Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty Two

That super bastard Frank, threw me into the interrogation room (Miss Lacey, someone will come to talk to you soon.) Waited for a full two hours, and it was not a better room. There are no comfortable chairs, and the equipment is only slightly better than a detention center, which is a place we use exclusively to scare suspects. Facts have proved that it really works, and my whole body is getting more and more anxious. Frank was in another room right now, and could do anything.It was possible to reveal that I was an undercover agent, to tell them about the children, to say that the police knew about Ned, and so on.

I knew he wanted that reaction from me, to feel like a suspect.But not only could I not get rid of this feeling, but I was even more angry.I couldn't even say to the camera that I knew what was going on, because I knew he had one of them watching me from the next door and expected me to behave like this. I kept changing chairs, and of course Frank didn't forget to give me a chair with a shorter leg, which is standard equipment designed to make suspects uncomfortable.I really want to yell at the camera: I used to work here too, fuck it, this is my place, stop using this shit on me. But I just fished the ballpoint pen out of my jacket pocket and started writing on the wall that Lacey was here to entertain herself, and I tried to write it beautifully.It's unobtrusive, but I wouldn't expect anyone to notice, since the walls are already covered in labels, graffiti, and illegible patterns that have accumulated over the years.I recognized a name or two of them.

I hate this feeling.I don’t know how many times I’ve been in and out of this room, interrogating suspects with Rob; the two are like hunters with a heart, approaching their prey step by step, and cooperating seamlessly. Being alone in the room now, without Rob beside me, feels as if my internal organs have been ripped out, and my body is so empty that I can barely stand.Then I started poking the pen at the wall so hard that the steel ball fell out, and then I threw the pen at the camera and hit it right there, but I didn't feel any better. When I was so angry, Frank decided to make an appearance.Oops!He reached out to turn off the camera, and said to me: It's a dream to meet you here, please sit down.

I didn't sit down.What the hell are you trying to do? Frank raised an eyebrow.I'm interrogating a suspect, why, do you still need your approval? If you want to make fun of me and put me together, you should discuss it with me first, damn it.I'm at work, Frank, and this is no joke, and what you're doing is probably ruining all my work. Work?Do kids these days say that? You said it.You sent me there, I just obeyed, and finally made progress, why did you want to sabotage? Frank leaned back against the wall, folded his arms and said, "You can play dirty tricks, Kathy, and so can I."What, it doesn't feel good after the role is different, right?

But I know Frank wasn't playing cheap, not counting.I know he is very angry, and he has reason to get angry, and even wants to beat me into a panda eye.I also know that unless I make a surprising reversal at the last second, I will definitely have a good time in the next game.But even if Frank gets angry again and locks me in a bad room to reflect on what I have done, it is impossible for him to do anything that will affect the handling of the case.As angry as I was, I knew all too well that I could take advantage of this. Well, I took a deep breath, put my hands together my hair and said: Well, it makes sense, I deserve what I deserve.Frank laughed, his voice was tense and tense: trust me, you don't want me to settle accounts with you.

I know, Frank, I said: I will let you fuck me as you like when you are free, but not now.How are you and them? Frank shrugged and said whatever. In other words, you're getting nowhere. What do you think? That's right.I know the four of them very well, even if you ask about retirement, you can't find out. It's possible, Frank said lightly: But who knows, right?I still have a few years left to retire. Come on, Frank.The four of them are like glue, and outsiders can't get in at all. This is what you said yourself, when the case started.Isn't that why you want me to sneak in and find a way?

Frank raised his chin slightly, shrugging his shoulders noncommittally. You know you can't ask anything from them, so you're just trying to stimulate them, right?Then let's team up, shall we?I know you're mad at me, but we'll talk about that tomorrow.Now we are still one country. Frank raised an eyebrow and said: Really? Yes, Frank, of course.Together we can certainly do more damage than you alone. Sounds like fun.Frank said.With his hands in his pockets, he lolled against the wall, his eyes half-closed to hide his stern gaze from scrutinizing me.What are you planning to do?

