Chapter 325: Susan: Chuck, Which of the Three of Us Should Be Called "Bones"?
"Have someone investigate what happened to these kids who were sent out after turning 16."
Chuck reminded Susan.
"Okay, I'll have someone look into it immediately and compile a report."
Susan replied.
"The files say that registering all rooms as independent churches for tax exemption is a recent development, likely after Dr. David Henry joined."
Chuck added. "Find this Dr. David Henry. I want to talk to him."
"You suspect this brainwashed Dr. David Henry is helping with tax schemes?"
Susan nodded. "If he really is a genius, then the possibility is very high."
They talk a good game, but their hearts are full of greed.
American cults are no exception.
Under the guise of religious freedom, they actually engage in profiteering—it's all about making money.
The reason various cult organizations are everywhere in America is because they have DNA perfectly suited to this soil.
In fact, to put it bluntly, like the American prison industrial complex, it's a system of imprisonment, control, and forced labor.
Local authorities are happy to push uncontrollable or undesirable individuals into these organizations—both to clean up their areas and to generate revenue.
These cults can imprison the body and, more importantly, control the mind, forcing these brainwashed individuals to willingly live the most "natural" (impoverished) life, performing grueling manual labor, ostensibly to bring themselves closer to God.
Functionally, they're even more effective than prisons.
Crucially, they can also achieve sustainable development—producing large numbers of children and preventing the next generation from receiving education, thus creating value for the cult from a young age.
It's practically a microcosm of a certain aspect of America.
Therefore, its widespread proliferation is quite normal.
Of course, this only fools those with questionable mental states. Normal people won't fall for it. The social elite and most ordinary people are controlled by the larger system—America itself.
These smaller, mini-Americas can only recruit those in desperate straits.
Most are homeless people, marginalized individuals abandoned by mainstream America. The better-off are rebellious runaway teenagers, widows, or orphans.
These people can only do the lowest-level manual labor, earning very little.
For a genius scientist like Dr. David Henry to be successfully lured in and brainwashed is incredibly rare.
In the world of TV dramas, genius scientists almost always suffer from mental health issues, making them susceptible to manipulation.
Just like how young Sheldon, when faced with existential questions, became completely withdrawn and nearly gave up entirely.
These cult leaders, however, have their own philosophical frameworks.
What can they do?
They have a direct role model—they can simply create a miniature version of America itself.
But while luring someone in is easy, completely brainwashing them is extremely difficult because these genius scientists are constantly thinking, always coming up with new ideas.
One moment they're focused on something, and the next they can abandon their current task for their new obsession.
With the IRS watching, exploiting the intelligence of a genius scientist like Dr. David Henry for personal gain requires certainty.
Otherwise, they risk failure.
Jamie Cowley clearly had some confidence in controlling Dr. David Henry but didn't dare take the risk, which is why he temporarily sent Dr. Henry away.
Chuck and his team spent the entire morning visiting the compound.
"So, what's your assessment?"
Susan asked.
"Only Catherine is a fake believer."
Chuck stated his observation.
"I thought so."
Susan agreed.
In fact, if Chuck hadn't pointed it out, she would've been misled by the atmosphere in the compound, feeling that everyone genuinely believed in Jamie Cowley.
That was terrifying!
"Seems this guy's brainwashing abilities are truly impressive."
Lisa marveled.
Susan nodded, feeling more sympathy and understanding for her colleague who'd almost been brainwashed.
This cult leader certainly had skills.
"Looks like we can only rely on Catherine and Dr. David Henry."
Susan said.
"If you ask me, don't go to all that trouble. We'll just stay here tonight."
Lisa laughed. "As long as you perform normally, Susan, by tomorrow morning, a bunch of fake believers will definitely emerge."
"If you're willing to cooperate, I can do it~"
Facing Lisa's teasing, Susan remained calm, looking at Lisa with a wicked smile.
"..."
Lisa felt uneasy thinking about last night's experience and didn't dare joke about it anymore, lest she get herself into trouble.
"Let's go!"
