1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 169 This is not what I imagined!

Theodore knew very well why:
"This is an inevitable result of the maturation of criminal psychology and the solidification of identity."

"The government's recent performance in international events has also played a catalytic role."

The answer did not resolve the doubts of Bernie and his companions.

They were even more confused.

But now is not the time to dwell on that.

Bernie pointed outside, reminding everyone that the most important thing now was to take action:

"Once we catch them, we can ask them why."

Theodore glanced at him, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

He turned to Detective O'Malley and reminded him that he should first contact the Fourth Precinct to confirm whether the two criminals had already robbed the bank.

Detective O'Malley thought he was worried that Linda and Gary would succeed in the robbery.

He told everyone that when he reported the progress of the investigation to the deputy police commissioner yesterday, he specifically mentioned that two criminals might be planning a robbery, with the target most likely being Riggs National Bank in the Northeast District.

The deputy police commissioner immediately contacted Riggs National Bank to issue a warning.

This morning, the patrol department also rearranged patrol routes and allocated more police officers near the three branches.

With the cooperation of bank security personnel and patrol officers from the Fourth Precinct, the bank's security level has been increased several times over.

Detective O'Malley believed that given Linda and Gary's circumstances, even if they went to rob a bank now, it would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Theodore stared at him for two seconds, then shook his head:
“If the robbery hasn’t started yet, we should set up surveillance at Linda Susan Parker’s apartment.”

“If they have already robbed the bank, we should contact the Maryland State Police to prepare for a highway intercept.”

Detective O'Malley was puzzled:
"why?"

He asked, "They haven't even started looting yet, shouldn't we go back to the Northeast?"

Bernie spoke before Theodore could:
"Alright, let's go downstairs first, we'll talk about it then."

The group left the apartment, filled with doubts.

Despite his many questions, Detective O'Malley obediently followed Theodore's instructions and contacted the Fourth Precinct.

They used a public phone booth on the street corner.

Bernie showed his badge, helped the boy who was on the phone end the call, and handed the microphone to Detective O'Malley.

Detective O'Malley called the deputy commissioner's office directly.

After the call was connected, he inquired about the situation at the three branches and learned that everything was normal and no robbery had occurred.

Detective O'Malley glanced at Theodore and quickly gave a brief summary of the latest developments in the investigation.

He specifically warned the deputy superintendent that the two robbers might make their move today.

After ending the call, the four set off for America University.

On the way, Theodore answered Detective O'Malley's questions:
“They will be wanted immediately once they rob a bank.”

"Linda Susan Parker's scrapbook reveals her deep longing for Bonnie and Clyde's life of hiding and running, believing that such a life was true freedom."

Billy Hawke's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Is she insane?"

Theodore replied seriously, "She's not crazy."

He asked Bernie, "Do you need me to drive?"

Bernie shook his head.

Theodore pointed ahead: "But we can no longer see Billy and the others."

Bernie silently increased his speed.

Theodore continued to explain:
"The two criminals also chose the Northeast as the location for their robbery, not only because they were more familiar with the area, but also because the Northeast would allow them to directly enter Maryland and escape along the state highways, replicating Bonnie and Clyde's original escape route and satisfying their pursuit of freedom."

“But Emily College is in the Northwest District, which is not on their planned escape route.”

"The two criminals must have returned to the apartment before the robbery to retrieve Linda Susan Parker's scrapbook."

Detective O'Malley understood:
"So they'll definitely go to Bonnie's apartment."

"If the robbery hasn't started yet, we'll likely run into them at the apartment."

Theodore nodded, then, remembering that the other person was in another car at least four hundred yards away and impossible to see, he spoke up:

"Yes."

Billy Hawke's voice came through again.

He was asking about Theodore's two explanations regarding the significantly earlier timing of the crime.

Theodore thought for a moment and said:

"The success of their previous crimes gave them unprecedented confidence, and they couldn't wait to replicate Bonnie and Clyde's more sophisticated criminal patterns."

"Furthermore, both criminals have abandoned their student identities and adopted the self-identity of professional criminals."

"This sense of identity requires a constant cycle of crime to solidify."

He paused briefly, then changed the subject, talking about the war in the south.

