CHAPTER 22

TIN

Ten is going out for a few hours to pick up his husband and I was left behind alone at Vel's mansion with his family. His mama and sister are resting in their rooms now. They've been crying for hours to the point Sai needs to call their family doctor to give them some sedatives so they can rest and sleep.

Ping is also here now. The Commissioner has appointed him to lead this investigation to find Vel and he looks really serious about this. After he lost the Thumb Collector case, handling the abduction of the second son from one of the most influential old Alpha families will look good in his resume.

Also, from Ten's report, he knows that the people who tried to kidnap Jade yesterday and possibly kidnap Vel this time are the people from the same group: The family of The Thumb Collector's victims. If my logic is right, he feels bad because he was the one who asked Vel to secretly continue investigating the Thumb Collector's case.

He should feel bad. By the time Vel was discharged from the case he should be free from everything related to the Thumb Collector, but this Inspector with daddy issue, dragged him back into this case. In secret, while hiding it from me. He should feel bad, he should feel worse, and if anything happened to Vel, I myself will make sure no one will ever find him except for his thumb.

Sai is done talking to Ping and walks to sit next to me. We were all gathering at the study room where the mansion phone located. Ping is still guarding the phone with Vel's mom and a few other investigators, waiting, in case the kidnapper calls to ask for ransom or something. They knew the kidnappers' objective was not money or anything material, so waiting for a call from them is a waste of time. Find more CCTV or just start investigating the families of the Thumb Collector's victims, that will be better than just waiting around here.

I'm waiting for Ten to come back and start our investigation ourselves. After all, just one Ten is better than a whole squad of the investigation team.

"The bodyguards said Vel was giving himself to the kidnappers because he doesn't want anyone to get hurt or die." Sai suddenly started talking to me.

"What?" I was so busy with my own thoughts that I didn't really pay attention to what he said just now.

"The bodyguards who guarded Vel, said they can easily escape by running over the kidnapper but Vel forbade him to do that. Vel said he didn't want anyone to get hurt or die. And he also believes the kidnappers didn't have any intention to harm him." Sai chuckles, "That sounds so much like Vel."

Hearing that, somehow I smiled "I hope he is right. After all, Vel is never wrong at reading people, even when he can't read their minds."

Sai looked at me and smiled too "You know... Vel told me about your condition..."

I furrowed my brow and looked back at him "My condition?"

"About your psychopathy."

I blink my eyes a couple of times, not because I don't hear what he said, but because I don't know how to react to it. Getting accused of being a psychopath is one thing but being told that he knows I'm a psychopath from someone else is another thing, why did Vel even tell his brother about it?

I look at his mom's direction. She was way across the room and busy talking with Ping and the other investigators. Pretty sure she didn't hear what we were talking about,

"Don't worry... I don't tell my parents about it. Vel only tells me, we tell each other almost everything. Almost," Sai added quickly.

Does that supposedly make me feel better? I still don't know what I should say.

"I'm... sorry..." I said with a small voice, not sure if that's the proper reaction.

"Sorry for what?"

"For my condition?"

Sai scoffed "Why do you have to feel sorry? You have no control over it, you were born that way."

I look at him in disbelief. Most people will go screaming and scared when they know that I'm a psychopath. Only Vel and his brother who react like it's just a condition and nothing to be worried about.

"I'm a professor of psychology, I know psychopathy well enough to understand that it's not always equal evilness or bad things." he added.

I smile without realizing it. Knowing that he's not completely right, but I can't dismiss the fact that both Vel and his brother are the only two people who didn't conclude me as someone 'bad' just because I'm a psychopath. This is actually a new feeling for me.

"I'm thankful that both you and Vel have a similar mindset. People usually freak out and leave when they find out." Somehow, I just told him that and that's the truth, no lies in it.

"Well, I have to say, I had my own worries when I first found out about it. He is my baby brother, I want all the best for him, especially after what he's been through before we adopt him."

"I understand that."

"I trust Vel's judgment. If he chooses you then I don't have any reason to object to his choice."

I smiled again and said "Thank you, I'm glad to hear that."

"You're welcome."

