1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 109 Interrogation
Javier was clearly interested.

His hands, handcuffed to the table, were clasped together. He kept adjusting his body and occasionally looked up at Theodore and Bernie.

Havel's hesitation was a harbinger of cooperation.

However, it is not advisable to strike while the iron is hot at this time.

Bernie has said what he needed to say. Continuing to put pressure on him might backfire, making Javier doubt the value of the confession and mistakenly believe that the FBI is too eager to succeed.

Theodore chose to suspend the trial, giving Javier time to think.

Before leaving the interrogation room, Ronald reminded Javier, "We'll give you time to think, but opportunities don't last forever."

Javier raised his head, his lips moving as if he were about to speak.

But no one stopped.

As Ronald emerged from the interrogation room, he looked at Bernie.

Bernie's performance was brilliant; even he couldn't have done better.

The three men went into the interrogation room next door, and after waiting for a while, Fernando was brought in.

He has obvious Mexican ancestry, with brown skin, a broad face, high cheekbones, and a flat nose.

Compared to Javier, Fernando appeared more inexperienced.

He sat opposite them, slightly hunched over, his lips pressed tightly together, staring at Theodore and Bernie.

The trial of Fernando was similar to that of Javier.

Let's start with the previous robberies of convenience stores and gas stations.

But Fernando was even more resistant to cooperation than Javier. Bernie asked several questions in a row, but received no answers from Fernando.

This, however, gave them hope.

Bernie laid out the map that Javier had drawn on the table: "This is the shop that Javier identified that you robbed."

He pointed to the circles on the map and repeated Havel's confession.

Fernando clearly had a better memory than Javier; he remembered very well which shops he had robbed.

Bernie's account differed slightly from the facts, but it was enough to shock Fernando.

After being arrested yesterday, he made up his mind not to say a single word.

He was even prepared to receive special treatment.

In the military and in prison, he encountered many instances of special treatment because of his Mexican heritage.

He considered many possibilities, but he never expected Havel to confess first.

This gave him a feeling of absurdity and unreality.

Fernando stared at the map for a while, then shook his head at Bernie: "You're lying to me."

He said with certainty, "Javier didn't say anything; you're lying to me."

Bernie paused for a moment, then rolled up the map. "Let's talk about Henry Thompson."

Fernando, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, tensed up again upon hearing the name Henry Thompson.

He almost reflexively denied it, saying, "I don't know Henry Thompson!"

Bernie paused, then turned to look at Theodore and Ronald.

Ronald lowered his arm, instinctively about to ask a question.

He was about to speak when he remembered the agreement that Theodore and Bernie would preside over the trial, so he leaned back.

Theodore found the three men's incarceration records and handed them to Bernie.

Bernie spread them out one by one and pushed them over: "Henry Thompson is serving his sentence with you in the Maryland State Prison; you're in the same block."

"Henry Thompson and Javier were roommates."

Don't you recognize each other?

Fernando did not answer.

Bernie stared at him for a moment, then sighed: "Fernando, you deserved a better life."

He pulled out Fernando's file: "You performed exceptionally well in the army, and your superiors liked you very much."

"If you had stayed in the army, you might be a sergeant by now."

Bernie painted a concrete picture of Fernando's ordinary yet happy life: a car, a house, a wife, and children; regular training, spending holidays with family, or gatherings with comrades.

“But you left the army with Havel.”

After describing what sounded like a wonderful life, Bernie paused, pulling people back to reality:

"You gave up a good life and chose to live by robbing with Javier."

"He got you into prison, and now he wants you to take the blame for someone else."

Do you know the difference between robbing a bank and robbing a convenience store?

Seeing Fernando looking over, Bernie tapped the table: "You will face at least 20 years in prison, and if you choose not to cooperate, you may face life imprisonment."

After a pause, Bernie's tone was filled with regret and sympathy: "Javier has identified Henry Thompson as the mastermind behind and instigator of your robbery of the bank."

"impossible!"

Fernando retorted loudly.

Bernie ignored his rebuttal and continued, "He also identified the Winchester M1912 pump-action shotgun and the Colt pistol that you bought."

"He received a reduced sentence."

Fernando retorted loudly: "Javier wouldn't do that! He wouldn't be a rat!"

Bernie raised his voice slightly: "He's already done it!"

"He may only need to stay in prison for three to five years before he can be paroled."

“After he gets out, he can continue robbing; he can always find someone else to partner with.”

Where were you then?

Bernie stood up, leaned closer to Fernando, and looked him in the eye: "Fernando, where were you back then?"

