1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 98 Partners!

Ricky reported to Chief Garcia about the relationship between the three deceased, number 2, and Richard Garcia II.

After a brief silence, Director Garcia changed his attitude.

He first had the patrol detectives on duty spread the word to the patrol officers, searching for Richard Garcia II and bringing him back to the police station.

He then summoned the senior police superintendent back to the commissioner's office to discuss how to keep Theodore on board and allow him to continue participating in the investigation.

Theodore and his two companions remained where they were, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Supervisor George felt that the case seemed to have nothing to do with the South Precinct anymore.

He checked the time, apologized, and said he had to return to the South District branch to deal with the backlog of documents for the day. He then took his leave.

Ricky stared at him for a while, then waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

Supervisor George chuckled, a little slyly, and came over to hug Theodore, patting him on the shoulder, expressing his hope that they could continue to work together in the future.

After watching Director George leave, Theodore turned back to look at the interrogation room.

Ricky quickly stepped in front of him, leading the two out of the interrogation room and into the detention cell.

Theodore followed closely behind, somewhat dissatisfied with Ricky's choice.

By this time, most of the detectives from the East District Police Station had left, and only two detectives remained outside the detention room.

After Ricky filled out the form and sent the people inside, Theodore suddenly asked him, "What if the killer comes to kill them at night?"

Ricky stopped and looked back at the detention cell with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Just as Theodore was about to try to persuade him again, the senior police inspector came over.

He told the two that Chief Garcia had contacted Chief Adams, expressing a strong desire for Theodore to stay and continue participating in the investigation.

Director Adams agreed.

Ricky breathed a sigh of relief, quickly checked the time, said goodbye to the two men, and hurriedly left.

The senior police inspector and Theodore walked slowly toward the parking lot.

Theodore asked him, "Why did Mr. Garcia change his mind?"

The senior police inspector looked surprised: "You knew it was him who wanted to transfer you?"

Theodore felt the Senior Inspector was joking again. He seemed to think he was the most playful person he knew.

The senior police inspector, not waiting for Theodore's response, thought for a moment and said, "He doesn't want to be transferred from his position as the East Precinct Chief."

Theodore looked at him in surprise: "Who wants to transfer him?"

Senior Police Superintendent: "Congressman Santos."

Theodore thought for a moment and then didn't ask any more questions.

This is actually quite easy to understand.

After eliminating the frontrunner, Senator Miller, and then quelling the incumbent mayor's ambitions, it's almost certain that Senator Santos will become the next mayor.

He is paving the way for his appointment as mayor.

Felton Police Department was an important department he needed to understand.

Even if we can't fully grasp the situation, we should at least know what happened. We can't become like the current mayor, who is deaf and blind.

That's not in Santos's character.

Before parting, the senior superintendent patted Theodore on the shoulder and told him not to overthink it; the decision to transfer him away from the case wasn't supported by everyone to begin with. Besides, many at headquarters did support him.

Theodore did not know whether to agree or disagree.

Back at the West Precinct, Theodore was first called in by Wenner to inquire about the progress of the case, and then taken to the chief's office to report to Chief Widek.

They were particularly interested in the case involving Director Garcia's son and asked very detailed questions.

Theodore answered truthfully.

They're just speculating right now; they haven't even asked yet.

The interrogation of the two friends of the second victim was only half completed.

They admitted to participating in the sexual assaults, but it is unknown whether Garcia was involved.

After giving him some encouragement, Director Widek let him go.

As Theodore left the director's office, he met Bernie, who had come specifically to wait for him.

The two walked slowly toward the parking lot, and Theodore told Bernie about what had happened that day.

After listening to Theodore's account, Bernie did not comment on the actions of Chief Garcia and others, but instead offered a different perspective on Detective Brown's refusal to cooperate.

He believes that Detective Brown was not only threatened, but may also be concerned about his partner's reputation.

The fact that the first victim was executed in his own bedroom, with his gun and badge missing, is shameful enough in itself.

If he is exposed to be involved in other disgraceful incidents, his reputation will be completely ruined, and he may not even have anyone attend his funeral.

Theodore asked him for the basis of this view.

Bernie shrugged: "Anyway, if it were me, I would make the same choice as him."

