Chapter 159: Justice Wolf, Attorney Chandler
"...Stop joking, I'm serious."
Chandler was speechless for a moment before saying earnestly, "After hearing about this case, any sense of security I had is completely gone. We should do something."
"It's not about what we should do, but what the NYPD should do,"
Chuck said calmly. "This case isn't complicated, it's very simple. The key isn't whether we can solve it, but whether we want to."
He didn't want to get involved in this case because, unlike ordinary cases, the American justice system was completely incapable of giving this case a fair resolution.
These six criminals had almost all been in and out of prison multiple times. Even if they started as amateurs, in this most prestigious continuing education institution - the American prison system - multiple cycles through the system is almost equivalent to earning an advanced degree in criminal behavior, and the more experienced ones have practically earned doctorates in criminal enterprise.
The American judicial system is surprisingly lenient with such "talent." Even if they're arrested, it's like returning to their alma mater for postgraduate work. Upon release, they'll likely all be mentoring the next generation of criminals.
Solving the case was incredibly easy. First, the comic book artist who had seen these criminals was still alive, and he was also an artist, so there was no need for a police sketch artist. Second, given American law enforcement's extensive use of undercover operations, obtaining information would be simple. There might even be an undercover agent among these six, and considering the current lack of progress on the case, this probability was extremely high.
Besides having protection hindering the investigation, the most likely possibility was that these undercover agents were working toward a "bigger picture," and plea bargaining had led them to suppress the case.
Either way, Chuck didn't care.
In his view, these heinous criminals didn't need American justice, but swift punishment.
Someone would teach them a lesson.
After a three-hour drive,
the three arrived at the Albany Capitol. Having been notified in advance, they entered without difficulty.
"Oh my God! How impressive!"
Chandler marveled as he surveyed the Capitol building.
"Christine's been interning here for nine months. She came here at the beginning of her final semester. The school recommended her. I liked her. She's bright, young, and energetic. She worked directly for Senator Basson."
The secretary explained the situation to Chuck and the others. As she spoke, Chandler reached for the podium, picked up the gavel - the symbol of authority - and tried to wield it like a judge on TV.
"Don't touch that!"
the secretary immediately stopped him.
"Sorry,"
Chandler said, putting it down sheepishly.
"Come on. I'll get you a podium and gavel for your office."
Chuck looked over Chandler's head and said seriously.
"Are there rumors that Christine was having an affair with Senator Basson's husband?"
Detective Amy Santiago asked carefully.
"Elliott Basson,"
the secretary said. "He's the senator's husband and also on her staff. We've heard the rumors, but no one believes them. There's no solid evidence."
"But the media thinks otherwise,"
Detective Amy Santiago looked at the secretary.
"Do you believe what the media says?"
The secretary looked at Detective Amy Santiago with amusement. "If you've worked here as long as I have, you'll hear all sorts of wild stories, but very few of them are true."
"Let's go meet the senator,"
Chuck said.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
Detective Amy Santiago smiled at the secretary and followed Chuck to Senator Basson's office.
"A husband working as his wife's staff member, that's allowed?"
Chandler quipped. "So, if I marry a congresswoman, I can directly enter politics?"
"Yes,"
Detective Amy Santiago smiled. "It's legal. As long as you can marry a congresswoman, not only can you be a staff member, but your children and their spouses can also work on staff."
"No need to bother with that,"
Chuck said. "When you become a talk show host like Johnny Carson, it's not impossible for you to run for president."
"Not everyone is Reagan."
Chandler shook his head and laughed. "Politics is, after all, a game for the elite. There was only one President Reagan."
Chuck glanced at him and said nothing more.
He's still too young. The best path to becoming a future president is to become an entertainer first.
Chandler is 26 now, and in 30 years, he'll only be 56. He's in his prime, and he has all sorts of sympathetic, everyman qualities. If he can become a nationally renowned stand-up comedian and build a fan base within those 30 years, he'll have significant potential.
Yeah.
That's right!
Chuck offered Chandler this part-time job not only because everyone enjoys his humor and it lightens the mood for Chuck and the others, but also because the investment Chuck mentioned isn't just about expected financial returns; it involves more strategic thinking.
What Chuck values most is sharp wit and logical reasoning.
"Hello, Senator Basson. I'm Detective Amy Santiago from the NYPD. This is Dr. Chuck Wolfe, the department's consultant, and this is Chandler Bing, Dr. Wolfe's assistant."
