Chapter 161: I Haven't Seen It
Detective O'Malley frowned and opened his mouth to speak, feeling more and more convinced that Theodore was describing two lunatics.
This was completely different from the criminals he'd encountered throughout his career, street thugs, domestic abusers, drunken brawlers, petty thieves motivated by poverty or addiction. Those he understood. This psychological labyrinth that Theodore was navigating was foreign territory.
He shook his head and didn't interrupt Theodore again.
Theodore, incorporating the latest developments, analyzed the 7-Eleven robbery with renewed context.
"Around two in the morning on April 15th, they stole a Plymouth Fury and committed another robbery."
"This robbery was considerably more professional than their first attempt at the Esso station."
"They stole a car, obtained cash, and secured Chesterfield cigarettes."
"They achieved all their intended goals with greater efficiency."
"At the end of the robbery, the male criminal carved the mark 'B & C 61' into the counter."
"This marking indicates they consider themselves the Bonnie and Clyde of 1961, not imitators, but reincarnations."
He glanced at Bernie, then continued.
"In the previous two car thefts, the two criminals only demonstrated basic driving skills. They showed no professional vehicle theft techniques whatsoever."
"They could only target cars with keys left inside the ignition."
"But in the third car theft, this changed fundamentally."
"When the third car was discovered, there were no keys left in it. They'd already learned how to hotwire vehicles and acquired the technical skills necessary."
"The escalation was rapid and decisive."
"The way the two criminals dealt with the third car was also completely different from the first two. They chose to burn it, to destroy evidence."
Bernie looked up from his notes, his expression grave. "This is a typical Bonnie and Clyde method of handling stolen cars."
Thanks to hearing countless stories about Bonnie and Clyde since childhood, and even to having witnessed their rise and fall firsthand through the relentless media coverage of his teenage years, Bernie understood this criminal duo intimately. Their tactics were etched into his memory.
Theodore nodded in acknowledgment. "Just as the car theft methods transitioned from amateur to professional, this represents more than simple imitation of Bonnie and Clyde. It's also a significant upgrade in criminal sophistication."
"In the first robbery at the Esso station, the male criminal wore a military green jacket and jeans, covering his face with a ski mask, generic, anonymous."
"In the second robbery at the 7-Eleven, the male criminal's attire changed to denim overalls and a thin tie, covering half his face with a gray cotton bandanna."
"Like the Chesterfield cigarettes, this outfit was the classic image chosen by newspapers and magazines when reporting on Clyde Barrow in the early 1930s. It's iconic, the Depression-era outlaw uniform."
He began to synthesize his previous analysis into a coherent narrative.
"These two criminals are rapidly transitioning from amateur to professional. Their criminal methods are quickly escalating, becoming more violent and more daring."
"The success of two robberies and three car thefts will likely make them no longer satisfied with crude imitation of Bonnie and Clyde's surface behaviors."
"To continue maintaining their current psychological state, this feeling of inhabiting their idols, the two criminals need to do more, to move closer to completely embodying Bonnie and Clyde."
"They need to replicate the things Bonnie and Clyde did with increasing precision and authenticity."
"Beyond criminal behavior, their daily attire, personal habits, catchphrases, and all other aspects will increasingly align with their idols from the 1930s."
"Ultimately, to retain this feeling permanently, they will attempt to completely replicate everything about Bonnie and Clyde, not just their crimes, but their entire identities."
"They are becoming Bonnie and Clyde, from the inside out. They're erasing themselves and replacing their identities with their idols'."
Theodore paused his analysis, giving the three men ample time to digest these implications.
A detective pushed open the office door, his expression urgent, and informed Bernie he had a phone call waiting.
The call was from the AT&T technician, Bernie's contact.
He'd traced the source of yesterday's alarm call reporting the burned Plymouth Fury.
This was also an interstate call, originating from outside Maryland.
The call had been made from a public phone booth near American University in Northwest D.C.
This confirmed Theodore's speculation that the two criminals didn't live together, they maintained separate residences, only coming together for their criminal activities.
Although he'd already chosen to trust Theodore's analytical methods, Detective O'Malley couldn't help but glance at him several times when he heard this news confirmed.
He now reasonably suspected Theodore had a crystal ball hidden somewhere in his house. There was no other rational explanation for this level of accuracy.
Theodore silently reviewed the accumulated information, believing he now had sufficient data to release a formal profile.
He said in a measured voice, "Based on the above analysis, my profile of the two criminals is as follows."
Bernie skillfully pulled out his notebook, pen poised and ready to record every detail.
