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 Coulson took the initiative to speak with her in the car. Since it was their first collaboration, they needed to get to know each other.

However, Melinda May did not like talking. She wore a cold expression, and although Coulson was quite approachable, she remained reserved and taciturn throughout their first assignment together.

Coulson could only carry on the conversation by himself, while she occasionally added a word or two.

They arrived in New York, where prosperity remained unchanged. The bank robbery was merely a topic of casual conversation after meals and did not affect people's lives. Nor was the financial clash between the two major banks something ordinary people could understand.

The NYPD had no leads, while Tony Stark was completely immersed in the world of computers. His pride would not allow him to admit defeat.

"Commissioner 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 speaking with him.

"Oh, that's quite a long name, but I've never heard of it." Although Ken Martin was the highest-ranking officer in the New York Police, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s existence was beyond his clearance.

"Mayor Stern requested support. You can confirm it with him. Afterward, we would like to meet Chief George Stacy." Coulson still smiled, looking utterly harmless.

Ken Martin apologized, then picked up the phone and made the call. Only after receiving confirmation from the mayor did he relax.

"My apologies. I simply haven't heard of such a department," Ken Martin said apologetically.

"That's all right. Can we meet the chief now? We need to understand the details so we can request technical support." Coulson asked again.

"Of course. I'll call him over immediately!"

Chief George Stacy hurried into the commissioner's office. There was not the slightest clue in the case, and he was terribly anxious. This was the first time he had encountered such a thorny case. When he heard that support had arrived, he was overjoyed, hoping national resources could help him solve it. The case could already be classified as high-tech crime. Times were changing, and if they solved it, they would at least have some experience for the future.

"Commissioner?" George Stacy entered the office.

"These two are... Sorry, I didn't remember!" the commissioner said awkwardly.

"We're from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division!" Phil Coulson did not mind in the slightest.

"That's right. These two are here to support us. George, take them to the meeting room and explain the case!"

"Understood. Please come with me, both of you. I'm George Stacy. May I ask how to address you?" George Stacy opened the door and invited them to the meeting room.

"Phil Coulson."

"Melinda May."

After entering the meeting room, the three sat down. George Stacy hurriedly recounted the entire course of the case. "That's the situation. We compiled these details from witness statements, but all footage records from the time are gone. These are three composite sketches, but please don't get your hopes up." George Stacy took out three sketches.

The three robbers in work clothes all wore masks. Their eyes were clearly covered by goggles, their mouths were wrapped up, and their cheeks were visibly puffed out. Their work clothes were extremely baggy, and they all seemed fairly tall.

After looking them over, Phil Coulson glanced at Melinda May. Their eyes met, and both understood that the three sketches were of little use. The suspects had altered their appearances. They had even stuffed something into their mouths, making it impossible to identify any facial features.

"A very professional method. They altered their facial features and body shape. We can't even determine whether they changed their height. Have you investigated the money?" Coulson asked.

"Of course. We have experience in that area as well, but so far, we haven't found any large flows of funds from unknown sources, not even on the black market. Right now, everyone is on high alert. They probably wouldn't spend money so brazenly." George Stacy had not become chief for nothing; he had earned the position through ability, and naturally would not slacken in monitoring funds.

"Can we meet Paul Green?"

"Of course, but I believe he is innocent. His mental state has not been very good lately. I hope you two will be cautious. Please follow me."

Paul Green had suffered a disaster through no fault of his own. He knew perfectly well that he was not the robbers' inside man, but the evidence was right there, leaving him unable to defend himself. The news kept getting worse, and even his lawyer said there was nothing he could do. Even if he was not the inside man, the bank might still demand an explanation and the police could prosecute him. However, he might not necessarily be convicted, since he had no motive. Still, he would certainly lose his job.

Phil Coulson interrogated Paul Green alone, while George Stacy and Melinda May watched from the observation room next door. George Stacy greatly admired Coulson's interrogation methods. He simply used his natural friendliness to keep chatting with the suspect, gradually earning complete trust. In the end, Paul Green actually burst into tears and thanked him, saying these had been the most comfortable few dozen minutes he had experienced since coming to the police station.

After finishing the interrogation, Phil Coulson looked at George Stacy and said, "He truly isn't the inside man. I think you can release him for now, but you should still keep an eye on him and protect him as well. You might gain something from it."

"Not bad. That's an idea." George Stacy's eyes lit up.

"Not necessarily. If he isn't the inside man, the others may not use him to divert attention. They may be more likely to ignore him altogether. Now we want to take a look at the banks. After all, the banks themselves may have made enemies." Coulson's investigative direction was not technical for the moment; he wanted to seek a breakthrough from other angles.

"We investigated that as well, but it all seemed like normal bank business. I wouldn't say it created hatred, would you?" George Stacy was somewhat puzzled.

"Not necessarily. People have all kinds of thoughts, and this is still a possible direction, isn't it?" Coulson maintained his smile.

"All right. I did investigate this area, but there are no leads so far. The only matter that seemed somewhat suspicious was the compensation settlement for a factory. The bank appears to have been delaying it, and many workers with debts may go bankrupt." Coulson was quite satisfied with George Stacy's work. He had investigated every aspect, though there were still no clues.

"Then shall we go take a look?"

"Sure."

By then, Jack and his two companions had each returned home with fifty thousand dollars. When Jack entered the house, he saw Jennifer tutoring her younger brother and sister. It gave 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 thrilled to see their father. "Dad, you're back!" they shouted as they rushed toward him.

"Yes, kids, I'm back." Jack scooped one up in each arm and held them close, then looked at Jennifer. "Jennifer, tell me which university sent you your acceptance letter. The whole family will take you there, and we'll make it a family trip while we're at it."

Jennifer covered her mouth. It seemed her father's business had succeeded, and she could go to college. The two younger children did not understand what was happening, but they were thrilled at the prospect of a trip and began cheering.