Chapter 192

Chapter 192
Michael's POV

Charles's brow furrowed deeper as he fell into thought.

"There's a pattern," Charles said slowly. "During Caitlin's tenure, serial killings increased. After she left, they decreased. When Emily joined, they rose again exponentially." He frowned. "And the killers we caught either had mental breakdowns or committed suicide."

I suddenly remembered Nathan mentioning the Skinner box, which could transform bad children into good ones. Could it also turn normal people into serial killers?

Thomas voiced what we were all thinking. "Could Professor Weber have created serial killers to prove the importance of criminal psychology?"

"In that era, psychology wasn't given much attention, and schools offered fewer related courses," Charles recalled. "But as more psychological issues and crimes emerged, people began to focus more on mental health. And the police department also started hiring criminal psychologists to assist in solving cases. That's how Caitlin joined us."

"And her profiles were always eerily accurate," Charles admitted. "Almost as if..." He didn't finish the thought.

Even if Caitlin had done something illegal, what did it have to do with Emily? Why would Megan want to take revenge on her?

"Stay out of this. I'll handle it," Charles said.

"Are you sure you can help Emily?" I questioned. It wasn't that I didn't trust him, but these interlocking pieces of evidence were clearly a trap set for Emily. Even high-ranking officers were involved.

His gaze shifted to me. "How do you know Emily isn't the killer? Or another Caitlin Weber? Your judgment might be compromised by your personal feelings, Michael."

I tensed at the implication. "I believe in her."

"But you're wearing love-tinted glasses; there are many things you can't see clearly," Charles sighed. "You can't be objective and neutral right now."

Just as Thomas was about to speak, Charles cut him off immediately. "None of your team can handle this objectively and neutrally. I order you not to interfere anymore! I will handle this matter!"

"Chief Finch, I'd like to take a week off," I knew I couldn't defy orders. But I would continue the investigation in my personal capacity.

Charles seemed to see through my thoughts. "I'll keep a close eye on this matter. Let me know if you need any help."

---

We left Charles's home with Thomas hurrying after me. The cool night air filled my lungs as I tried to organize my thoughts, but I didn't get much silence before Thomas blurted out a question.

"Michael, you didn't bring Emily because you already knew Professor Weber was trouble, didn't you?"

My stride faltered briefly. I kept my face impassive, though I felt a complex mix of emotions surge through me.

"Charles told me that Emily met Caitlin when she was a child," I admitted. "But she's forgotten it. I've always suspected that childhood experience connects her to Professor Weber, and it's probably why Megan and Simon target her specifically."

"What experience?" Thomas pressed.

I took a deep breath and told Thomas what I knew about Emily's childhood.

"Jesus Christ!" Thomas's mouth dropped open in perfect shock. "That's impossible! Emily is so... she's so outgoing and confident. Anyone who went through something like that would be traumatized, even depressed."

"She is traumatized," I replied. "Just not in obvious ways. She's forgotten most of it."

Thomas nodded thoughtfully.

As we continued walking, my mind wandered. Emily's captivity experience paralleled the psychological restructuring project we were investigating—the reshaped children also endured confinement and psychological abuse. The similarity disturbed me deeply.

"You know what I'm thinking?" Thomas suddenly said, tension threading through his voice. "What if Megan is also a serial killer cultivated by Professor Weber?"

I turned to him, waiting for elaboration.

"Just hear me out," Thomas continued excitedly. "Caitlin discovers her husband's affair and wants revenge, so she decides to turn their child into a criminal. Then Megan eventually breaks free of her control and frames her. Megan hates everything connected to Caitlin, so she targets Emily as Caitlin's substitute for revenge."

I shook my head slightly. "The first part doesn't track. Caitlin is a renowned criminal psychologist. If her daughter became a criminal, her professional reputation would be destroyed."

"But the second part?" Thomas pushed.

"The second part..." I considered. "That's possible."

I fell into contemplation. Emily and Caitlin did share striking similarities—both brilliant, perceptive, with unique insights into criminal psychology. Was this coincidence, or deliberate?

"If Megan views Emily as some psychological copy of Caitlin..." I muttered. "Or if Caitlin intentionally molded Emily into her replica..."

My thoughts crystallized. "The psychological restructuring project might have originated with Caitlin. Emily could be one of the restructured victims."

Realizing how far-fetched my speculation had become, I shook my head. These were just theories without concrete evidence. And they all assumed Caitlin was the criminal.

As we approached the police station, I turned to Thomas. "Research all the cases Professor Weber handled. Look for suspicious patterns."

"Got it."

"Could there be a connection between Lewis Powell and Caitlin?" I wondered aloud.

Thomas's face brightened with a new theory. "What if Powell and Weber were partners? He benefits too. They create criminals together, then catch them, using this method to gain fame and promotions."

I initially dismissed the idea, then frowned. "That sounds absurd... but it's possible. Also investigate Powell's connections to these cases."

We had barely entered the office when Daisy hurried over, her face etched with worry.

"Dennis and his team just took all the files on Sophia and Nathan. They said we're no longer needed on this case. Michael, what's going on?"

She glanced around, lowering her voice. "The office atmosphere feels off, like the wind's changed direction."

I kept my expression neutral. "I know about this. It's nothing serious, don't worry."

But I knew perfectly well that Nathan might have implicated Emily. If the special investigation team found evidence in Sophia's emails pointing to Emily as "Nightingale," the situation would deteriorate rapidly.

Daisy turned to Thomas with an interrogating expression. "Do you know something?"

Thomas shook his head vigorously. "I don't know anything! Really!"

Daniel knocked before entering my office to report on the investigation's progress.

"No useful leads from Sophia's computer files or Nolan's phone surveillance," he said.

I couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"Michael, I think they're planning to arrest Grey again."

I frowned. "How do you know this?"

"I installed monitoring software on the Police Supervisor's phone," Daniel said quietly. "I can share the recordings with you."

"That violates the law."

"Don't worry, they can't trace it back to me," Daniel replied nonchalantly.

"Any other useful information?" I asked.

"Nothing yet."

I gestured for Thomas to enter my office and closed the door.

"List all the Nightingale email sending times, then recall what Emily was doing during each instance. Find the time conflicts."

Thomas looked at me curiously. "We need to prove she didn't send those emails?"

I nodded. "Exactly."

Turning to Daniel, I continued assigning tasks. "Investigate Nightingale's email login history. See if you can find evidence the account was compromised."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Why not just hack into the email and delete the evidence?"

Thomas immediately objected. "That's tampering with evidence, we'd be treated as accomplices."