Billy Hawke was almost perfectly synchronized with him, flipping to a fresh page.
Detective O'Malley subconsciously followed their example, then stopped mid-motion. "What does 'profile' mean exactly?"
Bernie put down his pen and explained the concept to Detective O'Malley, how Theodore's method involved analyzing behavioral evidence to construct psychological portraits of unknown criminals, allowing investigators to narrow their search parameters significantly.
Detective O'Malley listened with visible confusion, puzzled that he'd never heard of such an investigative technique in all his years with the Department.
Billy Hawke told him this was a new criminal investigation method invented by Theodore, still being developed and refined through practical application.
Detective O'Malley looked at Theodore with unmistakable surprise.
The previous accurate analyses, which had seemed like prophecy or divination, and the repeatedly proven correct predictions hadn't shocked him as profoundly as this revelation did.
Creating an entirely new investigative methodology from nothing? That was something else entirely.
Theodore stared at Detective O'Malley, feeling that his questions, unrelated to the immediate case, were becoming somewhat excessive.
Detective O'Malley indeed had many questions, a belly full of them demanding answers, creating pressure behind his sternum.
He met Theodore's gaze, an inexplicable sensation rising in his chest, part panic, part recognition of something slipping away from him.
He felt as if he was being left behind by something fundamental, some shift in law enforcement methodology, and the gap was widening with each passing moment.
This feeling made him deeply uncomfortable, almost frightened.
Ultimately, he didn't ask a single question.
He had a premonition that asking would be futile anyway, just as it had been earlier today, yesterday, and the day before.
He simply couldn't comprehend the underlying principles. His mind couldn't make the leaps Theodore's did.
Detective O'Malley adjusted his notebook silently, ready to record.
The conference room fell quiet for a moment as Theodore organized his thoughts, then began to release the profile.
His voice remained steady and measured throughout, clinical, precise, delivering each detail with confidence.
He first gave the profile of the male criminal.
"We are looking for a student at George Washington University, possibly majoring in English literature or history, subjects that would expose him to romanticized accounts of Depression-era outlaws."
"White male, between eighteen and twenty-five years old."
"Approximately five-and-a-half feet tall, with a slender, wiry build."
"The male criminal comes from a middle-class background, or perhaps a very wealthy one. He lives in a stable environment, likely in a mid-to-high-end community. He has minimal exposure to actual crime and doesn't have to worry about money or financial survival."
"He is not the center of social circles, is not particularly skilled at interpersonal interaction, and in group social settings, he is often forgotten and overlooked, essentially invisible to his peers."
"He likes to read extensively, and his academic performance should be good to excellent."
"He looks down on most people around him intellectually, but deep down, he secretly envies those charismatic figures who are social centers, desiring the same attention and admiration they receive."
"He is always emotionally detached from his peers, observing rather than participating."
Bernie subconsciously looked up at Theodore with an unreadable expression.
Theodore remained oblivious and continued profiling the male criminal.
"This transparent existence has changed significantly this month, since the first car theft on April 1st."
"He has started to become confident, even overly confident to the point of arrogance."
"He has started to actively participate in conversations among classmates, even when he might know nothing substantive about what his classmates are discussing."
"Even if his remarks cause his classmates to laugh at him or dismiss him, he doesn't care anymore; the reaction itself validates his presence."
"His clothing style, daily behavior, and even his choice of words have undergone subtle but noticeable changes to those who know him."
"He will dress more retro, more aligned with 1930s working-class fashion, closer to Clyde Barrow's public image."
"Specifically, the Clyde was promoted and romanticized by media coverage, not necessarily the historical reality."
"His class attendance has begun to decline noticeably, and the content of his assignments and papers will likely show obvious abnormalities, such as glorifying criminal behavior and praising Bonnie and Clyde as romantic heroes rather than violent felons."
After a brief pause to let this sink in, he began to profile the female criminal.
"We are also looking for a white female, similar in age to the male criminal, likely between eighteen and twenty-four."
"A student at American University, possibly majoring in drama or literature, fields that encourage romanticized thinking and emotional intensity."
"She is approximately five feet tall, petite in stature."
"Her family background is affluent, and her parents are likely open-minded, permissive, possibly even neglectful in their lack of boundaries."
"In daily life, she appears very gentle, docile, even submissive. But she enters an excited, almost euphoric state when committing crimes; the contrast is stark."
"She has a Bonnie-like fantasy of dying for love. She views the joint criminal acts with the male criminal as an epic love story worthy of songs and legends."
