Chapter 122: “Interrogation Tactics”

The officers immediately went to verify the information and reported back, “The owner of a nightclub said he received a call that afternoon, warning him that the police would come that night. He decided to play it safe and informed the whole street.”

Lin Dongxue said, “Lao Zhang, please go to the telecommunications bureau and check if any of those four kids made a call to that nightclub.”

Seeing the case progress, the shop owner was thrilled. “The detectives are really something, so efficient! Unlike those useless local cops.”

“Hey, don’t say that!” Chen Shi said. “By the way, has your store had any other disputes before this?”

“None at all. Our customers are always well-behaved. This robbery is the first in five years.”

“You mentioned this is the main store. What about the branches?”

“I’m not sure. I can give you the contact information for the branches.”

Chen Shi noted the numbers and told Lin Dongxue, “These kids seem careless, but they’re actually smarter than we thought. They enjoy defying social norms and committing minor crimes to show their rebelliousness.”

“You suspect they had a motive for targeting this store?”

“Yes… It would take too long to check each branch. Let’s just call them.”

They stood there making calls, and one branch manager mentioned that a month ago, a girl tried to steal a handbag but was caught and chased away by the staff.

Lin Dongxue sent the manager a photo of Niu Mudan, the only girl in the group. The manager called back, confirming, “Yes, that’s her. She was heavily made up, like a ghost, and dressed in a flamboyant style.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Lin Dongxue excitedly said, “It’s confirmed! It was them.”

The police quickly acted, waking the four kids from their sleep and bringing them to the station. On Chen Shi’s suggestion, they didn’t start the interrogation right away but let them stew for a while. Chen Shi explained that people’s judgment is at its worst when they’re hungry. Lin Dongxue laughed, “You’re a real devil!”

At noon, everyone in the office enjoyed the fragrant takeout ribs over rice, while the four kids in the interrogation room cried out, “Do we have no rights? Let us out! We need to eat!”

Chen Shi said, “Let them wait a bit more. Give them instant noodles later, and they’ll confess.”

At 2 PM, Chen Shi brought a cup of instant noodles and a bottle of hot water into the interrogation room. He made the noodles in front of the ravenous Zhang Jinlei, covered them with a folder, and sat down with a smile. “Hungry?”

“What do you think?” Zhang Jinlei glared at him.

“If you tell me what I want to know, you can have these noodles.”

“Go f* yourself!”

Lin Dongxue tapped the table, “Watch your language.”

“Are you two a couple? You always appear together. Sister, with a body like yours, you should do porn. Getting f*ed in a police uniform would be so hot. I’d jerk off to that.”

Lin Dongxue was about to stand up, but Chen Shi held her hand and lightly patted it, signaling her to stay calm.

Chen Shi said, “What were you and your friends doing at 9 PM on December 10th?”

“F* your mother.”

“Let me remind you, the location is Xinglian Road.”

“Yeah, f*ing your mother on Xinglian Road.”

Chen Shi, visibly irritated, stood up and took the noodles, pouring them out in front of Zhang Jinlei. “Here’s the deal. Every time you swear, we extend your interrogation by an hour. You just swore four times, so we’ll see you in four hours.”

Leaving the interrogation room, Zhang Jinlei yelled, “Let me out! I need to piss!”

Lin Dongxue said, “I thought you were going to hit him.”

Chen Shi replied, “I wanted to. But hitting a rebellious kid would backfire, making him more defiant. It’s better to wear him down slowly.”

Lin Dongxue laughed, “That’s satisfying!”

Four hours later, Niu Mudan couldn’t hold out and confessed. She admitted they committed the robbery and identified Zhang Jinlei as the ringleader.

Now, they just needed Zhang Jinlei to confess.

Four hours later, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue returned to the interrogation room. Zhang Jinlei was exhausted and had wet his pants from holding his urine. The room reeked. Lin Dongxue turned on the air conditioner for ventilation, causing Zhang Jinlei to shiver. “Water, please.”

“Still going to curse?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“No more cursing, I swear.”

Lin Dongxue handed him a cup of water. He drank it greedily and sighed, “Damn it!”

“Alright, another hour,” Chen Shi said.

“No, wait! That was just an expression. I take it back!”

Chen Shi said, “Tell us about your wild night.”

“You mean the dine and dash? I admit it. It’s just a few hundred yuan. I’ll pay the restaurant back.”

“If you don’t talk, I will,” Chen Shi said.

He recounted the crime, ending with a telecom record showing Zhang Jinlei’s call to the nightclub, falsely claiming a police inspection. “You’re smart but not smart enough. You used a phone registered in your name.”

Zhang Jinlei clenched his jaw and stayed silent.

Lin Dongxue added, “Niu Mudan confessed and named you.”

“What!?” Zhang Jinlei snapped, “That b*h! I went through hell for her, and she sold me out!”

“So, you admit it?” Chen Shi asked.

“Admit what?”

“Your struggle is pathetic. You’re supposed to be the leader, the big guy, but you’re acting like a slippery con artist. Do you think your friends will still respect you?”

“No, I have a mental illness, multiple personalities. Sometimes I don’t remember what I did or said. Like the cursing earlier, that wasn’t me.”

Lin Dongxue laughed, glancing at Chen Shi. Chen Shi said, “Bring in the ‘interrogation tools’!”

“Sure, bring them!” Zhang Jinlei screamed, “The police can’t just use torture! I’ll sue you. My cousin’s boyfriend is a law student. I’ll make sure you pay!”

A few minutes later, the “interrogation tools” were brought in—three steaming bowls of pork chop rice and three cups of iced cola. Chen Shi placed one bowl at the far end of the table and started eating with Lin Dongxue, savoring the food.

“This pork chop rice is delicious!” Chen Shi said.

“Yeah, it’s an old favorite. It’s cracked open many suspects.”

Zhang Jinlei, drooling, finally broke. “Give me a bite. I’ll confess. Everything.”