1960: My Uncle is the Director of the FBI

Theodore prepared for Hayes's interrogation with the methodical precision of a surgeon selecting instruments.

The case had crystallized into stark clarity; what they lacked wasn't understanding but concrete, courtroom-ready evidence.

At its core, this was routine criminal business: violent debt collection involving police corruption that had escalated to witness elimination. The kind of case that filled urban precincts from coast to coast, distinguished only by Detective Coleman's clumsy attempts at misdirection.

Theodore wouldn't even bother recording it in his investigative notes.

The only element worth documenting was Hayes's fractured identity psychology, the desperate attempt to transform from street thug 'BIGBALL' into respectable businessman 'Hayes.'

If Coleman hadn't deliberately muddied the waters, this case would never have reached federal attention.

While waiting for Hayes's arrival, Theodore and Bernie reviewed their strategy.

Theodore planned to let Bernie lead the interrogation after providing a comprehensive psychological analysis.

"Hayes worships Northwest District elites," Theodore explained, his voice taking on the clinical tone Bernie had learned to recognize.

"He fantasizes about joining their ranks, which requires completely rejecting his 'BIGBALL' identity and everything that name represents."

Theodore outlined the psychological dynamics: Hayes's resistance stemmed not just from social climbing ambitions but from the terror of Detective Coleman's absolute control.

'BIGBALL' existed at Coleman's whim, disposable, manipulable, utterly powerless.

However, 'Hayes' ran legitimate businesses, maintained respectability, and operated independently of Coleman's direct manipulation.

"To break him, we exploit that identity fracture," Theodore concluded.

Bernie hesitated after listening to Theodore's analysis. Not because he questioned the interrogation strategy, but because he'd noticed disturbing changes in Theodore's approach since their return to D.C.

In Theodore's initial crime scene analysis, he'd identified Hayes as the armed assailant, an error corrected only through extensive investigation. Such mistakes had never occurred in Felton, where Theodore's assessments had been uncannily accurate.

More troubling was Theodore's increasingly aggressive psychological warfare. In Felton, Theodore had been measured, almost gentle in his manipulations. Now he advocated direct attacks on suspects' deepest vulnerabilities.

Bernie's concerns, combined with Paul Miller's warnings, created a pattern he couldn't ignore.

"Theodore," Bernie interrupted, stopping his partner mid-analysis. "I need to ask you something."

Theodore looked genuinely surprised, studying Bernie with curious intensity before something clicked in his expression.

"I've never systematically explained criminal psychology to you, have I?" Theodore realized aloud. "Not the methodology, not the theoretical framework. Just bits and pieces when cases demanded it."

He couldn't be entirely blamed; Bernie's tendency toward tabloid sensationalism had made him give up on detailed explanations early in their partnership.

Theodore placed an apologetic hand on Bernie's shoulder. "We'll talk when we get home tonight. I'll explain everything properly."

He chose his words carefully, trying to frame the explanation in terms Bernie could accept.

"That hundred percent accuracy in Felton was abnormal. Having some deviation now, that's normal. That's how this actually works."

Bernie remained confused but trusted their months of successful partnership enough to set aside his concerns for the time being.

Theodore returned to case preparation, anticipating Hayes's likely resistance strategies and deploying countermeasures.

The most crucial element involved documenting Hayes's relationship with Coleman through similar cases.

Crawford's confession suggested this wasn't Coleman and Hayes's first collaboration—they'd been using Coleman's duty hours to conduct violent debt collection while ensuring Coleman controlled any subsequent investigations.

Finding additional examples would demolish Hayes's 'legitimate businessman' facade and prove he'd always been 'BIGBALL.'

This required examining Coleman's case files comprehensively.

The request alarmed the Fifth Precinct's Deputy Chief, but Bernie's explanation earned his cooperation. The Deputy Chief even provided a conference room and assigned several internal affairs officers to help organize the files.

Coleman's twenty-year career had generated hundreds of cases.

Fortunately, Theodore and Bernie only needed files from Hayes's prison release until now, involving Black victims on Anacostia Road, featuring crude scene processing, missing evidence, and skeletal documentation.

These parameters significantly accelerated their filtering process.

Hayes arrived still impeccably dressed despite flanking officers.

His composure remained intact as he was led into the interrogation room, though Theodore noticed his quick visual survey of the space, calculating exits, assessing threats, and professional criminal awareness.

