Detective Kennedy

<Prologue>

The entirety of the room was plain white. At the center of the room were a desk, with two chairs placed parallel across it. I sat In one of the chairs and let out a sigh. I noticed a small vase of lavender flowers on top of the desk, the only different colour present in this room. Uh, except for me. This place made me get the chills. The only vibrant thing being me and that one flower. This was going to be the place where I spend a hour every Sunday for the upcoming few weeks.

I am a private investigator. I get hired by companies, lawyers and other individuals and do jobs like surveillance works and background checking for them. But what I specialize in is dealing with teenage crime cases. I guess I put my sociology degree to good use, because my profession is to find evidence for teen’s trials. Most teen criminals have some sort of issues like trauma going on, and finding those reasons out are the keys to gain sufficient evidence for their case.

Sometimes I get to help out poor kids and brighten up their lives. A little speck of joy I experience once in a while. A good memory I have is of a girl I helped. She called me ‘Detective K’ once, after hearing my surname Kennedy. I’m not a detective, but I decided to keep that cute little nickname. Although I’m not quite sure, people around me tell me I’m very good with children. Maybe that’s why I’m this successful right now. All these profit I earn goes to my wife and daughters, so I’m not complaining.

Ah, this room creeped me out. Whenever I dozed off a bit too long, I would get very dizzy when I return conscious. The floor, the walls, the desk, the chairs! Even the vase of the flower was all shrieking pale. If I’d stay here too long, I might just turn mad.

‘Well, that’s ironic.’

I let out a little giggle inside my head. That was because of the certain boy I was going to meet soon in this maddening place.

I decided to freshen myself a bit and opened my suitcase. I took out my laptop and placed in on the desk. I decided to check the E-mail I got from the lawyer. Although I read it already, it wouldn’t hurt to review it once more.

You see, a lawyer contacted me a day ago to find evidence for a charged boy they were representing. Grace, it took me no seconds to tell that the defendant is a tricky young fellow.

‘Ah! here it is.’

I found the file the lawyer sent me. I throughly read it again to memorize whatever I missed back then.

[The defendant is Ddojju Oh, asian male born in 00, 00, 2011.]

On the right of the info were the profile photo of Ddojju. Brown eyes and brown hair. He had a long, oval shaped head and short, straightly combed hair. One thing I observed closely were his facial structure. The bridge of the nose was tall, and the ridge was dull and wide. Overall, Ddojju had a long nose. The lateral canthus was shaped as if it was pointing upwards, but the upper eyelid was the opposite. It pointed downwards. The pupils were asymmetrical to each other, gazing at different levels, indicating the fact that one of the eyes were disfigured. The eyebrows were not fully grown but I could still see an arched shape. The features I mentioned made Ddojju’s countenance look very sharp.

‘Reminds me of those kids…’

I shouldn’t make wild, offensive guesses like these, but teens that looked like Ddojju often lacked social stability and self control. I’ve learned from orient physiognomists that people with traits like Ddojju were, well… Most likely stalkers, one-time killers or sexual offenders! I don’t know if I should say it’s lucky for the boy, but the crime Ddojju committed were not those kind. I gulped and scrolled to the next page, to look at the concerning records again.

[…. In February the 4th, 2026, the defendant tried to steal a handgun from a patrolling officer and tried to commit suicide, but was disarmed and immobilized by the officer. He was charged for assault, battery, attempted larceny of a firearm….]

All that to commit suicide? Why would he do that? I’ve dealt with suicidal kids often before, but this was odd. Maybe Ddojju thought that shooting himself in the head would be not painful or something, but to take on a cop is a different matter. How was he so sure that he would make it, knowing that if he fails the shot he’ll lose so much? He could’ve hanged himself or defenestrate himself. Maybe this was a chance, I thought to myself. Maybe this boy has a different kind of problem, and this was the golden-time to help him.

[….. The actions of the defendant leads to suspicion that he suffers mental illnesses. When the national detectives confronted him, the defendant did not answer to any of the questions and had no visible changes to his silent attitudes. The acquaintances of the defendant pleaded that, although Ddojju Oh was quiet most times, he was intelligent, moral, and rational. He stood as a good example for his classmates on schoolwork, and showed no signs of suicidal behavior at all. His family mentioned that they suspect Mr. Oh’s sudden interest on philosophy as the reasoning behind his crimes….]

What a complicated kid. Maybe it was just because of some hormone outbreak from an edgy emocore teenager, but I felt an instinct that something deeper was hidden inside this case.