Chuck ignored their banter, glanced at the fleeting surveillance figure in the distance, and led them away from the compound.
After leaving, Susan took her leave first.
The tasks Chuck had assigned her required follow-up as a special agent of the IRS.
They only had three days.
If they missed that window, even the IRS couldn't easily get another court order.
Chuck let Lisa go with Susan to gain experience, while he returned home to meet with Hailey, who had—unsurprisingly—already ditched school and come home. He wanted to hear about her recent life and feelings, and help this younger sister, whom her second brother Frank described as somewhat abnormal, work through her psychological state.
Hmm.
Most of the time, it would be done through sparring.
"Did you send someone to follow me?"
After receiving another round of physical training at home, Hailey felt much more relaxed and asked with a smile.
"You think you don't need anyone watching your back anymore?"
Chuck looked at her bluntly.
"Is it my second brother—the one I've never met?"
Hailey didn't respond to that question, but instead asked with interest. "I know even if you don't say it. Who else would be more suitable to babysit me besides him?"
Chuck didn't deny it.
Every time he let Hailey go out to vent her negative emotions, he indeed only had Anna send his second brother, Frank.
And there really wasn't anyone more suitable than Frank.
"It really is him!"
Hailey looked into Chuck's eyes, gleaned her answer from Chuck's expressionless face, and excitedly exclaimed, "I want to meet him!"
As three siblings, all three possessed fighting talents beyond ordinary people. Facing the kind of brutal training that could break a person, not only did they not break, but they all developed top-tier fighting skills.
Of course, these fighting abilities happened to be in descending order of age. Hailey was a girl, and her physical potential was lower than Frank's, which was understandable.
But this didn't mean that Hailey wasn't more capable than Frank.
Of course, this wasn't just referring to that incident destined to be etched in Frank's memory, where the overconfident expert almost got his ass kicked.
However, in terms of observation and deductive reasoning, Frank is simply the weakest of Chuck's three siblings.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up working as a bodyguard for that kind of rich douchebag.
Hailey, on the other hand, is miles ahead of Frank in these areas. She's naturally gifted at observation and deduction, practically a mind reader.
Even Chuck, without consciously concealing his true thoughts, can have his emotions read by her.
If Frank and Hailey weren't siblings but enemies, and they truly faced off, Chuck would bet on his younger sister Hailey to win!
"Are you sure?"
Chuck looked at her.
"Of course!"
Hailey laughed. "We're family—we have to meet eventually. Besides, I need to properly thank him for secretly babysitting me so many times!"
"Okay, I'll arrange it."
Chuck sensed Hailey's eagerness, silently mourned for his younger brother Frank for a second, and immediately agreed.
Frank had previously been very upset about their mother Bran abandoning her husband and children to remarry, and he was not only indifferent to his half-sister Hailey, but even somewhat repulsed by her.
Now, after being assigned by Chuck several times as secret protection and truly witnessing what his half-sister was like, Frank—although still constantly complaining to Chuck that his sister was practically a monster—
had already unconsciously changed his attitude and accepted her as his sister.
Now that Hailey had taken the initiative to propose meeting, Chuck felt the timing was right.
"Awesome!"
Hailey smiled, her eyes sparkling.
Night fell.
Chuck received a call from Susan. "Chuck, I found out where Dr. David Henry is. You'll never guess."
Seeing Chuck remain silent, she smiled and hinted, "It's related to Dr. Bones."
"Zack Addy!"
Chuck immediately named someone.
"What!"
Susan exclaimed in surprise. "How did you guess so quickly?"
"Because he's a genius, and the kind that's incredibly easy to manipulate."
Chuck said calmly.
"Seems Jamie Cowley has also met Zack Addy."
Susan said, suddenly realizing. "That's why he sent Dr. David Henry to make contact—partly to avoid you, and partly to see if he could recruit another genius scientist as a follower."
"Boss, should we go now?"
Lisa's voice came through the phone.
"Yes."
Chuck nodded in agreement, said goodbye to his reluctant mother Bran, and drove to Zack Addy's residence.
