Chapter 80: The Pretty Boy's Photo
The detective who came to help them retrieve the skull was a Sergeant named Raymond O'Connor.
He brought detailed information about the Miles family.
Theodore shared the details of case 600911 with him and compiled a report for him the next day.
After receiving the report, Sergeant O'Connor thanked Theodore, then formally thanked Wenner, and left.
With the victim's information, Theodore was able to finalize the report for case 600911.
Walter Jenkins's vitality was astonishingly tenacious; his injuries were gradually improving, and he had regained consciousness.
Theodore had visited him twice, and even Bernie frequently 'dropped by' next door, but he refused to say anything, just staring with cold eyes at anyone who approached.
He felt less like a person and more like a wild beast.
A week later, Bernie was discharged from the hospital.
The Homicide Team also officially entered its busy period, operating at full speed.
That heavy rain seemed to have flipped a switch; new cases started coming in non-stop, as if to make up for the absence during the summer and autumn seasons.
However, Theodore and Bernie did not participate in the investigation of any of the new cases.
They were kept busy by the Senior Police Supervisor.
They attended television programs and radio interviews, recounting case 600911 over and over again, especially the part where they acted as bait, which was emphasized repeatedly.
All the newspapers in Felton, big and small, also reserved their front pages for them.
"Heavy Rain Washes Away Evil! Twin Detectives Capture the 'Skull Hunter' in 72 Hours!"
"Guardians of Felton! This Newspaper Exclusively Reveals the Twin Detectives' Case-Solving Code!"
Compared to the sensationalism on television, the newspaper headlines seemed much more normal.
Under the Senior Police Supervisor's manipulation, reports about case 600911 flooded in. The case quickly became a hot topic of discussion throughout Felton.
This case greatly satisfied people's curiosity, especially since the deceased were from Dallas, which gave the people of Felton a strange sense of superiority:
So what if your Dallas is bigger and more developed than us? When people die, you still have to rely on us Felton people to solve the case!
Theodore and Bernie were also arranged by the Senior Police Supervisor to give lectures to the new police academy recruits.
Theodore lectured the recruits on various precautions at crime scenes, hoping these newcomers would differentiate themselves from the older detectives.
Bernie shared several case studies, quickly gaining the recruits' popularity, a stark contrast to the silence when Theodore lectured.
After being put through this by the Senior Police Supervisor for two weeks, at Bernie's pleading, Wenner requested their return, citing ongoing cases.
Wenner was very considerate of them; even though the Homicide Team was swamped, he still gave them a day off to adjust.
Bernie chose to spend time with his family at home.
Theodore, meanwhile, was organizing his thoughts, preparing to write.
He had been too busy these two weeks and hadn't even had time to write.
After organizing his thoughts in the morning, Theodore went to Del Rio Funeral Home in the afternoon.
Bernie had reminded him to send two packs of cigarettes to the funeral home every week, but he had never done so.
When he came to the funeral home this time, Theodore remembered this and went to buy two packs of cigarettes.
The old man was a bit unhappy with him but still accepted his cigarettes and told him he had a good partner.
Theodore was there to choose a coffin.
For the sake of the cigarettes, the old man diligently introduced the pros and cons of various materials, like a dedicated salesperson.
After some hesitation, Theodore chose the more traditional pine wood.
The old man promised that, for Bernie's sake, he would use top-grade pine lumber for him.
Apartment at 4132 Q Street, Washington D.C.
The new reports had arrived.
Hoover put on his glasses, opened the package, and coughed twice.
Mr. Tolsen consciously refrained from picking up a magazine and instead came over to look through the reports with him.
The first one introduced Cynthia's case of killing her husband and the kidnapping case.
After the Lindbergh kidnapping case in 1932, the Lindbergh Act was passed, and the FBI gained jurisdiction over local cases for the first time.
This was a landmark event for the FBI and for Hoover.
The act stipulated that if a kidnapping case remained unsolved after a week, it was presumed the kidnapper had crossed state lines, and the FBI automatically had jurisdiction over the case.
The Lindbergh Act allowed the FBI to handle many kidnapping cases. Hoover and Tolsen were also very familiar with kidnapping cases.
They saw Theodore's role in the case at a glance.
His consistently correct judgments saved the police a significant amount of time.
It was as if he could see where the kidnapper was.
Tolsen was almost unable to resist suggesting to Hoover that Theodore be transferred back to the FBI.
He believed Theodore, with such abilities, should not waste time locally; he should step onto a larger stage as soon as possible.
Hoover grunted twice, not giving his old partner a chance to speak, and picked up the next report.
This was the report on case 600911.
The report summarized the content Bernie Sullivan personally recounted, as well as the reports, reviews, and evaluations of the case by various media outlets in Felton.
Hoover's face darkened as he read.
He didn't spoil Theodore; otherwise, he wouldn't have suggested sending him to the Navy Marine Corps for training.
The dangers described in the report, in his view, were necessary training.
He was very satisfied with Theodore's performance.
Judging from the previous reports, Theodore had grown significantly while away, even better than he had hoped.
He even had thoughts of giving Theodore a chance to try things on his own, even if the July agreement couldn't be reached.
What truly dissatisfied him was the overwhelming media coverage.
Hoover was unhappy that Theodore was being used as a pawn.
Currently, the fire of civil rights in America was burning everywhere, especially in states with the most severe segregation policies, led by Texas, where conflicts occurred almost daily.
Local governments had repeatedly used police force to suppress them, and in some places, even the military had been deployed.
The fact that Felton could have such harmony between the police and the public was largely due to Theodore and Bernie Sullivan.
Such a great contribution, and all they got was some fame?
Hoover was not only dissatisfied with the politicians in Felton but also with Theodore's lack of ambition.
He snorted and asked Tolsen, "Clyde, didn't that pretty boy just go to Felton?"
The 'pretty boy' Hoover referred to was Jack.
In the eyes of someone old-fashioned and conservative like Hoover, Jack's campaign strategy was no different from selling himself.
This is an American presidential election, not a beauty contest!
What's the use of having a good-looking face!
Tolsen recalled and nodded in confirmation.
Hoover tapped the desk, falling into deep thought.
He began to consider things at a deeper level.
Theodore Dickson's file was created with the FBI's help and could withstand investigation. But Jack knew Theodore Dickson Hoover.
Hoover began to suspect that this was a trick orchestrated by the politicians in Felton at Jack's behest, actually aimed at him.
Jack had been trying to win him over, but he simply looked down on Jack; he preferred Vice President Nixon, with whom he had a history of cooperation.
He also didn't believe that the presidency could be won by selling oneself.
He suspected Jack was threatening him.
Hoover was so angry at his own speculation that he laughed.
The next day, Hoover called Ms. Gandhi into his office.
"Find someone to send that pretty boy's photo at the Catholic church to Nixon."
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