Chapter 1179: The Killer Calls (Part 1)

The phone kept ringing as Jack dialed Alice’s number, instructing her to trace the call immediately.

But before JJ could pick up, the answering machine activated with a beep, and a sultry female voice came through the speaker. “Jack, I know you’re there. Pick up the phone.”

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned to him. Jack was still trying to determine if this was just some odd coincidence when the voice called him out clearly and confidently, using his full name: “Jack Tavoler. Don’t doubt it—it’s you. Just pick up the phone.”

“She probably saw the security system was triggered. Even if we alerted the security company, she could’ve been notified via a mobile app or computer,” Aubrey offered, explaining the perfectly timed call.

That made sense, but what puzzled them more was how she knew Jack’s full name so confidently.

There was no time to ponder—Jack handed his phone to Hannah, signaled a silent countdown—3, 2, 1—and pressed the speakerphone button.

“Hello. Who’s this?”

“I used to think I could count on you, Jack.” The woman’s voice no longer carried a taunting edge. Now, she sounded… sad?

“Count on me for what? To find you? Or to expose everything to the public?” Jack replied. Her voice was vaguely familiar—distorted slightly by the phone, yes—but he was certain he had heard it recently.

She didn’t answer his question directly, instead continuing in a quiet monologue. “Forgive me for looking up your name online. There wasn’t much, which surprised me. You’re so young… and discreet. I was curious—what did you do to earn a Presidential Medal of Freedom? I know you haven’t received it yet, but the White House put your name on the list.”

Jack’s mind was racing with possible implications, but he replied casually, “Just doing my duty. If I’ve managed to catch the attention of someone like you, I suppose I must’ve done something right.”

“I thought you were a hero, Jack. A true, noble knight.” Her tone remained wistful.

“Especially this morning—when I saw you on TV, at that press conference about the shooting last night. For a moment, I really believed there might still be good people in this world.”

Her voice broke slightly toward the end, cracking with emotion. A lightbulb went off in Jack’s head—he had a theory about why she was saying all this, but instead of addressing it directly, he steered the conversation elsewhere.

“So, you’re disappointed in me—because you think I’m just like all the other men in your life? Cheating on my wife? Abusing my ex and kids? Deserving of punishment?”

There was a pause on the other end, a brief moment of silence before she chuckled softly. “So… are you?”

“Of course not. I’ve never been married. No kids either. Single life is far too enjoyable to give up so soon, don’t you think?”

JJ and Hannah gave him complicated looks, while the rest of the team looked amused, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Jack forced a crooked smile, as if to say, “I’m only saying this to stall her.”

“So you’ve had a lot of girlfriends, haven’t you? Have you ever paid for… you know, that?” she asked pointedly.

Jack frowned slightly, feeling the question cut a bit too close. “Do I look like the type? I admit I’ve had, uh… more than a few female friends. But our relationships weren’t transactional.”

He wavered slightly in the middle but stood firm on the last sentence.

“So you’re not the kind of man who would date someone like me… No wonder you turned me down.”

Her cryptic comment made Jack’s eyes widen. Suddenly, it clicked—he knew who she was.

Beside him, Hannah’s eyes went wide in accusation, ready to interrogate him, but she bit her tongue, not wanting to spook the suspect. Jack made a hushing gesture to everyone and leaned closer.

A muffled, panicked noise came from the speaker—a man’s voice, gagged and whimpering.

Jack gestured to Aubrey, who tapped frantically on his phone, signaling Alice to hurry with the trace.

Jack spoke carefully. “Then what kind of man do you think I am?”

“A whore,” the woman said, her voice suddenly bitter. “Just like me.”

Jack laughed lightly, undeterred. “Care to elaborate?”

“Some people just need to make one phone call and you’ll come running—helping them clean up their mess. Maybe you’re talented, maybe you’re smart. But in front of those powerful people, all you do is wag your tail and beg, hoping they’ll toss you some scraps from their silver platters.”

She had clearly misunderstood something. Before Jack could clarify, Aubrey turned his phone around to show him the caller ID results:

Trent Rubb, 48 years old, Texas ranch owner. A lucky man who struck oil on inherited land and got rich overnight.

Jack scanned the data rapidly. He wasn’t as fast a reader as Reid, but far faster than average—his eyes flicked through the file in seconds.

Trent Rubb had no children and had been deeply in love with his wife, who tragically passed away from cancer a year ago. He had remained single ever since.

Even though Alice’s report was somewhat brief, the profile was clear: Rubb didn’t fit the mold of the scumbag wealthy targets the killer had gone after so far.

So had they misprofiled her? Or had her motives shifted?

Jack didn’t have time to answer his own question. The voice on the phone returned, a little suspicious. “Jack? Are you still there?”

“Of course,” Jack replied quickly. “I guess I’m just shocked to hear that’s how you see me. Not that my reasons for being in Dallas matter to you—but it’s not what you think.

Still, I’ve let you down. That’s what matters, isn’t it?”

“Go on,” the woman sighed.

“You wanted the world to see these men for what they are—to drag everything into the light. At first, maybe my investigation helped with that, helped bring the truth closer to the surface.

But the media’s gone quiet. That must’ve infuriated you. Right?”

The sound of sobbing returned, followed by the terrified, muffled gasps of the man on the other end.

Then came the cold metallic click of a handgun’s hammer being cocked. The woman’s voice hardened into steel.

“Did I ever tell you how smart you are, Agent Tavoler? But tell me this—can you honestly say you’re only here to investigate?”