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Chapter 128: Hands-On Teaching, Guaranteed to Learn!
By the time Theodore and Bernie finished visiting six people, darkness had settled over the city like a heavy blanket.
The two men bypassed the Department of Justice Building and headed directly back to Georgetown. The Buick's engine hummed through the quiet streets, its headlights cutting through the December gloom.
On the way, their conversation drifted naturally to the case, a ritual that had become second nature after long days of interviews and evidence gathering.
Theodore broke down the fraudster's methods with clinical precision: "The fraudster obtained a list containing the names of nine of you from the main branch on Wednesday. This might be a list of high-value customers."
Bernie gestured to himself with mock pride. "Am I also considered a high-value customer? I just finished taking out a loan from Riggs National Bank."
Theodore's glance was sharp, his head shake decisive. "No. You shouldn't be on the list."
"The fraudster treated you differently from the others. Your ransom amount was higher. He might have seen your loan information."
Bernie's expression sobered as he recalled that Wednesday at the bank. "It was indeed very busy that day, with many people milling around."
"Unlikely the fraudster was a bank employee," Theodore continued. "More likely, he was a customer conducting business that day. He accidentally saw the list and your loan information and copied it down."
"AT&T's technical personnel mentioned that on Wednesday night, before DC-1708 dialled the flight attendant's number, there were several J-7 fault reports."
"He was hesitating?" Bernie asked.
Theodore nodded. "The fraudster might have harboured this idea for a long time, repeatedly deliberating and rehearsing it in his mind. That's why he was so polished when he called the flight attendant and when he blackmailed you."
"Thursday noon, the fraudster opened a coin locker in advance and placed the key to locker 103 at Union Station, waiting for the flight attendant to collect it. Friday noon, the killer used the DC-1708 phone to make nine blackmail calls using the magnetised coin method, implementing his scheme one by one with well-rehearsed rhetoric."
"The flight attendant would carry the illicit money to Pittsburgh, then back to D.C."
Bernie nodded along, waiting for Theodore to continue. When silence stretched between them, he turned expectantly.
Theodore opened his notebook to a fresh page. "Now, according to criminal profiling methodology, we'll differentiate the criminal methods and identifying markers used during the criminal process."
Bernie's eyes widened. "Huh?"
Theodore looked at him expectantly. "Mm."
Bernie fixed his gaze on the road ahead, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
Theodore waited, patient as a priest in confession.
The silence stretched until Bernie ventured uncertainly, "Magnetised coin?"
Theodore recorded it without judgment, waiting.
Another stretch of quiet, then Bernie offered, "The Parcel. The green Parcel. He chose to have the target put the ransom in a green package and place it on the train bound for Pittsburgh."
Theodore's pen moved rapidly across the page.
Bernie's confidence wavered at the lack of feedback. After another long pause, his voice shook slightly. "Calling me?"
Theodore noted this as well, then looked up. "Anything else?"
Bernie considered this carefully, then shook his head with uncertainty. "No more?"
Theodore set down his pen and organised his thoughts, first clarifying the distinction: "Modus operandi refers to the necessary means a criminal adopts to successfully commit a crime, while identifying markers are unnecessary behaviours carried out to satisfy psychological needs."
He felt oddly like a professor addressing a particularly earnest student, a sensation that wasn't entirely unpleasant, despite Bernie slowing their already leisurely pace to something resembling a funeral procession.
Theodore cleared his throat and pointed to the first entry. "The fraudster chose to use a public phone booth for extortion. Tactically sound, public phones are difficult to trace, especially DC-1708 at Union Station's entrance, located in a high-traffic area."
"Even if he left fingerprints, they'd quickly be contaminated by other callers. He could have followed normal procedure, inserted coins, and dialled normally. That way, we wouldn't have traced the other eight numbers or even known they existed."
Theodore circled "magnetised coin" with emphasis. "But the fraudster didn't do that. He used a magnetised coin, a method that leaves obvious clues and is known only to telecommunications insiders."
"Twice! Wednesday night with the flight attendant, Friday noon with the blackmail calls. This is a textbook identifying marker. The killer takes pride in his technique."
He paused, studying Bernie's attentive expression. "He's an AT&T technical worker?"
Theodore shook his head. "AT&T personnel claim only their technicians know this method." He gestured between them. "But now we know."
Bernie stared blankly.
