1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 246 Mr. Vaughn failed to bring good news.

Bernie, Billy Hawke, and the young man from the FBI's Department of Motor Vehicles who was sent to assist the FBI were all stunned by Theodore's actions.

The bureau chief also looked astonished.

After realizing what was happening, he smiled as he took the list and flipped through it, but his smile gradually turned serious.

He looked up at Theodore to confirm:
"It seems that most of the people on this list are shipyard employees?"

Theodore corrected him:

"These are three lists."

"All three lists were provided by the Alexandria Shipbuilding Company."

The director paused for a moment, then inquired about the purpose of Theodore's list.

Bernie explained for Theodore.

He briefly described the progress of the investigation, the profile of the killer, and the screening strategies they had prepared.

Surprisingly, the director showed no doubt or questioning whatsoever, skillfully transitioning into a cooperative mode with the FBI.

After Bernie finished speaking, the director summarized the proceedings and confirmed with them:
"So, the murderer in this case is from Alexandria, is that right?"

Theodore gave a cautious response:
"We only know that the murderer was a former employee of the Alexandria Shipbuilding Company and had worked there for a certain number of years, but we cannot determine the murderer's exact address."

The director nodded, automatically translating the above content into "yes".

He put down the list, picked up the phone, and asked his assistant to contact the deputy superintendent.

A few minutes later, the deputy police commissioner arrived in a hurry.

The director first gave a brief introduction to both sides, and then pointed to Theodore and his two companions:

"The FBI has confirmed that the killer in the case of the Potomac River drifting down is in our city of Alexandria."

He handed the list to the deputy police commissioner:
"This is the list of suspects."

"The FBI has now determined that the perpetrator owns a pickup truck or large station wagon and is between 30 and 50 years old."

"Find a few office staff members and take this list to check the registration records of the Department of Motor Vehicles."

The deputy police commissioner was somewhat surprised.

He took the list, glanced at Theodore, hesitated, but ultimately asked nothing, simply nodded, and turned to leave.

A dozen minutes later, a temporary investigation team consisting of five experienced internal affairs officers was formed.

The director then contacted the head of the city hall archives, who cleared out an area in the archives for the temporary inquiry team to use.

The temporary search team first categorized the list by the first letter of the surname, and then divided it equally according to the number of names corresponding to the first letter, with each person responsible for one letter segment.

Internal affairs officers frequently deal with files, and they are already very familiar with tasks like searching for files. They can even remember which row and line some common surnames are in the archives. Their efficiency is far superior to that of Theodore and a few laymen.

It took Theodore and his team half an hour to find the registration records of three employees, while the police officers only needed a few minutes.

Only those who do not own a car will take them a relatively long time.

Shortly after 2 p.m., a list of 100 people was handed to Theodore.

After receiving the list, Theodore and his two companions immediately returned to the shipyard.

Richard Dick Vaughn's assistant was still in charge of receiving them.

Theodore suggested negotiating with the union to further narrow down the list of suspects.

The assistant fell into a brief silence.

Theodore turned to look at his assistant.

The assistant explained:

"The current situation is somewhat complicated."

"The union mainly has some procedural concerns."

"Moreover, the opinions of the board members have not yet been reached."

"We may have to wait a while longer."

"However, Mr. Vaughn has already finished the meeting and is preparing to speak with the union's board members again."

"I believe we'll have a good result soon."

Theodore nodded, summarizing his assistant's words: "In other words, the union does not agree to borrow the detailed files."

The assistant opened his mouth, but couldn't find a rebuttal.

Theodore looked at Bernie:
"It seems Mr. Vaughn won't be able to bring good news anytime soon."

He decided to speak with the union directors in person.

The assistant led them to a private office to contact the union council.

A few minutes later, the assistant returned.

Theodore looked behind him but didn't see anyone.

The assistant, looking embarrassed, pointed out the window:

"Old Tom said he can't get away right now and wants you to go to the union office to talk."

He paused, then explained:

"Old Tom is the board member on duty today."

Theodore and his two companions looked at each other and asked for directions to the union office.

The assistant led the way, explaining things as they went:
"That old building next to Dock No. 2, with a parking lot in front and a detached red brick building with the union logo on the wall, is the union office."

“That used to be an old warehouse office in the factory. Later, the union was established and occupied it.”

Billy Hawke asked him:

Where did the warehouse office move to?

The assistant pointed to the administration building behind him:

"The original plan for the administration building included a large reception room, but no space was allocated for warehouse offices."

"After the union was established, it occupied the warehouse office space, so the warehouse office had to be moved to the administration building and occupied the reception room on the first floor."

Continuing forward, the group soon arrived at the low red brick building.

Unlike the clean and quiet administration building, the air here is filled with a strong smell of rust and oil, and the riveting, hammering and mechanical roars coming from the nearby shipyard are so loud that they hurt your eardrums.

A few workers in overalls were standing in twos and threes on the open ground in front of the gate, smoking and taking a break.

The workers quickly noticed Theodore and his group, stopped talking and laughing, and stared at them.

Upon entering the building, there was a reception desk that looked like a bar at the entrance, behind which sat the union representative I had met in the conference room before.

The assistant stepped forward to negotiate.

Because the red brick building was separated from the dock by only one wall, the noise was so loud that Theodore and his companions couldn't hear what the two men were saying. They could only see the assistant point to Theodore and the other two behind him. Only then did the union representative reluctantly get up and lead them to see Old Tom.

Just as the assistant was about to introduce the two sides, Old Tom raised his hand to interrupt him:

"I know you are FBI agents investigating the case of the body that floated down the river last week, and you want to access our workers' files."

"I'll say it again, that's impossible."

"The fact that we agreed to let you copy those three lists yesterday was already our biggest concession."

Bernie pulled out the list and placed it on the table:

"We only need the files of these 100 people."

Old Tom glanced at the list and shook his head:

"Not even one person's."

Bernie made a concession:
“We can provide the screening criteria without looking at the files, and you can screen the files of these 108 people and tell us the final results.”

Old Tom hesitated for a moment.

Theodore added:
"But the people in charge of screening the files must sign a confidentiality agreement, promising not to disclose any information related to the case."

Old Tom immediately became alert:
"What agreement?"

Before Theodore could answer, he shook his head again in refusal.

He believed that the workers' willingness to register their information with the union was a sign of their trust in the union, and that showing the files to Theodore and his associates would be a betrayal of that trust.

(End of this chapter)