Time.

The word clawed Seung Woo’s mind; time was now almost a matter of public order.

“Here’s the timetable.”

Seung Woo’s eyes remained glued on the screen; he watched doctor Noh play with her dolls.

Many questions concerning the woman crowded Seung Woo’s thoughts, but professor Baek refused to speak, only saying Dr. Noh would explain everything since she appreciated him. Seung Woo doubted the professor’s speech as he remembered how dr. Noh tried to strangle him. The host appeared to be as dangerous as the alters.

Professor Baek avoided telling Seung Woo’s about the doctor’s other pathologies. There was no point in making the man panic.

The timetable laid before Seung Woo showed when the alters appeared.

“Is this regular? I mean, does the switch always occur at these hours?”

Professor Baek leaned back on his chair, “yes, the doctor has been switching at these hours for the last few years.”

Professor Baek was vague.

Seung Woo knew the man held back information, but there was no way to summon the professor to speak up.

Seung rubbed his forehead using his index and thumb, “so basically at these hours, I will find myself confronted with different personalities, does the same alter appear at the same hours?”

“No, you never know who will switch.”

Great thought, Seung Woo, not a bit enthusiast by finding himself face to face with a psychotic alter.

“Can’t you tell me how they are? I mean, I’m working with people I can’t put their lives in danger.”

The inspector spoke as though he cared about people’s safety, knowing deep down, he was willing to sell his soul to the devil if it meant catching Stein. Working with Dr. Noh was dangerous, yet his desire to capture the serial killer was greater.

Professor Baek assured the timetable was accurate. All Seung Woo needed to do in those moments was isolate the doctor if the alter was a violent one.

Only one was considered violent; an alter called Kuma San, Seung Woo, was already acquainted with Candy, a little girl. Candy’s default was being hyperactive; doctor Noh usually fell into a deep sleep when she left.

“Does the doctor remember what the alters do?”

“Sometimes,” professor Baek answered with a grin.

Seung Woo left Nam Seon Byeongwon, the reality of the situation hit him when he opened his car door.

Dr. Noh was a dangerous psychopath. Seung Woo’s superiors would fire him if they found out. What was more surprising was that someone like the doctor was free to live amongst other people.

All of a sudden, the prosecutor’s office came to mind. Dr. Noh’s father knew about his daughter’s pathology, yet he didn’t try to stop him from hiring the woman.

Blank spaces filled the board, but right then, the inspector focused on what Professor Baek told him.

The professor, too, was suspicious; the man seemed to be in worship of Dr. Noh. In Seung Woo’s opinion, professor Baek would make a perfect Stein with his obsession with Dr.Noh’s brain.

No, it was too obvious Stein didn’t fly under the police’s radar for thirty years to expose himself bluntly. This detail reminded Seung Woo to check the police register, which had the blacklist of practicians under surveillance.

Once home, he fell on his couch. The day was long; thankfully, Yong Dong Geun had supervised his team. Seung Woo sat up; he couldn’t slack off. He looked at the doctor’s timetable.

Seung Woo had to run after Stein and Doctor Noh in a race against time.

At 5: 00 AM, Seung Woo was up; he looked at his wardrobe.

Adaptability, he searched for adequate attire. What Seung Woo opted for didn’t please him, but it would do the job.

Nurse Kim Seok at the Nam Seon Byeongwon reception desk had a hard time containing his laughter, “I think you know the way now,” the nurse said.

Seung Woo just turned and walked away, sneakers squeaky as he went.

Dr. Noh was ready; she wore a black leather perfecto, slim pants, and a white t-shirt. The style made the inspector doubt it was her.

“Dr. Noh, are you there? Is it you?”

“Hmm, you’ve got to learn to recognize me.”

Seung Woo placed his hand on his heart in relief; it was too early in the morning to face one of the doctor’s wackos.

“So now you know, do you have any questions?”

Seung Woo crossed his arms,” why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have asked for my help if you knew?”

The answer was obvious.

“Never.”

The doctor grinned, “I thought so.”

“Why did you decide to help me?”

“Because I’m sure you will capture Stein. You said you would kill him; I’m looking forward to seeing that,” the doctor replied as she tied her in a ponytail.

“How can you be sure I’ll catch him?”

“Because I’m Stein.”

Seung Woo’s blood froze; his death expression made the doctor smile as she pointed the finger at her head. “My brain is exactly like his, and because of that, I’m him; this gives you an advantage,” the doctor said with a smirk.

Still frozen by her words, the inspector took a few seconds to assess what he heard while blinking in disbelief.

“Are you a serial killer?”

“Wow, that’s blunt. I think you’ve read my publications. We are all potential killers, I a little more than the common mortal. What would you do if you find out I’ve killed?”

“Is that a confession?”

Doctor Noh tilted her head to one side, “I asked first what will you do?”

I’ll bring you to court.”

“Ugh, wrong answer. I said I was Stein; like me, I imagine he has a QI running between 170-187. I, like him, will be diagnosed as suffering from DID and six other mental pathologies minimum. I will end up locked up for the rest of my life in a facility just like this one, and since my daddy is wealthy because my dad is wealthy. I’ll even have VIP treatment. Is that what you want? Didn’t you say you wanted to kill Stein?”

“Yes, I’ll kill him.”

“Good, then I trust you to do the same favor for me.”

Once again, the doctor’s words astonished the inspector.

“Oh, you are having a difficult time registering this; let me put it in plain English,” Dr.Noh said as she advanced to where the Seung Woo stood. “If ever I become a threat to you or anyone else, I trust you to use this semi-automatic pistol of yours to blow my brains away.”