"The female criminal relies entirely on the male criminal to achieve self-worth and identity. In robberies, she only acts when the male criminal gives explicit instructions; she's waiting for direction, for permission to inhabit the role."
"Her transformation is more subtle than the male criminal's. In her daily life, she has become highly skilled at presenting a facade of obedience and docility, carefully hiding her true self and her criminal activities."
"Changes in her daily attire, demeanor, and speech patterns are not obvious to casual observers."
"Compared to the male criminal, the female criminal will be considerably more careful and discreet in expressing her admiration for Bonnie Parker; she understands the need for concealment better than he does."
Detective O'Malley recorded diligently, his pen moving rapidly across the page.
He now fully understood Bernie's earlier explanation of what "profiling" meant.
If everything Theodore said proved correct, he had essentially described the criminals with near-photographic precision, provided a detailed portrait without ever having seen them.
They would only need to cross-reference Theodore's descriptions against student populations and check them systematically, one by one.
This made him even more convinced that Theodore had a crystal ball hidden somewhere in his residence. Perhaps in that house being renovated in Arlington.
This description was simply too precise, too specific. Theodore could even describe recent behavioral changes so clearly, as if he'd been secretly observing these two criminals all along, shadowing them for weeks.
Now the only question was the accuracy of this description, how much of it would prove correct when they finally identified the suspects.
Detective O'Malley silently calculated in his mind, concluding that even if the accuracy were only fifty percent, it would still be terrifyingly effective as an investigative tool.
He then thought further: if this method could be applied systematically to other cases, or even if everyone in metropolitan police forces knew it and could employ it...
Theodore's voice pulled him back to present reality.
"These two criminals are at the tipping point of escalating their crimes significantly. They are about to transition from robbery to more violent criminal acts, possibly including murder."
"They crave destruction on a larger scale."
"Being caught and arrested is an absolutely unacceptable outcome for them psychologically. They will fight to the death if cornered, yearning for a Bonnie and Clyde-style ending, a final shootout with law enforcement."
Detective O'Malley quickly cast aside his wandering thoughts and lowered his head to write this critical warning down.
He pondered for a moment, then asked Theodore with genuine bewilderment, "Are you saying they want to be shot full of holes by police? They're seeking that specific death?"
Theodore considered this carefully. "For them, that outcome should be the most psychologically satisfying conclusion, the ultimate validation of their fantasy. It would confirm they truly became Bonnie and Clyde."
Detective O'Malley silently wrote this disturbing assessment down in his notebook.
Although he couldn't understand it on any intuitive level.
In this case, there were far too many things he couldn't understand, so this was merely one more incomprehensible element added to the pile.
After finishing the profile, Theodore began to assign investigation tasks.
Detective O'Malley and Billy Hawke would continue to partner together and return to George Washington University to investigate the male suspect.
They'd already been there once yesterday for the phone booth investigation, so they were familiar with the campus layout.
Theodore and Bernie would go to American University to investigate the female suspect.
Before departing, Theodore and Bernie met with the Deputy Police Chief of the Fourth Precinct, informing him that several car theft and robbery cases would be formally consolidated for unified investigation under FBI jurisdiction.
They also borrowed the Deputy Police Chief's office phone to contact the Maryland State Police and the Prince George's County Police Department.
This was an informal notification, a professional courtesy. The official letter requesting case consolidation would be typed up and submitted through proper channels after work tomorrow.
Bernie was responsible for both the phone contacts and explaining the situation to the Deputy Police Chief, handling the diplomatic aspects.
Bernie was highly experienced in this area. As early as the Felton investigation period, he'd been responsible for helping Theodore communicate with superiors and coordinate with peer agencies, translating Theodore's analytical conclusions into language that made sense to traditional law enforcement.
He knew how difficult it was for others to understand and accept Theodore's criminal personality profiling, so he didn't even mention the methodology.
He directly told them that, based on fingerprints and other relevant physical evidence, it had been confirmed that the same pair of suspects committed the three car thefts and two robberies, and thus the cases were being consolidated for unified investigation.
Simple and easy to understand. No psychological theory required.
All parties readily agreed to consolidate the cases and expressed their willingness to fully cooperate with the investigation, offering assistance and resources as needed.
Theodore didn't stand on ceremony. He immediately asked the Deputy Police Chief of the Fourth Precinct to help contact and investigate gun shops and black market firearms dealers.
According to the Esso gas station attendant's statement, both criminals possessed firearms, one Harrington & Richardson revolver and one Ithaca Model 37 shotgun, with an unknown quantity of ammunition.
The 7-Eleven clerk had also mentioned having a gun pressed directly to his head during the robbery.
