1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 202 Denial, Silence, and Unending Talk
The fire accident investigation reports on the table were all put away.

Theodore pulled out a photograph of Evelyn Shaw from her lifetime and placed it on the table:
“This is Evelyn Shaw.”

“She lives in apartment 121 with her son, Frank Kowalski, not far from your house.”

“You can see it in Sean Cowan’s bedroom.”

He pushed the photo forward:

"do you know her?"

Terence Cowan glanced at the photos on the table but did not respond.

Bernie added from the side:
"Evelyn is a nurse, and she works at the same hospital where you often take Sean to the emergency room."

Terence Kwan was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

He admitted to seeing Evelyn Shaw near the hospital and her home, but the two were not close and had never even spoken.

Theodore opened Evelyn Shaw's autopsy report and pushed it over:
"Late on April 30, around 11:50 p.m., Evelyn Shaw was walking home after finishing her night shift when she was hit by a car on West Virginia Avenue and then doused with gasoline and set on fire, killing her."

"This is Evelyn Shaw's autopsy report."

Terence Cowan picked up the report and looked at it, puzzled.

He instinctively looked at Bernie.

But Bernie was taking notes and did not answer his questions.

Theodore took the autopsy report, found the corresponding description and photos, and showed them to Terence Cowan:
"The autopsy report showed that there was a 2.8 x 1.6 inch subcutaneous hemorrhage on the back of the left knee, about 2 inches above the popliteal fossa."

"The body had a minor fracture in its left leg, with a height of 17.7-19.7 inches."

Terence Kwan's body was slightly hunched, his muscles tense.

He met Theodore's gaze and asked in return:
"so what?"

Theodore continued:

"We have measured the height of your car's front bumper, and the forensic lab is taking a rubbing of your car's front bumper."

"We will also conduct a simulated impact test later."

He kindly explained to Terence Cowan:
"Someone will drive your car and hit the target at different speeds to test whether the impact marks match the deceased."

Terence Kwan thought for a moment:

I was at home that night.

“Sean wasn’t doing well that night, and I stayed with him the whole time.”

He shifted his position, leaning forward:
"Moreover, all Chevrolet Master front bumpers have the same height and width."

Theodore nodded in agreement:
"We will ask people who live near the deceased and hospital security personnel to come and identify the body."

Terence Cowan lowered his head, then raised it again:
"They will definitely recognize my car."

Bernie looked up at him with some surprise.

Theodore stopped talking and stared at him.

Terence Cowan offered an explanation:
“I often drive it to take Sean to the hospital.”

"I also drive this car when I'm working."

Theodore nodded again in agreement.

He met Terence Cowan's gaze, reminding him:
"Since the hospital security personnel recognize your car, they should remember if it appeared near the hospital but wasn't there to take Sean Cowan to the hospital, right?"

Terence Cowan glanced at him but did not refute him.

Theodore added:
"Before the victim was killed, his apartment was destroyed by fire, forcing him to stay at a friend's house."

“The deceased’s friend did not live on Brentwood Road.”

Terence Cowan lowered his head and fell silent.

There was a few seconds of silence in the interrogation room.

Bernie finished taking notes and exchanged a glance with Theodore.

Based on their experience, it's not necessarily a bad thing for prisoners to become silent.

Theodore gathered his thoughts and took out a photograph of Frank Kowalski.

He pushed the photo forward until it was right in front of Terence Cowan, who was looking down.

Terence Cowan saw the photo, looked up, and looked at Theodore.

Theodore produced the autopsy report:
“On the night of the incident, Evelyn Shaw’s son, Frank Kowalski, was at the scene.”

"After strangling him, the killer transported the body to the banks of the Anacasta River and disposed of it."

“It’s at least ten to twenty minutes from the crime scene to the nearest suitable place to dispose of the body.” Bernie went out and got a map of the northeast area, which he handed to Theodore.

Theodore spread the map on the table, marked the crime scene and several possible locations where the body was dumped, and connected them one by one to draw a route.

He tapped the map:

"No matter where the killer chooses to dump the body, they must pass through these interstate highways."

“There are a lot of trucks on the interstate at night, and there are a lot of 24-hour convenience stores or gas stations along the roadside.”

Theodore looked at Terence Cowan:

"We are currently inspecting the shops along the route."

"Your vehicle information and photos have also been sent to the International Brotherhood of Truck Drivers (IBT)."

"They will show the photos to truck drivers who passed through those roads during the time of the incident."

"Was it possible for the killer to avoid all the shops on the roadside and the cars on the road?"

Terence Kwan lowered his head and remained silent.

Theodore put down the map and looked at Bernie.

Bernie also advised Terence Cowan:

“There’s no point in hiding it any longer, Terence.”

"Finding witnesses is only a matter of time."

“We all know that what Sean needs most right now is time.”

Terence Cowan looked up at Bernie.

He moved his lips, showing some interest.

Theodore stared at him for a moment, then changed the subject.

He asked Terence Cowan:
"Both DC Children's Medical Center and hospitals in the Northeast have refused to continue providing treatment for Sean Cowan."

"They believe that Sean Cowan's condition has progressed to the terminal stage."

"Have you taken Sean Cowan to other hospitals to try?"

Terence Cowan paused for a few seconds, then shook his head and told Theodore that he had taken Sean Cowan to almost every hospital and clinic in DC.

Without exception, none of them would admit Sean Cowan.

Theodore nodded:

"So the inadequacy of the healthcare system made you hate all doctors and nurses."

"You believe they are the reason why Sean Cowan's situation is getting worse."

Terence Cowan did not refute this.

Theodore dug out the photos of Evelyn Shaw and Frank Kowalski taken on the spot and placed them alongside two other photos taken during their lifetime.

He asked Terence Cowan:
"Do you want to burn Evelyn Shaw, or your wife, the woman who abandoned you and your son while Shawn Cowan was being treated in the hospital?"

"Or perhaps burn down the hospitals and clinics that refused to treat Sean Cowan?"

"You just can't find the former, and you don't dare to do the latter."

"So you choose a single mother that you can find but who is weak and vulnerable."

"You killed them, mother and child."

Terence Cowan couldn't help but retort to Theodore:
"She had been sleeping with that firefighter named Alan Brennan for a long time."

"She's not a good mother."

Bernie glanced at him with some surprise, and almost blurted out, "How did you know?"

Theodore nodded:

"So in your eyes, Evelyn Shaw is no different from your wife."

"Burning Evelyn Shaw was revenge against your wife, revenge against the hospitals and clinics that refused to treat Shawn Cowan?"

Terence Cowan couldn't help but ask Theodore in return:
"Shouldn't they?"

"They refused to provide Sean with treatment simply because he didn't meet their criteria!"

"If Sean can meet those criteria, why would he need to go to the hospital?"

Bernie looked up at him again.

It's rare to find a prisoner who, after initial denial and silence, enters a phase of rambling and can still maintain rationality.

(End of this chapter)