"Henry Thompson and Javier might occasionally mention a man named Fernando. What would they say about you?"

"A loyal brother? Or a fool taking the blame for them?"

“Javier was willing to sacrifice you for Henry Thompson, but you could have had a better life.”

Bernie reached out and patted Fernando on the shoulder: "You made the wrong choice a few years ago, and now I hope you make the right one."

"Tell us, was Henry Thompson the one who ordered and planned the entire robbery?"

Fernando kept telling himself that Bernie was lying.

But he just couldn't help imagining things based on Bernie's words.

He lowered his head, struggling incessantly, and finally gritted his teeth and shook his head:
"I have no idea!"

He lowered his head and said in a tone that even he himself was uncertain, "Javier didn't say anything! You're lying to me!"

Ronald, who was standing nearby, also lowered his arm in surprise.

Fernando was the easiest link to break through, especially since he vehemently denied knowing Henry Thompson. Ronald and Bernie were convinced they could get something out of Fernando.

The interrogation was progressing as they expected, but then an unexpected twist occurred!
Bernie froze for a moment and looked at Theodore.

This reversal came too suddenly and unexpectedly.

Theodore looked up and glanced at Fernando.

He had anticipated this outcome.

Throughout the trial, Fernando has never shown any inclination to cooperate.

His resistance was never dispelled.

He doesn't even admit to the robbery yesterday afternoon.

Fortunately, Theodore did not place his hopes on Fernando, who stubbornly denied the allegations.

He chose to end the interrogation and had Fernando sent back immediately, then continued to interrogate Javier.

The hour or so alone gave Javier a lot to think about, and he felt a little uneasy when he heard the interrogation room door open.

Bernie was still in charge of the presiding judge.

He glanced at the notebook Theodore handed him and answered a few questions that Javier had been concerned about but hadn't asked aloud:
"We have just questioned Fernando."

"He has identified Henry Thompson."

“A month ago, after Henry Thompson was released from prison, he approached you and urged you to plan a bank robbery together.”

"To ensure the success of the robbery, he planned two robberies targeting the post office as practice."

"You and Fernando will be in charge of carrying out the robbery, while Henry Thompson will be in charge of observing the police response speed from outside."

Bernie read aloud Theodore's analysis of them, and finally asked Javier, "Fernando has finally made the right choice this time."

"Now it's your turn, Javier. What's your choice?"

Javier's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

He looked up, staring intently at Bernie, his eyes filled with rage:
"I knew it!"

"He's a coward!"

"He's a rat! A traitor!"

Javier launched into a tirade against Fernando, accusing him of betrayal. Bernie put down Theodore's notebook and repeated the previous question.

This time, Havel broke his silence; he answered almost eagerly:

Yes! He found us.

"He told us that if you rob a bank, everyone can get at least 80,000 yuan."

During their final robbery in November, Javier and Fernando encountered Henry Thompson, who had recently been released from prison.

The three met outside the prison and were very happy, sharing their recent experiences.

Henry Thompson had already become a transport driver for Riggs National Bank through a parole officer's guarantee.

Hearing that Javier and Fernando were having a bad time, Henry Thompson came up with a plan to rob a bank.

He told the two that each of them would receive at least 80,000 yuan for each operation.

That was a huge sum of money that Fernando and Javier had never even seen before, and the two agreed without hesitation.

After a period of observation, Henry Thompson identified the DuPont Roundabout branch as the target.

The robbery was originally planned to be carried out on the morning of the 15th.

That day happened to be federal employees' payday, and Riggs National Bank would prepare sufficient funds a day in advance.

Javier recounted every detail of his meeting with Henry Thompson at the gas station until his arrest yesterday, and finally asked Bernie:

Can I get a reduced sentence?

Ronald answered Bernie's question: "We will remind the prosecutor of your cooperation."

After concluding their interrogation of Havel, none of the three men immediately considered interrogating Henry Thompson.

The only thing they currently have that connects Henry Thompson to the robbery is Javier's testimony.

They couldn't even get Fernando's identification.

At noon, Mike was the first to send back a message.

Henry Thompson's parole officer knew nothing about Henry Thompson's plan to rob the bank.

In fact, he found it unbelievable and repeatedly asked Mike if there was a mistake.

In Richard Mason's (Henry Thompson's parole officer) eyes, Henry Thompson was a man who genuinely wanted to reform and had succeeded.

He often used Henry Thompson as a positive example to encourage the other prisoners under his command.

Mike is currently interviewing prisoners under his command with the help of parole officer Richard Mason, hoping to get clues about Henry Thompson's robbery plan from them.