Theodore hoped to obtain gun shop registration information and sales records.
In the District of Columbia, to purchase firearms from federally licensed dealers, one must first provide identification for registration purposes.
After purchasing firearms, one must also visit the local police department to register for a gun permit, theoretically, at least. Compliance varied.
If these two had purchased their firearms through legitimate channels, they would certainly appear on the dealer's customer registration list and the local police department's gun permit registration database.
In addition, considering that the original Bonnie and Clyde had killed six patrol officers, one prison guard, and two county sheriffs during their rampage across the Southwest,
And according to Theodore's profile, these two copycats might enter an excited, almost euphoric state upon encountering police and might shoot directly at officers without hesitation,
Before attempting any arrest, it was absolutely necessary to ascertain the firepower of the two criminals, to have a reasonably accurate assessment of the intensity of armed resistance they might encounter.
The Deputy Police Chief readily agreed to facilitate these inquiries.
Since Detective O'Malley and his partner had been delayed somewhat earlier in the afternoon, it was already past three o'clock when everyone finally set off on their separate investigative assignments.
If they still had to meet later today to discuss progress and compare findings, no matter where they convened, either there wouldn't be sufficient investigation time, or the meeting might drag on until very late at night.
Detective O'Malley had a family waiting for him at home. Although he was diligent and responsible at work, dedicated to his job, he wasn't the type to work late into the night on a weekend unless it was absolutely critical.
He suggested a chaotic scene on Pennsylvania Avenue the day the Soviet Union launched its satellite into space, and that they meet at the Department of Justice Building tomorrow morning instead.
Bernie and Billy Hawke both thought this was a sensible suggestion.
Theodore also didn't object, but his expression shifted slightly, and he became somewhat peculiar.
Tomorrow was April 17th.
Thinking of the grand chaotic scene on Pennsylvania Avenue the day the Soviet Union launched their satellite into space, and what he'd witnessed on his drive home yesterday near the State Department, Theodore reminded Bernie with some concern, "Let's leave early tomorrow morning."
Bernie looked at him with mild confusion. "How much earlier?"
Theodore thought for a moment, genuinely uncertain about traffic patterns. "Half an hour earlier than usual?"
Bernie didn't respond immediately.
Theodore pressed the point, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Shall I drive tomorrow?"
Bernie immediately shook his head with finality. "Okay, we'll leave promptly at 6:30 AM tomorrow."
He added firmly, "I'll drive."
Theodore was somewhat reluctant about this arrangement and wanted to attempt further persuasion, but Bernie quickly changed the subject before he could mount an argument.
"Should we stop by the thrift store?"
Theodore didn't react immediately, only remembering after Bernie's reminder that Ronald had mentioned a thrift store rumored to be the most prominent illegal firearms trading location in the Northwest District of D.C., an open secret among those who knew where to look.
Bernie believed it was unlikely the two criminals would purchase firearms through legitimate channels or with proper registration. That would be foolish beyond measure, creating a paper trail that leads directly to them.
Theodore asked Bernie a hypothetical question. "If a college student from a well-off family, who grew up in an environment with very little exposure to actual crime, wants to buy a gun on the black market, what should he do?"
"How does he contact the black market? How does he even find these underground firearms dealers?"
Bernie pulled the car to the roadside without answering immediately, letting the engine idle.
He pointed to the thrift store visible not far ahead on the corner.
As they watched, the thrift store's door opened. A young man with an innocent, naive face walked out, carrying a bulging canvas bag whose contents created suspicious angular shapes. He jumped onto a motorcycle parked at the curb and sped away, engine roaring.
Bernie then gave his answer with the weariness of experience.
"There are many such intermediaries in schools, even universities."
"Elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools all have them. They help casinos, brothels, and drug dealers drum up business and recruit customers. As long as you want to find them, you can make contact easily enough."
"Gun sales are a more specialized niche business, so it might be somewhat harder to locate the right connection, but those contacts definitely exist on every major campus."
He pointed toward the thrift store. "This place is the largest illegal firearms trading location in the Northwest District. The nearby universities must have someone who serves as their contact person, their middleman."
Theodore recalled his own college days with genuine puzzlement. "I never encountered anything like that in college."
Bernie fell silent, utterly at a loss for how to respond to this statement.
Theodore held his gaze steadily, his sincerity unmistakable and slightly disconcerting. "Really. Never once."
With that declaration hanging in the air between them, he opened the car door and walked toward the thrift store, leaving Bernie sitting alone in the vehicle, expression unreadable.
[End of Chapter]