Autopsy of a Mind

Chapter 72: Jumping To Conclusions

Sebastian gave me a sideward glance before turning the laptop screen towards me. 

"I want you to look at the tapes closely. You might learn a lot from books, but practical experience and viewings of the investigation will speed up your progress multiple folds."

I nodded in understanding and asked for him to start playing the video. His finger lurked over the spacebar when he spoke further. "I'll explain the technique and reactions in a bit of detail. Add in anything you feel is relevant."

"You want me to make my suggestions." I hummed. 

Before he started playing, he didn't give context about who they were watching. Presumably, it was one of the victims. In a different sense, all information regarding the suspect would be given to her for her to browse through, but Sebastian was taking a more haunting take on it. 

I just trusted him and played along.

Sebastian finally began to speak. The words sounded like those right out of one of his lectures.

"Our first suspect is a member of the army. The rigid power structure of the institution has a stark psychological impact on the cogs that run this system and how it operates. The behavioral mannerisms are based on the hierarchical command within the army, leading to differentiated patterns than that seen in a layman. The mechanism of the army forces its officers to become dispassionate and calculative, which during a time of war will have a great impact on the outcome."

He stopped and looked at me, asking for permission to continue.

"In that case, their commands and hierarchy is an important part of their personal identity. In situations of war or emergency, military personnel not only have command over their army subordinates but also the civilian population inhabiting in the area of conflict," he continued when I nodded.

"The importance of obedience is relentlessly ingrained into volunteers through indoctrination and essentially forges a mindset that ensures the fast and accurate transmission of orders and communications. There is no error nor hesitation in the field of military operation. And total respect and acquiescence to any superior are essential."

"It is a rigid sociological hierarchy that has been ongoing for hundreds of years..." I mulled over. "Is our suspect a high ranking officer in the army?" I asked flatly. 

Sebastian smirked and wagged his finger in front of her. "You don't get all your answers that soon. You must first understand the area we are dealing with before jumping to a conclusion. We don't know if the murderer is from the army. We do know the victim is."

My eyes widened considerably as I realized that this was not a game of just analyzing but also critiquing the methods of the police. He was giving me a strict lesson on not assuming things. I had to say, I was guilty of this far more than I had initially believed. 

I suspect people by the look in their eyes or circumstances... because I believe that I know the look in their eyes. But that could be possibly problematic. I had understood that from the many classes I had sat in on. Alicia had wide, maniacal eyes that gleamed with interest and mischief. Howard Hunt, on the other hand, had a sad and violent aura. He was more turned towards impulse and desperation than the qualities of the other. There were different types. Simply basing it on instincts that I had cultivated didn't mean I was right. I also couldn't write off that not all people with that look in their eyes were criminals. 

These were things to consider.

Sebastian went on to continue. "This is the real reason an enlisted person is commonly referred to as their surname or nicknames, whereas officers are recognized by rank. The higher they are in rank, the greater the importance of these hierarchical nomenclature becomes." He gave a significant pause. 

He pressed the space bar and the image of a man in a uniform.

"Richard Davis became embroiled in the air force and was soon promoted to captain. From that moment on, he would be addressed as 'sir' by his subordinates and Captain by his superiors. Being an exemplary pilot and exalted individual in the military, he quickly rose through the ranks. He was essentially in full command of seven thousand military personnel who would be subservient to him."

I had to add in at that moment. "This would have given him an extreme amount of psycho-social equanimity and confidence and wasn't exclusive to his work life." I mulled over it for a minute.

"His designated title would be printed on all forms of identification and every encounter would sanctify this position and restore his authority, boosting his composure and self-assurance. There was one exception however and that was the day he met detective Sam Smith."

I turned to the screen. 

Indeed, this was our suspect. 

"Sam Smith is an exalted officer and specializes in interrogative methods. He's well known in the industry," Sebastian explained. I nodded in understanding. Finally, Sebastian played the video.

"Have a seat, Richard," the detective on the screen said.

He paused the video again. "Before clarifying the psychological relevance as to why a detective would purposefully refrain from addressing a respected official by his title, first circumvent each of the elements and circumstances that led to the meeting of the two." 

I sighed in frustration. Sebastian smiled and pulled out a file from his bag and handed it to me. 

"You could have given this to me beforehand, you know?" I grumbled. 

"What's the fun in that?" he asked. He nudged me to open it and read the file.