He then rested his back on the ball behind us, looking completely relaxed and it irked me a little bit. Isn't he worried about his brother? Why is he looking completely relaxed and calm?

"I wonder where Vel is right now." I said that to see his reaction because my logic said directly asking if he's worried about Vel will be too judgmental and rude.

He chuckled and then said "To be honest, I won't be too worried about him. He's probably enjoying dinner with his kidnaper right now."

I turned to him with a sharp look "Why did you say that?"

"Because Vel gave himself to them, meaning he knows for sure they don't have any intention to harm him in any way. He'll probably return by himself tomorrow. My parents and the police are just overreacting."

VEL

I'm enjoying my dinner tonight with the people who are supposedly my kidnapper while also reviewing all the additional evidence they have. Blue brings along a few other people to join us eating all kinds of junk food that I barely can eat at home because my parents strict healthy diets. Hamburgers and fries never taste bad in any situation.

The evidence they brought me is actually pretty good. There's CCTV footage from when they left the house the night before they went missing and also the last text messages they sent to their relatives.

"So are you saying they all sent an apology message to their closest relative before they disappeared?"

"That's right, but the text he sent before he's gone missing doesn't sound like him at all." said Blue "I mean, that wasn't the first apology text he sent to my parents, but the words he's using in that last text doesn't feel like him at all."

"Hmm... same with me..." said the other people.

"Me too... me too..." the other added.

"Also... the way they just walk out from the house without bringing any of their personal belongings is just weird." said Blue, while showing me the video of one of the victims walking out from their home with almost nothing except for the clothes they wear.

"It almost feels like they were possessed." added another person.

I chew my burger while realization comes to my mind. They purposely hide this footage from the police so the police never manage to collect such a good angle of the victims last moment seen on camera. But in these videos I can clearly see their movement and their blank expression. They weren't possessed at all. They were given direct command by someone with a mind control ability.

I know, because I witnessed it with my own eyes when someone used his ability to control a bomber who tried to blow up a restaurant full of people. Also, once, I gave him my permission to do that to me.

I feel like my burger is stuck in my throat. Finally I got my conclusion from a place I didn't expect. There's no more doubt about it now.

TIN

I end up spending the night at Vel's family mansion. I'm not even sure if I'm sleeping or not. The atmosphere is so tense all the time that I barely can fully fall asleep. Sai, on the other hand, looks so relaxed all the time. He left around midnight to go back to his family.

With a calm face he said "Just go to sleep, he'll be back tomorrow."

I hope I can.

There's no news at all and it makes the situation even more tense. It will be all better if they just call and ask for ransom, that way we at least have some news, but radio silence like this makes us feel so lost.

Ten also didn't help much, surprisingly. It almost feels like they know we have a technopath on our side and do every precaution to not get detected by him. Having nothing more to do here, Ten left right after Sai left, leaving me with just Ping and his investigation team.

In the morning, Vel's mom told me to get breakfast at the dining room together with Ping and the rest of the investigation team who also spent the night here. She looks so saffled and unfocused but still tries to look strong and neat.

"What about mama and Jade?" I ask out of courtesy as we all walk to the guest dining room.

"They're still asleep. The doctor told me it's better for them to stay asleep at least until we get some good news." She sighs deeply "I really hope we can have good news soon."

The guest dining room looks so gloomy during breakfast. Everyone looked tired and sleepy, no one talked and the only voice heard in the whole room was cutlery clashing with the plates.

We all stop moving when a maid suddenly runs into the dining room screaming "There's a call! There's a call! Hurry back to the study room, there's an incoming call"

In unison, we all got up from our seats and ran back to the study room where the phone rang.

VEL

I have already finished talking with them and it's time for me to go back to my family. I already found out who the thumb collector was, but I didn't tell them. I need to make up my own mind first before I'm telling anyone about it.

But, before I leave, I feel like I need to make a few deals and clear things up with them.

"First, don't disturb my family ever again. we already know each other's number and if you want to talk to me you just need to call me."

They all scoff "Fair enough."

"Secondly, I won't tell you who the thumb collector is even after I found out who they are."

They immediately protested "Why?"

