Chapter 84: The Eighth Case (6)

As I approach Happy Days Daycare Center, Manson's words echo in my mind: "Look for someone who's part of the community. Someone above suspicion." The cheerful exterior of the building, with its brightly painted walls and cartoon characters, seems at odds with the dark thoughts swirling in my head.

The sound of children's laughter drifts from the yard, a stark reminder of what's at stake in this investigation. As I near the entrance, I can see small figures running and playing, their joy a sharp contrast to the grim reality we're facing.

A guard steps forward as I reach the gate, his posture alert but not overtly hostile. He's middle-aged, with a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard.

"Can I help you?" he asks, eyeing me carefully.

I pull out my badge, holding it up for him to see. "I'm a from the police. I'm investigating the recent cases in the village and would like to take a look inside if possible."

The guard studies my badge, then nods slowly. "I understand, sir, but I'll need to check with the owner first. Our policy is strict when it comes to visitors, especially given recent events. Please wait here."

As I wait, I scan the exterior of the building, noting possible entry and exit points. The windows are large and cheerful, but I notice they're fitted with sturdy locks. The roof access is discreet but visible from where I stand. I wonder if our suspect has used it.

After what feels like an eternity but is probably only a few minutes, a woman emerges from the center. She's in her late forties, with shoulder-length brown hair and a kind face that bears the signs of recent stress. Laugh lines around her eyes contrast with the worry evident in her furrowed brow.

"I'm Mrs. Hong, the owner," she says, extending her hand. "How can we help the police today?"

I shake her hand, noting her firm grip. "Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Hong. I'd like to have a look inside if that's alright. We're following up on some leads related to our ongoing investigation."

Mrs. Hong hesitates, her eyes darting back towards the building. "We have classes in session right now. We don't want to upset the children or make their parents uncomfortable. You understand, I'm sure, given the recent events, everyone's on edge."

I nod, trying to keep my tone reassuring yet authoritative. "I completely understand your concerns, Mrs. Hong. I assure you, I'll be quick and discreet. It's important for our investigation, and ultimately, for the safety of these children."

After a moment's consideration, she relents with a sigh. "Alright, but please be brief. And I'll need to accompany you."

As she leads me inside, I'm hyper-aware of every detail. The entryway is bright and welcoming, with children's artwork adorning the walls. The smell of crayons, disinfectant, and something that might be play-doh fills the air. I can hear the muffled sounds of a teacher leading a song in a nearby room.

As we walk down the hallway, I keep an eye out for any staff members who match our suspect's description. A big man would stand out in a place like this.

"Do you have many male employees, Mrs. Hong?" I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.

She looks surprised by the question, her brow furrowing slightly. "Not many, no. There's Mr. Jang, our janitor - he's been with us for years. Then we have a couple of teachers' assistants - young men, usually university students. Why do you ask?"

I make a mental note to follow up on these individuals, especially the janitor. Long-term employees often have access and trust that others don't. "Just gathering information," I reply smoothly. "In investigations like these, every detail can be important."

Mrs. Hong nods, but I can see the worry in her eyes intensify. "Detective, should we be concerned? Are the children here in danger?"

I choose my words carefully. "We're doing everything we can to ensure everyone's safety. Your cooperation is helping us do that. Have you noticed anything unusual lately? Anyone hanging around who shouldn't be, or any staff behaving oddly?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing out of the ordinary. We've been extra vigilant since... well, you know."

As we finish the interior tour, a thought strikes me. "Mrs. Hong, would it be possible to see the roof as well?"

She looks at me, puzzlement clear on her face. "The roof? That's an unusual request. May I ask why?"

I keep my expression neutral. "It's just part of our thorough investigation. We're leaving no stone unturned."

After a moment's hesitation, she nods. "Alright, if you insist. Follow me."

As we make our way up the stairs, I pay close attention to every detail. The stairwell is clean, but not immaculately so. There are scuff marks on the steps, and as we get higher, I notice something interesting - the dust patterns are disturbed. It's subtle, but to a trained eye, it's clear that someone has been using these stairs recently, and frequently.

We reach the door to the roof, and Mrs. Hong fumbles with a set of keys. "We keep this locked at all times," she explains. "It's far too dangerous for the children to access."

"Who has keys to this door?" I ask casually.

"Just myself and Mr. Jang, the janitor," she replies. "Speaking of which, he's out getting supplies to fix some things around the building. He should be back soon if you need to speak with him."