I walked around the table and sat on the corner, getting as close to him as I could.Interrogate me so others can hear.Daniel is an exception, he cannot be shaken, forcing him will only make him hide further away, but the other three can.Turn on the walkie-talkie in their room, let them hear me or let them see the monitor, whatever, if it works it's best if it's accidentally turned on, and it doesn't matter.If you want to monitor their reactions, ask Sam to interrogate me. What are you going to say, please? I'll pretend I've got my memory back, but try to keep it vague, and only talk about things I'm sure can't be wrong, like running to the shed bloody or something.I don't believe that they will not be shaken like this.

Oh, Frank said with sarcasm: So that's what you planned. Before, you made yourself angry, lost your temper, and acted like a heroine, all for this reason.I should have guessed that, stupid. I shrugged and said, Yeah, that's what I was going to do anyway, but it's better this way.Like I said, we're more destructive together.I can pretend to be anxious, pretending that I obviously have nothing to say. If you want to write the script first, no problem, it's up to you, I will cooperate with you.Come on, Old Fa, what do you think?We work together? Frank thought for a moment.What do you want me to exchange?He pressed: I want to know.

I gave him my perfect smile and said: Take it easy, Frank, I will never violate your work ethic.I just want to know how much you've told them so you don't have to talk about it later.You would have told me anyway, right?Because we are from the same country. Uh-huh, Frank sighed, and said coldly: Of course.I didn't tell them anything, Kai, I didn't touch your secret weapon.However, if you can take the time to use it, I will be very happy. I'm going to use it, really.Speaking of this, as if I thought of something, I would like to add: I would like to ask you to do me a favor.Can you get Daniel out of my way for a while?Send us home after your interrogation, but don't tell him we're gone, or he'll be gone faster than a bullet.Give me one hour, two hours if I can, and then let him go.But don't provoke him, just do the normal questioning and let him talk, okay?