"Because there's too many of you here. Too many mouths meaning higher possibility the secret will be leaked. Maybe not on purpose but accidently. Of course you guys don't want just anyone knowing about who they are, police are still looking for them. I personally don't want too many people to know about them in case someone probably is not in the same opinion as you guys and wanted revenge over them. It will become a personal vendetta and I am never too keen about self justice."

"Then, what about you, how can we trust you? Will you give them to the police?"

That is a difficult question because I myself haven't decided what I will do. "I still don't know, if I ever found out who they are I will talk to them and then I will decide what I'll do."

They immediately protested again.

"So you are saying you won't tell us even if you find out who they are and you also will be the only one who decides either they will go to prison or not?"

"You guys are gambling by just literally kidnap me and talk to me about all of this. Now let me decide whether your gambling is worth it or not."

"Or we can just hold you here forever and start torturing you until you change your mind." said one of them.

I chuckled, "No, you guys won't do that."

"How do you know for sure? We are going to prison anyway."

I narrowed my eyes "Who said you guys will go to prison?"

"We tried to kidnap your sister, we kidnapped you and beat up your bodyguards. The police are pretty much looking for you and us right now."

I looked at them and said confidently, "No one needs to go to jail."

They smile cynically.

"How are you so sure?"

"I've been thinking about it since last night, I can make none of you go to jail, well not for so long, probably"

They look at each other, confused. Then Blue asks "How?"

"Well, first of all, did any of you graduate from Prompaopun High School?"

"I did," Blue immediately raised his hand.

"Oh, how old are you?"

"29"

"You are my Junior then."

"I know."

I raised my eyebrows "You know I'm your senior?"

"Yeah, well, we never actually met each other before, but who doesn't know you anyway. You were literally the king of the school, no one ever dared to look you in the eyes. Everyone who messes with you, whoever they are, will end up in some lame high school in the countryside."

They turn to look at me with a judging look.

I somehow feel ashamed of myself even though I was never a jerk in high school, I never even realized about this until my brother told me yesterday "Well, I'm sorry about that."

"You don't need to actually, you were never a jerk, all I heard about you are good things. People said you are the reason no one gets bullied in the school because they know you hate bullies. If anything, you were never a tyrant, you were a just and fair king who took care of your people. That is why I think I can trust you."

I totally smiled hearing him say that. "I'm really glad you said that, thank you."

"But, does it have anything to do with us not going to jail?" ask one of them.

"Oh yeah, Blue is actually our perfect scapegoat."

"Scapegoat?"

"Yeah, we can say all of this is just a prank for me as your former high school senior, because I once wronged you and you want to do this prank as revenge."

They were murmuring to each other. I'm not used to covering up a crime, that's not my speciality, my job is the opposite, but this is the best idea I can come out with.

"How will people believe in an absurd story like that?" ask Blue.

"They will if I also confirm it. Besides, I'm not harmed at all, and you are an Alpha from a prominent family. Believe me, the Commissioner won't make a big deal out of it."

More murmurs among them. I just stay silent while they talk about this. After some discussion, Blue turned back to me.

"For me personally, if it works then it will be better if just one of us goes to jail then all of us."

"I will make sure it works, But we have to do this quickly before the Commissioner brings my kidnapping case to the media, if the media already found out the Commissioner will have no choice to make it a big deal."

"Ok, so how will we do this?"

"First, we need to go somewhere and then make a call."

TIN

Vel's mom already picked up the call, she looked at us with a confused look, still holding the phone in her ear. She slowly sat down and put the phone back.

"Is that the kidnapper?" ask Ping.

"What did they say?" I ask.

"He just says 'Pick him up at the Prompaopun High School in an hour'" she said in a trembling voice

We all look at each other, as confused as her.

"He didn't say anything else?"

"No he didn't" she said "He just said that and cut the call."

"Can we track the call?" Ping asks his investigator who takes care of the tracking device.

The Investigators hurried to run to his laptop and check the tracking device "No, sir, the call is too short."

"I'll call Ten and tell him to come here, he probably can track that call." I said

"He probably can." said Ping, nodding his head "Call him here."

