That Saturday afternoon, the two CBI agents arrived at Washington Grove High School alongside Sheriff McAlister in his Ford F-150 patrol truck, Cho taking off his glasses as he looked around the parking lot to make sure no one had gotten here before them. "You two have been mighty jumpy since you got to this county.
Is there something going on in these parts I need to know about?" the sheriff asked as they unbuckled and Cho answered, "We're tracking a serial killer sir, we have reason to be on edge." McAlister looked at them nervously and asked, "Should I be wearing a bulletproof vest?" "Relax we have your back, now which way can we get inside?" Kimball inquired.
The sheriff pointed toward a series of steps leading to one of the side doors and explained, "The donation station is right next to the gym." Rigsby took the lead, holstering his gun to the side and gazing down the hallway interior before McAlister unlocked the door for them and they stepped inside.
"Looks like a tomb without a bunch of squawking teenagers in here," McAlister remarked as they walked down the hall, Cho and Wayne on either side just in case anyone was trying to jump them. But as they arrived at the wide mouth of the gym's entrance, they were surprised to see that the entire place appeared untouched. "Do you think we actually caught a break?" Rigsby asked as he lowered his gun cautiously.
"We'll see," Cho advised stepping toward the glass case which held trophies of all shapes and sizes, pictures of the teams that had won them and then he paused and said, "Looks like something is missing."
"What do you mean?" Rigsby wondered staring at the case and then noting that for the 2005 year there was no picture next to the trophy. "Quarter finalists, not much to be proud of if you ask me," McAlister said dryly. "Does this school have surveillance?" Cho wondered and then glanced about only to confirm that it didn't. "On this budget? You're kidding right?" the sheriff said with a laugh as Rigsby examined the case and commented, "Looks like it's been moved." "Where else would campus student files be placed?" the Korean asked to which McAlister said, "I think behind the principals office."
Cho and Wayne followed the sheriff toward the front of the school, each going just as cautiously as before until they paused and said, "It sounds like someone is here." The two agents paused and sure enough behind them the echoes of footsteps could be heard. "Did you lock that door after we got in here?" Rigsby asked the sheriff who simply shrugged, oblivious to the danger they might be in. Cho raised his gun to the level of his eyes staring down the hallway as two figures appeared in his sight and he noticed that one had a gun.
"Get down!" he told Rigsby as he shouted to the intruders, "CBI lower your weapon!" As he got closer though, he relaxed and realized that the unidentified figure was actually Ray Haffner; the new senior agent of their division. "What the hell are you doing? I almost shot you!" Cho exclaimed. Lisbon rounded the corner and asked, "Didn't Jane tell you we were coming?"
"Must've slipped his mind," the Korean said staring at the consultant as he finally showed his face. "On your way to the archives?" Jane guessed ignoring the comments about him and walking past them to where McAlister and Rigsby were waiting, stunned by everything that had just happened. "Sheriff, still sporting the cowboy look I see," Patrick teased and then stopped and looked at them all before asking, "Did I miss something?" "You were SUPPOSED to call them," Lisbon chided. Patrick gave them a grin and answered, "Cho's a quick draw, he could have protected himself."
"And I would have been shot," Haffner pointed out angrily. "That would have been your fault," Jane said turning on his heel and moving to the principal's office. As the group of agents stepped into the tiny room, McAlister commented, "The files are under lock and key, give me a second to find them." As the sheriff began to search, Haffner commented, "When are you planning on telling us what Connor said?"
"Who's Connor?" Wayne asked. "Archivist, mole, balding, whichever you want to classify him as," Jane said dismissively turning to the senior agent and answering, "I told you, the cold case Samantha Mayweathers was searching involved some type of serial killing that occurred in this area." "Red John?" Cho asked.
"Probably not, but it's connected if he felt the need to track down Zoey just as desperately as we do," Patrick answered to which the sheriff commented as he looked under the desk. "Jane you're still after that feller that killed your wife and kids? Man you really can't teach a dog new tricks," McAlister said and Cho thought he saw the CBI consultant get a little angrier as Thomas stood back up with the keys in his hand. "Moment of truth folks, hopefully this was worth my time," he said and everyone watched as the sheriff unlocked the cabinet and commented, "The file is thick, but the students are classified for their academics so that should narrow the search."
"What are we looking for?" Lisbon asked. "Quarter finalists of 2005," Jane said taking the file and thumbing thru it. "How did? Never mind," Wayne muttered realizing he probably wouldn't understand the former psychic's answer.
"We have a winner," Jane said placing the file down and pointing toward a name. "No way, Wainwright?" Rigsby asked in surprise. "Says it earned him a college scholarship an he played at Washington State," Lisbon confirmed glancing at Jane and adding, "That's probably where he met Waves and Zoey." "So why would the picture be taken if this file still existed?" Cho wondered to which Jane replied, "Zoey took the picture so that no evidence of her being here could be found. But I don't understand where this connects to a cold case."
"I was wondering that too," Haffner admitted. "You said Wainwright?" Sheriff McAlister commented as they all turned to him and he said, "Well it must have something to do with the Grover Rapist. Jasmine Wainwright was the first victim." "Luthor's sister?" Wayne guessed. "His mother actually. I think Aleza has a cold case file on it back at her office," McAlister said leading the way out. "Do you think Zoey is leading us a trail of breadcrumbs?" Haffner asked irritably to which Jane responded, "I'd be more worried that Red John is helping us."