Chapter 166: Barney Stinson - Rich People Really Know How to Have Fun!
"I'll do my best."
Chuck nodded, withdrew his hand, took out a disinfectant wipe and began to clean it carefully.
Director Kate gave the astonished Elliott couple an awkward but polite smile.
"Tell me what happened."
Chuck ignored their expressions and got straight to the point.
"Okay."
Mr. Elliott was much calmer than his wife. Hearing this, he began to recount the whole process: "Amy went out with friends last night and didn't come back by eleven o'clock. We called to check on her, but couldn't get through. We called her friends, but they said she had left hours ago. Only then did we realize something was wrong and called the police."
At this point, he said worriedly: "If it's kidnappers demanding ransom, we're not that worried. If they ask for money, we're willing to pay any amount as long as Amy is rescued safely. What we worry about most is encountering something like what happened to John McCann..."
"Oh no."
Mrs. Elliott burst into tears when she heard this.
Mr. Elliott hugged his wife. He hadn't wanted to say it, but in this situation, just like avoiding the doctor when you're sick, he had to reveal his worst fears so the investigators could rule them out first.
"Mrs. Elliott, don't worry, it hasn't reached that point yet,"
Director Kate soothed.
"Oh, you don't know what that poor cartoonist went through. His fiancée was pregnant, and she died so horribly. My poor Amy..."
Mrs. Elliott sobbed.
"We went with Amy to visit Mr. McCann,"
Mr. Elliott said gravely. "You have to admit some people are just born evil!"
"Dr. Wolfe?"
Director Kate didn't know how to console him, so she looked at Chuck.
"They're absolutely right,"
Chuck nodded with conviction.
If he hadn't intervened, assigning his brother a mission to get justice for the cartoonist, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, he was afraid these people, once they'd gotten a taste for it, would lose control sooner or later, regardless of the risks, and target Amazing Amy.
After all, compared to Nora Bing, who travels around the world all year round, and the forensic anthropologist nicknamed Bones in Washington, DC, Amazing Amy was in New York and had more connections with them.
And even if this group of people was eliminated, a crime-ridden city like New York wasn't short of these types. Those who are still out partying late at night, or young people who like thrills, would encounter them sooner or later.
"First, let's talk to the friends that Amazing Amy was with that night, and check surveillance footage to see if there are any clues."
Chuck looked at Director Kate.
"Someone has been assigned to handle it."
Director Kate nodded in response to the Elliott couple's questioning gaze.
"Mr. Elliott, does Amazing Amy have obsessive fans?"
Chuck asked.
"Yes!"
Mr. Elliott nodded. "She's lived in the spotlight since she was a child. Over the years, she's naturally attracted a group of obsessive fans."
"They sent Amy a lot of disturbing letters,"
Mrs. Elliott said, wiping her tears. "We're used to it. Do you think it was one of those fans?"
"It's either random or premeditated,"
Chuck said calmly. "If it were a kidnapping for ransom, the kidnappers would have contacted you immediately, telling you not to call the police and demanding money. That's obviously not the case. The most likely scenario is an obsessive fan abducting their idol."
He looked at Director Kate. "Bring all the letters here. Wait for Dr. Spencer Reid to arrive and have him quickly analyze them."
"Okay,"
Director Kate agreed with a nod. "The BAU is already at the airport and driving here now."
"Are there any law enforcement officers among these fans?"
Chuck continued to look at the Elliotts.
"What?"
The Elliotts were stunned.
Director Kate's mouth twitched. She'd heard Chuck's suspect profiling priorities, and while it made sense, it wasn't something they, as law enforcement officers, should openly discuss.
"Are there any law enforcement officers like the NYPD, military personnel, or FBI agents among those who wrote to Amazing Amy?"
Chuck asked bluntly, ignoring Director Kate's look.
"Well, as far as we know, it doesn't seem like it."
The Elliotts exchanged glances, considered it, and shook their heads.
"What about wealthy individuals?"
Chuck continued. "Among the politicians and businesspeople who wrote to Amazing Amy, or those you met at various social events, have any shown overly affectionate behavior toward her? Especially older men."
"..."
Director Kate's mouth twitched. She wanted to complain. It seemed as if the pillars of respectable society should be eliminated first in Chuck's mind. Those with criminal records should be investigated first, yet in Chuck's eyes, these respectable people were all prioritized for suspicion. It was simply maddening.