"Should we just go to the high school?" said Vel's mom in a worried tone "He told us to go there after all."

She, of course, is 100% right. Mine and Ping's focus has been to catch the kidnapper while her focus is to get her son back sooner. Now that we know a place the kidnaper pointed, our main focus should be going to that place and finding out what he wants.

"Prepare the team, we are going to the Prompaopun High School."

VEL

"Who picks up the call?" I ask Blue.

"I think it was your mother." answer Blue.

"I have two mothers, which one?"

"Well, how should I know?"

I sigh, of course he wouldn't know, how would he know?

We are already at our old high school. It's better to do the call here, so in case Ten tracks the call he won't find the house where the rest of my kidnapper is still hiding.

Thankfully it's still semester break and the school is empty. We wait around at the rooftop so we can see when the police start coming here.

"You already know are you?" Blue suddenly asks me after a few seconds of silence.

"What?"

"I can see in your face when you saw our evidence, you already found out who the thumb collector is."

I look at him with an amuse look, did he just read my mind or what?

"I have had a strong suspect since the beginning, your evidence makes me more sure. But still I need to confirm it myself. I won't be 100% sure if that person hasn't admitted it themselves." I answer him

"That's fair enough."

"I want you to know, you probably think they are a savior but my early profiling over them shows that they did all of this just for their personal selfish reason and not for justice or anything noble."

He smiled then said "We don't really care, whatever their reason is, we just see the effect of their action. And we believe they really chose his victims carefully, they made sure they were all the people who have no redeeming quality. they never kill someone who still has a will to change themselves."

"How do you know?"

"We do our own research, to make our appeal to the Commissioner in hope he will close this case, which is when I think about it again actually pretty stupid, but yeah, we did our research, and we found out he is targeting everyone who really really deserves it and not just those who get media attention."

"Is there any case you can make as an example?"

"Remember about 10 years ago, a male Delta get a full media attention because he raped 12 Omegas and female Betas."

"I did." That case got so much media attention and was one of the cases we talked about in criminology class.

"He only got community service punishment because his doctors said all he did was because the Delta treatment he got made his libido uncontrollable. You probably think, with so much stupid punishment evil people get in our society, this Delta should become the thumb collector's victims. The media frame him as a guilty person anyway. But we found out, he is actually not evil at all, and what his doctor said is true. He asks for forgiveness to all of his victims. He even paid for all of their therapy treatment, even though it's not cheap, he worked his butt off to afford it. He did all his community service punishment diligently. Now he is happily married and treats his family really well. Never get any problem with law ever since. And I believe, for that reason, he is still alive and well, not being on the box as one of the thumb collector's collections."

I sat silent for a few seconds after he finished his story. How can I never know it? All this time, every case I handled, I never truly cared about the victims. I always only focus on my suspect. How can I call myself a true profiler if I never even see all sides of the story?

"There are many other stories like this, and this is why we are sure, whatever their reason for killing all of their victims, either they just love killing people or they truly want to bring justice, we know they did it carefully, and not based on a selfish judgment." He looked at me in a serious manner and added "If you ever had a chance to talk to the thumb collector, you should remember about this too, so you can truly understand them."

I didn't answer him and truly thought about what he said. But the thumb collector I know is a psychopath. A psychopath I used to believe can't even hurt a fly, but turns out to be a serial killer who harvests people's organs to be sold by organ traffickers. Is this kind of person really a secret savior? But again, I'm not sure about my way of thinking anymore. Because for the past few days, again and again, my way of thinking has been proven wrong.

My train of thought was cut short when we heard cars entering the school yard. A lot of cars. We took a peek and saw at least 5 police cars stop in front of the school building. Police officers with guns come out from the cars looking all menacing.

Blue and I look at each other and we both take a deep breath at the same time.

"I guess it's show time." I said to him

"Let's just hope they won't shoot me the moment I show myself."

TIN

I waited at Vel's house with Ten and his family. His mama and sister are awake and waiting with us in the study room now. Looking nervous but not crying anymore. His brother is also here, somehow still looking as relaxed and calm as ever.

Ten tried to track the call and the result sounded so absurd.

