Chapter 1166: Interrogation (Part 1)

In a somewhat dim room, from the walls to the table, to the desk lamp placed on the refrigerator, everything flashed with a cold metallic luster.

Clearly, this was not a comfortable guest room, nor was it a slightly business-like company office. The oppressive atmosphere of this environment was artificially created, and its purpose was to bring greater pressure to people.

The entire room was divided into two parts, with a long counter placed in the middle. On one side was a single chair, while on the other side were several chairs that appeared simpler. It could be seen that the object sitting on the single chair would sit here for a long time, but the people behind the counter would often rotate.

This place looked a bit like an interrogation room, but there were no iron bars like in a police station interrogation room. The table, chairs, and counter were all very close, appearing instead somewhat like a doctor's clinic.

With a "snap," the lights turned on. Standing outside the door was a black man wearing an FBI uniform, with a work badge around his neck.

And behind him stood another female staff member. Her dress and appearance were slightly different; she looked like field personnel, with a work badge of an investigator hanging on her chest, and a pistol tucked at her waist.

Behind the two of them, there was also a white male wearing glasses and a suit, looking refined and cultured. He was not wearing any credentials, looking more like a scholar than an agent.

The black agent walked into the room, sat down on one of the simple chairs on one side of the counter, took off the work badge around his neck, then took his credentials out of his chest pocket, opened them, and displayed them to the figure sitting on the single chair.

"Hello, Professor Rodriguez. I am Jimmy Andris, a member of the FBI's Violent Crime Investigation Group. Under the instruction of the U. S. Department of Justice and entrusted by the New Jersey Higher Education Commission, I am investigating seven possible violent crime charges you received in the previous public accusations."

"This is my colleague, Angela Dodgson, Deputy Team Leader of the Criminal Investigation Information Collection Group. Ms. Dodgson will provide help in criminal investigation information collection for this investigation. And this one..." Jimmy pointed his finger at the white man wearing glasses sitting on his right:

"William Denechet, investigator of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Commission's Anti-Malfeasance Investigation Group, also serves at the FBI's Agent Selection and Education Center, serving as a training lecturer for psychology and behavioral science."

William pushed his glasses, looked at the figure on the single sofa, and said: "I've long admired your name, Professor Rodriguez. I will provide an analysis report for this investigation based on behavioral science and make a reasonable evaluation of the assessment results based on behavioral and psychological aspects. I hope we can cooperate happily."

The black Jimmy nodded at William, looked at Angela again, then took a piece of paper out of his briefcase, quickly browsed the content on it, put down the paper, and raised his eyes to look at Shiler sitting on the single sofa.

This professor was exactly the same as the photo on his personal information form. There were no errors in height, appearance, or dress. Then Jimmy handed the information form to Angela beside him. Angela picked up another piece of paper, compared it with the personal information form, and then looked up and said to Jimmy: "The signature handwriting and fingerprints have no abnormalities, and it can be confirmed that it is the person himself who has arrived for questioning." 【1166

Jimmy placed both hands on the tabletop, looked into Shiler's eyes, and said, "Professor Rodriguez, next, we will ask you basic questions regarding the charges against you. During this period, you may only answer the questions, and you must answer them directly. Afterward, we will give you time for self-defense."

It was evident that Jimmy appeared very cautious. Although the FBI's style of doing things is always criticized, one must admit that when a superpower conducts investigations and trials for anti-violence activities, it has its own advantages.

First of all, for all criminals under public accusation, during the process of their investigation and trial, the FBI is subject to multi-party supervision, especially when investigating and trying figures with sensitive identities; they are mostly very cautious.

At the same time, under the condition of multi-party supervision, they can also mobilize multiple departments to cooperate, obtain theoretical support from talent and think tanks in various disciplines from all sectors of society and the private sector, and the efficiency is very high.

Shiler glanced at the situation opposite him. Besides Jimmy, Angela, and William, there was a recorder standing on each side of the counter.

One of them should be a civilian staff member of the FBI, and the other should be from the Department of Justice. Both recorders were facing Shiler, with the purpose of recording Shiler's words and actions.

And behind Shiler stood another recorder, facing the FBI agents like Jimmy, with the purpose of recording their words and actions.

Having so many people crowded into a small room, besides ensuring the correctness of the trial process, also creates a feeling of being on a deserted island for the person being tried; it is a very common means of adding pressure during interrogation.

Shiler looked at Jimmy and nodded slightly. He could see that this black agent in his prime had very rich experience. However, the other two people sitting beside him were quite interesting.

Shiler's gaze did not linger on the other two for too long. Angela, sitting beside Jimmy, looked at the documents and said in an indifferent tone, "For the questions you answer next, your answers and attitude will largely determine the assessment results. You must answer 'truthfully'. Later, we will conduct a criminal polygraph test on your every word and action, and you will be fully responsible for this."

"Alright, let's begin."