Upon meeting the female senator, Detective Amy Santiago nervously introduced herself.
"Hello."
The senator nodded to the three of them, and her eyes quickly fell on Chandler: "Mr. Bing, is Nora Bing related to you?"
"..."
Chandler's mouth twitched, and he said helplessly: "She's my mother. Does Senator Basson know her?"
"Yes, we met at a fundraising dinner."
The senator smiled: "Nora is a very accomplished woman. You have a remarkable mother."
"Ha, you're very kind."
Chandler smiled awkwardly.
The senator was puzzled and didn't respond. When a man emerged from the inner office, she looked at Detective Amy Santiago: "This is my husband Elliott. Detective, how can we help?"
Detective Amy Santiago instinctively looked at Chuck.
"Was there anything unusual about Christine's behavior on the day she disappeared?"
Chuck asked.
"No, she was very upbeat. She left after finishing her work at six o'clock."
The senator's husband said.
"She left after six."
The senator corrected.
"Right."
The senator's husband glanced at his wife and nodded.
"She had some family troubles,"
the senator said, hesitantly. "Her biological parents died, and her stepmother called her several times that day. They never got along."
"Classic Cinderella story,"
Chandler observed.
"What do you mean?"
the senator frowned.
After Chandler explained the Cinderella parallel, Chuck looked at the couple. "Now the question is, who's the prince?"
"Oh, please!"
the senator said, her face suddenly showing irritation. "We all know what you're implying. Let's be direct. You want to know if she and Elliott had an inappropriate relationship? I can tell you clearly, no! These are all baseless rumors!"
"Baseless rumors!"
Chuck looked at the senator. "He doesn't have to be the prince."
"What do you mean?"
the senator's expression changed.
"He means Christine might have been close to other people,"
Detective Amy Santiago quickly interjected, trying to defuse tension. "After all, there are other staff members in this Capitol building."
"We wouldn't know about that,"
the senator's husband replied. "After all, Christine was just an intern and didn't know us personally. She mainly socialized with other senators' assistants and interns, so she wouldn't confide in us about those things."
"Understood,"
Chuck nodded and stood up. "Thank you for your cooperation."
"That's it?"
the senator's husband was surprised.
"Christine's desk is in the outer office, right?"
Chuck asked.
"Yes,"
the senator nodded.
They left the inner office and entered the outer area. Chuck put on gloves and began examining Christine's belongings. He then instructed Detective Amy Santiago, "Bag everything and log it as evidence."
"Got it!"
Detective Amy Santiago agreed and immediately began collecting items.
"Any discoveries?"
the senator asked.
"Christine was a collector."
Chuck pulled out a small bottle filled with sand from a drawer.
"She must have collected sand from every beach she visited,"
Chandler sighed knowingly. "What a romantic gesture."
"Given her personality, she must have collected mementos from her prince."
Chuck looked at the senator and her husband. "We'll bag her things and check her apartment later. We're bound to find something."
Detective Amy Santiago finished collecting evidence, loaded everything into the car, and the three of them left the Capitol.
"Do you really suspect the senator?"
Detective Amy Santiago asked anxiously.
"No."
Chuck shook his head. "I'm certain it's her."
"Why?"
Detective Amy Santiago was puzzled.
"Because she's not a sociopath, and her acting skills aren't good enough,"
Chuck said. "And because it's completely baseless."
"Are you saying the rumors are true?"
Detective Amy Santiago asked suspiciously. "Did the senator's husband really have an affair with Christine, and then she killed her out of jealousy?"
"No."
Chuck shook his head. "It wasn't the husband who had an affair with Christine, it was the wife."
"What?!"
Detective Amy Santiago and Chandler exclaimed in unison.
"What's so surprising about that?"
Chuck said matter-of-factly. "I told you the rumors were baseless."
"How did you figure that out?"
Detective Amy Santiago was shocked.
"Yeah,"
Chandler grumbled, "Lesbians are much better at staying closeted than gay men. Didn't you see Ross was married to Carol for years without realizing anything?"
"You told me."
Chuck looked at him.
"Me?"
Chandler was stunned.
"Yes, you!"
Chuck said seriously. "You said earlier that you found Senator Basson very attractive. Doesn't that make perfect sense now?"
Chandler: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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