Detective Ross pushed him forward when Hayes hesitated at the doorway. Two officers pressed him into a chair while Ross maintained a restraining grip on his arm.

Hayes adjusted his posture with practiced dignity. "I will not speak until my attorney is present."

Bernie closed the interrogation room door with deliberate calm. "When we first met, we introduced ourselves as FBI agents, not Fifth Precinct detectives."

He tapped the table for emphasis.

"The Constitution only grants you the right to counsel during the trial phase. As a key suspect in a federal investigation, you have no constitutionally guaranteed right to an attorney during interrogation."

"So you don't need to wait."

This knowledge came from Bernie's recent self-study of FBI training materials, which had provided him with practical information that had completely changed his attitude toward the selection program.

He was now trying to convince Theodore to participate with enthusiasm rather than resignation.

Hayes pursed his lips carefully. "Gentlemen, I swear I had nothing to do with the Clarence Earl family's deaths. I didn't kill them, and I don't know who killed them. Everything I knew, I told you last week."

He gestured with restrained wrists.

"Arresting me now serves no purpose. I have no additional information to provide. I genuinely wish I'd been there that night to prevent this tragedy. Clarence helped me—"

Bernie slid the Earl family crime scene photographs across the table.

Hayes paused, studying the images with practiced neutrality.

"We know you didn't kill Clarence and Mabel Earl," Bernie stated.

Hayes exhaled in relief.

"Coleman killed them, didn't he?"

Hayes remained silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know if Coleman killed them. I wasn't there that night."

He shifted his gaze from the photographs, spreading his hands in an apparent gesture of sincerity. "Gentlemen, I told you I run a legitimate business. I don't understand why I've been arrested."

Bernie removed the photographs and produced Clarence Earl's loan contract. "Is this also legitimate business?"

Hayes glanced at the document, denying any involvement.

Bernie pushed forward a stack of additional loan contracts. "Are all of these unrelated to you?"

Hayes shifted uncomfortably, averting his gaze, maintaining silence.

Bernie resumed his earlier questioning about Hayes's 'BIGBALL' nickname and prison experience. Hayes's resistance was immediate and visceral.

"My name is Hayes! Not 'BIGBALL'!" he shouted. "I haven't used that nickname in years!"

Bernie ignored the outburst, continuing to address him as BIGBALL. Each usage made Hayes squirm visibly, his carefully maintained composure cracking.

Theodore observed silently, feeding Bernie strategic ammunition. He handed over Crawford's confession.

They'd checked Hayes's criminal record at the Fifth Precinct; it was surprisingly clean, except for minor drinking violations.

Based on their Felton experience with altered records, both suspected Coleman had sanitized Hayes's file.

Modifying two officers' records would require senior intervention, but altering one obscure criminal's paper files was trivially easy in 1965.

A busy day, a helpful attitude toward overworked records clerks, a few minutes alone in the archives, and Hayes's criminal past could disappear into a trash bin.

Without official records, Hayes's history existed only in Crawford's confession.

Bernie constructed the narrative methodically: 'BIGBALL' serving time, meeting Coleman after release, being elevated to 'Hayes' status, managing Coleman's loan-sharking operations.

"Every time Coleman was on duty, you'd accompany him for debt collection," Bernie continued.

"If someone couldn't pay, you'd treat them like you treated the Earl family. Coleman would clean up the mess. Even if someone called the police, Coleman would respond, and the case would return to his control."

"Maybe you'd even retaliate against them for calling the police. Isn't that right?"

Hayes shook his head frantically, denying everything.

The loan contracts made denial impossible regarding the lending operation, but he insisted on denying any connection to Coleman or violence.

"I never laid hands on anyone," Hayes protested.

"I'm not familiar with Detective Coleman. I helped tenants through difficult times with loans. Debts must be repaid; that's only reasonable. I merely reminded them of their obligations. I never beat anyone, let alone killed anyone."

A knock interrupted the interrogation. Detective Ross entered, handing Theodore three case files.

The internal affairs officers had located these files so far, and investigating a deceased colleague created instinctive resistance among the staff.

Theodore reviewed the files and passed them to Bernie. All three involved Black victims, featured skeletal documentation, and showed crude investigation techniques similar to the Earl family case.

The difference was that these victims had only been beaten, not killed.

Bernie spread the files before Hayes, who glanced at them while continuing his denials.

