INTRODUCTIONS

As Seung Woo locked the door, he wondered how he missed such an important detail; almost none of the documents he read mentioned the doctor’s family. The articles only put forth the doctor’s intelligence and theories.

Studying psychopath’s behavior was doctor Noh’s specialty; she had a theory on the birth of evil and a killer’s nature. A thesis that many considered blasphemy, doctor Noh’s approach consisted of saying humans were born evil. They spend their lives suppressing it by using laws and religions as wardens of their insanity.

Abroad, the doctor helped in many cases, finding killers, embezzlers, and other criminals, which none would suspect. Never underestimate, even a six-year-old had a killers nature in the doctor’s theory. According to the doctor, evil is natural for humans are predators, and to dominant all species, man uses force.

Seung Woo saw it in her eyes. Doctor Noh never acknowledged the bright side but the rotten. She saw no good in man, which made Seung Woo wonder as he stared at his team composed by the doctor, what dark secrets laid behind each member. Why did the doctor choose these people who only dealt with domestic violence, neighborhood disturbances, and minor theft investigations? Sung Min, for instance, only held the door. How could this boy catch a psychopath? It didn’t make sense, but nothing the doctor did reassured the inspector, who still had doubts about her proficiencies.

“Please follow me.

The group followed Seung Woo to the lift, and he pressed minus two. The five-headed to the basement, where they walked through a long corridor to finally arrive in a space resembling a parking lot.

“Here’s our new office.

A transparent board, desks, computers, the equipment everything was ready to be used.

“Let’s get to work, shall we.

“Excuse me, but why am I here?” Detective Gwak asked.

While they waited, the doctor didn’t speak, contenting herself with observing the members. Now came the time to explain.

“As you know, I’m inspector Choi, the superintendent appointed me as chief investigator in the Stein’s son murders in the Yongsan area, and the doctor, here present handpicked you to be on my team.

“Hold up, you mean I’ve got a promotion?” Lee Sung Min asked.

“Eh, kind of,” Seung Woo replied.

“Cool,” the young officer muttered, sliding back in his chair.

Gwak smirked, “what promotion? 인마[ inma=punk, douchebag], don’t you see this a death sentence.

“I want to help.

These were the first words Jin Se Ra pronounced, making heads turn.

The doctor walked up to her and paced around her arms crossed, inspecting the officer from head to toe,” I bet you do.

“Doctor Noh, can I speak to you in private, please.

“No, to build trust, there are no private conversations. You must say everything in front of the participants.

The word participant lingered in the air and seemed only to be caught by Seung Woo.

He sighed something told him to play by her rules, not that Seung Woo was the obedient type, but he was always for democracy. His diplomatic approach was one reason his promotions were slow. The higher-ups hated leaders who listened to all the whims. For his superiors, his diplomacy was a force and a weakness; they believed that giving a choice to those meant to take orders disorientated them.

“Why Jin Se Ra?

“She is cute, sexy and will be an excellent decoy for any operation. All you men should have someone eye-catching working with you. Her presence will stimulate the alpha male side of you, pushing you to do your best in every task for her eyes only. Also, the heatwave between your hoobae and you shows your mutual crush for each other, a little matchmaking in an investigation never killed anyone,” the doctor smiled, “think of it as my little 선물 [seonmul=present].

Oxygen seemed to sneak out in the room’s ventilation, officer Se Ra’s face reddened with embarrassment making a trio with Seung Woo’s and Sung Min.

Only detective Gwak laughed his head off like the Mad Hatter. “I like you,” the detective said while he clapped in the doctor’s direction. The provocative man felt more comfortable seeing someone like him amongst what in appearance was a squeaky clean team of promotion seeking misfits.

“Oh, the time, I have to leave,” Dr. Noh walked to the door, closely followed by Seung Woo.

“Doctor, where are you going?

“I don’t do overtime; it was fun for today. See you tomorrow.

Seung Woo grasped her sleeve,” you can’t just walk out. We haven’t even started.

“I can, and I will. I have no more time to play for today.

“What’s this thing about time? Why is everything concerning you stuck in time?

“You don’t want to know; now drive me back,” the doctor answered, freeing herself from his grasp.

“What is this about driving you back? Are you crazy? I’m not a chauffeur.

The doctor stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, “I can’t take public transportation.

“What, do you have a phobia?

“I said, drive me back,” the doctor yelled.

“This is insane,” Seung Woo said, grasping his head with his hands.

At this point, doctor Noh reassembled psychopath more than ever.

“Drive me back; I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety.

The doctor’s eyes flickered, showing a glint of something which made Seung Woo go back to the room to fetch his jacket as the tie incident resurfaced. Dr. Noh wasn’t someone to bluff a threat.

Every fiber in Seung Woo’s body told and warned him not to contradict the doctor. The woman’s words came back to mind, “only a wolf can whiff a wolf.

In other words, if one applied the quote to the doctor, the phrase would go:

Only a psychopath can catch a psychopath.

For the second time of his life, the inspector felt cold sweat; the first time was when they announced his sister’s death, and the second time was now that he saw the face of a killer.

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