"I don't think so,"
Amazing Amy's mother hesitated.
"Yes or no."
Chuck said calmly: "Normal contact, such as cheek kisses, forehead kisses, hugging, etc., don't worry about those. The main thing is whether there were any unusual expressions during these actions, such as lingering too long, closing eyes to savor the moment, or other expressions that just looked wrong."
"No!"
Mr. Elliott immediately shook his head: "We associate with respectable people who wouldn't do such things. Besides, Amy has only been an adult for a few days."
"Oh, wait!"
Mrs. Elliott suddenly said: "There is indeed a wealthy man who is extremely obsessed with Amy. He writes letters and sends gifts to Amy all year round. But he's Amy's contemporary, only three years older than Amy, so he's only 21 years old now. It shouldn't be him, right?"
"Who is he?"
Director Kate asked immediately.
"Barney Stinson."
Mrs. Elliott said: "He inherited a fortune worth tens of millions and is now a junior at Columbia University."
"Anything else?"
Chuck asked.
"Nothing else."
Mrs. Elliott shook her head.
"As far as we know, there's nothing more,"
Mr. Elliott sighed. "Although Amy is a good kid, she's getting older and more rebellious. It's possible she's hiding things from us."
"We'll get to the bottom of it," Director Kate soothed, then looked at Chuck. "Shall we start with this Barney Stinson?"
"Agreed,"
Chuck nodded.
Although the name Barney Stinson immediately reminded him of the playboy from "How I Met Your Mother" from his previous life, even if it wasn't the same person, the possibility of him committing the crime couldn't be completely ruled out.
While Barney Stinson was a comedic character, given his unscrupulous nature, it wasn't inconceivable that he'd do something like this.
After Director Kate called and learned that Barney Stinson was at Columbia University, she personally accompanied Chuck to find him.
Columbia University campus.
"Barney Stinson?"
When Director Kate and Chuck contacted him based on the phone call, they were stunned. The young man with a fresh face and blonde hair looked nothing like a millionaire heir. His clothes were all cheap off-the-rack items.
"That's me."
The young man sat on the grass, holding a guitar, and smiled shyly at Chuck and the others.
"Do you know Amy Elliott, also known as Amazing Amy?"
Director Kate looked at him suspiciously.
"She knows me,"
the young man said sweetly. "She's my classmate and my goddess."
"Did you know she's missing?"
Director Kate asked.
"What?"
Barney was stunned.
"Did you do this?"
Chuck looked him in the eye. "Kidnapped your own goddess to make her yours forever?"
"Of course not!"
Barney said anxiously. "Goddesses are meant to be admired, not violated! How could I possibly do such a thing? Amy, is Amy okay? You must rescue her. I'm here to help with anything you need!"
Director Kate immediately looked at Chuck.
Barney appeared genuinely distressed, and it didn't seem like he was lying. However, the truth of his words still depended on Chuck's assessment.
"Isn't violation more exciting?"
Chuck simply looked at Barney and said calmly, "Amazing Amy is an adult now, about to enter college life. College means letting loose. Can you tolerate your goddess hooking up and breaking up with other men?"
"How dare you!"
Barney angrily delivered the classic line to Chuck, "Love is about cherishing, not possessing! As long as Amy is happy and fulfilled, I will just watch from afar and offer my most sincere blessings!"
"Why?"
Director Kate looked at Barney in confusion. "I mean, if you were an ordinary person, I'd understand, but you're a multimillionaire and a top student at Columbia University. Looking at your appearance, while a bit unconventional, it's not bad. You're fully qualified to pursue Amazing Amy. Since you like her so much, why don't you make a move?"
"You don't understand."
Barney gave her a look that said, 'You're too shallow,' which made Director Kate feel uncomfortable.
"Enlighten us,"
Chuck said.
Just then, Barney's phone rang. He answered, spoke gently, and hung up. Standing up, he said, "Words are hard to explain. Follow me, and you'll understand what I mean."
He strapped his guitar to his shoulder, hopped on his bike, and rode slowly ahead.
Chuck and Director Kate followed behind.
"Is it him?"
Director Kate asked quietly.
"I'm not sure."
