Chapter 1192 Confirming the murderer and motive
"Mary Strong, who retired two years ago as a human resources consultant, was widowed many years ago and is married with a son, a dentist in Montgomery.
She is a Puritan and is usually keen on attending church activities. From her information, I don’t see any high-risk factors. ”
Sitting in a conference room provided by the FBI's local office in Montgomery, Jubal flipped through the deceased's information and muttered to himself.
Aubrey sipped her coffee, "But obviously she and the Beaudettes died at the hands of the same group of people. Cutting off the ears means unwillingness to listen, and cutting off the tongue means unwillingness to speak?"
At this time, Alice's computer suddenly sounded a beep. 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 named Wyatt Hammond, who lives only a few meters away from Blue Spring Town." Less than 10 miles from Cleo
The owner of the property where he lives is named Greg Hammond, Wyatt's brother. He has a wife and daughter who all live together. The detailed address has been sent to your mobile phones. ”
——
"FBI, open the door!"
Aubrey banged on the door. Next to him was Jack, who was fully armed. Behind him was Jie Jie. Clay, Jubal and Hannah had already gone around to the backyard of the house.
Cleo is not even a town, it is just a typical large rural area in a southern state, with less than 500 permanent residents living scattered among nearby small farms.
As soon as a woman in her early 30s opened the door, she was frightened by the gunfire of three people and hid behind the door.
"We are looking for Wyatt Hammond." Jack only glanced at her, confirmed that there was no threat, then let her pass and continued to search the house.
"He is my brother-in-law. What are you going to do? I am the only one at home."
The woman was controlled by Jiejie who entered the door last. Aubrey went upstairs, and Jack went straight in, walked all the way through the corridor, opened the back door and let the three Clays in.
"Safe!"
After searching all 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, with a bit of panic on her face. She had no idea what the FBI was going to do.
"Do you know where they are? Your husband and brother-in-law." Jubal asked.
The woman is slightly plump, dressed like an American peasant woman, wearing a blue denim jacket that is convenient for work, and a yellow square scarf on her head.
Although the house was old, it was very clean inside. When Jack sat down on the sofa, he smelled a faint scent of lavender from the sofa cover that had been washed until it turned white.
"I don't know, they said they were going camping." Greg's wife twisted her fingers uneasily and sat down on the single sofa opposite everyone.
"Take your daughter?" Jiejie asked.
"No, my daughter died of illness not long ago." This answer surprised everyone.
After learning that her husband and brother-in-law might be involved in two murders, the woman lost the ability to control her expression and was stunned for a while.
"You're trying to tell me that my husband, who never even got into a bar fight, was involved in two murders with his brother Wyatt?"
"Yes, we have surveillance video evidence, and we saw Wyatt hiding in the truck compartment of the 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 such news. Can you tell me more specifically?" Jiejie held the woman's hand and whispered softly. "We have been engaged in a class action lawsuit for Rose's illness. Greg was very angry before and said he wanted to fight for justice, but we have always planned to fight for justice in court."
Seemingly having found the motive for the crime, Jack looked away from the pile of legal and medical books on the bookshelf and looked at the other person with a serious expression.
"What kind of lawsuit is this?"
"Aimed at Griffin, the owner of a thermal power plant and factory here, they have been illegally dumping fly ash on nearby land for many years and many people nearby have developed cancer.
Our daughter Rose, Greg and Wyatt's parents, both passed away from cancer.
Gregg, who drove trucks for Griffin Coal and Electric before becoming a whistleblower, launched a class-action lawsuit that lasted three years and just last week we lost our last appeal. ”
At the end of the sentence, the woman seemed to be gritting her teeth.
"Then why did you think the two of them left to go camping?" Jubal interjected and asked, "Is that some kind of mourning method?"
His question was naturally purposeful. Although the other party did not show any tendency to be complicit, it still needed to be confirmed.
"I don't know, maybe that's what I expected 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 all this as soon as possible."< br>
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More and more tears were wiped off the woman's face. "Greg liked Thoreau's book, "Walden." He often said that when civilized society becomes a nightmare, it is better to try walking into the forest."
While waiting for Greg's wife, who was covering her face and crying again, to recover slightly, Jubal continued to ask, "So both Greg and Wyatt worked for Griffin's coal and electric company?"
The woman shook her head, "No, Wyatt worked at the Barrons' and they opened a farm supply store."
While Jubal was recording on the notepad, Jack turned on his phone and showed her the photo of the Beaudettes, "Do you know these two people?"
"Yes." The woman looked closer and said, "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 killed this morning.
"I don't know her name, but she brought a pretty good pie to the company barbecue." The woman nodded again.
The motive for the crime was basically clear, and Greg's wife was temporarily invited back to the FBI office to assist in the investigation, and 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 director of human resources." Alice confirmed.
"Then let's assume that Greg, the whistleblower, initially reported the situation to his superiors through workplace complaints, that is, reported to higher levels. Then in this case, his direct superior is Teddy Beaudette.
And further up, there's the human resources department, which is Mary Strong. "Jubal turned the pencil again habitually.
"Apparently Teddy ignored Greg's complaints so he got his ears cut off, while Mary probably told Greg to shut up so he lost his tongue."
Jiejie's cell phone rang at this time. After a brief communication, she hung up the phone with an ugly face, "The ERT team accepted the evidence from the state police. Do you still remember the footprints you asked the state police to check before?"
Aubrey nodded, "Yes, I found it in the trailer compartment. What happened?"
"They detected sodium chlorate and nitrobenzene on it." Jiejie replied.
(End of chapter)