically her subordinate.

As for why a special agent would have a senior agent as a subordinate, Jane chose to ignore that detail.

The so-called "operations room" was really just a large conference room with a huge projector screen. About seven or eight young officers had claimed the back row, chatting and laughing like college students before a lecture.

The moment Jane walked into the room, they stopped talking and sat up straight, trying to appear serious. They reminded Jack of seasoned students who, despite their age, acted like mischievous kids.

As Jack followed Jane into the room, wearing his FBI badge, the officers began whispering to each other again. It was rare to see someone who looked even younger than them with a senior FBI agent title.

"Quiet!" Jane banged the table in front of the projector, her face stern.

"This is Agent Jack Tavoler, a psychology consultant from the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. He'll be joining us for the upcoming missions."

The room immediately turned into a buzzing marketplace, filled with murmurs of surprise.

Jane knocked on the table again, louder this time. "Quiet! He has his own tasks, none of which concern you. No private inquiries allowed. But if any of you are heartbroken, feel free to talk to him. He might offer some counseling as a favor to me."

The young officers burst into laughter. One even joked, "Dear captain, with all the broken hearts you've left behind, Agent Tavoler's got his work cut out for him."

Jane couldn't hold her serious expression for more than three seconds. Shaking her head with a smile, she waited for the room to quiet down before starting the presentation.

The atmosphere shifted as the officers turned their attention to the screen. Despite their relaxed nature, police officers, especially Americans, knew how to observe basic discipline when needed.

"This is a villa belonging to Manuel Diaz, a leader of the Sonora Cartel. It's located in the outskirts of Chandler City."

A slide showed an image of the villa, which resembled a rectangular motel, much like a warehouse but with a few windows added. Inside, the space had been divided into multiple rooms.

Jack counted the windows. Despite its basic appearance, the villa had six large rooms and eight smaller ones, along with a sizable front hall, covering roughly 1,000 square feet.

There was no greenery or pool around the villa—just a large empty yard surrounded by a chain-link fence. The space was wide open, with only a small tool shed in the northwest corner.

"According to informant reports, about two weeks ago, at least 20 Mexican nationals were brought here after illegally crossing the border. They've been held captive since. Our mission, as usual, is to rescue the hostages."

After laying out the mission objective, Jane moved on to the detailed operation plan. Jack had only undergone hostage rescue training during his time at the FBI Academy. Since joining BAU, most of the operations he'd been involved in were focused on lethal force.

It wasn't that Jack was bloodthirsty or unwilling to adhere to the minimum force principles of law enforcement. The criminals he dealt with—vicious serial killers—left no room for hesitation or mercy, as it would only result in more innocent casualties.

So, this hostage rescue mission was a novel experience for Jack. According to Jane, because they suspected there were infants or young children among the hostages, they couldn't even use flashbangs or stun grenades during the room-to-room clearing.

While flashbangs and stun grenades were classified as non-lethal weapons, in certain situations, particularly indoors, there had been tragic incidents where infants died from the effects of these devices.

Taking careful notes, Jack appreciated the learning opportunity. Experience like this was invaluable. Someday, it might prove useful. When it came to indoor CQB (Close Quarters Battle), Jack could rely on his heightened senses when operating alone, but coordinating with a team was a different challenge altogether.

An hour later, after the briefing, the young African-American trainee agent Reggie, whose eyes bulged a little, led Jack to the armory.

The armory was much more modest compared to the one Jack was used to at BAU. Most of the gear consisted of hand-me-downs from the National Guard, and before that, from the military—primarily M4A1 carbines.

There were two sniper rifles, but even they were outdated Remington 700 PSS models used by law enforcement.

Jack casually selected a 14.5-inch version of the M4A1 and equipped it with a red dot sight made by the Swedish company Aimpoint. While the rest of the equipment was basic, it was extensive.

Standard FBI-SWAT bulletproof vests, ballistic plates, helmets, goggles, and noise-cancelling headsets were all available.

Jack thought for a moment and strapped the FK 7.5 pistol to his leg. His car held a full set of tactical gear that he'd received from a former SEAL teammate, and he had several firearms with him. But there was no need to stand out right now; he'd use the same equipment as everyone else.

He did, however, keep the FK 7.5 as his backup weapon, since he was accustomed to it.

After a quick meal—two hamburgers for lunch—and a half-hour rest, Jack, now fully armed, joined Jane in a police armored vehicle. The team split into two groups and headed toward Chandler City.

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