3. Psychological Disorder

It was getting late and Louis was walking back to the apartment where he lived.

"Mmm, in the end it was me who got reprimanded" Louis spoke to himself.

"But, the fact that the fat guy is the headmaster's nephew won't change no matter what" He continued.

Louis walked until he finally arrived at his apartment area. There, many people had gathered there as well as several parked police cars with their sirens still sounding.

Louis approached the crowd and looked ahead. Whispers could be heard from the people around him.

"Poor thing...she just moved here" Said one of the people standing there.

"I heard that she moved here to send her child to school," said another person.

Louis entered the crowd and stood right in front of the police line. In front of him was an ambulance and a plastic bag which Louis knew exactly what was in it.

And from inside the apartment someone was taken out with handcuffs on his hands. That's Louis's father.

"She was already dead when I came... I just wanted to see my son... there was no other purpose," said the man as he was pushed forward with several police officers around him.

"In the end dad took it out on mom, I don't think dad would dare to do that" Louis' words were heard by all the residents and officers at that place.

"Louis?" His father looked at Louis who was across the police line.

The gazes of the people around began to fall on him.

"Isn't he Her son?" Whispers began to be heard in the crowd of people.

"I know dad hated mom for a long time..." Louis said while occasionally moving his eyes around the crowd.

"Are you the son of the victim and the perpetrator?" A policeman walked up to Louis. Louis nodded.

"Fine, this may be hard on you...but can you testify about what you said earlier?" Said the policeman.

"Sure" Louis said while looking left and right as if looking for something.

"Then can you come with us?"

"Yes" Louis answered without hesitation.

Louis was put in a car with the police and then left the place leaving some of the police at the scene to further identify the crime scene.

Moments later, in a rectangular room containing only a table and two chairs. Louis sat down on one of the chairs then looked around.

From outside a man with a round hat came into the room.

"Drink first, you might be surprised by what just happened" said the man.

Louis took the drink that the man brought and drank it with a straight face. The man looked at Louis with a slightly confused face.

"You know what just happened right?" The man asked to confirm one more time.

"Well, more or less..." Louis put his drink down on the table.

"I am Peter, a detective who handles this case," said the man introducing himself while taking out a business card and giving it to Louis.

Louis took it and looked at it for a while then put it in his pocket.

"Louis" Louis said even before Peter asked.

"Okay then, now may I ask a question?" The man sat on the chair in front of Louis.

"Mmm, strange, you just asked if you may ask..." Louis gave the man a strange look.

The man seemed to force a smile then started asking questions.

"What did you mean by that confession?"

"Oh, that... that's not true..."

"Everything I said was a lie" Louis said without hesitation.

Peter looked even more confused than before.

"Do you know what punishment you will get if you lie like that to a police officer?" Peter looked irritated.

Peter got up from his seat and then walked out because he felt it was not needed anymore.

"But, didn't you police pretend to arrest my father to find the real culprit?" Louis asked before Peter left the room.

"I'm just following your play" Louis continued.

Peter paused. Meanwhile, from behind the glass one way a man who also looks like a detective ran out and headed for where Louis was.

The man arrived at the room and told Peter to get out of the room, while he entered and sat on a chair in front of Louis then put some files related to this case.

The man tossed over a business card that looked a little different from Peter's and had the name Edward Carlson on it.

"Again?" Louis took it then put it in his pocket.

"Do you know who did the murder of your mother?" Edward asked without caring about anything else.

"Yeah, didn't you guys already know that?" Louis asked with a confused expression.

"We already know about it, but I want to hear it directly from you" Edward said.

"Mmmm, it's clear the culprit is the owner of the apartment" Louis said casually.

"How did you find out?"

"Is this some kind of test?...My dad said it before that mom was dead before he even got there"

"And I heard from people that it happened this morning. In the morning, my mother would fall asleep because she had to work at night"

"She definitely would never leave the apartment door unlocked, because of that, the culprit must have a spare key to get into the apartment"

Edward listened intently to what Louis was saying and barely even blinked.

"That is the first proof"

"And the second thing is, when dad was arrested, the owner of the apartment wasn't there, even though he should have been there when he found out what happened to his apartment."

"Isn't it possible that he was never at the scene?" Edward then asked again.

"That's impossible, because I ran into him at school" Louis took the drink bottle on the table.

Behind the one-way glass, Peter and several police officers were listening to Louis' explanation.

"Nonsense, there is no evidence that can really justify what that boy said." Peter sat on a chair nearby while still listening to Louis' explanation.

"Why would Edward listen to that kid's bullshit?" Peter leaned back.

"But I can't believe I can see a child like that..."

"His mother was just murdered and he doesn't even show the slightest bit of sadness" said one of the police officers.

"It's precisely because his mother was killed that he might get a mental illness because he was too shocked, so he said things that don't make sense like this" Peter emphasized.

...

"Then what's the next reason?" Edward asked again.

"Mmm, I know my mother's job, she is quite forthright about her work"

"A lady of the night huh..." Edward looked at the file on the desk.

She said that the innkeeper was one of her customers, so she was given a discount when renting the apartment.

"Hmmm, I understand what your point is, but there were no signs of sexual violence from your mother" Edward said.

"Huh? Wouldn't it be weirder if there were signs of sexual violence?" Louis looks irritated.

"Do you really already know what happened, why are you asking strange things?" Louis continued.

Edward was stunned for a moment.

"Hmmm, go ahead, I won't ask again" Edward said.

"My mother is a mentally disturbed person, so if she was disturbed during her break, she would be furious"

"Because of that, mother definitely refuses to let the owner of the apartment to come inside"

"And that's when the owner of the apartment forcibly entered"

"And that's what it's like..." Louis finished his story.

...

"Hmmm, the owner of the apartment accidentally killed your mother and left before touching her in a panic"

Edward smiled then led Louis out of the room. Outside, he is confronted by Peter.

"Hey Louis, come out first, wait for me in the green car" Edward threw a car key at Louis.

Louis walked out with Edward's car keys.

"Now what are you planning?" Peter shot Edward a suspicious look.

"Don't tell me you believe what that boy said?" Peter looks irritated.

"Hahahaha, the story is wild, whether it's true or not, but one fact will not change"

"The main culprit of this case is the owner of the apartment" Edward said stepping past Peter.

"If he's that sure... Does that mean, he already knew the culprit was the apartment's owner from the start!?" Peter muttered looking at Edward from behind.

"What are you going to do with the child?" Peter shouted.

"From his behavior, you would already know if the child has a psychological disorder" continued Peter.

Edward then smiled and turned to Peter for a moment.

A few moments later.

In the car on the way.

"Now what?" Louis asked.

"Evidence... I need stronger evidence to catch the culprit, so I will look for more evidence at the crime scene" Edward said.

" you realize you're going to live alone, right?" Edward said.

"Um, because my father would still be arrested for not reporting mother's death, so it seems that way" Louis stared out the car window.

Edward had a big grin on his face.

"Stay with me, I happen to live alone" Edward said.

"All your needs will be met, as long as you do all the housework, and help me when I need it," continued Edward.