"It's coming from the school," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"The kidnapper made the call from the school."

"So they are in the school?" ask Vel's mom.

"Yes, ma'am, the one who makes the call already in the school when they make the call."

"Should we call the police who go there, telling them the kidnapper is already waiting there?" ask Jade which is what I'm about to do.

I reach for my phone when Vel's mom's phone rings first. She immediately picked it up.

"Hello, Ping." she anticipating any news.

"Put it on speaker, mom." said Sai.

She did put the call on speaker so we all can hear it.

"We have him, Vel is here, he is safe," said Ping.

We all sigh a deep sigh of relief. his mom and sister hug each other and burst into a relief cry.

"Is he ok? Is he hurt?" ask his mom.

"He is fine and not hurt at all."

"Oh, Thank God!"

Sai looks at me and makes a 'told you' annoying face.

"His kidnapper is also here."

We all look at each other hearing that, confused and surprised. I didn't expect this.

"Is he threatening Vel?" ask his mom immediately to think of the worst.

"No, he surrender himself" answer Ping "Apparently, he was Vel's high school junior and this is all are just a prank"

Ten is the person I look to. What just happened? this is totally not what I expected at all.

VEL

Both me and Blue were brought in separate cars. The police will bring him to the police station for interrogation while I will immediately bring back home to meet my family. I look at Blue with a worried look. I really hope my plan works just fine. Seeing him get handcuffed and surrounded with officers with guns kinda scare me.

I make sure I tell Ping over and over again that it's all just a prank and I don't get hurt at all.

"We'll take your official statement after we arrive at your home and meet your family. They were worried sick about you."

My heart sank when I thought about my family, especially my mama and Jade, they were always the ones who had an extreme reaction to everything that happened to me. I just hope this didn't give them too much stress.

As expected, all of my family were waiting for me at the front door. They run to me the moment I step out of the car. My mama and sister hug me so hard I can barely breath.

"Oh, thank you God, thank you God for protecting my son." said my mama over and over again.

"You are back, you are back and alive," said Jade.

"I'm ok, really, it's just a stupid prank from my junior in high school. He didn't hurt me at all, and we were just talking while having meals." I tried to explain to them.

My mama and Jade let go of the hug and looked at me with a confused look.

"So that's really true? It's just a prank?" ask mama.

"Let's all get inside first." said my mom.

We all walked inside the house with mama still holding my hand tightly like she was afraid I would suddenly evaporate in the air or something. When I walked past the front door I saw him also here, Tin, with a faint smile looking at me.

"You are here?" I said to him,

"Tin has been here waiting for any news from you since yesterday, he was so worried and barely had any sleep at all." said my mom.

"Oh." That was really unexpected for a total psychopath.

"I'm glad you come back now." he said to me with a soft voice.

"Let's all go to the study room first. We still need to hear Vel's complete statement." said Ping, then he kinda dragged me into the study room.

Only my parents and I are allowed to be inside the study room. It should be just me alone but my parents insist they want to be inside with me and Ping doesn't seem to have enough courage to reject two fiercely worried mothers.

I tell him the story that both me and Blue already practice together so that our statement will be matched with each other. Blue is my Junior in High school. All of this kidnapping drama is just a mere prank from him and a few other juniors because they have some kind of grudge over me. We talk and I apologize to them, they forgive me and also say they're sorry.

"But how about the group chats Ten found about the family of the thumb collector's victim who wanted to kidnap you?"

"Well, Blue's brother is the thumb collector's victim and he knows about that group chat but what all those people said in those group chats are just some kind of therapy for the loss they felt. He admits that he got the idea from the group chats but the people in those group chats never really try to do anything to me."

I'm not a good liar, and I hope I have enough time to make up a better story but this is the best story I can come out with.

"What about the people who tried to kidnap Jade?" ask my mama.

"That's also Blue and some of his friends, all are my high school juniors. They said they didn't have any intention to kidnap Jade and they just wanted to make Jade call me so I will go to their designated destination. They also said they are really sorry for the fear they caused Jade."

Nobody talks after I tell my story. Even though I feel it's not a believable story, I just hope they have no choice but to trust me.