"Dr. Wolf!"
When Chuck and Susan met up and knocked on Zack Addy's door, it opened to reveal Zack's surprised face. "What brings you here? I didn't hear Dr. Brennan mention you were coming?"
"Is Dr. David Henry here?"
Chuck skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"Looking for me?"
A man in his thirties appeared behind Zack, his face beaming with delight. He bumped into Zack and extended his hand.
"I'm Dr. David Henry. It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Wolf. I'm researching the Riemann Hypothesis, and I have a question..."
Susan and Lisa exchanged a strange glance as the three stood there discussing mathematics.
Especially Zack, who seemed completely unbothered by the rude shoving, stood to the side listening attentively, a smile occasionally playing on his lips—it all seemed bizarre.
The conversation went on for quite some time.
"Ahem."
Susan finally couldn't help but speak up. "The math research can wait. We came to see Dr. David Henry about something."
It wasn't that she couldn't stand it, but rather that she felt sorry for Lisa.
After all, Lisa had far more to carry than she did.
Unlike Chuck, she was chivalrous!
"What is it?"
Dr. David Henry looked over with displeasure.
Susan explained the situation.
Dr. David Henry immediately hesitated.
"Dr. Henry, I hope you'll be honest with us."
Susan said seriously. Seeing that it had no effect on Dr. David Henry, she glanced at Chuck and smiled playfully. "Dr. Henry, this is also a case that Dr. Wolf is investigating. You don't want him to waste too much time and energy on it, do you?"
"Alright, I'll cooperate!"
Dr. David Henry nodded immediately.
"Really?"
Susan looked at Dr. David Henry, who'd agreed so quickly and without resistance, and for a moment couldn't believe it.
This was too easy.
"You said it yourself—Dr. Wolf's time and energy shouldn't be wasted on this."
Dr. David Henry said seriously. "With that time, Dr. Wolf might have already completely solved the Riemann Hypothesis."
"Just because of that?"
Lisa couldn't understand. "Since you're so devoted to science, why did you join the cult before, and even help him evade taxes?"
"I've been studying the Riemann Hypothesis for 14 years without making any progress."
Dr. David Henry said with a bitter smile. "My career wasn't advancing, my life was a mess, I was on the verge of a breakdown, and then one day I saw Jamie preaching on the street, and I suddenly wanted to change my lifestyle..."
"You don't have to change your lifestyle like that."
Susan shook her head.
"Jamie Cowley gave him a wife."
Zack Addy pointed out the key to the problem.
When David Henry came to persuade him to join before, he'd listed all the benefits.
"What?"
Susan and Lisa were both stunned.
"Right, my wife..."
Dr. David Henry then remembered his wife.
"The community arranges marriages ordained by God..."
Dr. David Henry explained.
"..."
Susan and Lisa finally understood what truly attracted Dr. David Henry.
Government-assigned girlfriends!
For a genius scientist like Dr. David Henry, this was an absolute game-changer.
Chuck immediately thought that if this pitch were made to the Big Bang Theory group, besides Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj would probably all fall for it.
"Is that all?"
Even after Susan and the others left, they still felt dazed and surreal.
"Half-solved."
Chuck drove. "You still need to follow up on Catherine's case. Get a lawyer to help her fight for custody of her child. Having records of 16-year-olds being sent out suggests the case should be winnable. Use that to persuade Catherine to cooperate, and with Dr. David Henry's testimony, we can arrest Jamie Cowley."
"Okay."
Susan nodded, thought for a moment, and felt certain the case was under control. In high spirits, she glanced at Lisa and smiled wickedly.
"Chuck, since Dr. Bones is involved, and she's in Washington, D.C., why don't we invite her over?"
"Sure!"
Chuck didn't refuse and immediately called Dr. Bones, arranging to meet at Susan's house.
When Dr. Bones arrived, Susan couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly. "Chuck, tell me—of the three of us, who deserves the title 'Bones' the most?"
Dr. Bones: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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