In a Maze...

Chapter 4

The chief glanced around the four detectives, who were quite immersed in rereading their notes on their notepads.

"Well, Seongho?" The chief turned to him first.

"Yes, Chief," Seongho straightened himself in his seat and said, "I've dug into Park Misook's past. But unfortunately, there's nothing much suspicious. Her previous husband was a restaurant owner but there was not much success. He's already dead. Just one year later after she had been married to Park Byungchul, her son, Yoon Seunghyun, moved to Canada to work there. For Park Misook, her life was as simple as it could be. She had sponsored a number of charity organisations over the years. She had a considerable number of friends there. But aside from them, there didn't seem to be anyone particular she was in contact with. She didn't even interact that much with her neighbours. That's it, Chief. As far as it goes, there isn't anyone to be added to the suspect list."

The chief considered and nodded. "Apparently, there isn't anyone who dislikes her then. But there must have been a clear motive to kill her. We can't just grasp what it is, yet. Hyunwoo, did you find anything useful from your inquiry?"

"I'm afraid not, Chief. No neighbour heard any suspicious sound that night. If the doctor is right about her having been dead for four or five hours, when her body was found in the morning, it was, as we assume, around 3 AM when the murder was commited. Just the time when everyone was asleep already. That means the murderer had also enough time to make sure no footprints or clues were left."

"That's pretty hopeless," Minsoo commented, "The killer was cautious about leaving no evidence behind. And how do you think he got to the window? Surely, he must have planned everything."

"He has brains," Seongho added.

"And Minsoo, have you contacted Yoon Seunghyun? When'll he be back here?"

"Tomorrow morning, Chief. I've planned to pick him up at the airport."

"Poor lad. I assume he'll also have to consult with his mother's lawyers for the property he'll inherit. Well, Mark, what about Park Jinyoung? Did you find anything suspicious in him?"

"I managed to have an interview with him," Mark began, "He looked quite strange. He didn't tell me exactly why he visited her. Just a usual visit, he said. And he said he didn't go out anywhere that night. But of course, there was no alibi. And what interested me was that he said he's had sleepless nights. He looked almost depressed. And I don't understand, why he, wealthy enough to live a luxurious life, lives in a small apartment."

"But no issues between him and his stepmother?" asked the chief.

"I'm afraid, I didn't get to question him about that matter. He was strongly against being interrogated like this, I think."

"What's missing here is motive," the chief said, "No one seems to have a grudge against her. And even for Park Jinyoung, her death wouldn't benefit him. Yoon Seunghyun is the one who'll be benefited by this situation. But he can't be in our suspect list. He was away and it is his own mother."

"What if there was, in fact, no motive?" Seongho mused.

Everyone else's attention fell on Seongho.

"What do you think, Seongho?"

"According to what Mark said, Park Jinyoung has an abnormal lifestyle. Could we assume that there might be psychological aspects? Supposing Park Jinyoung is suffering from some sort of mental illness, depression for example. He didn't have any intention to kill his stepmother - no motive, here - but what if his mental problems drove him to do something violent? He, himself, said, he couldn't sleep that night. And he used to live in that estate and must know all the places there too well. That was his advantage. How does it sound? Is it plausible?"

He glanced around the others, who were meditating on his theory. He added, "And he's a businessman. Just like our killer, he's got brains. He could've done everything so neatly."

The chief nodded and said, thoughtfully, "It's a really possible theory. If anything, we can just get him here to interrogate him or put him under surveillance 24 hours to see any of his abnormal behaviours."

"I don't think it's a good idea," Mark commented.

The chief detective lifted his eyebrows, "Do you have any plan, Mark?"

"I don't think he'll agree to be brought here and questioned, or with the idea of surveillance if he finds out about that. And there's not really any evidence against him, in fact. I'd like to interrogate him a little more, Chief."

"Alright then, as you see fit. But as I said, I don't want this case to be a long, unsolved one."

For the second time, Mark was here in front of this small apartment, pressing the doorbell. He had been watching this building from the cafe opposite this, since the afternoon. Just a little earlier, he had caught a glimpse of Jinyoung in his car, with the windows open, entering the basement car park.

The evening was already starting to darken but Mark had no choice. He needed to meet Jinyoung today.

At the third ring, the door was opened. Jinyoung was now in his casual clothes, instead of the suit.

"What again?"

"I'm sorry, Jinyoung-ssi, but I do have some things I need to know from you. If you have some time, please."

"As a matter of fact, I don't have any time for you. I'm going to have my dinner and I suppose you're not rude enough to interrupt that."

"Just a few questions and I'll leave. At most fifteen minutes. Please."

Mark noted the fact that Jinyoung looked much more presentable than the last time. Probably because he had just come back from work.

"Questions about what?"

"Your stepmother."

It was not of willingness but Jinyoung still let Mark in. Once again, they were sitting opposite each other in the living-room. Mark felt himself at a little more ease than the previous time.

"So, Jinyoung, could you tell me how your relationship with your stepmother was?"

"Business-like. I gave her monthly financial allowance according to her shares and I visited her twice a month, like a routine. Nothing more, nothing less."

That was true enough, Mark acknowledged. "Do you think she had any enemy while she was alive?"

"I don't know."

"But you visited her that much. She didn't tell you about anything of that sort?"

"No."

"I see," Mark said, "Yesterday, you said you sometimes have sleepless nights. Can I ask you why?"

"No reason. I can't just sleep sometimes."

"Why do you live here? You can afford a much more comfortable place to live, can't you?"

"I feel my family's presence here."

"Don't you feel lonely? Is that why you sometimes have sleepless nights?"

"Think what you want. I told you already, there's no reason. And your questions are more directed to me than my stepmother. I can't answer any more of your questions. Please leave."

Mark gave a slow nod; he took off a peice of paper from his notepad and wrote down his number. He placed it on the table, "At least, have my number. If there's anything important, concerned with this case, call me any time. I suppose, you may also want to know who has killed your stepmother. If I'm not mistaken."

Jinyoung's eyebrows rised at those words; Mark noted that reaction in his mind. Then without any further words, he excused himself and left the place.