"Is that really the truth? Are you really telling the truth, son?" My mom totally can see my lie "If they threaten you with anything you can tell us now, you are safe here."

"No, they didn't threaten me on anything, what can they use to threaten me anyway?" I answer truthfully "I'm not in harm at all. We were just talk about our time in High school and how they say I was so annoying because I act like I'm the King, but that's all, they feed me well, and the place they brought me into was a nice place with a soft bed and I had a good night's sleep last night."

"You sleep so well, while we all here barely get any sleep." Ping kinda sounds angry.

"Well, sorry about that..."

"Are you sure about that? Are you really ok, son?" My mama is still not convinced.

"I'm 100% fine, you can get me a full medical check up if you want."

"We can ask Tin to do that, I'm pretty sure he is qualified enough for that." said my mom.

I widened my eyes hearing that "Why did it have to be..."

"Yeah, I will ask dr. Tin to do a medical check up on you after this." said Ping.

"But shouldn't I..." I stop and think for a second, I do need time to talk to Tin, in private, as soon as possible. This can be a good opportunity, so I changed my mind and quickly said "Yes, let's ask him to do that."

"I will tell Tin so he can get ready." said my mama then she left the room.

"What about the other people who helped with the kidnapping?" Ping still doesn't want to let me go so easily. "Why is it only Blue who surrendered himself?"

"Because it's fully his idea and the other people are just helping him. He want to take the whole responsibility without including the other people."

"That can't be!" my mom quickly reacted "All of them are equal..."

"Mom..." I cut her before she finished her sentence "Can we just drop this case?"

"WHAT?" said my mom and Ping totally in sync.

I sigh deeply "It's just that... I also feel kinda guilty for them."

"What? why? guilty for what?"

"I never realized until now that some people see me as an annoying person during High School, I thought everyone liked me."

"They did! you were a perfect student, you are kind, smart, caring."

"But it looks like not everyone thinks like that, just look at Blue, he hates me enough to plan all of this just to say how much he hates me."

I added a sad face to make my reason more believable, this part I learned from Tin. And it looks like it works, my mom's angry face turns softer.

"That's why, let's just let him go. I'm not in harm after all. Give him a restraining order over us and tell him to beg for forgiveness to Jade, let's just not make this case even bigger, it will only make me feel even more like a bad person."

I can't believe I just full blown gaslighting my own mom. Where did the good son go? I just told a big lie to my mom and my good friend just to protect a group of serial killer supporters. And somehow it feels really good when it actually works.

"Ok... let's just do as you wish." said my mom and I cheered in my heart.

"We still need to process it according to the rules, though." said Ping "But since the victim itself said there's no crime here then I don't think we can continue this case."

I smile a big grin "So happy to hear that, there is absolutely no crime here."

I can believe this is actually work as I planned. Ping said he will finish Blue interrogation and if he fully cooperates and is remorseful then he will let Blue go.

When the three of us came out from the room, Tin was already waiting for me with his medical bag in hand.

I look at him and think, another problem I need to face.

"Can we do this in my room?" I said to him.

"Sure."

I leave everyone in front of the study room and walk up only with Tin to my bedroom. My family is still talking with Ping regarding the continuity of this case and didn't really pay attention to us. Can they see how nervous I am? I don't know how this conversation will go and the worst case scenario is I will come out of my own bedroom as a dead body. Nevertheless, I prefer to do this without my family around. This needs to stay between him and I, at least for now.

We enter my bedroom and I close the door behind us. Now really it's just me and him alone. My heart is beating so fast and for the first time with him, it's not at all about sexual arousal.

"Lie down on the bed and take off your clothes," he said.

Those words will excite me in another situation but not this time. I didn't do as he told and walked to the corner of the room, I don't even know why I do this. If the worst happens, no corner in this room will protect me from him.

"What's wrong? Why are you standing so far away?" he asks, looking at me with a confused look.

I keep my hand on my trouser's pockets and look him in the eye then say "You are the thumb collector."

At first he looked surprised but then he smiled "We've been through this already, you know..."

"That was not a question, that was a statement" I said with a stern voice "I know you are the thumb collector."