1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 110 Hoover: Theodore won't be like his father, will he?

Theodore's aggressive behavior surprised Ronald and Bernie.

Ronald, in particular, was seeing Theodore like this for the first time.

Henry Thompson was concerned about maintaining a respectable image, and Theodore told him that his respectable image had completely collapsed, both at work and in social situations.

He tried to cover up his limp, but Theodore deliberately pressed him about the origin of the injuries to his eye and leg, reminding him of his humiliating experiences in prison and awakening his deep-seated fear of incarceration.

He has a strong desire for control, and Theodore directly points out that the robbery was forced to be brought forward due to the FBI investigation, which awakens his sense of loss of control.

He took the initiative to speak several times during the conversation, attempting to control the interrogation, but Theodore frequently changed the topic to disrupt his preconceived notions.

Henry Thompson fell silent.

Theodore was not going to give him the chance to recreate the coherent lie.

He pushed Javier's testimony back to him: "When you found Javier and Fernando and persuaded them to rob for you, did you ever think they would betray you?"

Henry Thompson glanced at the testimony: "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know them well..."

Ronald, who was standing nearby, snapped out of his daze: "Our people just visited the inmates and guards in the same ward as you at Maryland State Prison. Their version of events is quite different from yours."

Henry Thompson frowned slightly and changed his tune, saying, "We did meet in prison, but that was only in prison. We're not familiar with each other at all after we got out."

Bernie pulled out the information on Javier and Fernando and pushed it back: "That's not what your neighbors say."

Henry Thompson stared at the two documents for a while, then looked up at Theodore: "You have no evidence."

Of the three, Theodore felt the most dangerous to him.

He stared at Theodore and said in a deep voice, "You have nothing."

Theodore asked him, "In your original plan, what kind of car would you use to pick up Javier and Fernando?"

Henry Thompson shook his head: "I never intended to rob a bank. I've turned over a new leaf. Why do you insist that I planned the robbery? Just because I was imprisoned for it before?"

Theodore looked Henry Thompson in the eye: “You won’t drive your own Chevrolet. Because you love your current respectable status, you cherish it.”

“You won’t let anything from the robbery relate to your respectable status.”

"You wouldn't be stupid enough to rent a car to rob someone."

"You bought a car to use during a robbery."

"Why didn't you drive this car yesterday afternoon? Was it because it hadn't been delivered to you yet?"

Henry Thompson retorted, "I bought it as a gift for a friend! It has nothing to do with robbery!"

"You are slandering!"

Ronald was somewhat taken aback.

He never expected that Henry Thompson would actually buy a car.

He thought Theodore had made it up.

After realizing what was happening, Ronald immediately went out to instruct the agents to investigate the car that was intended for the robbery.

Inside the interrogation room, the interrogation continued.

Theodore ignored his rebuttal and continued to ask him, "After the robbery is successful, what do you plan to do with the stolen money?"

He analyzed, "You should know very well that once a bank is robbed, they immediately compile a list of the serial numbers of the stolen banknotes and issue warrants for their arrest."

“You wouldn’t just take the stolen banknotes and use them; you would send them away to be disposed of.”

“You have to do this kind of work yourself. You wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving it to Javier or Fernando.”

Henry Thompson's expression changed completely.

His face was grim as he stared intently at Theodore.

Theodore put down his pen: "You see, you're not as smart or meticulous as you think."

"Your supposedly perfect heist plan has too many flaws."

The interrogation room door opened, and Ronald, who had gone out to give instructions about the vehicle investigation, returned.

He glanced at Henry Thompson, who was hunched over with a sinister expression, then at Theodore, who looked like he was done for, and finally his gaze settled on Bernie.

Bernie pointed at Henry Thompson: "He contacted the black market himself and was preparing to deal with the stolen money."

Ronald looked somewhat annoyed and ran out again.

Tracing the routes used by robbers to sell stolen goods is one of the FBI's key methods for solving robbery and theft cases; he should have thought of this earlier.

Theodore asked Henry Thompson, "Will you confess now, or wait until we hand over all the evidence to the prosecutor?"

Henry Thompson kept staring at Theodore, but his body gradually relaxed.

“I only provided solutions, I never handled a gun,” he said in a low voice. “They approached me on their own initiative.”

“In November, they robbed a gas station and saw me there.”

“I had just finished get off work and was wearing the uniform of a security guard at Riggs National Bank.”

“They saw it and came to me, asking me to provide them with information.”

Henry Thompson frankly stated, "They have guns! I had no choice but to cooperate with them."

“They forced me to do all of this.”

"I really intend to be a good person."

“I did not deceive Richard (the parole officer).”

Theodore said nothing, packed up his notebook, and prepared to end the interrogation.

Bernie, who was standing nearby, looked at him and said, "They coerced you into planning the whole robbery."

"They coerce you into paying for a car specifically for robbery."

"They coerced you into contacting the buyer to handle the stolen money."

"You should save those words for the jury."

…………

The evidence came much faster than Theodore had imagined.

As it approached the end of the workday, Mike and Andrew returned to headquarters one after the other.

