My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 250

“Every time I ask a question, she yells at me to keep my mouth shut.”

“Wasn’t that expected?”

“Still, it drives me crazy when it happens.”

The Violent Crimes Unit chief looked at Park Do-joon with a distressed expression.

“At this rate, we’ll have to let those bastards go.”

Park Do-joon had succeeded in tracking them down, but that didn’t mean he had found all the evidence.

The coroner’s report stated that the victim was beaten to death with a stick over several hours, but given the nature of the forest, sticks were everywhere.

“If only the mother wasn’t around, we could coax them a little.”

“That’s definitely the problem.”

In previous cases involving juvenile murderers, it wasn’t difficult to get them to admit their guilt. Children that young aren’t good at lying. So, it was usually easy to get a confession.

“Murder cases in other countries are possible because the parents cooperate, but…”

But this time, Zhong Hou’s parents were adamantly telling him to keep his mouth shut, so there was no help to be expected.

“And realistically, in the current situation, it will be impossible to prove his guilt even if he’s alone.”

“Huh? Why is that?”

“It’s obvious. By the age of eight, they’re capable of some level of situational judgment.”

After the incident, the parents would have undoubtedly continued to teach the child to keep quiet. And the child would have learned that.

“So, even if we try to hold him accountable now, there’s no way he’ll answer properly.”

“This is driving me nuts.”

Even if they miraculously managed to separate him from his parents, the child would know that his actions had caused something big, and naturally, he wouldn’t want to talk about it at all.

“He’ll definitely keep his mouth shut, and if we pressure him in that situation, it’ll only be seen as a forced investigation.”

If they even raised their voice at a minor, the entire media would jump on them. No, beyond that, the Chinese embassy wouldn’t stand still.

It wasn’t an adult criminal, but a minor, barely eight years old, and no country would stand by and watch if they were investigated in an oppressive manner.

“So, what do we do? If we let this go, we’re in big trouble.”

The media was already in a frenzy, and the entire nation was watching, hoping for the culprit to be caught.

But in this situation, if they couldn’t catch the culprit and had to let them go? The team chief’s head, barely hanging on, would be the first to roll.

“Well, it’s not like there’s no way.”

“There’s a way?”

“Yes.”

Park Do-joon said, lowering his voice.

“I’ve already set things up.”

“You’ve set things up?”

“Yes, we’ll be able to get sufficient testimony.”

At those words, the Violent Crimes Unit chief’s face stiffened.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to pin the crime on someone else?”

“Half right, half wrong.”

“Huh?”

“We just need to use the same method we used with Park Ho-yeon’s family.”

The chief felt uneasy at those words but couldn’t say anything. They had done something wrong themselves.

“Don’t worry. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. We arrest them based on the testimony. Hehehe.”

At first, the police didn’t understand what Park Do-joon meant by having set things up in advance. But when they found out the truth, they couldn’t help but be amazed.

“I heard it. Those guys killed him.”

“Those guys?”

“Yeah, those guys.”

“So, you’re saying that family killed him?”

“Yeah, the rumors are everywhere.”

The place Park Do-joon told them to investigate to confirm the facts was near Ansan, where they were hiding. And the rumors were already widespread among the people of Ansan.

“Not the kid?”

“Kid? How could an eight-year-old kill someone? That’s ridiculous.”

“But according to our investigation…”

“No. Those guys killed him. Those two did it.”

Preconceived notions are scary things. The idea that an eight-year-old couldn’t kill a child was something everyone in the area believed.

Moreover, Park Do-joon had said, ‘The family is the culprit,’ not ‘The kid is the culprit.’

Naturally, people thought of the adult parents as the culprits, not the child.

“That’s right. I heard that rumor too.”

“I heard it too.”

If one person lied, the police would ignore it, but if everyone said the same thing, the police couldn’t help but investigate.

Of course, if the culprit was an adult, the police’s method of investigation would have to change. And that’s what Park Do-joon was aiming for.

“No matter what, don’t say anything. Got it?”

“Yes, Mom.”

Even as she went to the police station again, Zhong Hou’s mother repeatedly urged him.

‘I’ve already confirmed everything. All we need is for my child to keep his mouth shut.’

She had already confirmed through her lawyer that if the child kept his mouth shut, or if she made him keep his mouth shut, the police would be helpless. That’s why Zhong Hou’s mother was determined to cover up this incident.

‘I can’t lose my assets.’

She was determined to cover up the crime because she was told that if her guilt was revealed due to negligence, she would lose all her assets.

‘Just a little more patience. Just a little more patience…’

The police were acting as if they were tired, and it was clear that they were just wasting time without finding anything. That’s why Zhong Hou’s mother wasn’t even considering the possibility of losing.

But for some reason, the atmosphere was different today.

