1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 184 Stop arguing!
Theodore felt his entire weekend was ruined by the loss of the arson case.

To make matters worse, they were almost late the next day.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Theodore met with Chester W. Bradley, the prosecutor in charge of the federal v. Henry Thompson case of instigating bank robbery.

He was a middle-aged man in a suit and tie.

She has a great figure, a thick head of hair, and speaks with an accent as clear and articulate as a news anchor, making Theodore wonder if he was being interviewed on television.

Chester W. Bradley first exchanged pleasantries and shook hands with everyone, then brought up Ronald Scott.

He and Ronald Scott were old friends.

When Theodore and Bernie first arrived in DC, it was Ronald Scott who brought them along.

Aside from the case, the only point of contact between the two was Ronald Scott.

Ronald Scott quickly bridged the gap between the two sides, making outstanding contributions despite not being physically present.

Bernie asked Bradley with some curiosity:
"Hasn't Henry Thompson already pleaded guilty?"

Last December, Bernie and Theodore arrived in DC and were taken on an investigation of a post office robbery by Senior Agent Ronald Scott.

Two robbers, Javier and Fernando, under the command of Henry Thompson, conduct a test robbery at a post office to prepare for robbing a bank.

Theodore saw through their test and, having laid traps at the bank beforehand, caught the robbers red-handed.

In this robbery, they obtained a confession from Henry Thompson.

His accomplice, Javier, also identified him.

They also found the car that Henry Thompson had specifically purchased for the robbery, as well as the person Henry Thompson had found on the black market to handle the stolen money.

The person in charge of handling the embezzled funds gave Henry Thompson a complete confession.

Bradley opened the file package and started taking files out:

"They changed their minds."

“I spoke with Henry Thompson’s lawyers beforehand, and they were willing to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.”

"This was also agreed upon by Henry Thompson himself."

"But on the day of his court appearance, Henry Thompson changed lawyers and refused to plead guilty."

"He said his confession was born out of your threats."

Bernie shook his head, feeling that Henry Thompson had probably gone mad.

Bradley didn't seem to care much. He casually handed the documents to Theodore and reassured him not to be nervous.

He told everyone that, in his experience, although there was little physical evidence in this case, the testimonies were solid enough to convict Henry Thompson.

He handed Theodore a list of questions:
"Here are the questions the opposing lawyer might raise in court. Take a look and let's practice them."

Theodore looked at the list and handed it to Bernie and Billy Hawke.

He first stated the facts of the case, and then answered each question on the list of questions one by one.

The process took less than half an hour.

Theodore's performance surprised Bradley.

His wording was so careful that it gave people the feeling that they couldn't find a way to provoke him.

Theodore looked at Bradley and asked him if such a statement was feasible.

Bradley clapped his hands and gave Theodore a thumbs up:

“Excellent!”

"I don't know what advice I can give you."

He glanced at the time and joked, "Alright, I've finished my work for today. You let me leave eight hours early. Haha!"

Theodore's performance gave him a lot of confidence.

He was even considering recommending to the judge that Henry Thompson be given the maximum penalty.

Bradley then spoke to Theodore about the judge's preferences, helping him to fine-tune his statements and answers.

After meeting with Prosecutor Bradley, Theodore took out the remaining case briefing that Chief Inspector Rosen had sent.

In the afternoon, the three men, who were preparing to go out to investigate, encountered Detective O'Malley in the parking lot.

Detective O'Malley had just gotten out of the car, holding a thin document in his hand.

His expression was serious, even somewhat solemn.

Upon seeing Theodore and his two companions, he quickly walked a few steps to them.

Bernie and Billy Hawke both greeted him.

Theodore's gaze fell on the documents in his hand.

He asked Detective O'Malley with some excitement:

"Was it the arson case from yesterday?"

Detective O'Malley nodded, opened the file, and handed it over:

"The identities of the people who were burned to death last night have been confirmed."

"It's Evelyn Shaw."

He explained:

"We found the wallet on the deceased."