Theodore recalled his three fruitless interrogations of Detective Brown; if Bernie had been there, the outcome might have been different.

Fourth day.

Theodore arrived at the East Precinct on time and met Ricky outside the detention room.

Ricky looked exhausted, as if he hadn't slept well last night.

He pointed at Theodore from a distance, yawned, and walked out of the detention cell, followed by two energetic young men.

"It's all your fault."

While waiting to register, Ricky expressed his strong resentment to Theodore.

He left so easily last night, but he couldn't sleep well all night, constantly worried that the murderer would really break into the detention room and kill him.

Theodore looked completely innocent: "I was just offering a possibility."

Ricky waved his hand, not wanting to hear his excuses.

The two men led the two young men toward the interrogation room, where they encountered Chief Garcia in the corridor.

A young man was following behind Director Garcia.

He handed the young man over to the detectives to register him, and introduced him to Theodore and Ricky:
“That’s my son, Richard Garcia II.”

Under Ricky's slightly stunned gaze, Director Garcia pointed in the direction the young man had been taken away: "I've already spoken to him, and he will cooperate with your investigation."

Ricky snapped out of his daze and nodded in agreement.

Theodore glanced at him but did not respond.

Director Garcia stared at Theodore for a moment, then turned to Ricky.

He instructed Ricky to keep the investigation on track, expressed his support, and then left in a hurry.

Ricky could sense the wariness that Director Garcia had towards Theodore. He looked at Theodore inquisitively and asked him what was going on.

Theodore shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

Ricky didn't believe it, but after thinking about it for a moment, he realized it made perfect sense.

The two friends of the second victim were quickly brought into the interrogation room.

After a night, Brooks seemed to regret his confession from the previous day.

Theodore noticed this trend and decisively chose to start the interrogation of another person.

Using the same method, Kenneth performed exactly the same way as Brooks.

Two months ago, they borrowed Chief Garcia's police car from Garcia Jr.

The police car driven by the chief of the Kai Tung District Police Station went to the party, making them the most stylish people at the party.

Unfortunately, the party was interrupted by complaints from neighbors about disturbing the peace halfway through, and police officers came to inspect the premises.

They were a male and female patrol team.

As an affluent area, the East District has recruited a number of female police officers for convenience in certain situations.

These policewomen are different from those in other precincts; they not only do office work, but a small portion of them also go on field missions.

The male patrol officer was about to leave after seeing Chief Garcia's patrol car, but the female patrol officer insisted on responding and dispersed the party.

The three of them immediately felt disappointed.

On the way back, I saw a policewoman who was off duty and followed her all the way to her home.

In retaliation against the policewoman, they assaulted her. The commotion attracted patrol officers, but they left after seeing Chief Garcia's patrol car.

After Kenneth finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the interrogation room.

Ricky was somewhat incredulous.

Kenneth replied with complete sincerity, "I'm telling the truth!"

"That policewoman resigned later!"

"Just two months ago!"

Theodore asked him what the policewoman and her partner's names were.

Kenneth shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

Theodore then asked him if he knew the patrolman who came later.

Kenneth shook his head again, indicating he didn't know.

He said they were all very nervous at the time and didn't even notice who the patrol officers outside were.

Theodore asked him where the sexual assault took place.

Kenneth remembers this very clearly.

After leaving the interrogation room, Ricky handed the address to a detective.

Half an hour later, Kenneth's words were proven true.

A female patrol officer named Deborah Hall did indeed live at that address. She resigned two months ago.

Moreover, that address was within the patrol area of ​​the deceased No. 1 and Detective Brown, and the two did indeed work the night shift on the date provided by Kenneth.

Theodore felt the killer's identity gradually becoming clearer.

Ricky also felt that he had seen the real culprit.

He asked Theodore if there was any need to question Garcia Jr.

Theodore found his question strange.

How can we verify the authenticity of Garcia's testimony without questioning him?
They currently have very little physical evidence in this case, and if they don't solidify the testimonies, the case report will likely be rejected.

Theodore didn't want a promising case to end badly.

Perhaps due to instructions from Director Garcia, Garcia Jr. cooperated very well.