“What’s going on?”

As she entered the interrogation room as usual, she couldn’t hide her anxiety. The police, who would usually sigh as they looked at her, were now staring at her as if they were going to devour her.

“Ms. Cheon-yu? Is that right?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

She flinched at the police officer’s question, as they had met several times and there was no way they wouldn’t know her name.

“I’ll confirm again. Is it Ms. Cheon-yu?”

“Yes, it is. Why?”

“Hoo, I see.”

The team chief took a deep breath. If it was as Park Do-joon said, it might be possible.

‘Will it work?’

You never know. But there’s nothing to lose if it fails. The evidence and testimony are already sufficient.

“Ms. Cheon-yu, I’m arresting you on suspicion of child murder.”

“What, what did you say?”

Zhong Hou’s mother, Cheon-yu, was taken aback and asked again, unable to understand the situation.

“There have been statements from various sources that you killed the child.”

“Me, kill someone?”

“Statements that you and your husband killed the child.”

Of course, such rumors would not be admitted as evidence in court. But with these rumors alone, they could at least get an emergency arrest warrant.

Especially if the witnesses were Ru-wang and the residents around him.

“Wait. I didn’t kill anyone. I…”

She stopped, at a loss for words. The real culprit was her son. Of course, if she said the child killed him, the child would be punished.

‘But if I say I killed him…’

Her mind was so confused that she couldn’t say anything, so the police forcibly stood her up and handcuffed her.

“Ms. Cheon-yu, you have the right to remain silent…”

“No, it wasn’t me!”

Cheon-yu struggled. Seeing this, Zhong Hou, sensing something was wrong, cried and clung to the police, hitting them.

“Let my mom go! Let my mom go, you punks!”

“Where did this little brat learn such words… Ha~ No, your mom killed a baby. She has to be punished.”

The Violent Crimes Unit detective tried to forcibly drag Cheon-yu away.

“Hey, someone tell the child protection agency to protect the kid. Did we arrest the kid’s dad?”

“They’ve gone to arrest him.”

“Let me go! Let my mom go.”

“Ugh, you’re annoying, really. Hou, your mom did something bad, so we have to take her. She has to be punished for hurting the baby.”

The team chief said firmly. And at that moment, the words Park Do-joon had predicted came out of Zhong Hou’s mouth.

“I was the one who hit that baby! Not my mom!”

“What?”

“Hou, no!”

“No, not my mom! I hit him. The baby kept crying, so I hit him with a stick! It’s true!”

Zhong Hou cried and clung to them. The police could only watch them without saying a word.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That showing the child his mother being taken away would make him tell the truth.”

Park Do-joon chuckled at Jung Yi-yeon’s words.

“Parents usually think they’re protecting their children. Well, that’s not wrong, but the child also has that concept.”

“They do?”

“Why do you think a child comes and hugs or comforts their mother when she’s crying?”

“That’s…”

“Protecting the family is like an instinct.”

It’s not about affection for that person. It’s the fear that one’s own survival won’t be guaranteed without that person. Especially children, they are terrified when someone they emotionally connect with shows strange signs.

“It’s the same for the child. Even if Zhong Hou has severe sadistic tendencies.”

After Zhong Hou confessed, the investigation completely changed direction. His parents also thought it was better for the child to admit the crime than for them to take the blame, so they eventually gave up and approved the confession and psychological evaluation.

If they took the blame, they would be punished and lose their assets, but if the child was found guilty, only their assets would be taken.

As a result, it was revealed that the child had severe sadistic tendencies. Perhaps because he wasn’t a psychopath, he still relied on his parents.

And he had taken the child out of the house in his father’s bag, came to the forest, and beat the child to death. What’s even more heartbreaking is that Kim Jung-sook often called the child over to give him snacks.

And he had confirmed that there was a child there and then committed such an act.

“It’s bitter.”

Jung Yi-yeon smiled bitterly at the fact that a child had killed a child.

“That’s reality. It’s a terribly bitter thing.”

Park Do-joon said sadly.

“What happens now?”

“It’ll be hard for them to live normally.”

The bereaved family, including Park Ho-yeon, would have a hard time, but the same would be true for Zhong Hou’s family. They would lose all their assets and be deported to China, where it would be impossible to treat such severe sadistic tendencies.

“This is the first time I’ve had such an unpleasant case.”

“That’s life.”

Park Do-joon said sadly to Jung Yi-yeon’s words.

‘That’s why profilers become colder and colder.’

Passion… and worries end up hurting themselves.

“I really want to rest for a while.”

“Yeah, I wish you could.”

The moment Park Do-joon said those words, his phone alerted him to a text message. Park Do-joon checked it and smiled bitterly.

“Looks like that’s not going to happen.”