chapter 02：Interrogation Room
1882 Words
In the dead of night, the police station remained brightly lit.
The criminal investigation team welcomed back their star detective. The workaholics momentarily set aside their tasks and gathered around:
"Our Ava is as sharp as ever! Using herself as bait, she nabbed a suspect with just one move!"
"Get out of here! How dare you talk like that! How did you handle this case before? You made the entire team look bad. If not for Jidan’s strong efforts to save face, you'd be in line for a disciplinary action!"
"Captain! The higher-ups insist that your injuries prevent you from continuing as a detective, but I still see you as outstanding!"
Ava continued to smile, exchanged pleasantries with her old colleagues, and then everyone returned to their work.
Ava moved with practiced ease to a specific place—the interrogation room outside the criminal investigation team’s office.
Through the tempered glass of the interrogation room, she could observe everything inside.
The room’s light was as oppressive as ever. On either end of the interrogation table sat three detectives and the suspect that Ava had personally apprehended.
The suspect sat quietly in the interrogation chair, his hands placed under the interrogation lamp. The light traced a perfect line from his fingertips, joints, the back of his hand, and wrist.
Of course, that perfect line had its imperfections.
Because its endpoint was a pair of cold handcuffs.
Ava furrowed her brow, her gaze slowly shifting from the man's hands to his face—
It was strikingly different from the beauty that had shone in the darkness…
Perhaps this was the “angelic face” or “child of God” from fairy tales.
But this was not enough to shock Ava.
What truly stunned her was the look he gave her as he was led towards the police car in handcuffs.
Amidst the blaring sirens, his gaze met hers.
How to describe that elusive, enigmatic sensation?
As if that scene had played out countless times in her life.
— A sense of déjà vu.
A middle-aged male officer came out of the interrogation room and waved at Ava: “Just received news that there’s a lead on the major case in the south of the city. I need to take a few colleagues over there. Although you’re no longer with the criminal investigation team, this case was handled by you—”
He naturally pointed to the interrogation room, “Please help me continue the interrogation with Xiao Zhu and the others.”
Ava hesitated for a moment, asking, “After such a long interrogation, has he revealed anything? Chen, is it him?”
Chen, a seasoned detective, dealt with all sorts of bizarre cases and criminals daily—his tone was nonchalant, though his words were astonishing: “He’s been in prison for six years and was just released recently. He’s been stalking you secretly in the dead of night. Just from him following you down a few streets, sneaky and furtive, what kind of decent person could he be?”
Ava’s eyes widened in disbelief!
He was actually a repeat offender?
Chen, with exasperation, said, “This scoundrel could have been a star or a model. If not, he could have found a wealthy woman to support him! Yet he chose to tread the criminal path at such a young age! The law is relentless!”
“If he has just been released,” Ava said, still in shock but with a clear mind, “Even if he has a motive, he shouldn’t have had the opportunity to commit the crime.”
Chen dismissively replied, “Even so, how do you explain his actions tonight? Don’t tell me he was just passing by? Ava, you can feel it better than any of us—he’s been stalking you!”
Ava: “…………”
Yes, she knew! Not only had he been stalking her, but he had also harassed her…
“He thought you were just an ordinary single woman, so he acted recklessly. Even if he hasn’t done anything yet, it’s because we didn’t give him the chance. He didn’t realize that tonight was a trap set to catch him. He’s unfortunate, but not innocent—especially someone with a prior record. We can easily guess his intentions, so he must be interrogated!”
Ava didn’t deny Chen’s statement. They wouldn’t wrongfully accuse an innocent person but would never let go of anyone harmful to society.
Chen and a few colleagues changed into plain clothes and left the police station.
Ava felt she shouldn’t involve herself further in the criminal investigation team’s cases, but with the shortage of staff in the middle of the night, she had no choice but to temporarily fill in.
From the moment Ava entered the interrogation room, a gaze shot towards her like a needle, penetrating every part of her skin and making her feel uncomfortable.
When she looked up, she found the man in the interrogation chair had fixed his gaze firmly on her.
His blatant distraction elicited a reprimand from the interrogating detective: “Where are you looking!”
Ava approached and took a seat.
The detective chuckled, “The star detective looks quite good, doesn’t she?”
The sound of the handcuffs was short and jarring, as if it was his silent reply.
“No matter how good the star detective looks, she’s not yours! I suggest you confess why you were stalking her and what connection you have with the robbery case—Is the criminal your former cellmate? Did you join them after your release?”
