Love Me If You Dare

Chapter 9

The police car is still traveling on the national highway.  

    Lisa is lost for words.  She cannot believe this.

    The policeman that is driving the car asks Jungkook : “Professor Jeon, you mean ...... those kids are dead?"

    Jungkook says slowly: ”I am afraid so."

    The scenery outside the window changes rapidly. Lisa asks,

"Even if there’s only one person that is committing the crime, he may still be a trafficker. Why are you so sure that it’s a serial killer?"

    Jungkook’s pale handsome face has no expression.  Looking outside the window, his eyes seem to be staring into a different world. 

  Jungkook :  "Because I understand them."

    -

    Lisa calls Taehyung.

    Even though she has her doubts, she calls Taehyung to tell him what Jungkook just told her.  

    Taehyung stands in the office with his speakerphone function on.  The whole police station is in uproars after hearing Jungkook’s words : "Why? How did he reach such a conclusion?"

    Lisa  : “Wait." she puts down the phone and looks at Jungkook : "They want to know the reasons behind your conclusion."

    Jungkook leans his body back and closes his eyes: “I’ll do the briefing later.  Ask them to find the bodies first.”

    “Bodies?”  The police can’t believe what they heard.  Neither are they familiar with the concept of briefing.  They still have their doubts about whether they should change their direction of investigation. 

“Lisa, this is too big a decision to make without understanding the facts fully.  Chief is with me.  He asks if Professor Jeon can explain his findings to us first?” 

    Lisa ponders. She looks at Jungkook again: “Can't you just give them a briefing over the phone?'"

    Jungkook opens his eyes: "The last time I did a briefing,  it was in the central hall in the University of Maryland. Now you want me to...."

He glances outside the window : "......  in front of the tolling booth of the 18th Forrest section of the National Highway?”

    Lisa wants to laugh : “So, will you be less convincing just because you are briefing outside the tolling booth?"

    Jungkook pulls out his sleep mask from his coat pocket and turns his head away from Lisa.  His response is clear.  Stop bothering me.   

    Lisa looks at the time.  It’s only another hour till they will arrive the police station.  She can’t possibly tell them directly that he is reluctant to do it over the phone. So she says :

“Professor Jeon is preparing the content for the briefing right now. We also need to return to the villa to collect some information that we will use at the briefing. We are almost back in town.  We will come over to the police station as soon as possible to present to you all our findings.”

    Lisa puts down the phone and gives a sigh. Jungkook removes his googles and says in a deep voice: “Liar!” 

   Lisa : “Just shut up!” 

    -

    By the time they arrive the police station, it’s almost evening.  

    Taehyung and a few other officers are waiting outside the station. Lisa’s eyes are drawn to the 3rd floor, where the conference room is located.  That is where the briefing will be held.  The last time Lisa was there, she was six years old.