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Chapter 30: The Plot Begins to Explode~
"The deceased's right skull showed a V-shaped depressed injury with sharp, regular edges, consistent with a deliberate blow."
Theodore pulled out the close-up photograph from the autopsy report and pointed it out to his companions.
"We saw several workers up there, and the hammers, axes, pipe wrenches, and other tools hanging from their belts could cause similar injuries."
"The wound is on the left side, indicating the killer is right-handed."
"The deceased was strong, had no injuries or illness at the time of the incident, and showed no alcohol consumption. This requires the killer to also be very strong."
"The incident occurred at night. Although night-shift workers were around, no one witnessed it. This requires the killer to be familiar with the environment."
Theodore spoke deliberately. "I believe this was premeditated murder."
"The killer knew the deceased's habits, understood that the deceased would stay to gamble that night, and might even have been the one who actively invited him."
"The killer knew the night-shift workers would gather to gamble and wouldn't patrol under the oil derrick at all."
"The killer hid beneath the derrick, waiting for the deceased to come over."
"The deceased stayed to play a few rounds. When the time came, he went out for a meeting."
"The deceased met with the killer. The two couldn't reach an agreement, the killer suddenly attacked, used a tool from his belt to beat the deceased to death, then staged an accident."
Bernie raised his hand to ask a question.
"Wait."
"You said it was premeditated murder. Why didn't the killer just kill the deceased outright? How do you know they had a conversation?"
Theodore pointed to the body photograph. "If the killer had intended murder from the beginning, he should have ambushed the deceased, attacked from behind, the wound would be on the back of the head."
Bernie nodded, though it was unclear whether he truly understood.
Theodore looked at Sam, and seeing no questions from him, put away the case file. "I think we should first carefully investigate the deceased's financial problems."
Seeing Sam and Bernie's confusion, Theodore explained, "The deceased had no debt disputes. This doesn't seem like a gambler who'd gamble away his life."
At his reminder, Bernie and Sam realized that after Hank's death, they hadn't heard of anyone going to his house to collect debts, nor had they heard of him owing money to any workers that remained unpaid.
A gambler who rushed to the casino every payday and willingly worked extra night shifts for gambling money, yet didn't owe gambling debts.
This was indeed unbelievable.
Sam said flatly, "Do you think the killer murdered him over money?"
Theodore shook his head. "I'm not certain, but I have suspicions in that direction."
After brief discussion, the three decided to split up.
Sam would return to the oil field to find foreman Roy, obtain Hank's payroll records, and re-screen the workers who'd participated in that night's gambling.
Theodore and Bernie would investigate the casino and bank. If time permitted, they'd also visit the deceased's home.
On the way, Theodore curiously asked Bernie about Sam's partner. Bernie explained that he'd been sent for FBI training and would return soon.
Bernie was quite disdainful of Sam's partner. "That's a guy single-mindedly determined to join the FBI. He's taken the test three consecutive years and hasn't passed."
"He wants to join the FBI, but the FBI doesn't think much of him, heh."
Theodore thought to himself: if the July agreement wasn't completed and he was taken away by FBI agents sent by Hoover, he wondered if Bernie would assume he was also trying to join the FBI...
The two first visited the bank.
The bank manager, unwilling to cause trouble, readily invited them into the VIP lounge and quietly produced the deceased's account statement.
The deceased's account balance was $3.07.
In January, before the incident, there were no abnormalities in the account's withdrawals and deposits.
Next, they came to the casino.
The casino sat adjacent to Rose Street, not far from where Holt had been arrested in their last case.
As they approached the casino entrance, they encountered several women from Rose Street head-on.
The women showed no fear. They waved from a distance, then giggled together after catching the men's attention. One bold woman walked directly toward them, asking if they wanted to come up and sit for a while.
Seeing their refusal, this woman even boldly invited, "Both of you can come together, just come up and sit. We won't charge you anything."
With this woman taking the lead, the others quickly grew bolder, surrounding them and chattering invitations to come up and sit.
These women recognized Theodore and Bernie and felt deeply grateful to them.
