Chapter 124: Susan: What Are My Strengths? Tell Me and I'll Change Them!
"Francis Stolberg's whereabouts are elusive."
Seeing that Chuck didn't respond, Susan continued, "I'm sending people to track him down. Once we confirm his location, we need to move immediately, so you need to keep your phone on 24/7. Is that acceptable?"
"No."
Chuck shook his head.
"...What's the problem?"
Susan wanted to say, "Why am I not surprised at all?", but thinking of the relationship between Chuck and the director, she really couldn't be as blunt as Chuck.
"You also mentioned that he's known in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Monte Carlo, which means he frequents these locations. That's entirely predictable."
Chuck said matter-of-factly, "Because these three places have world-famous casinos, and casinos have always been excellent venues for money laundering."
"Do you have some issue with casinos?"
Susan interrupted impatiently.
"No, it's the casinos that have an issue with me."
Chuck looked at her. "If you're going openly, that's fine. But if you want to investigate covertly, then I can't accompany you."
"You're banned from the casinos?"
Susan asked, surprised. "All three?"
"Not banned."
Chuck shook his head. "To be precise, I'm a Supreme VIP customer. Anytime I visit, from the moment I step off the plane, I receive full Supreme VIP treatment. The only condition is that I don't gamble."
"So you are effectively banned."
Susan looked at Chuck in amazement. "How did you manage that?"
"I didn't do anything."
Chuck shook his head. "After I became a consultant for the National Lottery Commission, I went to Las Vegas on business. I only discovered I was a Supreme VIP customer after I landed."
"..."
When Susan learned how Chuck became a consultant for the National Lottery Commission and heard the story about the lottery fraud case, she was speechless.
Damn it!
He had to be pulling her leg!
She wanted to challenge him with 'Are you bragging?' But Chuck's calm and sincere expression, combined with the background information she'd researched, made her uncertain.
Besides, what would be the point of making up something so easily verified?
Would that somehow impress her?
Not likely.
"No need to show off,"
Susan muttered, suppressing the frustration she felt at being so casually upstaged. "Once we've confirmed our target's location, we'll approach him openly. We'll make sure word spreads and create a chain of suspicion between the target and the Gambino family. Dr. Wolfe, any questions?"
"Yes."
Chuck nodded.
"...Go ahead."
Susan said tersely.
"I'd like to review some of your previous cases,"
Chuck said calmly. "To understand your operational style beforehand—are you a lone wolf, someone who betrays teammates, or a collaborative, supportive type? So I can prepare accordingly. According to social conventions, I shouldn't ask you directly about these things. I should ask Director McGrath instead, but you said you appreciate directness."
"Actually, I was being diplomatic,"
Susan looked at Chuck. "I don't appreciate directness as much as you might think."
"What does 'not as much as you might think' mean exactly?"
Chuck asked seriously.
"..."
Susan was speechless. She stared into Chuck's eyes for a long moment before gritting her teeth and saying, "You're messing with me, aren't you?"
"Do you think I'm messing with you?"
Chuck met her gaze calmly.
Susan remained silent.
She had been absolutely certain before, but seeing Chuck's honest and composed gaze, she suddenly felt uncertain.
She couldn't help it.
She had never encountered anyone like Chuck before.
"Alright."
After a prolonged staring contest, Susan gave in and said with a rueful smile, "Maybe I'm overthinking this. With another man, this might seem like unconventional flirting, but you're too straightforward for that."
Given her experience, she'd encountered plenty of different types of flirtation, but Chuck certainly didn't seem like that kind of person.
Women are incredibly perceptive about men's attention, but until now, the frequency and focus of Chuck's glances hadn't made her uncomfortable at all.
This realization was reassuring.
It seemed she had been overthinking it. This wasn't some unconventional flirtation, but simply encountering someone unusual.
"Excellent, I agree completely."
Chuck nodded, stood up and left.
"..."
Susan was left speechless, watching Chuck's back as he departed. Just when she thought she had misunderstood Chuck, his words always made her doubt herself again.
She paced back and forth in her office, growing increasingly agitated. Finally, she slammed her door and walked out, knocking on the director's office door.
"Come in."
"Director!"
"Susan."
Director McGrath looked up and saw that Susan's expression was troubled. His heart immediately sank, and he put on his most reassuring smile: "How did the meeting with Chuck go?"
"Very well."
Susan gritted her teeth, stared at the director, and asked seriously, "Director, do you have any complaints about my performance? If so, tell me and I'll address them!"
"No! Absolutely not!"
