PROBE

09. The Unabating Interview

5:17 pm
Hanjeong Precinct,
Monday.

★★★

"Miss," Taehyung sighed in hopelessness, applying pressure on the bridge of his nose, holding it between his index finger and thumb. He was starting to understand why Namjoon developed a strong disliking for Jonghwa. This woman was implacable. "All I ask of you, is a little bit of helpful information. Why is it so hard for you?"

"And why is it so difficult for you to understand that I do not have any information that can help you?" Jonghwa's tone reciprocated the same amount of hopelessness. "I told you whatever I know, officer."

Namjoon was standing on the other side of the glass pane, intently eyeing what was presumably their fourth interrogation with Jonghwa. While Jonghwa did tell them what she knew, none of it was useful. Everything Jonghwa was aware of, they knew already. Jonghwa told them how Youngmi had always been interested in busting drug rackets and exposing infamous rich people. But not one sentence, or even phrase for that matter, gave away any clue to the case. And as usual, Namjoon was dubious of her.

"It looks like she's hiding something," Nahee, their team's forensic psychologist said to him. "She's anxious ― often shakes her leg, breaks eye contact from time to time and quite frequently closes up by crossing her arms over her chest and drawing her legs closer to her."

Namjoon had specifically requested for Song Nahee when he decided to have a licensed psychologist over for behavioural analysis of the people they were investigating. Nahee had been working for the FST for fifteen years now, making strong contributions to every case she was appointed in. Nahee was undoubtedly one of their best psychologists and having her over for the case sparked some hope within Namjoon.

"So, she's lying." Namjoon muttered breathily.

"Not necessarily," Nahee said. "It can also be out of nervousness of being in an interrogation cell for the fourth time. People do crumble up when they're scared. But I have a feeling she's being defensive. I say you keep the interrogation going."

That was single-handedly the only reason Namjoon didn't order a stop to Jonghwa's interrogations despite everyone else's suggestions. His gut was correct; Jonghwa had information they could use. If luck favoured, she could even take them near to leads, or even evidence. Still and all, the girl stayed put to her act. And Namjoon was curious as to why.

"Are you sure, Nahee?" Yoongi prompted from behind. "I mean, maybe she really does not know much about the case. We could be pushing it."

"You're supposed to, Min." Nahee turned to face Yoongi, her middle-aged face twisted into a look of intelligibility. "That's how these interviews are conducted, you're supposed to push it till the suspect breaks."

"I know that, Nahee. I'm not stupid." Yoongi scoffed. "The point I'm trying to make is that there's a chance we might be investing too much time in the wrong suspect. We're wasting our time, in simple words."

"It's an investigation, Yoongi," Namjoon spoke, finally diverting his attention from an unrelenting Jonghwa and a struggling Taehyung and Jungkook. "There's nothing else to do than to take our chances."

Yoongi was about to revert back when their door opened. Taehyung and Jungkook stepped in, tired.

"We're going back in twenty minutes, until then give her a bottle of water." Taehyung said as Yoongi tossed a bottle of packaged water to Jungkook and the younger went into the booth to give the girl the bottle.