1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 156: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf
The 7-Eleven robbery reminded Bernie of a case they handled when they first arrived in DC.

On the way, Bernie joked with Theodore:

"Why do I have this feeling that Henry Thompson, along with Fernando and Javier, did it?"

Before Theodore could even pull out his notebook to doodle or do anything, Billy Hawke leaned over from behind:
"Who is Henry Thompson? And who are Fernando and Javier?"

Bernie glanced back at Billy Hawke and recounted the post office robbery.

Billy Hawke found the case increasingly familiar, and then suddenly realized that it was the same case from the first case analysis class during the selection training!
He asked Bernie for confirmation.

Bernie paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Billy Hawke slapped the back of his chair: "No wonder none of you participated in the discussion back then! So you were the ones who investigated this case!"

Bernie chuckled twice, thinking to himself that not only was our case used in the first case analysis class, but our case was also used in the later exams.

He recounted the entire story of the post office robbery, expanding on many aspects not covered in the case analysis class, and then compared the two cases side-by-side:

"The amount stolen in both cases was not high."

Billy Hawke also squeezed into the gap between the driver's and passenger's seats to join in the fun:
"Fernando and Javier initially started competing with each other at convenience stores and gas stations."

"And they also used shotguns."

"It's always done by two people working together."

The more he talked, the more he felt the two cases were very similar:
"Could the robbers be another couple, Fernando and Javier?"

Bernie could sense the similarities between the two cases, but he also noticed their differences.

He shook his head: "Fernando and Javier's main goal in robbing was economic gain, and they chose convenience stores and gas stations because these places are easy to rob."

"The reason they didn't rob large sums of money was that they didn't want to attract the attention of the police."

"If they could, they would even prefer to wear invisibility cloaks to commit robberies, so that no one would notice them."

Theodore looked up at him.

The latest issue of a third-rate tabloid that Bernie brought back was about a case involving a man committing a crime while wearing an invisibility cloak.

He wanted to remind Bernie, but then he remembered that a certain third-rate tabloid would no longer write those outrageous stories, and this might be the last issue. So he lowered his head again and continued to doodle in his notebook.

Bernie thought there was something wrong with what he said, so he paused for a moment, but Theodore did not correct him.

He seemed slightly puzzled, but continued speaking:

“But in this case, the robbers specifically left the mark ‘B&C 61’, as if they wanted to attract attention.”

Theodore stopped writing and drawing and looked at Bernie again.

Billy Hawke, sitting in the back seat, noticed Theodore's actions and asked for his opinion.

Theodore agreed with Bernie's assessment, but offered a more in-depth analysis:
"Leaving a mark at a crime scene is a typical identification method."

"It is a more obvious signature behavior than identification marks."

"This act of signing has different meanings in different cases."

"The robbers' act of signing in this case demonstrates their desire to be recognized and remembered, even anonymously."

"The marks left by the robbers indicate that they have a strong desire to perform, which is a typical characteristic of histrionic personality."

“They fantasize about being different and hope that they can be recognized and remembered by a specific group of people, such as their gang, admirers, or the police.”

"If the media could report on it extensively, and writers could write books about it, they would seriously consider turning themselves in to the police immediately."

"Moreover, these types of criminals often commit crimes repeatedly, leaving the same mark at each crime scene, like signing a document."

After Theodore finished speaking, the car was quiet for a few minutes before Billy Hawke's voice rang out:
"Boss, what are the characteristics of histrionic personality disorder?"

Bernie had the same question.

Theodore glanced back at Billy Hawke:
"It's about excessively seeking attention, craving attention, and hoping to be the center of attention at all times."

This is not an accurate, popular understanding of histrionic personality traits, but what Theodore is trying to express at this point is that "the robber craves attention."

Billy Hawke seemed to understand, but not quite.

Bernie turned to look at Theodore.

He had spent enough time with Theodore and knew him well enough.

Although he didn't know exactly what histrionic personality traits meant, he instinctively felt that the explanation was wrong.

Theodore pointed ahead, reminding Bernie, "We're going into the woods."

Bernie quickly looked towards the road.

Theodore pulled a psychology journal out of his bag:

"If you want to understand the characteristics of histrionic personality in detail, you can start with this book."