Interesting, Frank said: Why? I want to talk to other people, but not in his presence. I know this, why? Because I thought it would work, simple as that.As you know, it's Daniel calling the shots at home about what can and can't be said.Who knows what the other three would have said if they hadn't been emotionally stable and Daniel wasn't there to check them in? Frank picked his front teeth and looked down at the vegetable residue on his nails.What exactly do you want to ask?he asks. I'll have to wait until I ask to find out.But don't we always feel that they have something to hide from outsiders?I don't want to quit investigating without trying to wring out the secret.I'll use all the aces I have at my disposal against them: guilt, tears, tantrums, threats, pregnancy and Ned, you name it I'll use it and maybe get someone to confess But as I said at the beginning, Frank reminded me: This is not something we want you to do, because that nasty confession validity rule and all, it's no use even if you ask. So even if I dug up solid testimony, you just don't want it?Even if their statement is not recognized, it does not mean that it is useless.You grab them, play the tape to them, and hold them tight.Justin is on the verge of breaking down, and it only takes a roll of tape to break him.I didn't realize that the sentence seemed familiar until I was halfway through it.The thought of me convincing Daniel and Frank with exactly the same reasoning makes me cringe.I know you may be asking Santa for more than a confession, but Old Fa, we really have no choice at this stage. I admit that getting a confession is certainly better than it is now, because all we have is a big pile of garbage. That's right, and besides, I might get something better than a confession, maybe they'll mention the murder weapon, the crime scene, who knows? Ketchup technique, Frank still looked at the nails with interest.Turn it upside down and shake it vigorously to see if you can squeeze out anything. Frank, I called him, and when he looked up at me, he said: This is my last chance, I have to report back to the bureau tomorrow, let me do it. Frank sighed, leaned his head against the wall, and glanced around the room leisurely.I caught him seeing new scribbles and ballpoint pens poked in corners.I was just curious about one thing, and finally, he said, "Why are you so sure one of them did it?" My blood stopped flowing instantly.All Frank wanted me to find was one definite clue, and if he found out that I actually had one, I was done. Not to mention quitting the case on the spot, you would get into big trouble, and it would be so fast that you would not even be able to return to Grunsky. Well, I'm not sure, I'm putting it lightly: but like you said, they have a motive. Yes, they have a motive, sort of.The problem is that Naylor, Ned, and a whole bunch of people have motives, some of which we haven't figured out yet.This girl often gets into trouble, Xiao Kai, maybe it’s not a scam, but it’s hard to say, because you can say that she got the ownership of the forest house by pretending.But no matter what, she cheated other people's emotions.It's dangerous to do that, her life is full of landmines, but you're pretty sure which danger killed her. I spread my hands, shrugged and said: Because I only have this danger to chase.I only have one day left, and I just want to use the trump card in my hand to make a last-ditch effort.And like you said, we don't have any other more obvious goals.So what are you upset about?Don't you yourself always feel that they are the most suspect? Oh, so you found out, I underestimated you, baby.Yes, I always thought they were the biggest problem, but not you.You told me a few days ago that they were like four cute little white rabbits, not even daring to be bullied by flies, but now you only want to trap them and try to set traps to disturb their thoughts.So I was thinking, what on earth did you not tell me? Frank looked me straight at me without blinking.I paused for a moment, running my hands through my hair, as if trying to figure out how to explain.No, and then I said: I just have a feeling, Frank, that's all. Frank looked at me for a long time, and I shook my feet, pretending to be honest.And then, well, Frank said suddenly and solemnly, got up and walked away from the wall, and went to turn on the camera.We've made it a deal.Did you come here with two cars?Or when it's over, do I have to find someone to take Adam all the way back to Grunsky? We drove two cars, I said, relieved and giddy with the adrenaline still not wearing off.My mind began to run rapidly, planning the response content of the interrogation.I felt like I was shooting into the sky like fireworks.Thanks, Frank, you won't regret it. Well, Frank said: Yes.He turned the chair back into place.Sit here and wait, I'll be back in a while. Frank kept me there for another two hours, and I figured he'd do everything he could to squeeze something out of the others so I wouldn't be needed.During this period, I kept smoking while thinking about how to deal with the interrogation.Smoking indoors is against the rules, but no one seems to care. I know Frank will come back, because to outsiders, the four of them are impenetrable and completely invulnerable. Even if Frank shows the most vicious side, the weakest Justin can still remain calm.Outsiders are too far away to shake them at all.These four people are like a carefully built medieval bunker, solid and exquisite, easy to defend and difficult to attack, they can only attack from the inside, relying on the cooperation of the inside and the outside. Finally, the door of the interrogation room finally opened, and Frank poked his head in and said: I am going to connect to other interrogation rooms, hurry up and get dressed, and I will be on stage in five minutes. Don't even get involved with Daniel.I immediately sat up and said. Don't screw it up.After Frank finished speaking, he disappeared behind the door. When he returned to the interrogation room, I was