Kyle Craig
Encyclopedia
Kyle Craig is a fictional character in James Patterson
's series of novels featuring Washington, D.C.
detective Alex Cross
. Craig, a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
, is initially a close friend of Cross and assists the detective in his high-profile investigations, and also occasionally asks Cross for help with his own cases. However, in the 2001 novel Violets Are Blue
, Craig is revealed to be a sadistic criminal who calls himself "The Mastermind", having organized a series of brutal bank robberies and murders. He is eventually brought to justice by Cross for his crimes. From Violets Are Blue onwards, Craig has been one of Cross' most formidable adversaries. In the film adaptations of Patterson's novels Kiss the Girls
and Along Came a Spider
, Craig is played by Jay O. Sanders
.
, Craig, using the alias "The Mastermind", formulates the robbery of a Citibank
with two associates, Errol and Brianne Parker. Over the course of the robbery, while Brianne holds the bank manager and an employee hostage, she reveals that Errol is also holding the manager's family hostage and will kill them all if Brianne doesn't leave the bank by a certain time. Brianne manages to leave the bank with the loot as planned, but she neglects to call Errol, who in turn kills the manager's family anyway. Craig, as the Mastermind, later visits the Parkers at their secluded hideout. He brings pizza
and wine
to celebrate the "perfect crime", but the items turn out have been poisoned by Craig in a successful attempt to kill the Parkers. After they die, Craig offers a toast to "perfect crimes". It is stated later that Brianne was raped by Craig post-mortem. Cross, investigating the robbery, later finds the Parkers' decomposing remains and informs Craig, unaware of his role in murdering them.
On the same morning that Cross finds the Parkers' bodies, Craig hires a new, more professional robbery crew, who are referred to only by codenames: Mr. Red, Mr. White, Mr. Blue, and Mrs. Green. This new crew robs a First Union bank and, same as before, holds the manager's family hostage, only this time Mr. Red and Mr. White produce a videotape to prove they are not bluffing. Mr. Blue threatens to kill the entire family if the police are somehow notified of the unfolding robbery. When he hears an alert on a police scanner regarding the robbery, Mr. Blue keeps his word, but kills everyone in the bank instead; the manager's family is later released. It is later revealed that Craig had intended for the bank's staff to be killed no matter what the robbery's outcome was, and that it was he who tipped off the police about the robbery. Meanwhile, Craig teams up with Cross and several of his fellow FBI agents to carry out his own manhunt. He later visits the gruesome crime scene at the First Union bank with Cross.
Later that day, Craig and Cross make it to the scene of another bank robbery, only this time, neither the bank's staff nor the manager's family has been harmed. While Cross and Craig are at the family's house, the FBI agent watches the detective, considering Cross as his main opponent.
The novel concludes with the vicious murder of Special Agent in Charge, Betsy Cavalliere. Craig chose to murder her to get to Cross since she and Cross had been romantic. She was also in line to take his job as head of the FBI. It is in the very last sentence that the reader is told Kyle Craig is the Mastermind. To prove that he's worthy of his alias, he shows up to the crime scene and expresses seemingly sincere sympathy for Cross patting him on the back.
Craig's determination and reason comes from his need to prove himself as the mastermind, almost like a puppet master,trying to show Cross that no one not even the famous Alex Cross is superior to him.
In the end he is found out when Alex stakes out in front of Jamilla's apartment after having one of his famous urges/feelings that seem to prevail through his work.
He is astonished, shocked, yet finally comprehends when he comes to find that one of his closest friends and colleagues, Kyle Craig staking out Jamilla's place. It is at this instant that Cross realizes that one of the few people he trusted was actually the Mastermind himself.
, Craig hatches an elaborate escape plan with his loyal attorney, Mason Wainwright. While Craig and Wainwright are having one of their regular meetings in ADX Florence -- which are not monitored due to attorney-client privilege
-- the two men swap clothes and give each other prosthetic masks bearing their likenesses. Craig, having assumed Wainwright's identity, manages to leave the prison with ease and drive away in the lawyer's car. Wainwright, now bearing Craig's likeness, goes to his client's cell and hangs himself. However, prison officials figure out the ruse and warn Cross, who by now has started a private psychiatry
practice in Washington.
Craig travels to his family's vacation home in Aspen
, using another prosthetic mask to disguise himself as his dead father. He visits his mother and forces her to let him gain access to the Craig family's overseas bank accounts. After killing her, he travels the world to enjoy his newly gained freedom. He goes to Iowa City, Chicago
, and Paris
, where he meets three separate women and violently kills them, sexually violating at least two of the bodies. He leaves clues at his crime scenes, including an unsigned Hallmark card
imitating the D.C. Audience Killer, or DCAK. Craig begins e-mailing
DCAK, praising his work despite actually viewing him as an inferior amateur.