He did secretly lend his car to three henchmen, but he didn't know that they had used it to assault a policewoman.

He looked completely bewildered as Theodore recounted the story to Ricky. After realizing what had happened, he quickly said he genuinely knew nothing about it and hadn't been involved.

Garcia Jr. provided an alibi for that night.

That evening, he attended a dinner party with Director Garcia.

He provided a long list of dinner guests and details of the dinner's proceedings for verification.

After finishing his questioning of Garcia, Theodore recalled Bernie's words from the previous night and suggested questioning Detective Brown again.

Ricky looked at him with incomprehension, but eventually called Detective Brown over.

Detective Brown was already somewhat numb. After sitting down, he said, "I've told you everything I know."

Theodore looked at him and asked, "Does that also include turning a blind eye to your colleagues being assaulted?"

"Who do you think was inside that day? Chief Garcia? So you just pretended nothing happened and walked away?"

Detective Brown glanced at him, then lowered his head and remained silent.

Theodore rephrased the question: "Are you protecting Michael Johnson (the first victim)?"

Detective Brown looked up.

Theodore: "Now we know that you two turned a blind eye to the abuse of your colleagues in order to curry favor with Director Garcia."

"No one will probably attend his funeral."

After a brief silence, Detective Brown spoke.

His account differs significantly from Garcia's.

That night, they received a report and went to investigate. They saw Chief Garcia's police car downstairs and left immediately.

Although Garcia was not present that night, he was not entirely unaware of the situation.

About a week after the incident, he approached Detective Brown and the first victim, giving each of them $3000 as hush money and warning them not to tell anyone.

Garcia also gave Deborah (the policewoman) $1 as a settlement.

Deborah left Felton after receiving the money.

Ricky asked him how he knew the amount of the settlement fee that Garcia gave to Deborah.

Detective Brown told him it was Garcia who said it. He dealt with Deborah first before finding him and the first victim.

After Detective Brown finished speaking, he asked them to wait until at least after his partner's funeral before releasing details of the case.

His request went unanswered.

Ricky was surprised by what Detective Brown said, but he was even more surprised by what Detective Brown said.

This is very different from the confessions they had previously obtained.

Theodore didn't dwell on the discrepancies between the testimonies; instead, he reminded Ricky that they should first find Officer Deborah's partner.

Around noon, Officer Deborah's partner returned to the precinct.

He was accompanied by his new partner.

These two are acquaintances of Theodore.

They were the two taciturn detectives who had escorted Theodore back to the West Side.

The detective who is reportedly divorcing his wife is Deborah's partner, and his name is Joe.

When faced with a detective, Theodore did not employ conventional interrogation methods.

He first asked Joe if he knew that Deborah had been sexually assaulted.

Qiao paused for a moment, remained silent for a while, and then nodded.

Theodore immediately pressed, "How did you know?"

"She left her keys in the patrol car, so I went back to bring them to her and found her handcuffed to the bed..."

Theodore: "Did you see who did it?"

Joe slowly shook his head.

Ricky then came in from outside and placed a duty log in front of Theodore.

Qiao was on duty at the time of both incidents.

He was on the day shift when the first victim was killed, and he was on the night shift when the second victim was killed.

This is a perfect alibi.

Theodore looked out of the interrogation room.

Joe's new partner was standing outside, watching. When he saw Theodore looking over, he nodded slightly to Theodore.

Theodore looked away and asked Joe, "Didn't you hear the alarm when you went to deliver the keys?"

When an incident occurs in one patrol area, all patrol officers within that area will receive a notification.

"Didn't you realize that the incident occurred at your partner Deborah's place?"

Joe was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "We're used to turning off our walkie-talkies after get off work."

Theodore looked at Ricky and asked, "Should we go check if the walkie-talkies in your patrol car are on or off?"

Joe opened his mouth, wanting to say that his new partner was used to keeping the walkie-talkie on.

Theodore didn't give him a chance to explain and continued, "You heard the police report."

"So you rushed back. You thought something had happened to your partner, Deborah."

"But when you got downstairs, you saw Chief Garcia's police car."

"You hesitated. You were afraid."

"You don't dare go up. You can only stay downstairs."

(End of this chapter)