already sitting at the corner of the table, folding the refill of the ballpoint pen into a slingshot, and shooting the camera with fragments.Hey, when I saw him, my tone became cheerful immediately.I thought you had forgotten me. How can it be?Frank showed the most charming smile and said to me: I even prepared coffee for you, creamer and two sugars, remember right?No, no, it's okay, I jumped off the table, trying to pick up the pieces of the ballpoint pen.He said: Someone will clean up later.Let's sit down and talk, how are you all?After he finished speaking, he pulled up a chair and pushed the Styrofoam cup in front of me.Frank is so sweet as candy, I forgot he could be so charming. You look great, Miss Lacey, how is your wound healing?I obediently pulled up the clothes and showed him how well the stitches healed.Looks good, he said, not forgetting to give me a little flirtatious smile.I immediately responded with a smile, winked at him, and touched him lightly, so as to provoke Mao Xiaorui. Frank takes me through the Naylor saga from beginning to end, and while it's not entirely true, it's at least close enough and definitely makes Naylor sound like the real suspect: before detonating the explosives, ease their emotions .I was really moved, I leaned back my chair, gave him a mischievous look and said: I thought you guys would have given up a long time ago. Frank shook his head.We will not give up, he replied solemnly: No matter how long it takes for such an important case, we will continue to investigate it.We don't like to be too ostentatious occasionally, but the case is always on, bringing together various leads.It's so good, he should have a soundtrack.We're almost on the verge of finding out, but right now, Miss Lacey, we need a little help from you. No problem, I said, let the chair fall on all fours, and began to concentrate.You want me to watch that Naylor guy again? No, this time we need your head, not your eyes.Do you remember what the doctor said that as your body recovers, so does your memory? Well, I paused for a moment, then replied with some hesitation. You just need to think of something, any little memory, it will help us a lot.I want you to think hard and tell me, do you remember anything? I deliberately delayed a little longer before I said in an almost certain tone: No, not at all, just like what I told you before. Frank clapped his hands on the table and leaned in front of me, his blue eyes focused and his tone soft and persuasive.If I were a common man, I would definitely slump in my chair: But, I don't know.I feel like you're actually thinking of something, Miss Lacey, but you're afraid to tell me.Maybe you're worried that I'm going to misinterpret and get people in trouble, isn't that right?I shot him a reassuring look: Well, I guess. Frank smiled at me, crow's feet.Believe me, Miss Lacey, in such an important case, we will not prosecute anyone unless we find definite evidence.It's not possible to get someone arrested for what you said. I shrugged, made a face at the coffee mug, and said: It's not a big deal, maybe it doesn't mean anything. You don't have to worry about that, okay?Frank reassured me that it felt like he was going to pat my hand and call me darling next.Whether a thing is useful or not is sometimes surprising.Besides, if there's no help, there's nothing to lose, right? Well, I took a breath and said: just that, I remember there was blood, on my hands, my hands were covered in blood. That's right, Frank said, still with a reassuring smile on his face.Well done, you see recalling is not difficult at all, right?I shake my head.Do you remember what you were doing?Are you standing or sitting? standing.I said.I didn't need to pretend that my voice was trembling. A few meters away, in the interrogation room that I knew very well, Daniel was patiently waiting for the interrogation to continue, while the other three quietly and slowly began to tense up.Leaning against the hedge feels prickly, I I twist my top and squeeze my chest.like this.Because of the bleeding, I tried to stop the bleeding, but it didn't work. Are you in pain? Well, I whispered: It hurts, it hurts.I think I'm terrified that I'm going to die. We matched well, me and Frank, we had a great chemistry and felt as relaxed as I was cooking breakfast with Abby, like a pair of professional abusers.You can't have both, Daniel told me, and also: she was never cruel. You are doing well, Frank said to me: Your memory is starting to come back, you will remember everything soon, just wait and see.That's what the doctor said, right?As soon as the gate was opened, he flipped through the files and pulled out a map, the circle we had used for the preparatory work before.Do you think you can tell me where the man was? I picked a location on the three-quarters of the way from the forest house to the hut, and said with my fingers: I think it might be here, but I'm not sure. Very good, Frank wrote carefully in the notepad, and then said: Now I want to ask you to do me another favor.You said you were leaning against a hedge, bleeding, and very scared, could you try to recall what happened before that?What were you doing before leaning against the hedge? I kept my eyes on the map and said: I'm out of breath, like I'm running.I was running, and in my haste I fell and hurt my knee. Where are you running from?Please think hard, where do you want to escape from? I no, I shook my head suddenly and said: No, I can't tell which ones are real and which ones are just: I dreamed or something.Maybe everything was a dream, even the bloodshed. Possibly, Frank nodded in agreement with me, saying: We'll remember that.But just to be on the safe side, I think you'd better tell me everything, even the parts that might be in your dreams.We'll figure it out later, shall we? I was silent for a long time.That's it, afterward, I said weakly: run, then fall, and blood, that's it. Are you sure? Well, I'm pretty sure, nothing else. Frank sighed.The problem is, Miss Lacey, he said, slowly