Yesterday afternoon, CBS broadcast footage of militia escorting prisoners from the southern neighboring country, with the host commenting that the invasion had "collapsed catastrophically."

Several media outlets subsequently followed up with reports.

Today, almost every newspaper's front page is reporting on this event, using footage released by CBS as illustrations.

Although the war is not over and the exiled troops are still resisting, the media and most analysts agree that the government's secret operation has completely failed.

Many allies have raised questions about the government led by President Jack.

This incident severely damaged Emily's international reputation.

Combined with the recent Soviet manned spaceflight incident, it's easy for the Emilia people to feel that they've been caught doing something wrong, and they can't fight back, so they can only obediently accept the punishment.

This made the atmosphere inside Emily's very tense.

This time, many people genuinely believe that the Cold War is about to turn into a hot war, and that a war with the Soviet Union is imminent.

"This tension exacerbates the sense of disorder in society, providing a psychological excuse and practical environment for crime to take advantage of the chaos."

"The government's performance in recent international events has undermined the authority of government institutions and reinforced the two criminals' illusion of justice in challenging the system."

"The current environment is very similar to the environment during Bonnie and Clyde's active period, which will increase their sense of immersion."

"For them, now is a good time to commit crimes."

A long silence fell over the walkie-talkie.

The main issue is that this topic is somewhat sensitive right now.

Especially for Detective O'Malley.

He was sitting next to an FBI agent, and there were two more on the other end of the walkie-talkie, one of whom was Director Hoover's nephew.

He didn't dare utter a single word.

Bernie broke the silence.

He glanced at Theodore and nodded in agreement:

"That's right. Whenever something big happens, the security situation deteriorates, and all sorts of rats appear."

Detective O'Malley echoed this sentiment:

"That's right, the detention cells are always overcrowded at this time of year."

George Washington University and America University are not far apart, less than a twenty-minute drive apart, and we arrived in no time.

Detective O'Malley was driving a police car, and he parked it on the street corner without moving forward.

Detective O'Malley took off his uniform, hat, and badge in the car, carefully put them away, and got out with Billy Hawke, walking towards the apartment building.

Theodore and Bernie arrived as well.

The four met in front of the apartment building.

Instead of going upstairs immediately, they looked at a red Dodge parked at the main entrance of the apartment building.

Two packs of Chesterfield cigarettes and a large canvas bag were scattered on the back seat of the Dodge, the plastic cover in front of it crooked, as if it hadn't been fastened properly.

This is not good news.

The four looked at each other and silently walked into the apartment.

It was already noon.

There were many students coming and going in the apartment building, and the corridors seemed a bit crowded.

The four attracted the attention of many students, especially Bernie and Detective O'Malley.

These two middle-aged men don't seem to belong here at all.

But no one stepped forward to talk to them. The students just silently watched, and the students in front would even make way for them to pass first.

The four of them had just walked halfway when they suddenly heard two loud "bang" sounds coming from upstairs.

Several students stopped and looked around in confusion, thinking that firecrackers were being set off somewhere.

Theodore and his three companions' expressions changed slightly. They pushed aside the students in front of them and ran upstairs.

Bernie and Billy Hawke took the lead, running in the front, with Theodore and Detective O'Malley close behind, less than half a floor apart.

Just as they were about to reach the top floor, several students appeared upstairs, screaming as they rushed down.

As they ran, they shouted things like "Help!" and "Murder!"

Most of the students in the stairwell did not run after them.

Some students tried to stop people running downhill and asked what had happened upstairs.

The student who was stopped pointed upstairs in fear, but before he could say anything, an even louder commotion came from upstairs.

More students started running downstairs.

At the very back of these students, a man who was only 5.5 feet tall was dragging a petite woman down the stairs, limping along.

The man was carrying an Ithaca .37 shotgun in one hand and holding onto the stair railing with the other. He kept looking back, appearing somewhat flustered.

The woman in his arms was clutching her stomach, groaning in pain.

Behind them, at the top floor stairwell, a burly man appeared; he was one of the detectives stationed at Linda's apartment.

His appearance made Gary and Linda very flustered.

Gary instinctively stopped and raised his gun, aiming it upwards.

Linda sat at his feet, leaning against the railing, her body curled up, twisting and turning, crying out in pain.

