Police in America

Jack's gaze lingered on Erin Lindsay's face for a couple of seconds longer than usual. She bore a striking resemblance to Rachel from *Friends*—a classic American sweetheart face. However, just like Rachel, her eyes had a wandering quality, suggesting a complicated romantic history.

He vaguely recognized Hank Voight. He had followed *Chicago Med* for a while, where Voight initially appeared as a villain. However, in *Chicago P.D.*, his character took on a more complex role—a typical old-school detective with his own set of principles.

Loyal, righteous, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve justice, Voight was a character that operated in the gray areas of the law, and Jack found himself liking him. Though, at this moment, the bow-legged, gravel-voiced old detective didn't seem particularly thrilled to be dealing with FBI agents.

"Tell us what you know so far," Rossi, with his extensive experience dealing with seasoned detectives, took the initiative, breaking the somewhat awkward atmosphere and getting everyone into work mode.

"Follow me," Hank Voight waved them over to the entrance of an apartment building without hesitation.

"We suspect one of the victims was attacked as they were leaving their car. The attacker likely aimed to get the keys to the apartment to access the other victims inside."

A half-opened Mercedes with bloodstains on the ground next to the door was parked at the entrance of the apartment.

"Who discovered the bodies?" Emily asked.

"A cleaning lady who came in for work noticed something was wrong. She's currently giving a statement at the station," said the female officer, Kim Burgess, who had taken the initiative to respond.

Kim's looks didn't exactly appeal to Jack. Her large eyes, slightly bulging, could be seen as alluring to some, but to Jack, they seemed like those of someone who was near-sighted but refused to wear glasses.

Jack crouched down in front of the large bloodstain, observing it closely, then looked up towards the apartment entrance.

"The victim was attacked immediately after getting out of the car and was incapacitated almost instantly. The blood here shows signs of being compressed, indicating that he was half-lying in this spot."

"Interesting. Can you confirm which of the four victims this was?" Jack asked.

"It was William, the husband in the Black family. Why?" Hank Voight, with his head down, looked at Jack with keen interest, his gaze scrutinizing.

"How tall was he?"

"Uh, about the same height as you, around six foot one or two (186 cm)," Erin Lindsay replied, tilting her head as she sized up Jack.

Jack didn't hold back, pointing at the bloodstains on the ground.

"The position where the victim fell, where this bloodstain begins, leading up to the doorway, the rest of the bloodstains are circular droplets, perfectly intact, except where they've been stepped on. What does that suggest?"

Reid, ever the encyclopedia, quickly explained, "If the victim wasn't completely unconscious, they would have instinctively tried to resist, causing the bloodstains to be smeared backward."

"And if the victim was entirely incapacitated..." Reid grabbed the collar of Jack's bulletproof vest and gave it a tug, but Jack didn't budge an inch.

"Uh, there should be drag marks," Reid said, a bit embarrassed, trying to play it off casually.

Hank Voight nodded slightly, understanding the implication. "He was carried inside, so there were at least two attackers."

"More than that," Jack pointed at the apartment entrance. "There's no large bloodstain by the door, meaning the killers didn't need to stop to unlock it, which implies that someone else was already inside to open it for them."

"OK, so at least three," Hank Voight crouched next to Jack, carefully examining the bloodstains himself. His expression softened slightly.

"We should check out the crime scene. JJ, stay here and coordinate for a temporary workspace," Hotchner said, preparing to lead the team inside.

"You can use the Intelligence Unit's office at District 21. We don't really use it much anyway," Hank Voight replied, his wrinkled face still devoid of much expression, though there was a hint of self-deprecation in his tone.

"OK, I'll head over now," JJ nodded, and Kim Burgess offered to guide her.

"I'll take you. I don't want to go back inside; it's too horrific."

"Oh, right," Hank Voight suddenly remembered, looking at the BAU team with a strange expression as they were about to enter the apartment. "You've probably seen it all before, but you might want to grab a few paper bags. It's hell in there."

"Thanks for the warning," Rossi replied courteously.

Walking down a short corridor, the team reached the apartment door, which was shut tight with police tape across it.

Rossi put on gloves, turned the doorknob, and as soon as he pushed the door open, the overpowering scent of blood hit them. Jack instinctively dialed down his senses; just the smell alone sent his adrenaline into overdrive.

As they entered the room, they saw that the four bodies in the living room were already covered with white sheets, but the carpet beneath them was soaked with blood, leaving no doubt about the carnage.

"Antonio Dawson, and that old guy is Alvin Olinsky. We're both from the Intelligence Unit."

A stocky Latino man was jotting down notes. When he saw the group enter, he introduced himself briefly.

Hearing the door, another older detective, who looked even older than Hank Voight, with a walrus mustache and wearing a flat cap, emerged from the bedroom and waved to them.

Emily knelt down and lifted the sheet from one of the bodies. She quickly turned her head away, unable to bear the sight.

Jack lifted the sheets one by one, revealing that all four victims had heads that were smashed beyond recognition and bodies that were almost entirely mutilated.

The male victims were still clothed, which made the scene slightly less gruesome, but the female victims were naked, their bodies covered in wounds, all caused by blunt force.

"This is the work of animals. I've seen gang wars, executions of traitors, even beheadings and disembowelments, but this kind of senseless violence? It's a first," said the older detective, Alvin Olinsky, shaking his head as he stepped out of the room. Moments later, the sound of a lighter flicking could be heard from the hallway.

Jack had seen cannibals dismember humans and serial killers suffocate people in barrels, but this scene, filled with an aura of brutal violence, still made him uncomfortable.

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