Bernie's lips twitched, but he remained silent, staring intently ahead.

Billy Hawke glanced at Bernie first, then, wary, remained silent as well.

Theodore passed it back, but Billy Hawke didn't take it, so he put the journal away with some disappointment.

Bernie caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and said:
"So, the robbers want the police to pay attention to them?"

He asked Theodore, "Is this considered a provocation against the police?"

Billy Hawke chimed in, "That's exactly the same analysis you gave about the car thief, boss!"

"Car thieves are also provoking the police!"

"The robbers are also provoking the police!"

Theodore neither confirmed nor denied this.

Billy Hawke, recalling the situation at the convenience store, asked Theodore:

"Was that clerk doing it on purpose?"

"If the store clerk didn't wipe away the fingerprints, we only need to extract the fingerprints and compare them with the fingerprints in the police car to know if it was the car thief who did it!"

There's absolutely no need for criminal profiling, no need to study criminal psychology, and not even need for law enforcement experience. Anyone with normal intelligence can tell that the store clerk has a problem.

Bernie answered Billy Hawke's question:

"The clerk probably exaggerated the amount stolen when giving his statement, fearing that if the two robbers were caught, his theft would be discovered."

Billy Hawke asked him how he knew.

Theodore looked at him too.

He knew the employee was suspicious, but he had no proof.

The clerk said that cleaning was in accordance with the convenience store's regulations, and that if he didn't clean the store by the designated time, his salary would be deducted.

He also said he did not do it on purpose and did not know that the police could collect fingerprints.

Everyone knows he's lying through his teeth, but they have no proof.

Bernie: "I've encountered this situation many times when I was a patrol officer. The amount reported by the robbed store doesn't match the amount the robber said at all."

Billy Hawke was somewhat envious of this kind of advice.

He also raised questions about the authenticity of the clerk's testimony and whether the clerk was concealing anything.

Bernie and Theodore agreed that his testimony was likely reliable, but he was probably withholding some specific details about the incident.

Billy Hawke was unwilling to give up, feeling that if the staff cooperated, they might be able to achieve an unexpected breakthrough.

Theodore nodded in agreement:
"So I plan to contact the IRS and the local police department later to investigate him."

“That convenience store is in a remote location, making it an ideal target for robbery.” “This is probably not the first time he’s done something like this.”

…………

The rain is getting heavier.

The CIA director, the FBI director, President Jack, Vice President Lyon, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a whole host of other people gathered at the White House.

The people here almost represent the pinnacle of Emily's military power.

They didn't come here because of the Soviets' attempt to go to space.

This matter continues to have an impact on the outside world, but for them, it is already a thing of the past.

They were working on a project that had been in the works for three years and had been in preparation since the time of the general president.

Yesterday, President Jack approved the action plan.

Early this morning, eight US-made B-26 bombers launched two waves of airstrikes against three major air bases of the neighboring country to the south.

This airstrike should have completely destroyed, or at least most of, the air defenses of the southern neighbor, turning their airspace into America's air force's backyard.

Prior to the attack, the CIA's intelligence projections did indeed indicate this.

However, in reality, the attack only destroyed a small number of old warplanes, falling far short of its intended target.

The unfavorable start left Emily in a dilemma.

Continuing with the plan would have meant that the airstrike had failed to achieve its objectives, adding immeasurable risks to subsequent operations, and the possibility of failure had increased dramatically.

Terminating the plan would make it seem like a half-hearted effort, which would be a blow to morale.

Especially at this critical juncture of bipolar rivalry, no one can afford the consequences of such behavior.

Moreover, they have already launched the attack, and it is foreseeable that the Soviet Union will not let this opportunity pass and will certainly stir up a media storm that is seriously detrimental to Emilyka on the international stage.

At this point, they were discussing whether to continue with the plan.

The CIA provided external intelligence support for this operation, while the FBI was responsible for monitoring domestic public opinion.

Logically, the FBI should only need to attend the meeting and not make any statements.

Aside from being a consultation meeting, this meeting had little to do with the FBI.

But Chief Hoover did not intend to remain silent.