Annoyed by the shouting, Gary turned around and yelled at her, "Stop yelling! Shut up!!"

Linda didn't shut up; she shouted even louder.

Gary was getting a little frantic.

This was completely different from what he had imagined.

In his imagination, they should be like Bonnie and Clyde, roaming around, crossing more than a dozen northern states, becoming the "B&C 61" that the media scrambles to report on!
Their legendary journey is just beginning!
He gripped the gun with both hands, turned the muzzle downwards, and shouted for the people above to stop the pursuit.

The threat worked quickly.

The burly man, gun in hand, aimed at Gary and stopped.

Gary, holding the gun in both hands, walked down two steps, then came back, staring intently at the upstairs, and shouted at Linda:

"Shut up!"

"Hold onto my leg!"

Linda was shot in the stomach and had no strength left to hold onto his leg. She just lay there, crying out in pain.

She felt like she was going to die.

This was not at all what she had imagined.

In her imagination, she and Gary were on a Maryland highway, outwitting the police and being chased by more than a dozen police cars.

In the end, like Bonnie and Clyde, there was nowhere to escape.

She didn't want to die in the stairwell!
Gary switched to holding the gun in one hand and dragged Linda down the path as before.

Linda's cries subsided and turned into moans.

As they reached the corner of the stairs, they saw four people going against the flow of people.

Both sides stopped.

Theodore and three others pointed their guns at Gary.

Bernie yelled at Detective O'Malley to lay down his weapon and surrender.

Gary paused, somewhat dazed.

He glanced back upstairs.

The burly man upstairs came running down and stood where he had been standing, also pointing his gun at him.

Gary muttered "fxxk" under his breath, loosened his tie, and then bent down to hug Linda tightly.

Linda was already in a semi-conscious state, still humming unconsciously.

Gary gripped the gun tightly, then loosened it, then gripped it again, repeating this several times, hesitant and uncertain.

He finally released the gun.

The Ithaca .37 shotgun fell to the ground with a thud, then slid down the stairs with a thud, where Billy Hawke stepped on it.

No one is letting their guard down.

Bernie yelled at him to throw the other gun over as well.

He tossed a revolver over.

Next was the pistol on Linda's body.

Then everyone rushed forward.

Bernie picked up Linda, who was completely unconscious, and ran downstairs.

Billy Hawke pinned Gary to the ground and handcuffed him.

The burly man did not participate in the arrest; instead, he turned and ran upstairs, shouting for them to hurry up because some officers were injured.

Billy Hawke tossed Gary to Detective O'Malley and hurried after him.

A short while later, he came down carrying the big man's partner.

My partner was shot in the shoulder, blood was flowing all over half of his body, and he was drooping his head, looking rather frightening.

Detective O'Malley watched them go downstairs, gave Gary a shove, and adjusted his handcuffs.

Gary immediately cried out in pain, repeatedly groaning in agony.

Theodore glanced at him and went upstairs.

Detective O'Malley grabbed Gary by the collar and dragged him after them.

Gary's shouts echoed in the stairwell.

Theodore arrived at the door of Linda Susan Parker's apartment.

The door is open.

There was a pool of blood at the entrance, and several messy bloody footprints on the ground.

The living room sofa had a hole punched in it. Theodore dug inside the hole and pulled out a bullet.

The doors to both bedrooms were closed, and the interiors remained as they were.

The living room was a bit messy, with a pizza box on the floor and the trash can overflowing.

Two cups, stuffed full of cigarette butts, were placed on the ground near the door, with a lot of cigarette ash scattered on the ground.

Theodore reached into his pocket, pulled out a glove, and put the bullet inside.

He walked towards the bathroom, circled around, then came out, thought for a moment, and closed the door again.

Detective O'Malley stood guard at the door with Gary in his arms.

When they saw Theodore come out, they asked what had happened.

The two detectives were no match for the two rookies and were even injured.

This struck him as somewhat outrageous.

I'd heard that the colleagues at the Third Precinct were unreliable, but I never imagined they were this unreliable.

Theodore pointed to the bathroom:

"When the two criminals returned, one of them was inside."

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

The patrol officers who received the report arrived at the scene.

The two handed the scene over to the patrol officers and escorted Gary downstairs.

(End of this chapter)