Moving to the second point, Theodore analysed the green package scheme: "This represents necessary operational security, modus operandi, not a marker."
He outlined his reasoning: "Government employees have high credit ratings, fear scandal, maintain stable income, and can quickly secure bank loans. Green packages bypass inspection protocols, utilising exemption privileges to reduce interception risk."
"Having the flight attendant transport the package to Pittsburgh and back creates a cutoff point—once law enforcement focuses on her, the trail goes cold. Clever operational security."
He indicated the final item: "The fraudster knows your identity, knows you're an FBI attorney. He could have bypassed you entirely, reducing exposure risk. Instead, he not only targeted you but quadrupled your ransom from five thousand to twenty thousand dollars."
"Completely unnecessary targeted behaviour."
Bernie's face lit up with understanding. "So the magnetised coin and targeting me with the higher ransom, those are his identifying markers!"
Theodore winced internally at the phrasing but recognised Bernie's enthusiasm. He moved to deeper analysis: "Magnetised coins are like a signature. His use demonstrates mastery of a rare skill, pure showing off."
"Now, what about targeting an FBI attorney and deliberately raising the ransom?"
Bernie scratched his head thoughtfully.
"Did you see Jacob when you went back to Felton for Christmas?" Theodore asked.
Bernie nodded, grinning unconsciously at the memory, then his expression shifted as understanding dawned on him. He slapped the steering wheel. "Provocation! He's provoking us!"
"Exactly. Deliberate provocation. The magnetised coins serve the same purpose, a challenge to law enforcement, saying 'I'm smarter than you.'"
Theodore's tone grew serious. "If we let this con artist succeed—"
Bernie, remembering Theodore's previous lessons about criminal psychology, interrupted: "He'll think he's defeated the FBI! He'll become more confident and escalate!"
"Precisely. He's disguised fraud as kidnapping and extortion. Success here might lead him to attempt actual kidnapping."
Bernie felt a surge of excitement, his first real attempt at Theodore's analytical approach. This was an entirely different perspective from traditional law enforcement. "What's next?"
Theodore had planned to guide Bernie through constructing a criminal profile, but remembering previous attempts at advanced instruction, he decided on direct explanation.
"I have the following assessment of our suspect: Male, aged forty-five to fifty-five. Likely lives near Union Station or passes it during his daily commute."
"Works in communications as a technical specialist. His skills are exceptional, among the top tier of his peers. He takes considerable pride in his expertise."
"He also harbours resentment toward government departments. Possibly works for the General Services Administration, installing and maintaining communication equipment."
"In daily life, he's gentle and honest, avoids confrontation, and doesn't advocate violence. He went to the main branch on Wednesday to conduct business and was rejected."
As Theodore delivered his profile, Bernie's brief surge of confidence evaporated. The latter analyses flew completely over his head, especially the final three points.
After hesitating, he chose what seemed the most approachable question: "Why the General Services Administration?"
Theodore marshalled his thoughts: "GSA installs communication equipment for federal agencies and receives the first communication directories after installation. The fraudster could have obtained the other eight numbers elsewhere, but our office phone was newly installed. Besides internal FBI personnel, only GSA's directory would list that number."
"It's the sole source for the new office number."
The logic was straightforward once explained, with a basic understanding of inter-agency operations, which they'd covered in recent training.
Theodore concluded: "Cross-reference the bank's list of customers rejected Wednesday with GSA communication technicians, and we should identify our fraudster."
Bernie nodded, then sighed. "Too bad tomorrow's Saturday. It would be perfect if it were Monday."
Theodore flipped through his notebook as they reached Georgetown and selected a restaurant for dinner.
After ordering, Bernie patted his wallet with theatrical dismay. Months ago in Felton, he'd lectured Theodore about the wastefulness of daily restaurant meals. Now here he was, living the same lifestyle.
Back at the apartment after dinner, Theodore consulted his notebook and dialled a number while Bernie watched with curiosity.
The call connected, and Theodore spoke formally: "This is Theodore Dickson Hoover. I'm looking for Mr. Francis V. Fleming."
Francis V. Fleming, Chairman of Riggs National Bank's Board. Theodore had met him at Jack's inaugural ball in January, taking note of his contact information after an introduction from his uncle.
A hearty laugh emerged from the receiver, followed by inquiries about Hoover's health.
*You should ask him yourself
[End of Chapter]