82 Implementing the Wrong Method (2/2)

Suddenly the detective picked up his phone and started to talk into it.

”What is he doing?” I asked in confusion.

”People don't take calls during an interview, but when they do, it's to give the suspect a sense of doom. The phone call subliminally translates to important new information that could reveal what they had done. Why else would the detective have their cell phone on? He was expecting more information.” Sebastian whispered.

When the detective put the phone back into his pocket, he turned to William with a stoic expression. ”Just tell me what happened, kid.”

”I don't know,” his voice was small but still monotonous.

”Where is she? I am asking for your help.” There was no sign of pleading in the detective's voice, unlike the previous interrogation they had watched. I took note of it and paused the video for a second. Sebastian turned to me curiously.

”I see the differences in the style of the interrogation but I feel like this is not the method that needs to be taken with this guy. At least the way it is being implemented is not correct. The detective doesn't sound invested in his emotions. He sounds almost patronizing. Is this a tactic that he is using? Is it saying that I have power over you and I know, you just need to confess, but I will act like I care about you...” The words flew out of my mouth as I analyzed and mulled over the technique.

”While patronizing the suspect is a tactic used, it is not highly approved of. I know of many cases where it would work, especially with people who have issues with feeling excessive guilt, have inferiority complexes, or even excessive superiority complexes. Someone who is too sure of their ways needs to be shown their place and told who holds the power in that room. Your gut feeling is right in thinking that this technique is not working in this situation. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it would be good if you take notes and tell me where they failed, exactly.” His explanation made sense, and I made a mental note to ask him to refer me to books and videos where I could see it in action.

”Can you help me?”

”I don't know.”

”What do you mean you don't know?” the detective asked. ”You don't know if you can help a friend out?” My lips tugged into a frown. For a second I thought he was talking about himself and wondered why he would say he was William's friend. My mind wandered into the possibilities of why he would say it when I realized that he was talking about Irene. William said he was Irene's friend. I wanted to slap myself on the head for being stupid.