1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 6 Sifting Through the Trash

"No, boss, he doesn't know."

Before Theodore could speak, Bernie covered his mouth and dragged him away with a laugh.

Wenner stood there for a few seconds, shook his head, and walked into the office.

He felt that the two of them were hiding something from him, but now was not the time to investigate further; he had more important work to do.

These repeated scoldings made him sense something was wrong. There were rumors that the city was discussing cutting the police department's budget. If it was approved, the homicide squad, which had been performing poorly recently, would be the first to be cut, and it was even possible that it would be reduced to a single unit.

Wenner has a deep affection for the homicide squad. He has been there for more than a decade, and most of the members were trained by him. He would never allow the homicide squad to be reduced or even abolished.

Meanwhile, Bernie pulled Theodore into the interrogation room and whispered, "Did Diane's ghost say anything to you?"

"You can't just go to the boss and say that. What if he asks you for evidence? If you can't produce it, the boss will think you're messing with him, understand?"

Theodore thought for a moment, spread the photos in his hand on the table, and said in a low voice

"The doors and windows were undamaged and there were no signs of forced entry, which means that the murderer knew the first victim (Diane) and that she was invited in through the front door."

"There were apples on the table and a homemade cake on the floor, indicating that the victim No. 1 was entertaining the murderer, but the two did not have a pleasant conversation and a conflict broke out."

"The victim number 1 had pressure marks on his shoulder and was stabbed excessively in the chest, which is an expression of emotional release. The approximate height of the murderer can be estimated based on the posture of the pressure and stabbing."

"The jaw of the first victim was destroyed, which is a symbol of 'deprivation of the right to speak'."

"The excessive facial and chest injuries of victim number 1, compared to the single stab wound to the chest of victim number 2, is a classic example of transferred hatred."

"The bloody footprints and the fruit knife left behind as the murder weapon both indicate that the perpetrator was driven by emotion and had a weak sense of counter-surveillance."

Bernie paced around the interrogation room twice, glancing outside. In the large office, the team members had transformed into busy little bees, scurrying around in a flurry of activity.

He picked up the photo on the table again and looked at it repeatedly before finally asking, "Are you sure?"

Theodore nodded.

Bernie put the photo away and whispered, "Listen, Theodore."

"You're coming with me to find the boss. You'll explain. If I interrupt, don't say anything more. If the boss asks you anything, just say I told you. Understand?"

He tapped the photo seriously. "No matter what the boss asks, pin it on me. Got it?"

Theodore glanced at Bernie's serious expression and said, "It's not that serious. At worst, I'll just go back to the patrol unit."

Bernie said irritably, "Are you going to tell him that you heard all this from your ghost friend?"

“You said it yourself, not me,” Theodore retorted, following behind Bernie.

When the two knocked and entered, Wenner had just hung up the phone and asked, "Is there something you need?"

Bernie coughed and mumbled, "...found a clue."

Wenner paused, pen in hand, and looked up.

Theodore stepped forward, spread out the photos one by one, and explained his guesses. After a pause, he added, "I have some basic guesses about the killer."

Wenner gave Bernie a meaningful look. "Tell me about it."

Theodore provided a profile of the killer: "The killer is a white female, between 15 and 20 years old, and was an acquaintance of the first victim."

"The killer was physically strong, at least strong enough to subdue the first victim,"

"The murderer had a grudge against victim number 1, but victim number 1 was unaware of it."

"The murderer had no medical background."

"The murderer lived in the same community as the victim."

Finally, he stated with certainty, "The murderer is Anna, the daughter of the victim in case 600403."

Bernie, standing behind Theodore, wanted to pull him back but didn't dare, and could only watch anxiously.

After Theodore finished speaking, he calmly looked at Wenner, awaiting his decision.

He was grateful to Bernie, but he couldn't bring himself to hide behind someone else. Besides, he was very confident in his own abilities.

Wenner frowned and asked, "Is there any evidence?"

Bernie preemptively stated, "Not yet. Theodore discussed it with me, and we both agree that this speculation is very likely true."