Craig leaves Paris for Washington, where he murders Nina Wolff, the judge who presided over his trial and sentenced him to death. He then has a meeting with DCAK in front of Cross' home. Events transpire to the point where Cross tracks down DCAK and engages in a knife fight
in an alley. Craig appears, coaching DCAK on how to attack Cross. However, Cross manages to severely wound and incapacitate DCAK. Craig holds Cross at gunpoint and begins taunting him, but Cross' girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, appears on the scene and shoots Craig. Craig initially plays dead before getting up, vowing to kill Cross, and fleeing the scene.
At the same time, Craig copycats the Patriot sniper and Numbers Killer (a case being investigated by Sampson) and leaves cryptic clues, alerting Cross that he is actually impersonating the other killers. Craig eventually solves both the Patriot and Numbers cases and personally kills both the Patriot and the Numbers Killer (the latter murder as a wedding present for Cross).
After the conclusion of the book's main cases, Craig—still impersonating Siegel—shows up at Cross's honeymoon and attempts to take Ali, Jannie, Damon, and Nana Mama hostage. With the help of his new wife, Bree, Cross eventually subdues and arrests Craig, who is surprised that Cross refuses to kill him. As he is being taken into custody, Craig steals an officer's gun and shoots an air tank, which explodes and supposedly kills him.
James Patterson
James B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
's series of novels featuring Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
detective Alex Cross
Alex Cross
Alex Cross is a fictional character, the protagonist in a series of books by novelist James Patterson.-Character overview:Cross is a Black detective and psychologist living and working in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C...
. Craig, a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, is initially a close friend of Cross and assists the detective in his high-profile investigations, and also occasionally asks Cross for help with his own cases. However, in the 2001 novel Violets Are Blue
Violets Are Blue (novel)
Violets Are Blue is the seventh book by James Patterson to feature the Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist Alex Cross.-Plot summary:...
, Craig is revealed to be a sadistic criminal who calls himself "The Mastermind", having organized a series of brutal bank robberies and murders. He is eventually brought to justice by Cross for his crimes. From Violets Are Blue onwards, Craig has been one of Cross' most formidable adversaries. In the film adaptations of Patterson's novels Kiss the Girls
Kiss the Girls (film)
Kiss the Girls is a 1997 American thriller film directed by Gary Fleder and starring Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes and Ashley Judd. The screenplay by David Klass is based on the best-selling novel Kiss the Girls by James Patterson.-Plot:Washington, D.C...
and Along Came a Spider
Along Came a Spider (film)
Along Came a Spider is a 2001 American mystery film directed by Lee Tamahori. The screenplay by Marc Moss was adapted from the 1993 novel of the same title by James Patterson, but many of the key plot elements of the book were eliminated...
, Craig is played by Jay O. Sanders
Jay O. Sanders
Jay Olcutt Sanders is an American character actor.Sanders was born in Austin, Texas, to Phyllis Rae and James Olcutt Sanders. He is noted for playing Mob lawyer character Steven Kordo in the 1986–88 NBC detective series Crime Story...
.
Role in the Novels
Craig graduated from Duke University and Duke's Law School, as indicated in Double Cross.Roses Are Red
At the beginning of the 2000 novel Roses Are RedRoses are Red (novel)
Roses Are Red is the sixth book featuring the Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist Alex Cross written by James Patterson.-Plot summary:...
, Craig, using the alias "The Mastermind", formulates the robbery of a Citibank
Citibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...
with two associates, Errol and Brianne Parker. Over the course of the robbery, while Brianne holds the bank manager and an employee hostage, she reveals that Errol is also holding the manager's family hostage and will kill them all if Brianne doesn't leave the bank by a certain time. Brianne manages to leave the bank with the loot as planned, but she neglects to call Errol, who in turn kills the manager's family anyway. Craig, as the Mastermind, later visits the Parkers at their secluded hideout. He brings pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
and wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
to celebrate the "perfect crime", but the items turn out have been poisoned by Craig in a successful attempt to kill the Parkers. After they die, Craig offers a toast to "perfect crimes". It is stated later that Brianne was raped by Craig post-mortem. Cross, investigating the robbery, later finds the Parkers' decomposing remains and informs Craig, unaware of his role in murdering them.
On the same morning that Cross finds the Parkers' bodies, Craig hires a new, more professional robbery crew, who are referred to only by codenames: Mr. Red, Mr. White, Mr. Blue, and Mrs. Green. This new crew robs a First Union bank and, same as before, holds the manager's family hostage, only this time Mr. Red and Mr. White produce a videotape to prove they are not bluffing. Mr. Blue threatens to kill the entire family if the police are somehow notified of the unfolding robbery. When he hears an alert on a police scanner regarding the robbery, Mr. Blue keeps his word, but kills everyone in the bank instead; the manager's family is later released. It is later revealed that Craig had intended for the bank's staff to be killed no matter what the robbery's outcome was, and that it was he who tipped off the police about the robbery. Meanwhile, Craig teams up with Cross and several of his fellow FBI agents to carry out his own manhunt. He later visits the gruesome crime scene at the First Union bank with Cross.
Later that day, Craig and Cross make it to the scene of another bank robbery, only this time, neither the bank's staff nor the manager's family has been harmed. While Cross and Craig are at the family's house, the FBI agent watches the detective, considering Cross as his main opponent.
