The Perfect Crime Chapter 7

The next day, an unexpected person appeared at my hospital room door.

My mentor, Professor Chen.

He'd aged, his back somewhat hunched.

Wright stood behind him.

"Professor Chen insisted on seeing you." Wright said. "He says he must tell you something personally."

I nodded.

Wright closed the door, leaving just the two of us in the room.

Professor Chen sat by my bed, his hands covered with age spots gripping mine tightly.

"Marcus... your teacher knows your situation, but I'm not here to visit you this time."

"Professor, then why...?" I asked.

"It's Elena... she found me. She said... she said she knows which rehabilitation center my son is in."

My heart plummeted.

Professor Chen had a son, born with intellectual disabilities, living permanently in a professional care facility.

That was his only weakness.

Professor Chen painfully pounded his chest.

"She said she has countless ways to make my son 'accidentally' die at the rehabilitation center."

Rage instantly surged to my head. How could she be so despicable! Unconscionable!

"Professor, what she needs, I'll give you right away."

My voice was calm.

"I need you to help me with something."

Professor Chen nodded heavily.

"As long as I can help you, I'd give my old life!"

I gave Professor Chen a new, truly accurate arson case profile.

"Professor, keep her steady."

"Tell her you hope she can catch the real killer to make up for the harm done to me."

Professor Chen looked at me, his eyes full of determination.

Elena obtained the real "answer key."

[The killer isn't seeking revenge on society but engaging in indiscriminate emotional release. Burning the bodies is part of his ritual—the flames give him a sense of controlling everything.]

[He has no fixed occupation or social class but definitely works a job allowing him to freely control his nighttime hours, such as designated driver or night security guard.]

[He doesn't choose location but time. Every crime occurs on the night of a full moon by the lunar calendar.]

[The next full moon is the day after tomorrow. He'll choose a place with an open view where he can fully appreciate his "work."]

[Predicted location: Rooftop of the South District abandoned building.]

This deduction represented my true abilities.

Tightly connected, logically rigorous.

Elena treated it like treasure.

She immediately announced loudly that she would hold a press conference the day after tomorrow, on the next full moon night.

She would livestream the arrest of the "arson killer."

She would use an indisputable victory to wash away all the shame.

The entire city was ignited by her all-or-nothing gamble.

Every media camera focused on that abandoned building in South District.

Waiting for the "detective genius's" next moment of deification.