Wenner glanced at him and asked Theodore, "How can you prove your guess is true?" He emphasized the word "your." Theodore said in a deep voice, "Arrest Anna. Bernie and I will interrogate her; she will definitely confess."

For Theodore, it was a sure thing. But for Wenner, it was a gamble.

They're looking to play it safe, but there's a high chance they won't be able to solve the case on time. So, they're taking a gamble and hoping to turn the tide for the homicide squad with this case.
Wenner opted for a compromise: "I need evidence." He picked up the receiver and dialed, saying, "Even the same evidence, any evidence that proves your suspicions."

…………

Leaving the manager's office, Bernie asked, "What do we do now? Can we talk to Diane and let her talk to the boss herself?"

Theodore scrutinized Bernie closely, unable to discern whether he was joking or serious, so he simply went along with it, saying, "I asked, and she said no."

Bernie chuckled twice, took half of the documents from his seat and placed them on Bernie's desk. "Alright, the boss has heard your clues, now it's time for him to come and help."

These are Diane and Doyle's medical records, insurance, bank accounts, letters, tax returns, and other documents.

The team members are currently divided into two main groups. One group is responsible for collecting and photocopying the deceased's information. They need to contact banks, hospitals, social security departments, etc., to obtain relevant information, then photocopy it and distribute it to each team member.

Another group of people took the data they had already collected and began to study it.

The entire office was a mess, and everyone was busy, as if a battle was about to break out.

Theodore returned the documents to Bernie and told him to prepare for a field trip.

Bernie asked him, "What are you going to do?"

Theodore rummaged around and pulled out two pairs of gloves, then grabbed a few vomit bags and started rummaging through the trash.

"rummaging through the trash?"

Theodore nodded, emptied Bernie's coffee cup, and put it into a vomit bag.

…………

The car stopped in front of Brian's house at Theodore's direction. After getting out of the car, Theodore handed the gloves to Bernie. "Let's get started."

Bernie glanced at the trash can in front of him. "Are you really going to rummage through it?"

As he spoke, Theodore had already put on gloves and tipped over the trash can. "Of course. Hurry up."

As he spoke, he glanced at the house and vaguely saw a dark shadow flash past behind the window.

Theodore looked away, dumped all the trash out and spread it on the ground, then squatted down and began rummaging through it.

Bernie looked like he had a deep grudge, but he still obediently squatted on the other side, tilting his head and asking, "You have to tell me what you're looking for."

Theodore glanced at the door again and whispered, "Don't look for anything, just rummage around and put it back."

"what?"

Bernie didn't understand, Bernie was confused, Bernie didn't comprehend.

Theodore stood up. "Alright, put it back."

The two began to put the trash on the ground back into the bin.

This is no easy task. Even ignoring the pressure on the spine from constantly squatting and standing up, the visual and olfactory stimulation alone is enough to torment one.

Both of them were experienced and had prepared themselves mentally before setting off, but even so, the climb was still very difficult.

“This place really has everything,” Bernie remarked, using a twig to lift up a hood.

Theodore agreed, saying, "If you want to know a family's secrets, just look through the trash." As he spoke, he took out a vomit bag and carefully collected a pile of ashes mixed with scraps of cloth.

There was an unexpected surprise!
Bernie stepped forward, took a look, and asked, "What is this?"

Theodore stood up, rolled up the opening of the vomit bag, and handed it to Bernie. "If you were the murderer, what would be the first thing you do after killing someone?"

Bernie thought for a moment and said, "Dispose of the clothes and the murder weapon, and prepare an escape route."

Theodore shook his head. "What should we do? Throw it away? Where should we throw it? Based on the scene, the victim's blood splattered all over the murderer. Where should we throw such clothes so as not to attract attention? Burn them? What will you say when Sit asks you why you burned the clothes?"

Bernie opened his mouth, "You still think Anna is the murderer."

Theodore did not answer, but said, "The most sensible solution is to hide and deal with it quietly after things have calmed down."

He put the trash back in the bin, took back the vomit bag, and said, "Okay, now we should go get the evidence."

(End of this chapter)