Henry Thompson's search for the person who handled the stolen money and the car he bought specifically for robberies was all found.

This surprised both Theodore and Bernie.

Based on their experience at the Felton West Precinct, it would take at least a day or two to get a result.

DC only took half a day here!

Ronald told the two that he had used some personal connections, asking friends in the counterintelligence and national security division and the organized crime division for help, as well as friends in the IRS.

With the help of these three departments, Ronald has probably thoroughly searched DC's black market. It would be strange if he came up empty-handed.

Bernie gave Ronald a thumbs-up to express his admiration.

Ronald beamed, patted Bernie on the shoulder, and earnestly gave him some advice:
"The cases we handle are far more complex and involve a wider range of issues than those handled by local police departments."

"This requires us to frequently collaborate with multiple departments."

"Making more friends can greatly improve our work efficiency."

At this stage of the case, all that remains is some wrap-up work.

Ronald deliberately left this part of the work for the next day so that Theodore and Bernie could learn from it.

The following morning, the five people finished organizing the case files and evidence.

Ronald explained to the two men the necessary procedures and precautions for communicating with federal prosecutors. He then contacted a prosecutor he knew, intending to pack up the case file and hand it to him, asking him to contact him again when the trial was scheduled.

After hanging up the phone, Ronald explained to the two men the FBI's internal procedures for handling closed cases, then casually took out a completed report and placed it on the desk of the head of the investigation department.

After being approved by the supervisor, this report will be filed in the archives.

Ronald then led the two to the basement to store the evidence in the warehouse.

Once the last stack of banknotes was placed in an evidence bag and sealed, their only connection to the robbery was to appear as witnesses in court.

In the afternoon, a restless atmosphere filled the large office.

Today is Friday, and the agents will soon be enjoying the weekend.

Like government employees, FBI employees have weekends off.

Although they were required to be on call at any time, the unlucky ones who were called back to work overtime were ultimately a minority.

As the end of the workday approached, the agents had long lost their will to work, and the entire large office was bustling with activity, resembling a vegetable market.

Ronald and his friends were in the conference room discussing which bar to go to that night.

The FBI doesn't have a tradition of celebrating case closures, but the group agreed that they should go to a bar tonight to celebrate.

In the afternoon, Ronald learned from his supervisor that his transfer order had been issued.

He has to go to Chicago next week.

There was a lot of work to do there, and the pressure was so intense that he didn't even have time to say goodbye to his friends in DC.

After celebrating with Theodore and the others tonight, I'll say goodbye to my family tomorrow, and then I have to leave the day after.

Mike and Andrew will also be traveling with him to Chicago. Ronald specifically asked his supervisor to bring them along; they will form part of his team and help him get started quickly in unfamiliar Chicago.

Tonight is not only a celebration, but also a farewell to Ronald.

After get off work, the five of them went to Arlington. Led by Ronald, they wandered around and eventually entered a bar called L&O.

The bar is exclusively for FBI agents; you need to show your FBI agent ID to enter.

Theodore and Bernie were not there; they were only allowed to enter after Ronald explained the situation.

According to Ronald, the bar is owned by the head of the FBI's investigation department, and it offers a high level of security and privacy, making it a popular spot for agents living in Arlington.

Whether it was the head of the investigation department who set up the place is debatable, but it's true that the agents like to come.

They had barely sat down when people started coming over to greet them.

Perhaps due to their profession, FBI agents are not as unrestrained as the detectives at Felton West Precinct.

They would sit around a table, order a few snacks, each have a glass of wine, and chat for hours.

People who come here don't seem to be there to drown their sorrows, but simply to relax and chat.

Ronald ordered a lot of snacks and even had Mike go out and buy barbecue and pizza, filling the table to the brim.

This made Theodore absolutely certain of the rumor that the bar owner was the head of the FBI's investigation department.

Otherwise, how did a bar that looks like it's going to lose money manage to stay open in Arlington?
Bernie and Theodore were not comfortable with this unusual celebration.

There were no rocking horses, no arm wrestling or rock-paper-scissors, no chugging glasses of alcohol or vomiting.

Everything exuded refinement, a stark contrast to the passionate and unrestrained Texas.

That night, Ronald talked a lot and shared a lot of experience with Theodore and Bernie.

The relationships among the group have become much closer.

But Theodore and Bernie still felt something was off.

They all missed Felton's unbridled behavior more than this polite celebration.

The following afternoon, the two went to Bethesda to meet with a real estate agent.

Last night, Ronald told them that Bernie could wait until after the training to choose an apartment to rent.

When the selection training begins in January, all trainees will be provided with accommodation until the training ends.

Therefore, moving out and renting a place now offers no benefit other than giving away three to four months' rent for free.

Last night, Bernie and Theodore discussed it and decided to stay with Theodore for the time being. After the training is completed, they can consider bringing Hilda (Mrs. Sullivan) and the others over.

Bernie plans to buy a house here and settle down.

Buying a house is different from renting an apartment; it requires careful selection.

