Investigation Direction

Phil Coulson and Melinda May drove from the capital, Washington D.C., to New York. It was their first time working together, and Phil Coulson initiated conversation in the car, as they needed to get to know each other.

However, Melinda May wasn't one for talking; she maintained a cold demeanor. Even though Phil Coulson was very approachable, Melinda May remained taciturn during their first collaboration.

Phil Coulson could only talk to himself, with the other party occasionally chiming in.

They arrived in New York, which was still as bustling as ever. The bank robbery was merely a topic of conversation for people during their leisure time; it didn't affect their lives. The financial confrontation between the two major banks was also something ordinary people couldn't comprehend.

The NYPD was clueless, while Tony Stark was completely immersed in the world of computers. His proud nature wouldn't let him admit defeat.

"Director Ken Martin, we are from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. You requested support, correct? That's us!" Phil Coulson took on the role of communicating with the other party.

"Oh, that's a long name, but I haven't heard of it." Although Ken Martin was the highest-ranking official in the New York Police Department, he wasn't aware of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s existence.

"Mayor Stern requested support. You can confirm with him. Afterward, we'd like to meet Captain George Stacy." Phil Coulson maintained a smiling, harmless expression.

Ken Martin apologized and then made a phone call. After receiving confirmation from the mayor, he felt relieved.

"My apologies. I simply haven't heard of such a department!" Ken Martin expressed his regret.

"It's alright. Can we meet the captain now? We need to understand the specific situation to apply for technical support," Phil Coulson asked again.

"Of course, I'll call him over right away!"

Captain George Stacy rushed into the director's office. He was anxious because there were no leads whatsoever. This was the first time he had encountered such a difficult case. He was overjoyed to hear that support had arrived, hoping national power could help him solve the case. This case could now be classified as high-tech crime. Times were changing, and if they successfully solved it, they would gain some experience for the future.

"Director?" George Stacy entered the director's office.

"And these two are... My apologies, I didn't catch their names!" the director said somewhat awkwardly.

"They are from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division!" Phil Coulson said nonchalantly.

"Yes, these two are here to support us. George, take them to the conference room and brief them on the case!"

"Understood. Please follow me! I'm George Stacy, may I ask your names?" George Stacy invited the two to the conference room.

"Phil Coulson."

"Melinda May."

Entering the conference room, the three were seated. George Stacy quickly recounted the entire process of the case. "This is the situation with the case. This information is what we've compiled from some eyewitness testimonies, and all the relevant recordings from the time are gone. Here are three composite sketches, but please don't get your hopes up," George Stacy presented the three sketches.

The three robbers, all in work uniforms, wore masks. Their eyes were clearly covered by goggles, and their mouths were wrapped. Their cheeks, however, were noticeably bulging. The uniforms were baggy, and they all seemed to be of considerable height.

After looking at them, Phil Coulson glanced at Melinda May. They exchanged a look, understanding that the three sketches were of little use. The culprits had altered their appearances, even stuffing things into their mouths, making it impossible to ascertain any facial features.

"Very professional methods, altering their facial features and build. We also can't determine if their heights were changed. Have you investigated their finances?" Phil Coulson asked.

"Of course, we have experience in that area. However, so far, we haven't found any large-scale movement of unexplained funds, not even on the black market. This is a period of heightened scrutiny; they wouldn't spend money so brazenly." George Stacy wasn't a captain for nothing; he earned his position through merit. He naturally wouldn't relax his vigilance regarding financial transactions.

"Can we meet Paul Green?"

"Certainly. However, I believe he is innocent. His mental state hasn't been good lately, so I hope you two will be cautious. Please follow me!"

Paul Green had suffered an undeserved disaster. He knew very well that he wasn't an accomplice to the robbers, but the evidence was there, and he had no defense. The news only got worse, and even his lawyer stated he was powerless. Even if he wasn't an accomplice, the bank might press charges against him to provide an explanation. However, this lawsuit might not convict him, as he had no motive. His job, however, was definitely gone.

Phil Coulson interrogated Paul Green alone. George Stacy and Melinda May watched from the adjacent observation room. George Stacy was greatly impressed by Phil Coulson's interrogation methods. He used his approachable nature to continuously chat with the suspect, making the person trust him implicitly. Paul Green eventually thanked him tearfully, calling these the most comfortable few dozen minutes he had at the police station.

After the interrogation, Phil Coulson looked at George Stacy and said, "He is indeed not an accomplice. I think you can release him for now, but still keep an eye on his actions and provide him with protection. It might yield some results!"

"That's a good idea," George Stacy's eyes lit up.

"Not necessarily. If he's not an accomplice, the other party might not use him to divert attention. It's more likely they'll ignore him. Now, we'd like to visit the bank. After all, they might have incurred some animosity themselves." Phil Coulson's investigation wasn't focused on technical aspects but aimed to achieve a breakthrough in other areas.

"We've investigated that too, but it's all just normal banking operations. There's no animosity, right?" George Stacy seemed puzzled.

"Not necessarily. People have many thoughts, and this is also a direction, isn't it?" Phil Coulson maintained his smile.

"Alright. I actually looked into that as well, but there are no clues at all. The only thing that raises some suspicion is a compensation issue for a factory. However, the bank seems to be delaying it, and many workers with debts might go bankrupt." George Stacy's work satisfied Phil Coulson. He had investigated all aspects, yet there were still no leads.

"Then shall we go take a look?"

"Okay."

Meanwhile, Jack and the other two had each returned home with fifty thousand dollars. Upon entering, Jack saw Jennifer, who was helping her younger siblings with their homework. This brought him immense peace of mind; his eldest daughter had grown up and could take care of the family.

His second son and youngest daughter were overjoyed to see their father. "Dad, you're back!" they shouted and rushed over.

"Yes, children, I'm back." Jack scooped up one child in each arm, holding them close. Then, his gaze fell on Jennifer. "Jennifer, tell me which university your acceptance letter is from. We'll all go send you off, and it'll be a family trip."

Jennifer covered her mouth. It seemed her father's business had been successful, and she could go to university. The other two younger children were clueless, but they were thrilled about the prospect of a trip and cheered.