“There was a photo in the wallet that was mostly burned off; it was of Evelyn Shaw’s son, Frank Kowalski.”

"We then contacted the hospital where Evelyn Shaw works and learned that she did not go to work today."

“We contacted Evelyn Shaw’s friend who was staying with her and learned that she has not returned home since she left yesterday.”

Bernie immediately asked:

"Where's her son?"

Detective O'Malley's face darkened:
"Missing status".

There was no school, no friend's house where the mother and son were staying, and no hospital.

Theodore finished reading the document, handed it back to Detective O'Malley, and asked:
What about the area surrounding the crime scene?

Both Bernie and Detective O'Malley looked at him.

Detective O'Malley shook his head:

"We searched the vicinity but couldn't find it."

Bernie asked:

Was her son, Frank Kowalski, with her yesterday?

Detective O'Malley nodded:

“We asked the school.”

"Frank Kowalski used to go to and from school with Allen's son, Tommy."

“Sometimes when Evelyn Shaw is busy with work, Alan or Martha will pick up Frank Kowalski while they are picking up Tommy.”

He paused for a few seconds before continuing:

"Later Evelyn Shaw asked Frank Kowalski to wait for her at the hospital and go home with her."

“Evelyn Shaw was very busy yesterday. Frank Kowalski was assigned to the chapel. After she finished her night shift, the mother and son went home.”

Theodore checked the time.

If we start counting from when Evelyn Shaw was burned to death, 14 hours have passed.

Detective O'Malley also noticed him checking his time, and his tone was somewhat low:
"We don't have much time."

He didn't have a specific awareness of the golden rescue time in kidnapping cases, but he knew a general pattern.

The longer the kidnapping occurs, the slimmer the chances of survival become.

He looked at Theodore and asked:

Do you think this case is related to Allen's case?

Theodore countered by asking Detective O'Malley:

"You released Robert Hayes?"

Detective O'Malley quickly shook his head: "He's in the detention room."

He had specifically instructed his colleagues in the detention center.

Robert Hayes has had a very busy nightlife in the detention cell these past few days.

Theodore looked at him strangely:
"How could someone who was in custody come out and set fire to people?"

"Moreover, he does not fit the profile of an arsonist."

Detective O'Malley was already used to the word "profiling." He asked Theodore, "Could it be someone else?"

"Other residents."

Theodore did not answer the question.

He knows nothing about the scene except for his brief inspection last night.

He needs to return to the crime scene for a thorough investigation.

The crime scene wasn't too far from the Department of Justice building, but they encountered traffic congestion as they passed Union Station and Capitol Hill.

They encountered social movements initiated by civil rights activists.

The group was almost entirely male, with varying skin tones and ages.

They occupied the open space in front of Union Station and most of the road, holding up all sorts of signs, and occasionally bursting into cheers and applause.

In front of these people, a middle-aged white man was standing on a trash can, giving a speech through a megaphone.

These individuals are preparing to organize a group to travel by interstate bus to the southern states with severe racial segregation in order to test the implementation of the Supreme Court rulings in Boynton v. Virginia and Erin Morgan v. Virginia.

The Boynton case ruled that segregation between blacks and whites in hotels and interstate bus stop waiting rooms is no longer legal.

Texas is their primary focus of observation.

With only one lane available for traffic, the Chevrolet moved very slowly, much like Pennsylvania Avenue in the morning.

What should have been a 20-minute drive took almost an hour.

The burned bodies have been removed, and the ground has been cleaned.

The cleaning was sponsored by the firefighters of Fire Station No. 13.

After rinsing, only a faint dark color remained on the ground, as if it hadn't dried completely.

That was the area where the deceased was last active before his death.

A brown Dodge sped by, running over the dark area.

The driver glanced curiously at the four-person, two-car vehicle parked on the side of the road.

The Dodge was going very fast; it sped past, turned the corner, and disappeared from sight.

The area has been unsealed.

Vehicles and pedestrians can pass normally.

Theodore stood where the dead man had fallen, looking to both sides.