Chuck shook his head. "Either he's telling the truth, or he has an antisocial personality disorder. Either way, he has mental health issues, and further evaluation is needed."
Director Kate nodded in agreement.
If Barney was telling the truth, then he had the means to pursue his goddess but chose not to, instead observing her from afar. It certainly wasn't something a mentally healthy person would do. Furthermore, with his artistic temperament, the possibility of mental illness was even greater.
Following Barney to the school cafeteria, he grabbed two breakfasts. He smiled at Chuck and the others, then hopped on his bike and rode to a dormitory building. He parked and called upstairs, "Shannon, Shannon!"
"Who's Shannon?"
Director Kate's expression grew even more puzzled.
Ten seconds later, a seemingly innocent girl poked her head out of an upstairs window and smiled sweetly at Barney, who was standing below. "Barney!"
"Shannon, I bought you breakfast."
Barney held up the food. "Two portions!"
"That's so sweet, Barney!"
Shannon said, skillfully lowering a rope. After Barney expertly hung the breakfast on the rope and she pulled it up, she said to him, "Barney, class starts soon. Go ahead. I'll be there after I finish eating."
"Okay, Shannon!"
Barney smiled, looking up adoringly.
"What the hell is he doing?"
Director Kate stared at the scene in disbelief.
"Delivering breakfast to his goddess."
Chuck said calmly.
Director Kate was silent. When the blonde Barney looked over, she couldn't help but ask: "But why didn't you go upstairs, knock on her dorm door, and give it to her in person?"
"Shannon said it's not safe. There's nothing we can do. Too many people steal bicycles."
The blonde Barney shrugged.
"..."
Director Kate was dumbfounded: "You don't actually believe that? And you, a multimillionaire, are worried about a bicycle?"
There was another question she held back from asking, which was that Shannon's face upstairs was so obviously glowing, and she didn't let you come upstairs, so who was the second breakfast for?
"He's currently assuming the identity of a poor student, not a multimillionaire."
Chuck pointed out the truth.
"Exactly."
Blonde Barney looked at Chuck with admiration: "What I want to pursue is pure love without contamination. If Shannon knew I was rich, then this relationship might deteriorate, and that's not what I want."
"What do you like about her?"
Director Kate couldn't help herself anymore: "Do you know why she wanted two breakfasts?"
"I know."
Blonde Barney nodded and smiled: "The second breakfast is for her boyfriend who spent the night. She didn't let me go up to protect my bicycle. I know everything. I even know that this is her fifth boyfriend since starting college."
"...Why? Why? Why?"
Director Kate really couldn't understand this logic.
"I've said it before, loving someone isn't about possession, but about wanting her to be happy."
A sincere smile appeared on blonde Barney's face: "I bought extra milk for the second breakfast I got her, just to nourish her new boyfriend who stayed over, so that she would be happier. One day she will understand all this, you know, just like the plot in those romantic movies, when that day comes, even if she's about to marry a prince, she'll be a runaway bride for me, her true love. I look forward to that day."
"..."
Director Kate was completely speechless.
Is this how rich people play games?
"Do you understand now?"
Seeing Director Kate in a daze and not speaking, blonde Barney looked at Chuck.
"I understand."
Chuck nodded: "Where were you last night?"
"At home."
Barney looked at Chuck in surprise: "Do you still suspect me? It's impossible for me to hurt Amy!"
"Your example with Shannon didn't dispel our suspicion, but actually increased it."
Director Kate stared at him: "How could a normal person do such a thing? And since you're pursuing Shannon, why do you keep writing love letters to Amazing Amy and giving her expensive gifts?"
"It doesn't conflict."
Barney said frankly: "I genuinely love them all!"
Seeing Director Kate's face darken, he continued to explain: "Look, there are so many types of romantic movies, and everyone loves to watch them all, which shows that everyone yearns for every kind of love. In that case, why can't I have them all?
For Shannon, I am the devoted boyfriend silently waiting like in 'The Pursuit of Happyness.'
For Amy, I am a loyal fan who fell in love with a celebrity.
For Rebecca, I am a pen pal lover from thousands of miles away like in 'You've Got Mail'..."
"..."
Listening to Barney's explanation, Director Kate finally understood what Chuck had grasped, and completely believed in Chuck's judgment. This guy is definitely a psychopath.
(End of this chapter)
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