This morning, Bernie called the property manager to update his request, and the property manager needs to prepare new listings. They arranged to view the property together this afternoon.

The real estate manager was a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a kind smile and a good speaking ability.

From the moment we met, his mouth never stopped.

"This community is mostly composed of colonial-style houses, with red bricks, white windows, and two oak trees in front of the doors—typical American Dream homes."

"The kids here all attend Walt Whitman High School, and last year 12 graduates went on to Harvard! Did you know that the son of a federal judge and the daughter of a State Department counselor will be your child's classmates?"

“There are no bars in the community, only a library and a junior baseball league. The ladies have a flower arranging party at the community center every week, and your wife will surely make some decent friends.”

“You said you work for the FBI, and this place is only a 20-minute drive from the Department of Justice building. Importantly, it’s not as congested as Georgetown.”

Theodore and Bernie exchanged a glance, both sharing the same concerns about the congestion in Georgetown.

The property manager led the two to view three properties.

The houses are largely similar in structure and have basically the same internal structure.

Bernie was fairly satisfied with the place and inquired about the price.

The property manager smiled broadly: "This property is only $3.7, with a 10% down payment and monthly payments of less than $150. Your federal housing allowance will cover half of it."

Bernie wasn't entirely satisfied with the place anymore.

The property manager, observing their expressions, then took the two to see several other properties.

Although the price has come down, the location and internal structure are really disappointing.

The two spent the afternoon with the property manager, visiting almost every neighborhood in Bethesda, but didn't find a suitable property.

During his visit, Theodore also encountered a few acquaintances he didn't know very well who greeted him.

He racked his brains for a long time, vaguely remembering that he had seen her when Hoover forced him to attend some kind of banquet.

In the evening, Bernie made an appointment with the property manager to view properties in Arlington the next day before leaving Bethesda.

On the way back, Bernie expressed his regret for Bethesda.

He actually really liked this place, but unfortunately he was short of money.

Theodore glanced back at Bethesda in the sunset and reminded Bernie:
"If this place were really suitable for FBI agents to live in, it would have been full of FBI agents long ago."

"Just like Arlington."

He also gave Bernie advice: "You should change your property manager. He knows you're not from DC, and he's trying to fool you."

Bernie's accent was very obvious; you could tell at a glance that he wasn't from the North.

The next day.

Only Bernie went to Arlington to look at houses.

Theodore was invited by Hoover to a private party.

Hoover was worried that Theodore would resist as before, so he deliberately did not notify him in advance and had the driver take the car directly to Theodore's apartment building.

Thorson, who was accompanying Hoover, even prepared a set of arguments to persuade Theodore.

However, Theodore did not show any resistance.

He even somewhat hoped that Hoover would take him to more of these private gatherings, preferably with all the heads of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Veterans Affairs Bureau, the IRS, and so that he could get to know them all at once.

Theodore envied Ronald for having friends everywhere and being able to get things done through personal connections wherever he went.

But he didn't want to bother with interpersonal relationships, so riding on Hoover's coattails was the best option.

Hoover had no idea what Theodore was thinking.

He was very satisfied with Theodore's performance and handed him a file folder on the way.

"I've read your report."

"If you solve this case, you can lead an investigation team independently."

Theodore glanced at the bulging file folder, attempting to negotiate with Hoover:
“I don’t think Bernie and I need to participate in the selection training; it would be a waste of time for us.”

Hoover's relaxed brows immediately furrowed: "No! All FBI agents must undergo selection and training."

Tolson interprets Hoover's words as follows:

“There are many outstanding trainees in the selection and training program. They are the best in the military and local police departments. Your investigation team cannot consist of just you and Bernie Sullivan.”

“By participating in selection training, living with them, and getting to know them closely, you can select the talent you need to fill your research team.”

Theodore looked at Hoover.

Hoover snorted, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Theodore thought about it and still felt that attending more than ten weeks of selection training was a waste of time: "We participate in selection training, but when there are cases, we should focus on the cases."

Hoover twitched the corners of his mouth, gave a soft "hmm" in agreement, and then sighed silently.

He thought to himself that when he got back, he would first tell the head of the investigation department not to assign any cases to Theodore before the selection and training were over.

Theodore was pleased to receive the file bag after Hoover agreed.

He was thinking that getting cases was easy; there were cases everywhere in DC, it was like not having to go through selection and training.

Theodore was delighted and went out of his way to cooperate at the party.

This surprised Hoover, and then he became somewhat worried.

After the party ended and Theodore was driven back to his apartment, Hoover appeared worried.

He asked Thorson, "Theodore won't end up like his father, will he?"

Theodore's father, Dixon Neller Hoover II, fought in World War II and became mentally unstable after the war, and was sent to a sanatorium.

Theodore's performance today reminded him of his brother.

Tolson glanced at Hoover but didn't respond; he was thinking about something else entirely.

Theodore's actions in the post office robbery were enough to demonstrate that the method he described in his report was indeed feasible.

There's absolutely no need to let him take on another case.

But Hoover did it anyway.

Tolson suspected that Hoover did it on purpose.

(End of this chapter)