Chapter 79: Do You Want to Salvage the Skull Together?
Theodore relaxed his body, falling with the force, his head hitting a rock with sharp pain.
He drew his gun and fired several shots behind him, but the rope around his neck showed no sign of loosening.
He wasn't dragged far on the ground before his body started lifting into the air.
The rope around his neck tightened continuously, bringing a strong sense of suffocation.
Theodore held his breath, gripped the noose with one hand, and raised his other hand to fire shots to his side.
The force still didn't lessen.
Theodore opened his eyes and faintly saw a dark figure pouncing toward him. He repeatedly pulled the trigger.
The dark figure froze in mid-air and fell into the creek below.
Theodore dropped his pistol, drew his knife, cut the rope, and fell into the water as well.
By the time the Old County Police and the Felton detectives ran over, he had already surfaced, dragging the killer with him.
Everyone scrambled to pull both men onto the bank. Theodore coughed twice, waved his hand to indicate he was fine, and told them to check the killer.
To be safe, Theodore had almost emptied his clip.
The Old County Police checked and confirmed the killer was still alive, but his condition was poor.
He was running a high fever, his wounds were festering and turning black, and he had been shot in the chest by Theodore. The initial assessment was that his lung was likely injured, and if he wasn't treated quickly, he would probably die.
He lay there twitching like a fish thrown onto the bank, blood continuously flowing from the corner of his mouth.
The detectives in the valley quickly arrived upon hearing the gunshots.
After learning what had happened, their gazes toward Theodore changed completely.
They recalled the rumors about the twin detectives and began to suspect that Theodore could truly read minds, predict the future, and converse with ghosts.
Otherwise, how could they explain him catching the killer after spending the whole day retrieving bones?
The killer didn't die.
Although he was infected with tularemia and sepsis and his lung had been shot through, the detectives took him down the mountain overnight, and after emergency treatment, he was temporarily out of danger.
Given his dangerousness, the detectives handcuffed his hands and feet to the hospital bed and specifically assigned officers to guard him in shifts.
Bernie was in the room next to him.
Bernie had woken up, but due to significant blood loss, he was listless and couldn't do anything while lying in bed. He would get dizzy whenever he moved.
Fortunately, the detective guarding the killer often came over to talk to him, preventing him from getting bored.
Theodore first went to the station to report and then went to the hospital to visit Bernie.
Gary was also there when he arrived.
Gary was very remorseful about his negligence at work and believed that Bernie's injury was also his fault. He felt he wasn't suitable for the job and was preparing to resign.
Bernie was comforting Gary: "Everyone makes mistakes." He waved to Theodore at the door: "Right, Theodore?"
Theodore thought for a moment and didn't speak.
While that was true, making a mistake as a forensic pathologist to the point of missing the cause of death was rather extreme.
"Any news from Dallas?"
Bernie quickly changed the subject and asked about the case.
He had already learned about the discovery of the car wreckage from Gary.
Yesterday, Gary had led a team to the scene and conducted a meticulous search of the car wreckage, cataloging almost every piece of debris.
But he wasn't skilled in physical evidence analysis, and the conclusions he reached were similar to Theodore's deductions at the scene.
Theodore shook his head and told him that the precinct had just contacted the Dallas Police Department, and they were checking missing persons records.
At the mention of missing persons records, both of them fell silent for a moment.
"Hope their record-keeping is better than ours," Bernie couldn't help but say.
Theodore thought it would be difficult. Dallas was a big city; one of its districts was almost as large as Felton.
He just hoped the case wouldn't drag on indefinitely because the victim's identity couldn't be confirmed.
Bernie then asked about the person next door.
Theodore just shook his head.
They still didn't know the killer's name.
The killer was currently in a semi-comatose state. His few brief moments of consciousness were just struggles and meaningless shouts, followed by being knocked out with sedatives, making communication impossible.
Bernie guessed he had no identity and was probably undocumented.
Theodore didn't agree with his guess.
He mentioned that the killer had disappeared for four years after killing the family of three and believed the killer was likely serving time in prison.
He planned to go to the prison later to check the records.
Bernie told him to go directly to the Warden. He tapped his chest, indicating that the Warden was also an FOP member, and showing his FOP membership would make the Warden very willing to help.
They discussed for a while and then met the Senior Police Supervisor who came to visit Bernie. He also brought an assistant.
Gary, like a mouse seeing a cat, quickly left after exchanging greetings.
The Senior Police Supervisor looked at his retreating figure and asked what had happened. He also inquired about the performance of the new head of the forensic lab.
Bernie looked at Theodore.
Theodore spoke truthfully, stating that Gary had extensive theoretical knowledge but lacked practical experience.
The Senior Police Supervisor told them that he had specifically found Gary for them.
"As long as you're satisfied."
He pulled over a chair and sat down, then inquired about Bernie's injuries.
He was already familiar with Theodore, so he didn't waste much time. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he stated his purpose.
He planned to arrange a television interview for the two of them, followed by several radio interviews in a few days, and then they would give lectures to the new police academy recruits.
Bernie's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he quickly stated that he was seriously ill, dizzy and lightheaded, and really not fit for strenuous activity. He suggested Theodore handle it alone.
Theodore, on the other hand, simply got up and excused himself.
He stated that he still needed to go to the prison to check records and figure out the identity of the person lying next door as soon as possible.
After all, they couldn't catch a killer and not even know his name.
He told the Senior Police Supervisor that Bernie could do the upcoming television interview alone, as he had just shared the latest developments of the case with Bernie.
The Senior Police Supervisor, considering Theodore's straightforward personality, also felt that this interview wasn't suitable for him.
"Hey!"
"Hey!!"
"Theodore!"
Amidst Bernie's desperate calls, Theodore left the hospital.
With the added benefit of being an FOP member, the Warden treated Theodore with extra warmth.
Theodore only sat in the Warden's office for an hour before getting the killer's name.
His name was Walter Jenkins. He was arrested and imprisoned four years ago for aggravated assault and was released three days ago after serving his sentence.
It was exactly the day they went up the mountain.
His guess was correct.
In the evening, the local Felton television station reported on Case 600911 and featured an interview with the lead detective on the case, Bernie Sullivan.
The report's title was particularly sensational:
"Bloodthirsty Hunter Brought to Justice! Oil City Heavy Rain Washes Out 'Human Bone Specimen Room,' Shocks the Entire US"
The next day, Theodore arrived at the police station and was immediately teased by his colleagues.
At noon, Theodore obtained Walter Jenkins's information.
Walter Jenkins's information was pitifully scarce, and it abruptly ceased in the 1930s, resurfacing only four years ago.
However, good news came from Dallas:
They had found the corresponding missing persons file.
The family of three had the surname Miles. They had set off from Dallas five years ago on a road trip and were never heard from again.
A few months later, their neighbors reported them missing.
Dallas was dispatching detectives with the file, who were on their way to Felton and expected to arrive tomorrow morning.
Theodore didn't quite understand what detectives from Dallas could do in Felton.
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