The director immediately understood what had happened and smiled with a mixture of amusement and concern, "Susan, you're the absolute star of our financial crimes division. I'm completely satisfied with your work and have no complaints whatsoever."
Seeing her boss's reaction, Susan's frustration, which had been building during her interaction with Chuck, eased slightly. But when she thought of Chuck's expressionless face, she maintained her stern look. "Impossible! There must be something I'm not doing well, otherwise you wouldn't have assigned Dr. Wolfe to work with me on this case."
"I really don't have any complaints. If there's any issue, it's that you're too accomplished, Susan. Whether it's your investigative skills or your appearance and presence, you're absolutely first-rate."
The director spoke candidly, "My wife has been asking me to introduce Chuck to someone exceptional, and I think you, Susan, are perfect."
"..."
Susan paused.
Whether it was her investigative skills or her appearance and presence—how the hell was she supposed to change those?
"Susan, don't overthink this."
Seeing that Susan was silent, the director offered more gentle advice: "Chuck is somewhat unique in social interactions due to certain personal characteristics, but if you work with him more, you'll discover that he's the most reliable person you could have as a friend or partner. The case you're handling involves significant risks. Even your position as an IRS Criminal Investigator can't guarantee your complete safety. Chuck, as your consulting partner, can not only provide substantial accounting expertise but also assist you in the investigation with his abilities as a renowned detective. When you encounter danger, you'll definitely be grateful to have such a partner fighting alongside you..."
"Director."
Seeing the director launch into another Chuck promotion, Susan's expression became peculiar: "Is this how you console yourself at home?"
"Yes... what?"
The director nodded automatically, then realized he'd revealed too much, and said awkwardly: "Agent Greene, what did you say?"
"Nothing."
Susan felt much better and turned to leave.
Now that she knew it wasn't just her, she felt fine. The director must be enduring even more at home. And he'd even reverted to calling her by her formal title instead of her first name. She wasn't Chuck, so she knew when to be tactful.
Two days later.
At the McGrath residence.
Haley lay on the floor, looking at the dart holes scattered across the wall, and complained, "You're impossible! I've tried hundreds of times, and I haven't hit you once."
"Significant improvement,"
Chuck said.
Although she still hadn't hit him once, it wasn't that Haley hadn't improved, but rather that the gap between her abilities and his was too vast.
"I doubt that,"
Haley sat up, looking pitifully at Chuck. "Have I really improved that much?"
"Yes, your deception skills have improved considerably too,"
Chuck continued. "You're much more controlled. Keep practicing, and you'll deserve an Oscar for Best Actress."
Just then, his phone rang. He answered it, spoke briefly, and hung up.
"Was that the beautiful subordinate Dad tried to set you up with?"
Haley asked, clearly curious for gossip.
"Yes,"
Chuck nodded, and headed for the door.
"She's really gorgeous, isn't she?"
Haley jumped up and followed him, continuing her gossip quest. "Do you like her, or do you prefer that physics professor of yours?"
"Neither."
Chuck shook his head. "I simply respect their professional capabilities."
"If I didn't know you had emotional processing issues, I'd think you were just a natural heartbreaker."
Haley grumbled. "What a convenient excuse."
Chuck ignored her.
"Hey, those two both have the kind of looks and personalities that appeal to everyone."
Haley rolled her eyes. "You better be careful. If they ever meet, you might find yourself in an interesting situation."
Chuck paused, considered this for a moment, and nodded. "Intriguing scenario."
Haley: "..."
Her stepbrother really might be a sociopath.
Well.
She was certain this wasn't some kind of clinical disorder like antisocial personality disorder or severe autism.
Airport.
Susan walked in wearing sunglasses, designer heels, and pulling a rolling suitcase. Spotting a familiar figure, she lowered her sunglasses and saw Chuck standing ahead of her. She immediately muttered to herself, "This is just great."
"Better than the Miami operation?"
Chuck said without turning around.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Susan's expression darkened. She approached him. "And did you actually research the cases I've handled?"
Her voice was quiet, and she was still some distance away, but he'd overheard her. The Miami case was the worst she'd ever handled, and Chuck's comment clearly showed he'd done his homework.
"I told you I would."
Chuck turned around and gave her a classic 'I told you so' expression.
"..."
Susan pushed her sunglasses back up, hiding her eyes. Her face remained stern, projecting a cold expression that suggested she was done trying to figure anyone out.
She had finally realized that she had no idea how to read Chuck. Instead of trying to decode his meaning, she might as well just give up.
Whatever he meant, so be it!
(End of Chapter)
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