Through the Darkness (Those Who Read Hearts of Evil / Akui Maeumeul Ilneun Jadeul / 악의 마음을 읽는 자들)

(The drama was based on a book, and all people, organizations,)

(locations, and incidents in this drama are fictitious.)

(It was filmed in accordance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines.)

What?

Do you know me?

("How Did the Profiler Catch Gu Young Chun?")

Gu Young Chun.

You're the guy who caught him.

So you know who I am.

I guess you were very interested in Gu Young Chun's case.

He took the credit for my killing.

That was a ridiculous lie.

What do you mean?

I'm not here to interrogate you.

I'm here to help you.

You want to help me?

But why?

Why would you help me?

My job is to analyse why this happened,

so I'm here to speak with you...

to learn more about you.

Speak about what?

Well, anything.

Do you live alone?

- Then who do you live with? - My mom and brother.

What about your father?

He died.

A long time ago.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

(CSI Scientific Investigations Field Training)

Detective Nam, I just saw that you called.

- Chief Kook. - I had a lecture...

at the Police University. I saw it just now.

It's a robbery case. They said it seemed suspicious,

so Captain Yoon and I took a look.

It reminds me of timid aggression.

I think there's something.

I told Inspector Song right away, and we rushed here together.

Yeongdeungpo Police Station.

- Good day. - He's trying...

to get a confession out of him.

You were convicted of theft and rape in the past.

You were in jail for quite a while.

I got caught because luck wasn't on my side.

I didn't really get to do what I'd wanted to do.

Luck wasn't on your side?

Had I been lucky, I wouldn't have been caught.

Didn't you break into the apartment in Sinheung-dong to steal money?

Yes.

But you only managed to steal ten dollars.

- Once again, you were unlucky. - Exactly.

Who knew they'd be so poor?

Why did you leave the valuables untouched?

Stealing stuff like that could leave a trace.

I only steal cash.

You're very cautious.

Yes, I am.

I'm very thorough when it comes to these things.

- Like Gu Young Chun? - He's a bluffer.

How do you know?

I could tell right away.

You're right. I met him.

He indeed is a bluffer and a loser.

How many people did he say he killed?

Why do you ask?

I think he's lying when he didn't even kill that many.

He said he killed all those people.

I know. You're right.

The Imyeong-dong murder.

That wasn't him.

You're a good judge of character.

You've never even met him.

I know these things.

But I have to say,

I've never seen a robber with a pipe wrench.

Why did you pick such a heavy tool?

Because I may have to kill them.

Why do you have to kill them?

Goodness. They saw me. That's why.

Are you really a detective?

But most robbers use knives. Am I wrong?

When you stab someone, they don't always die.

- How do you know? - Well...

That's...

You know everything.

I know a thing or two when it comes to this stuff.

But there are more affluent neighbourhoods.

Why Sinheung-dong, if you needed money?

Many rich people from Gangnam have moved there.

I was going to walk around the area and pick my targets,

but I couldn't even do anything because security was so tight.

So you changed your plan and targeted low-income buildings.

Poor people can't afford to worry about security,

so they had no choice.

Don't you feel bad for them?

Why should I?

It's their fault for being poor.

- Then why did you start the fire? - What?

I...

That wasn't me.

I didn't do it.

I didn't start the fire.

I didn't do it, the fire.

All right, we can talk about that again later.

Being with strangers 24-7 in jail must not have been easy.

I know what it's like.

How do you know?

I'm an introvert too, just like you.

When I'm keeping to myself, people assume I don't know anything.

They all look down on me.

Totally.

Everyone thinks I'm an idiot!

The detectives here won't hit you.

And no one here thinks you're an idiot.

Everyone here...

understands you.

Everyone...

hated me.

Everywhere I went, I had to suffer and get beaten up.

I even had to put up with that awful thing.

When?

- When I was little. - How old were you?

When I was in elementary school.

Who did that to you?

My neighbour, an old man.

That must've been a lot to handle for a kid.

Do you want to keep talking to me?

Yes.

Then answer every question the detectives here ask you.

Do that, and we'll talk again.

I don't want to go back to jail.

Whenever I think about that time, I feel crazy.

I get so upset and angry, to the point that I'd rather die!

If you struggled that much,

why didn't you speak with the correctional officers?

I complained numerous times,

but no one listened.

I...

The people here will listen to everything you say,

so don't worry and just tell them.

And then what?

What will happen after I tell them everything?

What will happen if you don't tell them everything?

I'm sure you don't want...

to relive the misery you experienced.

I'll tell them everything I did.

Get me a single cell.

A single cell. That's all I ask for.

Mr. Nam Ki Tae.

The detectives here know all about the Imyeong-dong case...

as well as the Mogu-dong arson case.

So I suggest you confess voluntarily.

Okay.

Let me know if you need anything.

I'll help you.

If you're willing to open up and confess,

the detectives here will be all ears.

Everyone here...

wants to hear you out, just like I do.

But the thing is,

I don't remember every single thing I did.

I just walked around and did it whenever I felt like it,

so I don't think I can recall where each one took place.

That's okay.

Just tell us what you remember. You can take your time.

I will be...

sentenced to death anyway, won't I?

Don't think like that.

We have to talk again, you know?

All right, then.

You're here.

Yes.

- What if that's the case? - No way.

- He's here. - Hello, sir.

How did it go?

- Can we go in now? - No, wait.

The Southwestern Case. It was Nam Ki Tae.

- See? - I told you.

The Imyeong-dong case too.

- That was also him. - What?

- Goodness. - Unbelievable.

Did he confess?

Yes.

Gosh, we went through so much because of that case.

We should be strategic about interrogating him.

Okay.

He's emotionally unstable.

And he seems socially inept.

He struggles to communicate with others.

I knew it. I thought he looked like a dimwit.

He's never formed a relationship...

with anyone who supports his words and actions.

Then how should we go about interrogating him?

If we get angry or yell,

he won't want to talk.

We have to humour him too?

I'm not asking you to praise him for his crimes.

These suspects already know what the detectives are after.

Even if you treat them nicely, they won't trust you.

She's right.