It's about 600-700 yards from here to the bar parking lot, and only about 10 yards from here to the other corner.

Theodore, just like last night, walked against the flow of the dead man's path, turned the corner, and finally stopped behind the gasoline trail.

He stood there, looking towards where the dead man had fallen.

The view was blocked by an old apartment building.

Theodore looked away and glanced around.

Detective O'Malley is here.

Theodore asked him, "Any news from the surrounding residents?"

Detective O'Malley pointed around:
"There are too many people, and we are still checking."

"There's been no progress so far."

"Most people are asleep and have no idea what's going on."

"Two people also only saw Evelyn Shaw being set on fire and running."

He glanced at Theodore: "They don't even have as many as you've seen."

Theodore and his two companions also left after giving their statements last night.

Of course, given Theodore's excessive enthusiasm, their statements were taken very quickly.

Theodore immediately asked him, "Was the deceased running fast? Did she shout for help?"

Detective O'Malley shook his head: "They only saw the firelight moving."

Theodore didn't say anything more.

He stood there for a while, finished his on-site investigation, and returned to the Fourth Precinct.

They were summoned to the deputy commissioner's office.

The deputy police commissioner, with a serious expression, reiterated his high regard for the case and demanded that the arsonist be apprehended as soon as possible.

He told everyone that the Fourth Precinct had decided to merge the investigation of this case with that of firefighter Alan Brennan, who was burned to death.

Theodore looked at the deputy commissioner with a puzzled expression, and their eyes met.

Bernie raised questions:

"Your Excellency, the case of Alan Brennan's death by burning has been closed."

"The murderer was the repairman, Robert Hayes."

He looked at Detective O'Malley.

The deputy superintendent neither confirmed nor denied this.
“Patrick O’Malley briefed me.”

He turned around, picked up the deceased's file from the table, and waved it around:
"But Evelyn Shaw, the nurse who was burned to death, was once a suspect in our case, and she had an affair with Alan Brennan."

He gave his reasons:

"She is closely connected to Alan Brennan's case."

Bernie, with a serious expression, retorted:

"But Robert Hayes has pleaded guilty to attacking Alan Brennan in the fire, causing him to burn to death."

“And Evelyn Shaw was being burned at the stake while he was in your cell.”

"He is clearly not the murderer in this case."

The deputy commissioner agreed with this point, but he still maintained that the two cases were closely related.

He believes the arsonist may be among those involved in the case of Alan Brennan's death by burning.

The deputy commissioner specifically mentioned the activities of the firefighters and Theodore and others at the bar yesterday afternoon.

Theodore couldn't listen anymore.

He interrupted the argument:
“We can invite more people to join the discussion.”

He pointed to his wrist: "We can split into two teams, take turns speaking, and debate."

"Until Frank Kowalski's body was found."

"Until the arsonist sets fire to the next person."

Silence fell over the office.

The deputy commissioner finally stopped dwelling on the issue of who had the lead in the case, and asked Theodore in a deep voice:
"You mean he'll commit the crime again?"

Theodore looked at him: "Arsonists are the most dangerous of all types of crime."

Arsonists can be divided into six types.

He paused for a moment at this point:
"If the arsonist in this case hadn't been acting out of personal vendetta, he would have kept burning."

"Either burn yourself to death or get caught."

He looked at the crowd:
"Fire is a very difficult tool to control."

"It's not like a knife or a gun."

"First-time offenders often overestimate their understanding of fire and underestimate its destructive power and vitality."

"This leads to confusion and frequent mistakes."

"A qualified arsonist needs to go through many experiments, learn from experience, draw lessons, and modify his methods."

"Only in the end can we reach the level seen in this case."

"The arsonist in this case was quite skilled, leaving almost no clues at the scene."

"It is certain that the perpetrator in this case is an arsonist."

"He has already handled many cases."

"It just hasn't been discovered yet."

He said firmly:
"Arson is like drugs to arsonists; it's addictive."

"He won't stop."

"He will definitely commit the crime again."

(End of this chapter)