1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 5 Solving the Case Within a Time Limit
Theodore went to the car to report that Bernie had already gone inside.

After he finished his report, Bernie came out, holding a large red porcelain plate with a picture of a chubby baby riding a carp on it. There were specks of dark brown blood splattered on the plate, making it look somewhat eerie.

Theodore stopped walking.

This aligns with Theodore and Bernie's deduction that Diane is the murderer.

Whether it's the clues pointing to her or the profile she herself provides, Diane fits perfectly.

Theodore could even picture the scene from that day.

He took out the gloves he had taken from the forensic lab, put them on, and examined the plate repeatedly, finding an irregular, small nick at the bottom.

“It’s her.” Bernie nodded to Theodore, but there was no joy on his face.

Theodore put the plates in a paper bag, carried it to the door, took out shoe covers from his pocket, put them on, and handed a pair to Bernie.

Bernie was confused.

They can just walk in whenever they want. It's common for them to smoke and take notes next to corpses. It's also normal for them to handle the objects at the scene. Some of them even steal things from the scene to sell. When did we have to wear shoe covers to enter a crime scene?
But faced with Theodore's stubborn gaze, Bernie had no choice but to give in.

The weather in May was already quite hot, and a sour, rotten smell wafted out, making people wrinkle their noses. If you didn't have any experience, you might really end up vomiting, just like Bernie said.

Since his old partner died, Bernie has had countless new partners and knows their reactions inside and out, so he always keeps vomit bags in his car. Theodore, however, uses those bags to hold plates.

Bernie observed Theodore's reaction, ready to carry him out before he vomited until he collapsed. However, Theodore only frowned slightly and did not even gag.

This greatly surprised Bernie.

He'd been to the battlefield and then joined a murder squad; he was used to seeing corpses, which is why he could get used to it. But what about Theodore? How did a newcomer adapt?
Vomiting is a physiological response that is not subject to your will. Sometimes you don't feel nauseous, but you still vomit.

Theodore had no idea what Bernie was thinking; he was observing the scene.

Diane is dead.

The body was lying on the sofa, in the main seat, with a half-peeled apple on the table in front of it.

The corpse was wearing a white floral-patterned nightgown. Its chest was slashed and covered with large, irregular puncture marks. White particles, which were blowfly eggs, were stuck to the wounds, and adult blowflies were crawling around.

The corpse's face was also stabbed, the chin drooped abnormally, the cuts on both cheeks were clean, and one eye socket was a dark hole, also covered with white fly eggs.

Bloodstains were splattered on the floor, sofa, and even on the walls and cabinets.

"The perpetrator was venting his emotions by stabbing excessively."

Theodore leaned closer to examine the marks on the corpse and murmured.

The intrusion of the two strangers clearly disturbed the flies' feast. The flies buzzed and hovered in the air, leaving many black spots on the furniture, the sofa, and on the shoulders and hair of the two men, but neither of them seemed to care.

After observing Diane, Theodore followed the bloodstains toward the bedroom, pushed open the half-closed door, and saw a young man lying motionless by the bed, his upper body dangling in the air and his lower body exposed.

The young man's legs were thin and bony, his skin was pale, and the blood dripping from his body almost covered the ground.

The bedroom was cramped, and with the curtains drawn, the odor was even worse due to the lack of ventilation. Theodore gagged with a dry heave.

Bernie, who was following behind, chuckled twice, which made Theodore look over, puzzled. Bernie waved his hand, signaling him to continue.

He covered his nose, picked up a fruit knife from beside the bed, turned it around, and then started walking outside after hearing the police sirens.

According to the rules, Theodore and Bernie were the first to arrive, and they were responsible for directing their colleagues who came in to provide support, thus becoming the leaders of the case. …………

Bernie and Theodore spent the morning working at the scene, quickly ate a high-calorie fast food meal, and returned to the police station to begin their separate operations.

Bernie called several people to handle the procedural formalities for the new case, while Theodore took a porcelain plate and a fruit knife to the forensic doctor.

Around 3 p.m., there was still no movement from the forensic team. Bernie had already placed the prepared case briefing on the supervisor's desk and ran into Wenner as he came out.

Wenner was called away by the deputy police commissioner again, and judging from his expression, the insults he used this time were probably even more vulgar than last time.

Diane's neighborhood is a mid-range community. Two murders have occurred in quick succession, especially the latter, which was an entire family wipeout. Panic immediately spread.

Wenner had just returned from being scolded by the deputy police commissioner, and before he could even open the briefing on his desk, another member of parliament called to inquire about the matter.

After finally hanging up the phone, Wenner touched his forehead, puzzled by his own actions.

This year marks the fifth month, and the homicide squad's case-solving rate has hit a record low. The higher-ups are not satisfied, and he himself is also baffled, feeling that the team members' efforts are less effective than their lack of effort.

After being interviewed repeatedly, Wenner was under a lot of pressure. He pulled down the blinds, took out several pieces of chocolate from the drawer, and stuffed them into his mouth.

The calories and sugar soothed his anxious mood. Wenner carefully savored the sweetness between his teeth. Once his emotions calmed down, he came out and gathered everyone together to give a case briefing.

"Everyone, stop what you're doing and focus all your efforts on solving case 600511," Wenner announced.

The team members had no objections; this was a tradition of the homicide squad, and many had even made preparations well in advance.

The current homicide squad is more like a long-term 'special task force'. For example, when the 600403 case was still fresh, the homicide squad was actually the '600403 special task force'.

The 'task force' is personally led by Wenner and usually exists for three days, or 72 hours. If the case is not solved within three days, it will be transferred to the team members, who will then study their respective old cases.

This is done so that new cases can be solved immediately, rather than becoming old cases and eventually cold cases.

“I’ve only been given one day. I’ll be waiting for your report outside the deputy superintendent’s office before I leave work tomorrow. I hope you won’t let me go to see him empty-handed,” Wenner said.

Many people immediately let out a wail.

They all knew what solving a case within 24 hours meant. But Wenner wouldn't allow them to use the same underhanded tactics as other precincts…

In most cases, a case requires going through interviews and investigations, autopsies, data collection, more interviews and investigations, more data collection, more interviews and investigations... almost going through the entire network of the victim's relationships before it is possible to catch the murderer.

Sometimes, after a whole day, they might not even have figured out who the deceased's parents are.

Wenner clapped his hands forcefully, demanding silence. His fat face sagged like a bullying dog. He shouted, "Remember, I want real results!"

He emphasized the word "real," looked around, and then handed the presentation to Bernie, making room for him. "You do the presentation."

Bernie opened the briefing and read it aloud, pausing occasionally to add details. After finishing, he closed the briefing, emphasizing the connection to 600403, and finally stressed that Diane had become the prime suspect for 600403.

He said, "We have taken the porcelain plate found in her house and compared it with the head wound of the deceased. Once they match, it will prove that she is the murderer of 600403."

After Bernie finished his introduction, Wenner clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Quick! Quick! Everyone, get moving!"

Everyone dispersed in a hurry.

Theodore catches up with Wenner. "Boss, I know who the murderer is."

(End of this chapter)