Ava opened Chen’s notebook computer. A third of the screen showed the man opposite the interrogation table.
His prison photo.
In any other place, such a appearance would attract public attention. Yet, once he was handcuffed and dressed in prison attire, all allure vanished, leaving only scrutiny.
Beside the photo was his name—Liam.
After remaining silent since Ava entered, Liam finally spoke his first words, his voice as fine and hushed as sand in an hourglass:
“I have already disclosed everything I need to.”
The interrogating detective tried a different approach: “Were you stalking her?”
Liam answered decisively: “Yes.”
Ava lifted her gaze from the computer screen.
The detectives nearly spat out their frustration: “Why?! What’s the reason?!”
Liam did not shift his gaze from Ava, responding calmly: “I believe I have the right to remain silent.”
“Have you not served enough time in prison? Do you want to go back for another two years?”
Liam finally moved his gaze from Ava’s face to the interrogating detective, his demeanor unwavering: “You’re not a judge and cannot represent the law in passing judgment on me!”
“…………”
Not only Ava but even the dedicated interrogating detectives were left speechless.
Sometimes… it’s not the criminals with skills that are feared, but those with education!
As the standoff continued, the interrogation room door was suddenly opened from the outside—
“Director!”
“H Director!”
Director H stood at the door, surveyed the room, then pointed at his wristwatch and asked: “What time is it? What major case requires you to interrogate through the night? Workaholics? Let me tell you, the department won’t give you a single penny more in salary! Besides, I heard from Dapeng that this Li isn’t the suspect you’re after, right? And you, Jidan—”
He casually pointed at Ava, “Wasn’t it decided to transfer you? What, can’t bear to leave the criminal investigation team? After just one day in the new position, you want to come back to ‘work’ with these ‘desperados’ again?”
Ava stood up as soon as Director H pushed the door open. Hearing his words, she let her smile fade, “I comply with transfer orders, but after many years in the criminal investigation team, it’s hard not to miss it.”
“Missing it doesn’t matter; the criminal investigation team has long since closed its doors to you!”
With that, Director H waved his hand, “Everyone, get out!”
The three officers, including Ava, exchanged glances but, as the director had spoken, they had no choice but to temporarily exit the interrogation room.
The door to the interrogation room closed once more.
Director H approached the interrogation table, examined Liam up and down, and after a few seconds, said softly: “If not for the call from Young Master Li, I wouldn’t have known you were out.”
Liam glanced at Director H expressionlessly and replied dismissively: “You have the wrong person.”
Director H smiled and said nothing further. He unlocked Liam’s handcuffs, “Let’s assume I made a mistake. I know you’re innocent. You’re free to go.”
As Liam exited the interrogation room, he saw a group of police officers storming in, escorting two disheveled and miserable men.
Just as they had done to him three hours earlier.
“Bastards, caught red-handed by us!”
Liam could tell from a few more words that the detectives had arrested the suspects.
He didn’t know which case it was or how it related to him. But given the detectives’ indifference towards him, he could roughly guess it was the serial robbery case.
After making a record with the interrogating officers and signing it, he returned to the lobby—
Liam could no longer find Ava.
The sudden thick fog enveloping the streets of Poole City made them appear both hazy and mysterious.
As dawn approached, Liam stepped out of the police station.
A black Mercedes was parked under a nearby streetlamp.
Liam approached.
The Mercedes door opened, and a young man appeared through the seemingly unreal mist.
Liam stopped in his tracks.
The man holding the car door said indifferently: “Just got out, and almost sent yourself back? That woman is truly your nemesis. It seems you’ll never recover from her. The first time, you ruined your promising life for her.
What about this time? Are you ready to surrender your life? Is it worth it, big brother?”
Liam suddenly smiled, “A married man has no right to question whether something is ‘worth it,’ because you already have your answer.”
Lion: “…………”
The thought of his wife warmed his heart.
Is it worth it?
Indeed, no need for further questions.
“Thank you for supporting her over the years.”
The younger brother who had once followed him through various occasions had grown into a figure who could support a significant position. In his darkest times, without his brother’s support, the consequences would have been dire.
“…………” Lion didn’t want to indulge Liam any further. He was eager to return home to his wife. He tossed Liam a phone: “I’ve saved her number for you. Handle the rest yourself.”
Liam, who hadn’t touched a phone in many years, quickly adapted. After a few presses, he accessed the contacts.
There were only two names.
Besides Lion, the other…
Was the name he had agonized over day and night in prison, reciting in his heart a thousand and ten thousand times:
Ava.
- Writer
