Sample chapter of Vol 2 of The Unfinished book series THE FINISHING

May 23, 2016 0930 

San Jon N.M. Quay County Sherriff Dept.: 

Mariska walked into the Sherriff’s office building carrying two boxes of files. She turned the corner to walk down the hall to the Conference Room and saw Supervisory Special Agent Clifton Casella walking toward her.

“Agent Casella, what’s all this about? Why are we moving here?” Mariska inquires.

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“Orders, Mariska.  This change came from the Director of the FBI and when he gives the order to move, we move.” SSA Casella said in resignation.

“Is the whole department on this case?” Mariska asked.

“All I know is that this order came from way above our pay grade so I don’t ask questions about it. There must be a new development in the case. It’s the only thing I can figure out.” Casella said.

Mariska walked into the Conference Room and she did not see the analyst from LA.  The other profilers were setting up their information.  Mariska counted four other profilers. She can’t help but feel she is in way over her head. Mariska walked to the end of the large table and started to set out the files that she has. She can feel the tension in the air. She took a deep breath 

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and decided that she is just going to do the job that she was sent here to do. She thinks to herself “You would not have been requested by Washington if you could not help with this case.” As she finished setting up her files and putting her maps on the wall Mariska noticed other suits walking around in the hallway. Then SSA Casella walked into the Conference Room and said flatly, “Everyone take your seats.” 

Everyone went to their seats then all the suits she had seen in the hallway walked into the room and the Director of the Los Angeles Field office walked to the podium. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this briefing is classified. Today we have assembled here to finish working the serial killer case. We have new information that has come to light in this serious matter. This location is vital to solving the case. We will stay here until it is solved. Now you will be filled in on all the 

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new information from the Director of the FBI.” The LA field office Director said as he backed away from the podium, then the Director of the FBI walked into the room and took to the podium. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming here to work on this case. You are the best profilers we have. Unfortunately, this case is a type we have not come across before. This killer has to be stopped!  Someone in this room made this statement and I quote “To catch a ghost we need a ghost.” I will say this about that statement, it is 100% accurate.” Said the Director as Mariska sat in total awe that her quote made it all the way to the Director of the FBI. “With that being said I am stating to you all again that this briefing is classified. I’m letting you know today that that is exactly what I have done; I have brought in a ghost. He is a man that has ultimate knowledge on the so called Angel of Death. So without further delay I introduce to you all The Chemist, Dean Jacobs.” 

Mariska couldn’t believe her ears. Her Dad was here working with the FBI? She was in total disbelief. After all this time and all that talk of being against her decision to work for the FBI, now he is working with the Bureau! 

Dean walked into the room and shook the hand of the Director of the FBI as he turned to the podium. “Let’s get started with the definition of a serial killer: Aperson who kills two or more people and satisfies some kind of psychological gratification. The murders take place for over a month or more and include a cooling off period. That is the definition of a serial killer. And that’s why you can’t catch this killer.”

“What do you know about serial killers? I have studied them in college. As myself and 

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others in this room, we have hunted them down. It’s our job here in the FBI.”SSA Casella responded indignantly.

“Ok then, let me hear the profile you have developed so far.”  Dean said with a slight smugness.

“The killer is male, 35 to 45 years old. He cares for his victims as seen by two aspects; the great care he takes cleaning and grooming them, and from the quick and painless breaking of their necks.” Casella stated.

“With minor discoloration around the joints it shows discipline in what he’s doing. He is clearly a psychopath.” Another Agent added.

“From the calling card he reveals he’s from Russia. He is intelligent. He has a great dislike for the FBI since he’s targeting agents.” Another Agent interjected.

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“What is your name?” Dean asked.

Casella responded, “Supervisory Special Agent Clifton Casella.”  

“Well Supervisory Special Agent Casella, here is my profile. The killer could be male or female but definitely between the age of 25 and 45; is cold, intelligent and calculating. He or she is very methodical indicated by the placing of the bodies along with the cleaning and grooming of each victim. The killer is cleaver, leaving no trace evidence behind. But actually he or she has no feelings one way or the other for the FBI. I believe the killer chose the FBI to get my attention, because Mariska is working for you. This is nothing more than an elaborate plan to get me to come out of retirement, for this killer to get revenge on me.” Dean said with all seriousness.  Mariska sat there with a smile seeing her Dad in action, admiring his ability to read people. “So 

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Cliffy, you can’t catch this serial killer because this is actually a revenge killer. The killer is not killing for some kind of psychological perversion or need; it’s nothing more than revenge. The killer is conducting what we called back in the day, A Finishing. Therefore, as long as you look at this killer according to your definitions you will not catch him or her. Make no mistake about it, Agents; this is nothing more than good old fashion revenge.” 

“Sir, I am Special Agent Larry Lee White from the Washington DC Field office. How do you know anything about this case or this killer?” 

