Han looks up, his eyes tired but alert. He nods, gesturing for me to come in. "What's on your mind, Park?"
I settle into the chair across from him, gathering my thoughts. "Sir, I was wondering... what do you know about Ted Bundy?"
Han's eyebrows raise slightly, the unexpected question clearly catching him off guard. He leans back, his chair groaning under the shift in weight. "Bundy? Of course, I know about him. He's a famous American serial killer, often used in our training materials. His case is practically required reading for profilers." Han's eyes narrow slightly, studying my face.
"Why do you ask?"
I lean forward, my elbows resting on my knees, my voice low and intense. "Do you know what was believed to be the main motivation behind Bundy's murders? The psychological factors that drove him?"
Han leans back in his chair, his brow furrowing in thought. The faint ticking of the wall clock fills the silence as he considers his response. "Well," he begins slowly, "it's widely accepted that Bundy's troubled and disturbing childhood played a significant role in shaping his psyche. He was raised believing his mother was his sister and only found out later in life that he was illegitimate.
This revelation deeply upset him, shattering his sense of self."
Han continues, his voice taking on a lecturing tone, reminiscent of his days as an academy instructor. "Bundy grew up in a household filled with shame and secrets. His grandfather, who he believed was his father, was abusive and domineering. The constant fear and confusion of his early years created a perfect storm of psychological trauma.
When Bundy discovered the truth about his parentage, it was like pulling a thread that unraveled his entire identity. Many experts believe this early trauma, combined with other factors like his narcissistic personality and inability to form genuine connections, contributed to his later crimes."
He pauses, leaning forward, his elbows on the desk as he studies my face intently. The shadows under his eyes seem to deepen as he asks, "Park, why are you asking about Bundy? What possible connection could this have to our current case?"
I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Sir, I've been going through Shin's background, and I've found some information about his childhood that I think might be crucial. There are similarities to Bundy's case that I believe we can use to understand Shin's motivations... and possibly predict his next move."
Han leans forward, his fatigue seemingly forgotten. "Go on, Park. What have you found?"
I lean forward in my chair, my voice dropping to a near whisper, acutely aware of the sensitivity of the information I'm about to share. "Inspector, I can't discuss the details right now. It's crucial that this information remains completely confidential. The walls have ears, and we can't risk this getting out."
Han's eyebrows furrow, a mix of curiosity and frustration crossing his face. But after a moment, he nods slowly, years of experience tempering his desire for immediate answers. "I trust your judgment, Park. You've earned that much. But what exactly are you planning? I need to know we're not going off the rails here."
I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. The weight of what I'm about to propose sits heavily on my shoulders. "Sir, can you confirm that the police are about to change the status of Shin's case from a closed to an open investigation? I need to be certain about our next steps."
Han nods, his expression curious but guarded. "Yes, that's correct. Though it's practically public knowledge already given the media frenzy, we're making it official in the morning. Why?"
"And that means the police will likely be invited to discuss the case on news programs, right?" I press, leaning forward slightly, my heart rate picking up as I approach the crux of my plan.
"That's highly likely, yes," Han confirms, leaning back in his chair, the leather creaking softly. "It's standard procedure for high-profile open investigations. The public demands information, and we need to control the narrative. But where are you going with this, Park?"
I sit up straighter, my heart racing slightly as I prepare to lay out my unconventional proposal. "In that case, sir, I'd like to request permission to be the one to appear on TV to discuss the case. I believe it's crucial for our investigation."
Han's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, his mouth opening slightly before he catches himself. "You? On TV?" He pauses, studying my face intently, searching for some hint of my reasoning. "Park, how exactly does this help us catch Shin? This isn't like you to seek the spotlight."
I hesitate, torn between the need for secrecy and the necessity of getting Han's approval. The ticking of the clock seems to grow louder, emphasizing the precious time slipping away. Seeing my reluctance, Han sighs, running a hand through his greying hair. "Look, Park, you need to give me something here. I can't approve this without at least a basic understanding of your plan.
We're under too much scrutiny to take blind risks."
Nodding, I lean in closer, my voice barely above a whisper. "Sir, I'm planning to use information from Shin's childhood to provoke him. The goal is to make him slip up, make a mistake that gives us the information we need to catch him. But it has to come from me, in a way that he won't expect."
Han's eyes widen with interest, a spark of hope igniting in their tired depths. "And you think appearing on TV will accomplish this? It's a bold move, Park."
"Yes, sir," I confirm, my conviction evident in my voice. "But for this to work, it's absolutely crucial that no one else knows about this plan. There can't be any possibility of a leak. The element of surprise is everything."
Han is silent for a moment, his fingers drumming thoughtfully on his desk. Finally, he nods. "Alright, Park. I'm intrigued. I'll arrange for you to be our spokesperson for the TV appearances."
Relief washes over me, tension I didn't realize I was holding releasing from my shoulders. "Thank you, sir. I promise, I wouldn't suggest this if I didn't believe it could work. This might be our best shot at stopping Shin."
As I stand to leave, my mind already racing with preparations, Han's voice stops me at the door. "Park," he says, his tone grave, "I hope you know what you're doing. We're taking a big risk here, and the stakes couldn't be higher."
I meet his gaze steadily. "I do, sir. And I won't let you down."
I step out of Han's office, my mind racing with the weight of what I've just set in motion. The bullpen is nearly empty at this late hour, the soft hum of computers and distant ringing of phones the only sounds breaking the silence. As I make my way to my desk, I take a deep breath and mentally summon Aileen.
"Aileen," I think, "I need to talk to you."
Her response is immediate, her voice bubbling with excitement in my mind. "Oh, Detective! I knew you couldn't resist our little chats. What shall we discuss? Your daring plan? Your upcoming TV debut?"
I sit down at my desk, my voice low even in my thoughts. "Actually, Aileen, I have a question for you. What was your motivation for murdering multiple people?"
There's a pause, and when Aileen speaks again, her tone has lost some of its enthusiasm. "Oh. That's... well, it's not an easy question to answer, Detective. It's complicated, you know? But I suppose if I had to pinpoint it, it has a lot to do with my childhood."
She continues, her voice taking on a somber quality I've rarely heard from her. "I was raped and became pregnant. I had to place the child for adoption, and then my grandfather kicked me out of my home. Can you imagine? I was just a girl, alone on the streets. I had to turn to prostitution just to survive.
And my anger... my anger against men just grew and grew."
I nod slowly, processing this information. "I see. But I've read somewhere that your killings were motivated by robbery and the elimination of witnesses. Is that not accurate?"
Aileen's response is immediate and vehement. "What? No! Absolutely not! Who told you that nonsense? Those are just brain-damaged stupid fools who don't know what they're talking about!
They have no idea what I went through, what drove me to do what I did!"
I can't help but smile slightly at her reaction, feeling a sense of confirmation. "I see. Thank you, Aileen. That's all I wanted to discuss for now."
"What? That's it?" Aileen's voice rises, indignant. "You can't just bring that up and then dismiss me! I have more to say about those idiots who spread lies about me! Hey, are you listening? Detective!"
But I've already begun to mentally block her out, her angry protests fading like a radio being turned down. As her voice disappears completely, I lean back in my chair, my mind already turning to the next steps in my plan. Aileen's reaction has given me valuable insight.
With a deep breath, I turn to my computer, ready to begin preparing for my television appearance. The clock is ticking, and I have a killer to catch.