1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 32 Such a coward doesn't deserve to live.
Bernie called over the registrar of the tool shed, pointed to the mud-covered tools, and asked, "Whose tools are these?"

The guard glanced at it and said, "The pipe wrench belongs to Billy."

"Billy's?"

"Pipe wrench?"

The registrar nodded and showed them a book of tool damage and repairs.

"These are the tools we replaced. The pipe wrench used to be Billy's, and this hammer is Fendi's..."

The registrar pointed to the tools one by one and then closed the booklet, saying, "Roy paid for these tools himself. Once the oilfield company comes down to compile a list of the replaced tools, Roy will report them."

Theodore understood; the oilfield company's tool replacement cycle was too long, and Roy had paid for that part of the cost upfront himself.

Theodore requested the January register, which showed that the tools were not lost or damaged on January 13th and were all returned.

He asked the registrar about the actual events of that day, but the registrar gave evasive answers.

Bernie knew it was time for him to go on the court.

He led the registrar into the tool room, and no one knows what the two talked about. A few minutes later, they came out, and the registrar answered honestly.

According to the registrar, the regulations for tool registration here are basically a formality.

He would come over every morning and write down all the workers' names, and then check off their names again every evening.

The workers treated the tools as their own property and would take them home directly.

If anyone's tool is broken or lost, they should report it to him; otherwise, they should buy a new one to replace it.

In other words, the tool shed was never used to store workers' tools, except for broken ones.

After answering the questions, the registrar begged them not to tell Roy.

Theodore did not respond, and then asked him whether he had properly guarded the tool shed on the day of the incident.

The registrar stammered again. Bernie glared at him, and the registrar flinched and immediately answered.

Unfortunately, he had previously told Sam that he had been staying here the whole time, never left, and had never seen anyone.

However, the truth is that he went to join the night watchmen's gambling game after dark that night.

According to him, he often played with the workers, and after Hank died that night, he was afraid that Roy would find out that he had abandoned his post, so he secretly told the workers not to mention him.

Sam was starting to lose patience.

The taciturn Mexican man felt he had been fooled.

As the three were leaving, the registrar was begging them not to tell Roy, but Bernie just gave him a cold laugh.

The three of them put the tools into a paper bag and went to find Roy.

Roy was scolding two workers under the derrick. Roy pointed and poked at their faces, but the two workers showed no anger. Instead, they begged Roy to give them another chance.

Upon seeing the three approaching, Roy chased the workers away and asked if there had been any progress in the investigation.

Theodore, however, didn't rush to ask Billy. Instead, he asked, "Do you know how chaotic the register in the tool shed is?"

Roy glanced at the tool shed and sighed, "Of course I know."

He pointed to the workers who were leaning on the railing and smoking on the derrick, saying, "Smoking is prohibited on the derrick, but when you tell them that, they don't listen at all."

"The situation is the same in the tool room. They can't understand complicated instructions."

He concluded by waving his hand and saying, "They're like a bunch of gorillas, no, their comprehension isn't even as good as a newborn baby's."

Bernie frowned as he listened.

"You think I'm wrong?" Roy sneered. "This set of tools was bought by the oilfield company, but it's basically a gift to them. The oilfield company will regularly inspect and replace it during this period."

"Placing tools in the tool room makes them easy to manage and replace in a timely manner."

"But they don't understand. They only know that this set of tools belongs to them, and they wish they could sleep with them. They refuse to put them in the tool shed no matter what."

"They're all the same, so what difference does it make which one you use?"

Bernie couldn't hold back any longer and sneered, "So timely replacement means you have to pay for it upfront?"

Roy was puzzled by Bernie's reaction. He shrugged. "That's not their problem. As long as they follow the rules, they'll have access to the best tools, won't they?"

"Instead of the current situation where they have to buy their own tools when they break and then come to me for reimbursement."

Bernie was about to argue when Theodore interrupted him, "Where's Billy?"

Roy pointed to the derrick and said, "He's checking for safety on the derrick. You'll have to wait a bit."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Why don't you go ahead and do your work, and I'll have him come find you after he's finished his checkup?"

Theodore shook his head. "No need, we'll wait here." Roy scratched his head, ultimately deciding not to let the police wait there.

He summoned a worker and instructed him to call Billy down.

A dozen minutes later, Billy came running over.

Roy pointed to the three men and introduced them; Billy looked a little nervous.

Theodore asked him about Old Tom's fight with Hank, and Billy answered honestly.

It was similar to what Old Tom said, and even more so according to Billy.

"He said if old Tom couldn't come up with 400 dollars, he would send Mattia to Rose Street."

Billy sounded indignant when he talked about it, his tone full of disdain.

"He acted as if Mattia wasn't his wife, but Old Tom's."

…………

The three left the oil field and headed to Old Tom's place, which was also the home of the deceased Hank.

On the way, Bernie asked Theodore, "Do we really need to continue investigating this case?"

Seeing Theodore looking over, Bernie gritted his teeth and said, "Whoever killed him, I think it was a good thing. A coward like that doesn't deserve to live."

…………

As expected, the three were stopped by Mattia.

After presenting the search warrant, the three men found Old Tom's complete set of tools in the toolbox.

Old Tom's tools were in excellent condition; there was no oil or scratches on them. They looked brand new.

"If it were me, I wouldn't want to share it with others either."

Bernie muttered to himself as he and Sam put them into a paper bag.

Theodore then went to speak with Mrs. Wilson.

Mattia didn't give her a friendly look. She felt that these three policemen fit the stereotype of policemen: they only knew how to bully people, and only dared to bully honest people like them. When faced with gangsters, they immediately turned into cowards like her ex-husband.

Theodore hesitated before saying, "Mrs. Wilson, we..."

“Call me Mattia.” Mattia gently lifted the child in her arms and corrected her stiffly, “My name is Mattia Wallace, not Mrs. Wilson.”

Theodore was taken aback before realizing that Wallace was Old Tom's surname.

He glanced at the child in her arms and asked softly, "Matia, is he Hank's child or Old Tom's?"

Mattia looked down at the child, then widened her eyes. "Are you blind? That wimp Hank Wilson has a head full of red hair. Is that red hair? Is it?!"

Theodore thought it might be hormones at work; this woman was a bit unreasonable.

He decided to get to the point quickly. "Come with us to the police station," he emphasized. "Of course, this is just to cooperate with the investigation; you can refuse."

"But I suggest you don't refuse."

“Come back with us, and maybe you and Old Tom will be able to go home soon. Then no one will bother you.”

Mattia carried the child towards the bedroom. "Did I have a choice?"

Mattia quickly changed her clothes and came out.

She not only changed her own clothes, but also carried large bags and small bags containing clothes for old Tom and the baby.

This means I'm prepared to live at the police station.

They took Mattia, who was holding the baby, back to the police station. Along the way, the four of them and the baby attracted a lot of attention.

When Mattia and the baby were being registered, people from many departments came to watch.

Theodore had Sam take old Tom to interrogation room number 1 first, and then slowly led Mattia and the children to interrogation room number 2.

Theodore instructed his men to keep an eye on Mattia next door, and then he, Bernie, and Sam entered interrogation room number one.

As soon as they went inside, Old Tom looked anxious.

"Why is Mattia here?"

"What's up with her?"

"What are you going to do?"

"It has nothing to do with her, you've got it wrong, they know nothing!"

(End of this chapter)