"So, did they use a flip phone to take these crime scene photos?" Aubrey joked with a mocking tone, exuding that typical big-city superiority over small-town America.
The grainy images displayed on the screen looked like something from the 1990s. Alice tried to adjust the contrast to better reveal the faces of the three deceased victims, but it was a lost cause.
Jubal could only shrug in resignation. The sheriff's office in rural Arkansas had limited resources. To most Americans, Arkansas was a forgotten backwater, with less notoriety than it had online in Jack's previous world. On one popular Chinese video platform, even routine dashcam footage of Arkansas state troopers making traffic stops could rack up views close to the state's entire population—just under 3 million.
That said, the state's capital, Little Rock, held some significance for African Americans familiar with civil rights history. On September 24, 1957, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed eight transport planes carrying the 101st Airborne Division's 327th Battle Group to Little Rock to escort nine Black students to school—an event now known as the Little Rock Crisis.
For many, this marked a turning point in the battle against segregation. For the federal government, however, it was a matter of maintaining control over the states.
As a federal republic, the U.S. had long struggled with balancing federal and state authority. Each state's National Guard operated under both federal and state control. During the 1950s, several Southern states—like Arkansas and Alabama—were staunchly conservative. In Little Rock, the Arkansas National Guard, under orders from the governor, had tried to block the Black students' entry to Central High School.
To assert federal authority, Eisenhower nationalized the Arkansas Guard, placing it under direct federal control. This "federalization" of state forces became a precedent, illustrating the ongoing tug-of-war between federal and state governments.
In more recent times, Texas, Arkansas's neighbor, had clashed with the federal government over immigration issues. Texas even deployed its National Guard to seal parts of the U.S.-Mexico border, prompting threats of federalization. This tension became the inspiration for various political thrillers and conspiracy theories.
Back to the present case: though Arkansas had 75 counties, St. Francis County—where Forrest City was located—had a population of only a few tens of thousands. The mass killing at the district attorney's office was both shocking and unprecedented, prompting the sheriff's office to immediately call in the FBI.
Jubal clicked through the blurry images again, providing further details. "The shooting happened outside a pool hall. The owner said the victims left around 3 a.m., just before closing time. A short while later, he heard gunshots. There were no witnesses, but reportedly, a surveillance camera captured footage. However, we'll need to retrieve it ourselves."
The grainy images showed that the victims had been shot multiple times, practically riddled with bullets—suggesting a targeted execution.
"Definitely not the work of a pro," Clay observed, shaking his head. "Way too messy."
"Whoever did this was full of rage," Aubrey added. "This wasn't random. It was a vendetta—someone was out to kill these three lawyers."
Alice pulled up profiles of the victims. "Catherine Sloan, 26. Peter Hill, 29. Johnny Moe, 28. All White."
JJ frowned. "So the only survivor is the district attorney himself? Pull up his file."
"Skip Hardy, 52 years old," Alice replied, displaying a photo of a middle-aged Black man on the screen.
"Well, that's interesting," Jack noted. "In a conservative Southern state where over 70% of the population is White, the DA is Black."
"Even in a Republican stronghold like Arkansas, the Democrats still have influence," Jubal explained. "Don't forget that a certain former president and first lady came from this state."
Jubal was referring, of course, to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Though relatively obscure, Arkansas had produced a few prominent figures, including the controversial General Douglas MacArthur and President Clinton.
In the past, political alignments were different: Democrats (the "donkey" party) were once the conservative faction, while Republicans (the "elephant" party) leaned more progressive. Over the years, those roles reversed.
With the team now more comfortable around each other, conversations often touched on politics, though always in a lighthearted, teasing manner.
The FBI had arranged for a Cessna Citation CJ2 to fly the team to Arkansas. Though far less luxurious than the BAU's Gulfstream G650, it was still a private charter. The small size of the plane reinforced the team's resolve to work toward a better budget. Fitting seven people on board was a tight squeeze, leaving no room for any in-flight card games.
After disembarking, Jubal stretched his back and addressed the team. "JJ and I will meet with the district attorney, Skip Hardy. Everyone else will head to the crime scene. Search for witnesses, review surveillance footage, and dig into the victims' backgrounds. We don't know if the killer intends to strike again, so stay alert."
Jack nodded and added, "If Hardy's in the clear, we should still put him under protection. He could be the next target."
"Agreed. I'll suggest he stay within the courthouse for now," Jubal replied.
The group split up. The FBI's Little Rock office had provided three vehicles: an old GMC pickup truck and two GMC "Savana" SUVs. Jack and Clay loaded their gear into the pickup before heading to the pool hall with one of the SUVs following close behind.
(End of Chapter)
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