I make a mental note of this information as Mrs. Hong unlocks the door. We step out onto the rooftop, and I'm immediately struck by two things. First, the roof is surprisingly clean - no debris, no obvious signs of the metal planks we've been finding elsewhere. Second, the adjacent building is tantalizingly close - easily within reach of a plank bridge.

As I scan the area, I notice subtle signs that someone has indeed been here recently. There are scuff marks near the edge closest to the neighboring building. The dust patterns are disturbed in a way that suggests regular foot traffic.

"You said no one comes up here?" I ask, trying to keep my tone conversational. Searᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Mrs. Hong nods, looking around with a frown. "That's right. It's off-limits to everyone except for occasional maintenance."

I walk to the edge, looking at the gap between this building and the next. It would be so easy to place a plank here, to create a bridge invisible from the street below.

"Have you noticed anything unusual up here lately? Any signs that someone might have accessed the roof without permission?"

Mrs. Hong joins me at the edge, her frown deepening. "No, nothing like that."

"Thank you for showing me this," I say, turning back towards the door. "One more question - when did you say the janitor would be back?"

As we're about to head back inside, the sound of an approaching vehicle catches our attention. Mrs. Hong and I walk to the edge of the roof, peering down at the street below.

A minivan with the Happy Days Daycare Center logo painted on its side pulls up and parks in front of the building. The passenger door opens, and a man steps out.

Mrs. Hong points to him. "That's Mr. Jang, our janitor," she explains.

I focus on him intently. He's a short man, very thin – a far cry from the description we've been working with based on the footprint analysis. Still, I remind myself, he has access to the rooftop. We can't rule him out completely.

Just as I'm about to suggest we go down to speak with Mr. Jang, movement on the driver's side of the van catches my eye. Another man emerges, and my breath catches in my throat.

This man is big – tall and stocky, matching much more closely with our suspect's profile. He moves with a casual confidence, stretching as if he's been driving for a while.

"Who's that?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the sudden surge of adrenaline.

Mrs. Hong smiles, a hint of maternal pride in her voice. "Oh, that's my son, Jae-hoon. He helps out at the center sometimes, driving the van when we need supplies or for field trips."

As we descend the stairs, a thought nags at me. I turn to Mrs. Hong, keeping my tone casual but curious.

"Mrs. Hong, when I asked about your employees earlier, particularly male staff, you didn't mention your son. May I ask why?"

Mrs. Hong looks surprised for a moment, then gives a small laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't think to mention Jae-hoon because he's not actually an employee here."

We pause on the landing, and she elaborates. "Jae-hoon is a university student. He only helps out during his vacations or when we're short-handed. It's more of a family favor than a job, you see."

I nod, processing this information. "I see. And how often does he help out?"

Mrs. Hong thinks for a moment. "It varies. During semester breaks, he might be here a few times a week. During the school year, it's much less frequent - maybe once or twice a month if we need an extra hand for something specific."

"And his duties? What sort of tasks does he usually help with?" I probe further.

"Oh, a bit of everything," she replies. "Driving the van for supplies or field trips, as you saw. Sometimes he helps with maintenance if Mr. Jang is overwhelmed. He's good with the children too - they adore him."

"Thank you for clarifying," I say as we resume our descent. "It's important for us to have a complete picture of everyone involved with the center."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the encounter ahead. As we reach the bottom of the stairs, I remind myself to stay calm and observant. Every detail, every reaction could be crucial.

As Mrs. Hong and I step into the yard, my eyes immediately lock onto Jae-hoon. He's busy unloading boxes from the van, his large frame making the task look effortless. Despite his imposing size, there's a gentleness to his movements, a care taken not to damage the supplies.

Jae-hoon notices our approach and turns, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Mom!" he calls out cheerfully, setting down a box. "And who's this?"

Mrs. Hong introduces me, and Jae-hoon extends a hand, his grip firm but not overpowering. "Nice to meet you, Detective," he says, his voice warm and open. "Is everything okay?"

I study him closely as we exchange pleasantries. His demeanor is kind, his eyes bright and engaging. There's an air of innocence about him that seems at odds with the brutal crimes we're investigating. He jokes easily with the janitor, Mr. Jang, and I notice a few children waving excitedly at him through a nearby window.

After a brief conversation, I thank Mrs. Hong for her time and cooperation. "We'll be in touch if we need any further information," I say, shaking her hand once more.

As I turn to leave, Jae-hoon calls out, "I hope you catch whoever's doing this soon, Detective. It's terrible what's happening to those poor kids."

I nod, forcing a smile. "We're doing our best," I respond, then make my way out of the center.

As soon as I'm back on the street, Manson's voice emerges in my head, clear and chilling:

"Seems like you've finally found your prime suspect."