Before this, no prostitute killer had ever been arrested in Felton.
Theodore and Bernie broke through the encirclement in sorry condition, rushed into the casino, and finally escaped.
The two showed their badges, and soon the casino manager emerged.
He was a fierce-looking man, about Bernie's size, with eyes that bulged like a bullfrog's.
To avoid misunderstanding, Bernie first explained their purpose to Mr. Bullfrog. Though reluctant, he answered their questions to avoid unnecessary trouble and conflict.
He even called over the cashier from the chip exchange window and the casino's financial staff.
All confirmed that Hank was a regular who gambled every payday but had never won.
The cashier mentioned that the deceased was generous with money and had once lost three to five hundred dollars consecutively without changing expression.
They visited several establishments in succession, with largely identical results: generous spending, terrible luck, never winning, but good gambling etiquette and quick debt repayment.
During off-hours, crowds flooded into the casino. Bernie even spotted workers he'd seen on the derrick that day among them.
Five or six workers had come together.
These workers saw Bernie and happily squeezed over.
They told Bernie it was payday, and many workers would come to the casino to play a few rounds after collecting their salaries.
After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic workers, the two hesitated momentarily before heading to the deceased's house.
There, they encountered the deceased's friend Old Tom, who was supposedly on leave.
Old Tom wore large shorts and lay on the sofa with a small boy who'd just learned to talk resting on his stomach. The two were playing happily.
The deceased's wife busied herself in the kitchen, occasionally glancing toward the sofa with eyes full of happiness.
When Theodore and Bernie rang the doorbell, they heard, "Darling, Tom, go answer the door."
Then they saw Old Tom approach cheerfully with the child in his arms.
Seeing Theodore and Bernie, the happy smile hadn't yet faded from Old Tom's face, but he asked with slight wariness, "Who are you looking for?"
Bernie frowned, his gaze lingering momentarily on Old Tom's right foot in a cast, then showed his badge. "Is this Hank Wilson's house?"
Old Tom grew serious, and the happy smile vanished from his face.
He protectively held the child and said guardedly, positioned sideways, "He's already dead."
Footsteps came from inside, and a woman in a bathrobe with her hair down walked over, her expression somewhat anxious.
"Who are you? He's already dead."
Old Tom embraced the woman and gently patted her back in comfort.
Bernie was annoyed by their behavior.
Although the deceased was a terrible gambler and probably hadn't treated his wife and child well, was it right for them to move into his friend's house so openly?
Your good friend had only been dead for half a year!
"We're here to investigate your husband's death."
Bernie emphasized the words 'your husband' heavily and showed his badge again.
Mrs. Wilson showed no embarrassment. She simply repeated, "He's already dead," took the child, and returned to the house.
Old Tom looked embarrassed, awkwardly invited them inside, limped back to the sofa, then turned and called out,
"Darling, uh, Matia, bring me some clothes."
Mrs. Wilson brought a shirt, helped Old Tom put it on, then turned his face toward her and kissed him hard.
With a loud smack, they separated, and Mrs. Wilson returned to the room to tend the child with a triumphant expression.
Old Tom's weathered face reddened, his expression conflicted, both ashamed and somewhat happy.
"What happened to your foot?" Theodore asked.
Old Tom raised his right foot. "An apprentice didn't secure a tool properly, and it fell and struck me."
"When did this happen?"
"About seven or eight days ago." Old Tom recalled. "After I got out of the hospital, Matia saw it was inconvenient for me to live alone, so she invited me to stay here and take care of me."
He spoke the latter part very quietly, but Bernie heard and sneered, asking, "How exactly did she take care of you?"
Old Tom stammered without responding.
"Are you friends with Hank?" Bernie asked again.
Old Tom wasn't sure if this question was mocking him or serious, so he remained silent.
Theodore asked, "Someone witnessed you, Billy, and Hank fighting before the incident. What was the reason?"
Old Tom glanced toward the bedroom, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Because he discovered you were sleeping with his wife."
Bernie answered for him with a sneer.
"Not only sleeping with his wife, the child isn't his either."
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