The world of American TV series: Starting with the L.A. Patrol.

Chapter 1192 Confirming the murderer and motive

“Mary Strong, who retired two years ago, was a human resources consultant, widowed many years ago, and her son is a dentist in Montgomery and is married with one son.

She is a Puritan and is very active in church activities. I don’t see any high-risk factors in her profile.”

Sitting in a conference room provided by the FBI's local office in Montgomery, Jubal flipped through the deceased's files, muttering to himself.

Aubrey sipped his coffee. "But it's clear that she and the Baudettes died at the hands of the same group. Cutting off the ears means unwillingness to listen, and cutting off the tongue means unwillingness to speak?"

At this moment, Alice's computer suddenly beeped, and she quickly opened the screen with a look of joy on her face, "The portrait has been matched. The person we are looking for is called Wyatt Hammond, and he lives in Cleo, which is less than 10 miles away from Blue Springs.

The owner of the property where he lives is named Greg Hammond, who is Wyatt's brother. He has a wife and a daughter, all of whom live together. The detailed address has been sent to your mobile phone."

-

"FBI, open the door!"

Aubrey banged on the door. Next to him was the fully armed Jack, and behind him was Jiejie. Clay, Jubal and Hannah had already gone around to the backyard of the house.

Cleo is not even a town, but a typical rural area in the Southern states, with a permanent population of less than 500 people, scattered among small farms nearby.

A woman in her early 30s just opened the door and was frightened by the guns of the three men and hid behind the door.

"We're looking for Wyatt Hammond." Jack only glanced at her, confirmed that she was not a threat, let her go, and continued to search the house.

"He is my uncle. What are you going to do? I am the only one at home."

The woman was controlled by Jiejie, who came in last. Aubrey went upstairs, and Jack went straight inside, walked through the corridor, opened the back door and let Clay and the other two in.

"Safety!"

After searching all the rooms, including the connected garage, the FBI put away their weapons.

"Are you Greg Hammond's wife?" Jubal asked as he returned to the living room.

"That's right." The woman looked confused and a little panicked. She had no idea what these FBI agents were going to do.

"Do you know where they are? Your husband and uncle." Jubal asked.

The woman was slightly plump and dressed like an American farmer, wearing a blue denim jacket that was convenient for work and a yellow scarf on her head.

Although the house was old, it was very clean. When Jack sat down on the sofa, he could smell a faint scent of lavender from the sofa cover that had been washed white.

"I don't know, they said they went camping." Greg's wife twisted her fingers nervously and sat down on the single sofa opposite everyone.

"With your daughter?" Jiejie asked.

"No, my daughter died of illness not long ago." This answer surprised everyone.

After learning that her husband and uncle might be involved in two murders, the woman lost the ability to control her expression and was stunned for a long time.

"You mean to say that my husband, who never even got into a bar fight, and his brother Wyatt were involved in two murders?"

"Yes, we have surveillance video evidence. We saw Wyatt hiding in the truck of that truck couple." Jiejie's answer made the woman cover her face in pain.

"Do you know the reason? Are they seeking revenge?" Jack had been observing her expression, and it was obvious that she should know something.

"Maybe." The woman looked up at the photo of a family of three on the table, "Because our daughter Rose died of cancer three months ago."

"I'm sorry to hear this news. Can you tell me more specifically?" Jiejie held the woman's hand and whispered softly.

"We have been working on a class action lawsuit for Rose's illness and Greg was very angry and said he wanted justice, but we always intended to fight for justice in court."

As if he had found the motive for the crime, Jack shifted his gaze from the pile of legal and medical books on the bookshelf and looked at the other person seriously.

"May I ask what the lawsuit is?"

“Against the owners of a thermal power plant and factory here, Griffin, they have been illegally dumping fly ash on nearby land for many years and many people in the neighborhood have developed cancer.

Our daughter Rose, Greg and Wyatt's parents, both passed away from cancer.

Greg used to drive a truck for Griffin’s coal power company and then became a whistleblower, and we launched a class action lawsuit that lasted three years, and just last week we lost the final appeal.”

At the end, the woman seemed to be gritting her teeth.

"Then why did you think they were going camping?" Jubal interrupted. "Is that some form of mourning?"

His question was naturally purposeful. Although the other party did not show any tendency to be complicit, he still needed to confirm it.

"I don't know, maybe that's what I hope in my heart?" Greg's wife said sadly, "He was too focused on the lawsuit before, especially after Rose's death. I hope he can get rid of it all as soon as possible."

The more the woman wiped away the tears on her face, the more she cried. "Greg likes Thoreau's book, Walden. He often said that when civilized society becomes a nightmare, it is better to try going into the forest."

While waiting for Greg's wife, who was crying again with her face covered, to recover a little, Jubal continued to ask, "So both Greg and Wyatt worked for Griffin's coal and electric company?"

The woman shook her head. “No, Wyatt works for the Barrons. They own an agricultural supply store.”

While Jubal was writing in his notepad, Jack opened his phone and showed her the pictures of the Bodettes. "Do you know these two people?"

"Yes." The woman took a closer look, "It's Teddy and Janice. Teddy used to be Greg's superior."

"What about this?" Jack continued to show Mary Strong, who had just been murdered this morning.

"I don't know her name, but she brought a pretty nice pie to the company barbecue." The woman nodded again.

The motive for the crime was basically clear, and Greg's wife was temporarily asked to return to the FBI office to assist in the investigation. Everyone began to dig deeper into the situation of Griffin Coal and Electric Company.

"It's all true. Teddy used to be a junior supervisor in the transportation department of Griffin Coal and Electric Company, and Mary Strong was the human resources director." Alice confirmed.

"Let's assume that Greg, the whistleblower, initially reported the situation to his superiors through workplace complaints, that is, reporting it up the chain of command. In this case, his direct superior was Teddy Bodette.

And above that, it's the Human Resources department, which is Mary Strong." Jubal twirled his pencil out of habit.

"Apparently Teddy ignored Greg's complaints, so he got his ears cut off, and Mary probably told Greg to shut up, so she lost her tongue."

Jiejie's phone rang at this time. After a brief conversation, she hung up the phone with a grim look on her face. "The ERT team received evidence from the state police. Do you remember the footprints you asked the state police to check before?"

Aubrey nodded, "Yes, I found it in the trailer bed. What happened?"

"They detected sodium chlorate and nitrobenzene on it," Jiejie replied.