"Since you began teaching at Cat Getan University, up until you accepted the investigation, have you had any illegal infringement activities against psychology students or students of any other department?"

"No."

"During the aforementioned time period, have you ever murdered any students at Cat Getan University?"

"No."

"Have you ever illegally detained any students?"

"No."

"Have you ever abetted students to commit crimes?"

"No."

Shiler's series of denials did not make the few people behind the table feel surprised or angry. The purpose of this interrogation was not to make the person being tried admit anything, but just to observe his attitude and demeanor.

Next, Jimmy began to ask about some details, and before asking, he opened by saying, "In the following questions, if you have any lack of understanding regarding any judgment criteria, you may speak up and ask."

"In your teaching career, have you ever had any physical contact with any student against their will?"

"No."

"Have you ever engaged in verbal harassment against any student, orally or in writing, against their will?"

"No."

"Sorry, can I interject?" William, sitting beside Jimmy, spoke up. Jimmy nodded. William looked at Shiler and said, "Have you ever used any commands to subject them to corporal punishment?"

Shiler shook his head. William then asked, "Have you ever verbally humiliated them in any public or private setting?"

"What is your definition of humiliation?" Shiler asked for the first time.

William and Jimmy exchanged a glance. William rubbed his lips lightly and said, "According to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Act, insulting students in any form is not in compliance with regulations."

"But I have also taught at a university. The boundary between discipline and insult is not that clear. To urge students to study, severe or even slightly intense language can be understood."

"Then, let's imagine a scenario. Suppose I am your student now. I am making loud noises in class, disrupting the teaching order. What would you do?"

William stood up from behind the table, one hand in his suit pocket. Shiler also stood up from the single chair. And the moment his gaze was delivered, William instinctively took a step back.

"Mr. Denichet, is it? I hope you can remain quiet in my class. If you cannot do that, then please leave."

The recorders standing on both sides of the table began to write rapidly to record. William nodded and said, "If I choose not to leave, and after sitting down, I continue to make noise, repeatedly failing to mend my ways, what would you do?"

Shiler glanced at him, but then moved his gaze away and looked at the empty space, saying, "Mr. Falcone, I do not wish for this Mr. Denichet to continue staying in my class. Please help me persuade him to leave."

William narrowed his eyes, looked at Shiler, and asked, "Who is this Mr. Falcone, and what is his relationship to you?"

"He is another student of mine."

"Then how can he..."

Jimmy reached out and pulled William's sleeve, and lowered his voice to say to him, "He is the son of the old godfather Carmine Falcone. Falcone is the head of Cat Getan's twelve mafia families."

William revealed a speechless expression. He lowered his head, then said again, "Alright, then this time the scenario is set in your office. A student who often doesn't hand in homework is called to your office by you. How will you educate him?"

"Usually, I wouldn't call a student who doesn't hand in homework to my office," Shiler shook his head lightly and said. "The first time they don't hand in homework, I will tell them that learning is their own business. If they don't work hard enough, they cannot escape their current situation."

"If they commit the offense a second time, I will call them to the side of the podium after class and ask if there is any special reason."

"What special reasons are acceptable?" William asked.

"Busy with family affairs, too tired from a part-time job, injured in a mafia shootout, the homework is too hard, the homework is too easy, they don't like psychology, or they don't like me." Shiler paused after saying each reason, as if he were thinking.

William keenly discovered the key point, so he looked at Shiler and said, "Is it acceptable for a student not to do homework because they don't like you?"

Shiler sat back in the chair, placed his hands in front of him, nodded, and said, "I do my best to teach according to the student's aptitude, but I accept the fact that not every student likes my teaching style."

"Because I am a psychologist, I can understand that antipathy toward someone's appearance, temperament, or behavior can lead to questioning everything about them, and even taking rebellious actions to resist. It is very normal; humans are emotional animals."

"If he ruins his studies because he doesn't like you, what will you do? Will you persuade him? Or give up on him?" William asked next.

Shiler's expression rarely fluctuated, as if he had fallen into memories and thoughts. After a while, he said, "Actually, I don't know. It varies due to the individual student."

This time, before William could ask, Shiler took the initiative to say, "Not everyone has the talent to learn this subject. Students who are not good at learning often fall into several types."

"If they work hard but have no talent, I will try my best to let them reach the passing line and suggest they learn some extra skills to make a living, to strive for a better life for themselves."

"If they have talent but don't work hard, I will tell them truthfully from my perspective that they have strong talent and can achieve success with just a little effort. But if encouragement is useless, I will be as strict as possible with them because I don't want to see their talent wasted."

"And if they have neither talent nor work hard..." Shiler leaned his body back, pursed his lips, revealed a helpless expression, and then said:

"In line with the teacher's duty to educate, I will carry out a certain degree of persuasion, and then give up, not wasting too much time on them."

"But perhaps... there are exceptions."