TIES THAT BIND, Jay Halstead

007.

The plane touched down in Virginia with a dull thud, signaling the end of their tense trip to Chicago. Jay’s mind was still tangled in the events of the past few days, his chest tight with unresolved emotions. His encounter with Hailey had left him raw, and the weight of his past—Chicago, the job, his failed marriage—still clung to him like a shadow. But as the team disembarked, he shoved those thoughts aside. There was no time for personal baggage. Not now. Not with the case waiting for them back at Quantico.

Jay followed the team into the building, his steps heavy. He hadn’t even realized how much he had missed the quiet buzz of the BAU’s offices—the low murmur of conversation, the clicking of keyboards, the constant undercurrent of tension that came with their line of work. He needed to focus, to drown out the noise in his head.

Alba walked beside him, her expression as unreadable as ever. She hadn’t said much since their conversation the night before, but he could feel the subtle shift in their dynamic. It was strange, but there was something comforting in her presence now—something that made the weight of his thoughts seem a little lighter.

The hum of the fluorescent lights overhead echoed through the BAU bullpen, the only sound breaking the oppressive silence that had descended over the room.

Hotch stood at the front of the room, his eyes scanning the team before speaking in his usual controlled tone. “We have a new case.”

The words hit like a hammer, and the room fell silent, every agent’s attention snapping to Hotch. The case that had been waiting for them was dark, twisted, and ominous. And as Hotch began to outline the details, it became clear that this wasn’t just another murder investigation. This was something much worse.

“The victims were both found in public spaces, left exposed for the world to see. One was discovered in a park in Alexandria, Virginia, the other just a few miles away. Both were in their late thirties, early forties. Both were stabbed multiple times, and their bodies were arranged in a disturbing manner—and there was a note in both of their mouths. The notes are eerily similar to the Zodiac killer.”

The words hit like a slap in the face. Jay’s stomach twisted as he processed the information. He had studied the Zodiac case back in his academy days, had watched the documentaries and read the files, but hearing about it in real time was different. This wasn’t just a historical case. This was happening right now. And it wasn’t just a copycat—it was a killer who wanted to rewrite history.

Hotch showed the notes on the screen. One said. “You may call me The Countdown Killer.” while the other one said, “Greetings again, my friends.”

“Garcia,” Hotch said, his voice cutting through the silence. “What do we have on this killer?”

The screen flickered to life, and Garcia’s face appeared on the monitor. But her usual bubbly demeanor was gone, replaced by a grim expression. She didn’t waste any time with pleasantries.

“I’ve been looking through everything,” Garcia said, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she spoke. “The first victim was found in a park in Alexandria, Virginia, right. The second victim was found last night, just a few miles away. Both men were killed with multiple stabbings, and the bodies were left in highly public locations. But the real kicker? The symbols on their bodies.”