‘Maybe I should call a counselor or a therapist, this might be too much for me…’

Maybe later, when I get enough evidence for the boy, I could introduce him to my personal therapist. Although the situation was unpredictable and haste, I determined myself that I would help Ddojju with the best I could offer. As Detective K, I swore to solve these mysteries for this poor little guy. Oh, that reminds me…

I forgot to add of my role in this trial. The lawyer of Ddojju Oh has hired me to find evidence of Ddojju having mental issues. It’s a strategy to justify the actions done by Ddojju. My goal is to prove that Ddojju needs medical attention more than jail time. But if Ddojju is stabler than I thought, the lawyer would figure out other things for me to find and help Ddojju get the best of the court. To do this, I would have to confront and talk to Ddojju. I’ll have to somehow make him feel comfortable and open up. I would also have to research a lot about Ddojju’s history regarding his family and friends, school life and etc. My personal goal for this case is to see this kid be happy.

I let out deep breaths. I’ve done this many times.

‘Think this boy as another of my daughters.’

In the deep quietness of the room, I heard a voice.

“Mr. Kennedy, Ddojju Oh is waiting in the doorstep.”

This white room is a special place where I would meet Ddojju and try to talk to him. This was a government custody that held Ddojju in, and I had to make reservations to see him here. Every Sunday, until the trial day, I would visit this room and gain the evidence I need from the boy. Every other days I would research for other clues consisting of Ddojju’s home and school. The audacity, I thought, to put someone suspected of mental illness inside this nerve-meddling room…. I worked hard to keep the snickering inside me.

“Please let him in.”

After I answered towards the voice, I heard a creak. Someone opened the room’s door. I started the voice-recording app on my laptop and took out my espresso macchiato I ordered from the drive thru earlier. I sipped a few gulps, and waited for the footsteps to come close.

I looked up. A guard was holding the boy I saw from the photo. It was Ddojju. Ddojju was handcuffed and stood very still, staring at me. After the guard gestured, Ddojju sat down on the chair in front of me.

Ddojju had a concerning body type. His arms and the total body length was skinny, but his thighs were thick. His belly had a little, but noticable fat. His breasts were visible, bulging even from the cloth. I couldn’t tell if he were fat or skinny, but one thing I was very sure of was that this boy was definitely unhealthy.

“Hi, Ddojju. I’m a private investigator and you could call me Detective K if you want.”

“It is nice to meet you, sir.”

I was surprised. I didn’t think he’d answer, especially after seeing all those reports. Ddojju’s voice was quite different than what I imagined. It echoed deep, but had high pitch. It sounded a bit unstable, as if he was fighting his saliva inside his mouth. But I thought that he could be a good news reporter with that voice. It was a shame to see his talent stuck in a place like this.

“It is pleasant to meet you, Ddojju. Although, I am a bit shocked! I heard from others that you didn’t speak to the men here. If you’re feeling forced, don’t worry. We don’t have to rush this. We’ve got plenty of time to talk, and I wouldn’t mind that you’d take your time.”

“It’s okay. I can speak to you.”

“Oh, may I ask why?”

“Why you’ve got the ‘privilege’ to hear me so suddenly?”

“That’ll be it.”

“It’s because I can trust you to.”

Did I do something? Was it the coffee? Did he like my coffee taste?

“What did I do to convince you you could trust me?”

Ddojju hesitated for a moment. He gazed at the lavender flower below him, then turned his head to me again.

“Your job. Your status. What you’re trying to do with me. I don’t need to fake out anything to you. I could tell you what I want to you, and you wouldn’t abuse it to do something I don’t like. Unlike those other adults.”

“Well, if those aspects of mine make you comfortable, I’m fine with it. However, I think I would like some explanation…”

“This is the hardest part for the both of us, Mr- um, I hope this won’t offend- Detective K. But I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Of the possibility of you abandoning your work ethics. You trying to do something for me because you think it’ll be good for me. Trying to be the hero that, in truth, does nothing but hurting me.”

“I think I get it. If me trying to be personal with you would be in your dislikes, I won’t do that.”

“It’s similar but not quite to what I was gonna say. The point is, please don’t try to judge me. Don’t judge me with what you think. Just, listen to what I gotta say, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Don’t try to teach me. Try to understand what I feel, okay? Recommending me of a different perspective is fine, but don’t talk about different ways to feel. Don’t show me a different way to feel, don’t.”

“I’ll do whatever you want me to do, Ddojju.”

“Forgive me sir, for I am still terrified. I just want to be sure that you are strong enough. Unlike everyone else. Are you strong enough, sir? I- I shouldn’t trust you, but you are my last….”

Ddojju stopped mid-sentence. I was shocked to see Ddojju tearing up. He bit his lips and let out a few gasps. He desperately tried to brush off his tears with his cuffed arms. I started feeling more empathy towards this mate. What could he possibly have experienced to be like this?

“Ddojju, although I can’t be so sure, I’m most convinced that I would do the things you’d want me to do, most certainly.”

Ddojju made more faint noises and grasped his hands firmly. After calming himself a little, he cleared his throat and continued.

“I hope that’s true, Detective K. The story I’m about to tell, the story of myself… Only strong men can endure it. Only the strongest can withstand this and don’t break their stance. Please, please… I would like to get treated… But only you could, sir. Only you could treat me right now. Be the strongest, please be the strongest…..

|To be continued in: Session 1