1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 23 is in a rush!
Wenner maintained a considerable degree of restraint in the face of Kahor's provocation.

Kahle refused to return Calvin Holt to the homicide squad, and Wenner did not insist.

After the group returned to the police station, Wenner called Theodore and Bernie over and told them to prepare for the interrogation as usual, then picked up the phone.

More than half an hour later, Precinct Chief Grant Whitaker returned to the police station and called Wenner and Kahle into his office.

Then came angry roars from inside. Chief Widke, treating them both equally, berated them both.

A dozen minutes later, Wenner returned and told Theodore and Bernie to prepare to begin the interrogation immediately.

"Kahol obtained Howard Jr.'s confession."

Wenner looked tired. He opened the drawer, paused, then pushed it back, waving his hand and saying, "I need the complete report before I leave work tomorrow."

"Report on Howard Jr.'s case."

After watching the two leave, Wenner closed the door, took out two chocolates and put them in his mouth. He squinted as he pondered, his hand in the drawer constantly poking at the chocolate balls and putting them into his mouth.

…………

Calvin Holt was brought back by the homicide squad, and reportedly went on another rampage at the patrol department, injuring three or four police officers and nearly escaping.

When they went to take Holt, he was locked in an interrogation room with broken windows and lights, along with four or five police officers.

However, Holt was tough and resilient, and all the injuries were superficial.

After receiving basic first aid, he was temporarily detained in the interrogation room.

He appeared very quiet, and looked very different from Theodore's profile.

If no one paid attention to him, he would just lie down on the table and sleep quietly.

It seems that the arrest last night and the earlier disturbance at the patrol station had exhausted his energy, and now he can finally calm down and rest.

Around noon, his wife arrived in a hurry, accompanied by a man. She only glanced at him from afar before repeatedly emphasizing to them that she was completely unaware of her husband's actions.

Holt seemed agitated and tried to rush out, but was held back by several agents.

Holt's wife buried her face in the man's arms and wept, then hurriedly left with him.

This brief farce seemed to spur Holt on; he stopped sleeping face down and began making frequent requests—one minute he wanted water, the next he needed to go to the toilet.

After lunch, Theodore and Bernie were called into Wenner's office to inquire about the progress.

He didn't urge them, but the two of them could tell that he was.

The reason is simple: Kahor was already preparing to announce the results to the public.

When Theodore and Bernie returned, they saw old Howard leaving Wenner's place; he looked very grim as he left.

Even if the results are later proven wrong, once they are released to the public, it will be a fatal blow to his political career.

Bernie explained the situation: "For 600529 (last night) and 600528 (Qiong), we have sufficient evidence."

Wenner asked, "What about 600527?"

Bernie paused for a moment, then shook his head silently.

Wenner looked at Theodore. "Do you still stand by your judgment?"

Theodore nodded.

“They got Howard Jr.’s statement,” Wenner said, pointing across the street. “And we have nothing here.”

After a brief silence, Theodore slowly asked, "Mr. Wenner, I want to interrogate Holt."

For a moment, Wenner's breathing became heavy, then it calmed down again.

"Are you sure?" Wenner asked.

Theodore honestly stated, "Hoult used too much testosterone; he was like a powder keg that would explode at the slightest spark."

"The fact that x is impotent is this spark."

"His wife and that man had already provoked him to some extent that morning."

After a moment's consideration, Wenner nodded and said, "Go ahead and do it."

After watching the two leave, Wenner took out a written statement from the drawer, stared at it for a while, and then put it back. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Howard, I need time."

"No, Wenner, you don't have time anymore, it's all over."

“I really want to support you, but I have to vote in favor in the next parliamentary session. I hope you can understand.”

Wenner adjusted his posture and said seriously, "Listen to me, Howard, give me some more time. My best detectives are working hard to pry that bastard's mouth open. Give me some more time, we still have a chance to turn the tide."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, a voice said, "Thirty minutes. You only have thirty minutes. I'll be heading to the TV station in 30 minutes."

Wenner reached into the drawer, only to find it empty.

The chocolate balls he hid in the drawer have all been eaten.

He hung up the phone, picked up his coat, put it on, and went into the interrogation room.

Bernie stood up to offer Wenner his seat, but Wenner refused. He simply stood by the window with his arms crossed, observing the interrogation.

Theodore looked away and continued with his own pace.

This is actually a very tricky case.

Calvin Holt didn't have a trophy collecting obsession; he was simply venting.

This meant that the police couldn't get any direct physical evidence. They could only rely on interrogation to obtain breakthroughs through confessions.

Unless 'tactics' are used or a fabricated confession is made, no one can do anything about Calvin Holt's unwillingness to speak.

Theodore was well aware of this, so he was very careful during the interrogation.

They first showed Holt the fingerprint comparison results, using the fingerprint evidence to exert direct pressure and link it to Joan's death.

They then began to link the behavioral patterns of the series of cases.

Bernie put the four cases together, emphasizing the commonalities among the victims and reconstructing the crime process.

Theodore then added details about his psychological state during the crime.
Holt adopted a tacit agreement but remained silent. It seemed their tactics were ineffective.

Wenner checked the time; more than ten minutes had passed.

He was getting a little impatient and couldn't help but cough. When he saw Theodore and the other man looking over, he shook his head to signal them to continue.

Theodore had no idea what Wenner was thinking. In his view, Holt's sense of luck and resistance had been broken, and the real interrogation had just begun.

"You can't even satisfy a prostitute, so you have to prove yourself by killing people?"

Theodore's abrupt questions directly disrupted the interrogation's pace—at least that's how Wenner perceived it.

He couldn't help but frown.

Bernie glanced at Theodore, and then, by reiterating the scene from earlier that morning of his wife leaving intimately with another man, further reinforced Holt's "loser" mentality.

Holt's emotions were fully stirred up, and he passionately defended himself, accusing his wife of being promiscuous and morally corrupt.

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and soon his words were no longer limited to his wife.

Wenner, who had been staring at the time, couldn't help but lower his arm and fix his gaze on Holt.

Bernie and Theodore took turns denying his explanation.

"Really? I don't believe it."

"Don't you have made any mistakes at all?"

Have you ever reflected on yourself?

"Am I not trying hard enough? Am I not treating her well enough?"

Holt was completely provoked and yelled at the two of them, "They deserved it! Who told them to laugh at me!"

A brief silence fell over the interrogation room.

Wenner's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly left the interrogation room to call Howard.

Theodore and Bernie quieted down, pretending to look at documents, giving Holt ample time to adjust himself.

After about five minutes of silence, Theodore suddenly pulled out a testosterone canister.
"This thing can't actually restore a person's virility; it won't work for anyone."

Seeing Holt looking over, Theodore nodded. "It only makes people irritable and easily angered. Just like you just did."

“Holt, we all know that killing them was not your intention.”

"You can't control yourself at all. You just feel angry, a lot of anger."

“Anger overwhelmed you, controlling your body to do these things.”

"Holt, we all understand you."

(End of this chapter)