The novel concludes with the vicious murder of Special Agent in Charge, Betsy Cavalliere. Craig chose to murder her to get to Cross since she and Cross had been romantic. She was also in line to take his job as head of the FBI. It is in the very last sentence that the reader is told Kyle Craig is the Mastermind. To prove that he's worthy of his alias, he shows up to the crime scene and expresses seemingly sincere sympathy for Cross patting him on the back.
Violets Are Blue
Kyle Craig stalks Alex Cross throughout the novel, with the knowledge that Cross has no idea who the mastermind is.Craig's determination and reason comes from his need to prove himself as the mastermind, almost like a puppet master,trying to show Cross that no one not even the famous Alex Cross is superior to him.
In the end he is found out when Alex stakes out in front of Jamilla's apartment after having one of his famous urges/feelings that seem to prevail through his work.
He is astonished, shocked, yet finally comprehends when he comes to find that one of his closest friends and colleagues, Kyle Craig staking out Jamilla's place. It is at this instant that Cross realizes that one of the few people he trusted was actually the Mastermind himself.
Double Cross
At the beginning of the 2007 novel Double CrossDouble Cross (novel)
Double Cross is the thirteenth book in the Alex Cross series featuring Detective Alex Cross by James Patterson. It was released on November 13, 2007.On December 2, 2007 Double Cross became the number 1 best seller in the New York Times.-Plot summary:...
, Craig hatches an elaborate escape plan with his loyal attorney, Mason Wainwright. While Craig and Wainwright are having one of their regular meetings in ADX Florence -- which are not monitored due to attorney-client privilege
Attorney-client privilege
Attorney–client privilege is a legal concept that protects certain communications between a client and his or her attorney and keeps those communications confidential....
-- the two men swap clothes and give each other prosthetic masks bearing their likenesses. Craig, having assumed Wainwright's identity, manages to leave the prison with ease and drive away in the lawyer's car. Wainwright, now bearing Craig's likeness, goes to his client's cell and hangs himself. However, prison officials figure out the ruse and warn Cross, who by now has started a private psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
practice in Washington.
Craig travels to his family's vacation home in Aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
, using another prosthetic mask to disguise himself as his dead father. He visits his mother and forces her to let him gain access to the Craig family's overseas bank accounts. After killing her, he travels the world to enjoy his newly gained freedom. He goes to Iowa City, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he meets three separate women and violently kills them, sexually violating at least two of the bodies. He leaves clues at his crime scenes, including an unsigned Hallmark card
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
imitating the D.C. Audience Killer, or DCAK. Craig begins e-mailing
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
DCAK, praising his work despite actually viewing him as an inferior amateur.
Craig leaves Paris for Washington, where he murders Nina Wolff, the judge who presided over his trial and sentenced him to death. He then has a meeting with DCAK in front of Cross' home. Events transpire to the point where Cross tracks down DCAK and engages in a knife fight
Knife fight
A knife fight is a violent physical confrontation between two or more combatants in which one or more participants is armed with a knife...
in an alley. Craig appears, coaching DCAK on how to attack Cross. However, Cross manages to severely wound and incapacitate DCAK. Craig holds Cross at gunpoint and begins taunting him, but Cross' girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, appears on the scene and shoots Craig. Craig initially plays dead before getting up, vowing to kill Cross, and fleeing the scene.
Cross Country
Craig is not seen whilst being referenced often in comparison to the Tiger, until the very end, when he phones Cross informing him that he had been in the house Cross had just exited. He tells him that they will be meeting soon, describes Cross as 'impressive' and insinuates that he, like Cross, never gives up, before hanging up. This conversation implies that Craig will be the antagonist of Cross Fire.I, Alex Cross
Craig calls Cross at the end of the book, congratulating him on his engagement, and tells him that he is giving him a break as his wedding present. He ends the call by warning him that it won't last forever though.Cross Fire
Craig murders and assumes the identity of FBI Agent Max Siegel, augmenting his appearance through surgery. He then murders Siegel's handler and returns to Washington, where he becomes the agent in charge of the Patriot sniper case, where Alex Cross is the lead investigator for the MPD. Craig—as Max Siegel—partners with Alex Cross for the case and antagonizes Cross by trying to one-up Cross to breakthroughs in the case.At the same time, Craig copycats the Patriot sniper and Numbers Killer (a case being investigated by Sampson) and leaves cryptic clues, alerting Cross that he is actually impersonating the other killers. Craig eventually solves both the Patriot and Numbers cases and personally kills both the Patriot and the Numbers Killer (the latter murder as a wedding present for Cross).
After the conclusion of the book's main cases, Craig—still impersonating Siegel—shows up at Cross's honeymoon and attempts to take Ali, Jannie, Damon, and Nana Mama hostage. With the help of his new wife, Bree, Cross eventually subdues and arrests Craig, who is surprised that Cross refuses to kill him. As he is being taken into custody, Craig steals an officer's gun and shoots an air tank, which explodes and supposedly kills him.