Bernie gestured toward the conference room. "All of Detective Coleman's case files are being reexamined in there. We'll find many more files like these three."

Hayes remained silent briefly. "I don't know what relationship they had with Detective Coleman. They have nothing to do with me."

Theodore and Bernie exchanged significant glances.

Bernie patted the thick stack of loan contracts beside him. "Can I find their names in here?"

Without waiting for an answer, he divided the contracts into two piles and began searching methodically in front of Hayes and Theodore.

Based on the case file dates, they quickly located corresponding loan contracts for all three victims.

Bernie arranged the case files and loan contracts side by side before Hayes.

"We can find many more cases like these. Coleman is dead, a decorated officer who died in the line of duty. A decorated police officer couldn't have committed these crimes."

"They could only have been committed by 'BIGBALL,' who has an extensive criminal record."

"Including this one."

Bernie placed the Earl family crime scene photograph on top of the case files.

Hayes almost reflexively retorted: "My name is Hayes!"

After speaking, he glanced at the corpses in the photograph and turned away.

Bernie ignored the correction.

"Now that Coleman is dead, the Earl family murders will also be pinned on you. BIGBALL, this is different from your previous petty theft. No one sympathizes with someone who cruelly murdered an entire family."

"You will definitely face execution."

After a pause, Bernie added: "Unless you tell us which ones you killed and which ones Coleman killed."

Only silence answered him.

Theodore handed the FBI laboratory report to Bernie.

Bernie opened it, then retrieved Clarence Earl's loan contract and Crawford's confession. He placed all three documents in front of Hayes.

"Clarence Earl owed you nearly sixty thousand dollars. Crawford has admitted that Coleman and you maintained a long-term cooperative relationship, with Coleman using his duty hours to cover up crimes. The lab estimated the armed assailant's height, which closely matches Coleman's height, and his duty records coincide with the incident timing."

"Hayes, admit it. We know Mabel and Clarence Earl weren't killed by you."

Hayes's gaze shifted between the three documents, delaying his response.

Theodore immediately recognized the hesitation. "Coleman is dead."

Hayes looked up at him, then down at the photograph, and slowly nodded.

He admitted Bernie's analysis of his and Coleman's cooperation model and confessed to previous violent debt collections. However, he insisted Coleman had forced him into those activities.

He also maintained his innocence regarding murder.

"That money belonged to Coleman. If it were my money, considering how he'd taken care of me, Clarence could repay it whenever convenient. Coleman was different. Everyone knew that owing Coleman money and not paying resulted in severe consequences."

Hayes rambled through an extensive preamble while Theodore and Bernie listened patiently without interruption.

Finally, he reached the incident's specific details: "There wasn't a single penny in Clarence's house, and Coleman was furious, preparing to make Clarence use his daughter to settle the debt."

He pointed at Hattie Earl in the photograph. "He ordered me to drag her into the bedroom. Mabel bit Coleman, which enraged him, so he shot Clarence and Mabel."

"She tried to escape, but Coleman caught up and strangled her. I was terrified, and Coleman also threatened to kill me."

Bernie had heard enough fabrication.

"Come on, BIGBALL. Coleman discriminated against Black people; he wouldn't assault Hattie Earl. It was you, BIGBALL. You wanted to assault Hattie Earl. You strangled her, which caused Clarence and Mabel Earl to resist, leading Coleman to shoot them."

"Your neighbor witnessed the entire process."

Hayes froze, then completely relaxed. "He wouldn't dare testify."

Bernie countered: "He didn't dare testify before. But now that Coleman is dead, if he comes forward, you'll go to prison on multiple charges. Why wouldn't he dare testify now?"

Hayes remained silent momentarily, then said in a low voice: "You have no evidence."

Bernie pointed to the three case files, then the Earl family file. "We all know you killed Hattie Earl. You can choose to confess to this single crime, or take responsibility for all of Coleman's crimes."

After a pause, recalling Theodore's analysis of Hayes's relationship with Coleman, he added.

"While Coleman was alive, you could only be manipulated by him. Whenever Coleman whistled, 'BIGBALL' had to fall in line. Whoever he told you to deal with, you dealt with."

"Now Coleman is dead, and you're still taking the fall for him. Coleman is a decorated officer, buried with honors. You're facing three murders and dozens of charges, awaiting the electric chair."

[End of Chapter]

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