"Jane, we have a lead," Abbott said as he approached. His tone was measured, careful. "Well, not exactly a strong lead—it's a bit thin, but Wylie found something about the blood. You know, when you said the killer might be doing something unusual with it."
Jane's heart clenched. A flicker of hope rose briefly, only to be smothered by the crushing weight of fear that had taken residence in his chest. He nodded for Abbott to continue.
Wylie stepped forward, his usual awkward enthusiasm muted but still present. "You said the killer was probably doing something weird with the blood he took, right?"
"Yes," Jane replied, his voice tight as he tried to follow Wylie's reasoning. Part of him just wanted the young agent to cut to the chase. In moments like these, patience wasn't his strong suit. But he forced himself to stay composed—he needed to focus if he wanted to save Lisbon.
"So, I've been digging into local connections," Wylie explained. "You know, black magic, occult practices—stuff people might use blood for. And, uh, there's a lot out there. Honestly, it's hard to find anyone who doesn't sound like a potential suspect." He paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "But one place keeps coming up. A bookstore called The Grimoire."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "The Grim-what?"
"Grimoire," Wylie clarified. "It's like…a magical textbook. Apparently, it's a hotspot for people into the occult. If the killer's doing something ritualistic with the blood, there's a good chance they've been there. It's only three miles from where the bodies were buried."
Cho, standing nearby, crossed his arms. "Wylie, most of Austin is within three miles of where the bodies were buried."
Wylie hesitated, visibly deflated, but pressed on. "I know it's not much. But I keep coming back to it—it feels like something." He glanced at Jane, his voice firm despite the skeptical looks around him. "You always say, 'Do the usual thing, you get the usual result,' right? This could be different. And if we're right, it might save Lisbon."
Jane closed his eyes, exhaling a shaky breath. He wanted to dismiss it—it sounded thin, too thin, and they didn't have the luxury of chasing false leads. But the alternative was doing nothing. The clock was ticking, and every second that passed could mean the difference between life and death.
"Okay," he said finally, opening his eyes. His voice was quieter now, resolute. "Let's check it out. Wylie, show me everything you've got on this place."
Wylie's face lit up with determination as he hurried to gather his notes. Cho and Abbott exchanged glances, both still skeptical but ready to follow Jane's lead. There was no room for hesitation—not when Lisbon's life was on the line.