Before the meeting began, he submitted a report to Attorney General Robert, criticizing the CIA for its intelligence failures.

The report mentioned that he had previously submitted a memo to the White House, reminding them that the CIA was recruiting exiles who included double agents, and that according to FBI intelligence, the people in the southern neighboring country would not revolt.

The situation is not as optimistic as CIA intelligence suggests.

But his reminder was dismissed by the CIA director as "Hoover only wanted to expand the FBI's sphere of influence."

The CIA director strongly urged President Jack to continue with the plan, but his warnings were ultimately ignored by the White House.

After reviewing the report, Robert thought that the CIA director's accusations were not without merit.

He questioned Hoover in a deep voice about the meaning behind submitting this report.

Hoover remained composed, stating that this was merely a routine work report—an FBI summary of the current situation.

He pointed to the door, reminding his direct supervisor that the meeting was about to begin.

Robert gave Hoover a deep look, picked up the report, and left.

Instead of going to the meeting, he took the report to President Jack.

Here, he met the CIA director.

While Hoover was at work, the CIA director was also busy.

He also prepared a report and submitted it directly to President Jack.

The CIA director is a legendary spy who orchestrated the infamous Operation Sunrise.

He bears a striking resemblance to Hoover, having single-handedly elevated the CIA from an amateur private club to its current prominence.

He pointed the finger at the FBI and Hoover, accusing Hoover in his report of refusing to open the domestic counterintelligence database to the CIA during the execution of the plan and preventing FBI agents from joining the CIA joint task force, thus obstructing the plan at every turn.

He knew very well that Hoover would not let go of this opportunity to kill him.

He must retaliate in advance.

President Jack was very impressed with the CIA director's report and almost joined in condemning the FBI and Hoover for disregarding the bigger picture.

Robert's appearance interrupted President Jack's interest.

After the CIA director left, Robert handed Hoover's report to President Jack.

With two reports before him, President Jack looked at one and then the other, momentarily finding it difficult to choose.

He has never experienced such a happy moment before!

Before the meeting even started, and even before the covert operation had completed its initial strikes, Emilyka was already fighting amongst itself.

The meeting was delayed by fifteen minutes because of these two reports.

This resulted in the Secretary of State being called away by his assistant just as the meeting had begun.

The assistant brought the latest international news.

The foreign minister of the neighboring country to the south accused Emilyka of plotting aggression at an emergency UN meeting.

Emily's delegation, unaware of any warning from the White House, angrily denounced the slander from their southern neighbor at the meeting and confidently stated that there was absolutely no truth to it.

As a result, the foreign minister of the neighboring country to the south showed photos of the wreckage of the downed B-26.

Emily's military serial number is still preserved on its wings.

The foreign minister of the neighboring country to the south suggested that the wreckage could be transported to the venue if necessary.

Emily is embroiled in a diplomatic fraud scandal.

The Secretary of State returned to the conference room with a serious expression and reported the latest news he had received.

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

Hoover, who was in the last seat, raised his head, scanned the room, and his gaze lingered briefly on President Jack, Attorney General Robert, and the CIA Director before he lowered his head again.

He doesn't have to do anything now.

The meeting went more smoothly than expected.

Considering the international impact of the actions taken by the southern neighbor at the UN, and with the help of intelligence of dubious veracity provided by the CIA director, and after a brief discussion, everyone quickly reached a consensus.

Now they are on the verge of action and have no choice but to act.

After the meeting, the CIA director was kept behind by President Jack.

Hoover made a brief stop at the White House before returning to the Department of Justice building by car.

Pennsylvania Avenue, which had just returned to normal, quickly became even more congested.

Shortly afterward, the Associated Press and United Press International published their first breaking news reports:
"XX accuses Emily of planning an air raid."

At noon, major newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post urgently printed extra editions, with headlines directly addressing the core issue:

"XX presents evidence to accuse US of airstrikes; Emily's representative vehemently denies."

Emilyka Caught in Diplomatic Fraud Scandal

The special edition published a close-up photo of the B-26 wreckage, including the U.S. military serial number, questioning the government's cover-up and raising further questions:
"Who is providing false intelligence to UN representative Emily?"

(End of this chapter)