He will later travel to Maryland State Penitentiary to speak with inmates who were close to Henry Thompson.

Andrew sent back a message shortly afterward.

The search of the Henry Thompson home yielded nothing.

In his words, "His house is cleaner than a laboratory."

Andrew and detectives from the Sixth Precinct are going door-to-door, hoping to get some clues from Henry Thompson or Fernando and Javier's neighbors.

Theodore believed that they were most likely doing something in vain.

Given Henry Thompson's cautious nature, it's impossible for him to be like Carhol, constantly making a ruckus around the world.

In the afternoon, bad news came from the lab.

They conducted a thorough inspection of Henry Thompson's Chevrolet, but still found nothing.

After reviewing the lab reports, Theodore decided to interrogate Henry Thompson.

Ronald surprisingly did not stop it.

…………

Henry Thompson had a scar on his face, which narrowly missed his eye, and it looked like it was from a sharp object such as a knife.

His leg was also a little lame, and he walked with a dragging gait.

He tried to slow his pace and take each step carefully.

After being brought into the interrogation room, Henry Thompson quickly scanned the room, then sat down and placed his arms on the table, allowing the agents to handcuff him.

He was very cooperative.

After the interrogation room door closed, he asked Theodore and Bernie, puzzled, "When can you let me leave?"

"No matter who you're trying to arrest, I'm pretty sure you've arrested the wrong person."

He shook his wrist: "I did do a lot of bad things in the past, but I have turned over a new leaf now."

"I am a law-abiding citizen."

No one answered him.

Bernie looked at Theodore.

The trial was presided over by Theodore.

Theodore handed over Javier's statement.

Henry Thompson picked up the statement and quickly skimmed through it, then frowned and tapped it:

“I was his cellmate at the Maryland State Prison, but I swear, we were just ordinary cellmates.”

“I just happened to be driving by there yesterday and had no idea that someone was robbing a bank.”

He questioned, "He has a criminal record, can we really trust what he says?"

Bernie asked him, "Have you never contacted Javier and Fernando since you got out of prison?"

Henry Thompson shook his head: "We just say hello when we bump into each other occasionally."

He emphasized, "I have turned over a new leaf since I was released from prison."

“I have a decent job… I work as a security driver for Riggs National Bank, a job that my parole officer helped me get.”

“You can ask my parole officer; I’m really not the person you’re looking for.”

Theodore stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Henry Thompson, thinking Theodore agreed with him, breathed a sigh of relief and said to Bernie, "See, I told you you arrested the wrong person."

“I have a decent job, which I worked hard to get, so why would I think about robbing a bank?”

"I've turned over a new leaf; only a fool would rob a bank."

Theodore retracted Javier's testimony and asked Henry Thompson, "You seem to find it very satisfying to manipulate Javier and Fernando into doing things for you?"

"And now? Have you ever thought about them betraying you? Selling you out?"

Henry Thompson looked bewildered, then shook his head after realizing what he meant: "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I haven't had much contact with them since I was released from prison."

Theodore ignored what he was saying and continued, "You are afraid of losing your current social status, and you are terrified of going back to prison."

"I have no idea…"

"Your parole officer, Richard Mason, is cooperating with the investigation. He admits that he was misled by you and now deeply regrets vouching for you."

"I…"

“Riggs National Bank fired you after learning you were the robbery planner.”

Henry Thompson's smile vanished.

He stared at Theodore for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "You can't do this."

"Just because I have a criminal record, this is how they treat me."

"You can't do this."

Theodore met his gaze and pointed to the corner of his eye: "Did you get this in prison?"

"Who's going to gouge your eyes out?"

Henry Thompson's eye twitched twice.

Theodore was pleased with his reaction, then pointed to his thigh: "And here?"

"Was it also done in prison?"

Henry Thompson: "This has nothing to do with you."

Theodore nodded, then changed the subject again: "You originally planned to carry out the robbery on the morning of the 15th, but we had to bring it forward because of our investigation into shotguns."

“There were only two hours between the detective leaving Javier’s house and you robbing the bank.”

"This robbery started very hastily."

"It's completely different from what you expected."

Henry Thompson, in a low voice, denied it again: "I did not do those things."

Theodore seemed not to hear him: "Were you driving this car during those two robberies of the post office?"

Henry Thompson did not answer.

Theodore stared at him for a moment, then nodded firmly: "You're driving the same car."

"This is not what you planned."

He turned to look at Ronald.

Ronald paused for a moment before realizing what was happening: "I'll go find someone to identify them right away."

(End of this chapter)