Dean reached for the Operation Dark Sickle file “This is why!” Dean said as he dropped the thick file on table. “As you will all see in this file, I was involved in an operation in the USSR in the 1980’s.  I am what you would call a Cold War Assassin. Apparently 

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the killer has intimate knowledge of the jobs I did in the USSR. So this tells me that the killer has managed to get a file like this. This person could have worked for the KGB or could be working for the modern day equivalent of it known as the FSB. Worst case scenario, the killer might be one of ours. In any case, the killer has knowledge of the work that my team and I did in the USSR. We need to study the details in those jobs and compare them to the killings this person is doing. That’s how we can catch this killer. They always make mistakes. We just have to find them.”

“How do you know he is targeting you?” Casella inquired.

“It’s been right in front of all your faces, you just didn’t have the history to see it.” Dean said.  “I’ll let Mariska take it from here.”

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Mariska stood up and walked to the wall where the maps were displayed. “If you look at the map of Russia you will see all the places where Dean has had jobs marked in red.  Then here on the map of the USA you will see where the killings have taken place. If you take these two maps and put them on top of one another you will see that they match. That was the first clue.  Another thing is that he is leaving a calling card with nothing but a Russian D and S. As you look at the file Dean has put on the table you will see Operation Dark Sickle that is where the D and S come into play. This killer has intimate knowledge of the jobs that Dean did in the USSR just as he stated.”

“Ok, let’s say he is targeting you. Why should we let you even be involved in this case?  I would think your emotions in this case would cloud your judgment. For all we 

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know you might be the killer.” SA White exclaimed.

“That’s a good point Agent White. You don’t know, but there is an element that I think will be useful to everyone in this room, myself included, and it iscalled trust.” Dean replied with a half-smile. 

“Ok, so we will all trust everyone in this room. We will work together and we will do this by the book!  We cannot afford to let this person get away on a technicality.” Casella interjected.

“Who is your medical examiner?”  Dean asked.

“I am.” The M.E. answered.

‘What does your report say about the first killing?” Dean continued.

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“Agent Juan Vasquez, 33 years old was found in a freezer.  He was placed in the freezer with his back to a pole. There was only minor cellular damage from freezing. Cause of death was broken C2 C3 C4 - instant death. There was a mark on the left side of the neck which appeared to be an injection mark. We ran tests for any type of poisons or drugs. The report came back negative.” The M.E. reported.

“Wait, you said that this victim was frozen?”

“Yes.” 

“Why does that matter.” SA White asked curiously.

“My first target was an official with Politburo in the USSR. I injected him with air to give him an embolism to make it look like he had a heart attack. After I injected him he collapsed and I sat him against a tree where he died.  You would not find any 

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poisons in him. What about the second victim.  Is there any poison in his system?” 

“No, the test came back negative.” The M.E. said as she looked in the file for the report on the second target.

“Now, that’s interesting. The second target was a child molesting KGB agent that I used cyanide on.” 

“So, what does that mean?” asked SA White.

“It means that he’s not following everything in detail.  It’s the killer’s first mistake.” Casella said with excitement.

“It’s actually not a mistake. It was done for a reason. The fact that we found it is all part of the plan. Make no mistake we have to assume everything we find is part of this killer’s plan.” Dean said with conviction. 

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SSA Casella picked up the file that Dean put on the table. As he looked at it he noticed that Dean had 14 missions in four years. He also noticed that his jobs were flawless but Marco was under investigation by the KGB. 

“Dean? I have to ask this. Was Marco under investigation by the KGB?” asked SSA Casella.

“Yes, he was.  That is why he was in Sopron, Hungary.  He was trying to escape. I was in the process of giving him new passports so he could get out and go into hiding. There was an explosion in the weapons depot where he worked as his cover. He perished in that explosion. So no, he is not the killer Cliffy, I know what you’re thinking.” 

Dean sat there and took a breath leaning back in the chair. He noticed everyone 

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studying files and looking at case pictures on the wall. He wondered one thing, where are all the computers researching data.

“Where is your FBI analyst?” 

“She did not come, actually she was let go last Friday for hacking.” SSA Casella responded.

“What do you mean hacking?” 

“She hacked into an email looking for info on someone in the Bureau. I found out about it and I let her go. We do things by the book around here Mr. Jacobs.” 

“You say by the book Agent Casella?” 

“Yes always.” 

“Then it is a good thing that I am here because, unlike you, I don’t have to do things by the book. I am not bound by the same rules you are.” Dean expressed.

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Agent Casella glared at Dean and said, “What do you mean not the same rules?” 

“It means that my team and I have Immunity from prosecution for any crime that we have committed before and in the future.” Dean smiled. “But we, for your sake, will do it your way.  We will do it by the book for now.  I promise you Cliffy you will ask me to do things in my unique way before this is over.  You’ll see what you are up against after my team starts crunching data for you. Not everything in life is black and white, there are shades of gray in there and that’s where we will operate.” 

“I will never ask you that Dean.” Agent Casella bantered.

“We will see Cliffy, we will see. Mariska, White, and Cliffy would you please come to my ranch this evening for dinner?  I promise you, Cliffy, you will be impressed.

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Mariska, there is someone there who you will want to see.” Dean said as he prepared to leave.