Liar Liar (II)

Polygraph aka Lie detector. The pen scribbles on...


(a sequel to Liar Liar)
A short greeting was exchanged upon meeting the investigator. Without much delay he led me to a room, or rather, a cell. He explained to me that the purpose of my called up today was to go through the polygraph test. The brief was precise: pass the test, and you are out of the suspect list. I was told to stay in the room before he left to get the polygraph operator ready. I looked around the four corners of the 5X5 metres cell. This is the third time that I've gone through interrogation, and it definitely isn't a nice feeling. After how Eugene had described it to be, it seemed to me that it would be a yielding experience. Alone in the cell, I can only try to divert my attention to the swinging of the doors outside along the corridor. My heart is wildly racing away with every swing of door and footsteps outside the wooden door...

The investigator entered once again to guide me to the room next door. A brighter cell this time, there laid a table with wires twingling out of it. The polygraph set sat in the center of the table. There were three chairs in the cell. I was invited to take the most comfortable looking one, with the armrest. Once again I was left alone while he went out to inform the examiner. I looked around the room again. Looking composed on the outside, I was utterly disturbed by the slightest sound produced in the vicinity. The air in the room is heavy and pressurising.

In came a young man in his late twenties. The examiner introduced himself, and established himself as a neutral party of the whole incident. His main task was purely to tabulate the results from the lie detector and thus eliminate me out of the case if I were to pass it. He then conducted a short interview and got me to brief him on my statements. What seemed neurotic in the beginning turned out to be an easy interview. It helped relaxed me as I reflected to him my point of views to the case. Of course, I vouched for Eugene's innocence. I even found myself a chance to narrate him the $200 con incident. Well, he seemed amused by my foolish generosity.

Soon, the polygraph test started proper. First, I was "chained" to the chair by two wires, one across my chest, and the other across the abdominal. There were 4 sensors to track the heart beating rate. Next came the sweat glands detector. 2 meatal plates were wrapped around my right hand's second and fourth finger tip. Lastly, the blood pressure was to be measured by the strap around my left bicep. My left arm started to grow numb, then the sound of my heart pounding became so prominent that it sounded as if the heart was repositioned right next to the ear drum. The pounding grew harder and rapid as I heard more of it. Butterflies were bumming about inside my stomach. I can't calm myself down, I literally lost control to the hidden panic.

I maintained my composure on the outside despite the upheaval inside. He asked me how I was feeling. Nervous, was my response.

On a piece of paper, he wrote 4 numbers: 2, 3, 4 and 5. I was asked to choose a number. I chose 3. The first person that came to my mind was Kenneth. It is still an unsolved mystery that he would appear in my mind in this moment of time. Anyway, his jersey was number 3. The examiner then filled in 1 and 6 on the paper. I had to close my eyes. With no visual distractions, the heart beat amplified. Subsequently, the instruction for me was to answer only NO to all questions. "Did you circle number 1?" "NO" "Did you circle number 2?" "NO" "Did you circle number 3?" "NO"... and the question goes on for the rest. The 3rd "NO" was answered differently inside me. The heart momentarily contracted when the third question was asked. He took a glance at the results, then announced, "you are eligible to take the test."

Next, the examiner came out with a two sets of questions. The first set was the "controlled questions", for instance, "are you in Singapore now?" The second set was case related. The test proceded again, except that I had to answer the questions in my mind when asked. When controlled questions were asked, it was answered with ease, without pressure. On the other hand, every single incident related question triggered the contaction of the heart without fail, even though my answer was truthful. I obscurely deem my test to turn out a failure, and was even mentally prepared to face more grillings later on. Later on, I recollect to him that the fact that I had experienced different level of anxiety with the 2 sets of questions. He asked me why. I was dumbfolded for a second before replying, "it was intimidating."

The test was repeated for another 3 times with the same sets of questions. I had to answer YES or NO with eyes shut. (at this very moment NOW that I'm writing this blog, I am experiencing déjà vu) The reactions was almost simliar to the previous test. By the third test, I had already grew accustomed to the two wires tightly strapped across my body. The heavy heat beat still appeared as a matter-of-course. The immense tension in the atmosphere had never left the cell.

In two hours, the test officially ended. The examiner left the cell to conclude the results from the four tests. Alone again, it was a strong sense of relief this time round. The feeling was similiar to time that I finished my last 'A' levels paper.

The examiner re-entered the room. Upon sitting down, he kept me in suspend, "your investigator will tell you your results later on." I lied in my respond to him, "I believe I passed the test."

Out went the examiner and the investigator came in soon after. "You can leave now." Still hung in suspend, I attempted to confirm, "so does that mean I passed the test?" He paused momentarily, then repeated, "you can leave now."

I persisted, "am I still subjected to call ups by your department again?"

"Unlikely," was his reply.

The air in the cell rose in weight. I could finally breathe the light air, in relieve.