Chapter 6: A Drop of Ink on the Case, a Thousand Drops of Blood Among the People

Lin Dongxue understood her brother well. He had never done anything wrong in his life, and using private punishment was absolutely impossible for him. This was his usual tactic to scare suspects.

As expected, Chen Shi was not intimidated at all. Instead, he wore a contemptuous smile. He clapped his hands and said, “So, Captain Lin is an advocate of low-carbon, energy-saving practices, knowing this interrogation is meaningless and thus turned off the cameras.”

“Enjoy laughing while you can, because soon, you won’t be able to.” Lin Qiupu picked up a stack of printed papers, walked to Chen Shi, and threw the papers down. “Your resume is quite colorful and impressive!”

Chen Shi glanced at it and said, “These are things I did in the past. So what? Is this your reason for suspicion?”

“A notorious ex-convict, driving a pretty female passenger at 2 a.m., verbally harassing her, and then the passenger is found raped and murdered. If it were you, what would you think?”

“I completely disagree with you. The government sets up prisons to reform people like me. Someone who has walked the wrong path, reformed by the state, returns to society, not stealing or robbing, earning an honest living. Shouldn’t this be a positive example worth encouraging? How did it become a reason for suspicion in your eyes? By your logic, people like us should go back to crime after release to be reasonable, right?”

“Stop twisting words. Tell me, what exactly did you do that night?”

Chen Shi impatiently frowned. “I’ve said everything I needed to say, but you refuse to believe it. I understand your thinking; our judicial system uses the guilty plea system. But bringing this strategy to the interrogation room will only create numerous wrongful convictions. Even if I walked into the police station and confessed to the murder, your job is still to find concrete evidence to convict me! But what I see now is you, without a single piece of solid evidence, threatening an innocent citizen to confess. Is this how you repay the country’s training, your uniform, and the people?”

“You!” Lin Qiupu was so angry that he paced back and forth, grinding his teeth.

“Brother!” Lin Dongxue softly reminded him, afraid that Lin Qiupu might do something irrational in his anger.

Chen Shi, oblivious to Lin Qiupu’s fury, continued, “If I confessed today, firstly, I would be harmed, and my family would suffer. Secondly, the victim wouldn’t get justice. Lastly, the real murderer would remain at large, possibly committing more crimes in the future. How many people would you harm by making a false confession? Captain Lin, a drop of ink on the case, a thousand drops of blood among the people. You must be extremely cautious!”

“I think you won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin!” Lin Qiupu raised his hand in exasperation.

Lin Dongxue and the recorder were terrified. At that moment, Chen Shi suddenly banged his head on the stainless steel gear, leaving a red mark. He looked up with a sly smile.

“What are you doing?” Lin Qiupu was stunned.

“He’s hitting me! Captain Lin is hitting me!” Chen Shi shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Shut up! No shouting!”

Chen Shi sneered, “There’s no surveillance here now. This injury on my head won’t be easy to explain outside!”

“Absurd!” Lin Dongxue couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up. “With us two here, you still want to frame us?”

“Do your testimonies matter? One is a subordinate, and the other is a sister. Our country’s law values physical evidence over testimonies, and considering the principle of avoiding suspicion with relatives, do you think you can out-talk me in court?”

Lin Dongxue and the recorder looked at each other, realizing this guy was formidable, quickly turning the tables.

Lin Qiupu roared, “What do you think this place is!”

“A police station, a place of law and reason! No evidence for detention or interrogation; turning off cameras in violation of interrogation rules; suspect showing injuries. Just these three points, I don’t need the best lawyer in Long’an. Any freshly graduated lawyer can render you speechless! As law enforcers, you often overlook one thing. Let me remind you: the law not only restrains the person sitting in this chair but also you!”

A moment of silence followed. Lin Qiupu was sweating, pulling at his collar, a sign of his helplessness.

Lin Dongxue said, “Brother, there’s something I forgot to mention…”

“What did you say?” Lin Qiupu looked at her in disbelief, then at the smiling Chen Shi. “During the arrest, he actually disarmed you?”

“Yes…” Lin Dongxue admitted shamefully. “So, I think he might really not be the one.”

Chen Shi smiled contentedly. Changing someone’s mind is difficult, just as a series of events created suspicion about him; the things he did were slowly changing Lin Dongxue’s mind.

Common sense dictates that men are generally more stubborn than women.

Lin Qiupu took a deep breath, walked to the table, picked up the phone, and instructed, “Release him!”

When Chen Shi left the police station, the task force was in an uproar. It was the first time they encountered a suspect even Captain Lin couldn’t handle. To save face, Lin Qiupu muttered to himself, “No matter how cunning a fox is, it can’t outsmart the hunter. He’ll be back here!”

Unexpectedly, five seconds later, Chen Shi returned, startling Lin Qiupu. “What do you want now?”

“My car?”

Lin Dongxue said, “It’s in the underground garage. I’ll take you to get it.”

“Thanks!”

Lin Dongxue took Chen Shi to the underground garage. Chen Shi inspected the car inside and out. Lin Dongxue chuckled, “You’re really suspicious of us. What could we have done to your car?”

“If there’s a scratch or anything, who would I complain to!” Chen Shi lit a cigarette and beckoned her over.

Lin Dongxue thought he was rude but still walked over. Chen Shi lowered his voice mysteriously, “I’ll help you solve the case!”

“What!?” Lin Dongxue doubted her ears.

“I said I’ll help you solve the case. Do you want it or not? This offer won’t last forever.”

“Cut it out. Solving cases isn’t just about talking. Without professional training…”

“Listen to me. My intuition tells me this case has something more to it, likely a premeditated murder.”

“You’ve been reading too many detective novels!”

“Your brother hit a wall with me, so his next steps will be: investigating other vehicles that passed the crime scene that night, expanding the range of eyewitnesses, and looking into my friends. I’m telling you now, these directions are a complete waste of time. You’ll miss the best time to solve the case and let the real culprit get away. If I’m right, bring the autopsy report to me tonight!”

Chen Shi flicked away his cigarette butt, opened the car door, and before leaving, he nodded at Lin Dongxue. “See you tonight!”

Lin Dongxue was completely stunned. She didn’t come to her senses until the car disappeared at the garage exit, stomping her foot and cursing, “Smartass!”