showing a hint of determination in his tone. A few minutes ago, you were still worried about getting someone into trouble, but you haven't mentioned anyone since you just said it. , which means you have been avoiding something. I lifted my chin, gave Frank a very rebellious Lacey look, and said: I didn't. No wonder.But the more interesting question I find is, why?He pushed back the chair, put his hands in his pockets, got up and paced the room leisurely, making my eyes keep turning.Frank said: Maybe you think I'm crazy, but I think we should be on the same page.I thought you and I both wanted to find out who stabbed you and bring him to justice, am I crazy?Do you think there is something wrong with me? I shrugged and turned to look at Frank.He was still circling the room.Before in the hospital, you answered everything I asked truthfully without any hesitation, and you would not answer irrelevant questions, nor would you feel troubled.You were an excellent witness then, Miss Lacey, but now you're suddenly changed, you're indifferent.So, either you decide to give the person who almost killed you another chance, please forgive me, I don't think you are so great, or you have something in your heart, and more important things, that prevent you from opening your mouth. Frank came up behind me and stood against the wall, and I stopped looking at him and started picking the nail polish off my thumb.So, I had to ask myself, he said softly: What is so important that you are willing to give up the pursuit of the murderer?Tell me, Miss Lacey, what's the matter? Delicious chocolate.I answered my thumb. Frank was unmoved, he said: I think I know you quite well.During your hospitalization, every time you saw me coming, what were you talking about?Even if you know it's impossible, what do you still want?On the day you were discharged from the hospital, what was it that you were anxious to see?You jump up and down with excitement when you think about it, what is it that almost stretched the stitches? I looked down and bit my nails.It's your friend, Frank whispered: your roommate.They mean a lot to you, Miss Lacey, more than anything I can think of, even more than catching the man who stabbed you, no? I shrugged and said: Of course they are important to me, so what? What would you do if you were forced to choose, Miss Lacy, whoever it is, just assuming you remembered that it was one of them who stabbed you? I don't have to choose because they won't hurt me, absolutely not, they're my friends. That's exactly what I'm talking about, you're covering for someone, but I don't think it's Naylor, because who else could you possibly be covering for besides a friend? i didn't protect Before I heard the sound, Frank had already left the wall and came to me, slapped the table with both hands, his face was only a few centimeters away from me, and I shivered in fright, shaking harder than I imagined.You lied to me, Miss Lacey, don't you really find it so obvious?You knew important clues, enough to crack the case, but kept them secret.It's obstructing the case, it's against the law, and it can land you in jail. I jerked my head back, pushed the chair away from him, and said: You want to arrest me?Why?God, I was the one who got hurt!Even if I want to forget everything Damn, it's none of my business that you want to be stabbed once a day, or twice on a Sunday.But if you waste my time, the time of my subordinates, I will take care of it!Miss Lacey, do you know how many people have been working on this case this month?Do you have any idea how much time, money and energy we invested?I don't want it all to go down the drain for a spoiled girl who doesn't care about anything or anyone because she's so attached to her friends.Impossible, there are no doors! Frank wasn't pretending, his face was almost close to mine, his eyes were blue and cold.He was very angry, and he meant it, to me, to Lacey, and probably not to whom.This girl, who twists reality like a lens bends light, cuts out countless surfaces, folds into each other, and shimmers so that people can't tell which side they are looking at, and the more they look at it, the more dizzy they feel. I want to solve this case, Frank said: It doesn't matter how long it takes, the person who committed the crime will definitely be caught.If you don't pull your head out of your ass and understand how important things are, instead of continuing to play dumb and play tricks with me, you're going to have a prison meal together, do you understand? stay away from me!I said.I put my hand between the two of them, keeping Frank away.I suddenly found myself clenching my hands into fists, as angry as he was. Who stabbed you, Miss Lacey?Can you look me in the eyes and tell me you don't know?Do you want to give it a try and tell me that you don’t know, come on! Fuck you, I don't have to prove anything to you.I remember that I was running, and there was blood on my hands. You can track it down as much as you want based on these two points, but leave me alone now!I leaned back, put my hands in my pockets, and stared at the wall in front of me. I felt Frank breathing fast, staring at my profile for a long time.All right!Finally, he spoke, and slowly backed away from the table.That's it, let me let you go first this time.After speaking, he walked out. Frank returned to the interrogation room after a long time, maybe an hour, I was too lazy to look at the clock.I picked up the wreckage of the ballpoint pen and placed them on the table one by one, neatly arranged. Well, Frank looked at it for a while, and finally decided to speak: You are right, it is really interesting. This is called action art, I said: does it work? Frank shrugged and said: They did shake, anxious as hell, but not broken, not yet.Maybe in another two hours, I don't know, but Daniel is starting to get restless.Oh sure, still very polite, but kept asking how long we were going.If you want to be alone with the other three before he leaves, you'd better go now. Thanks, Frank, I mean it with all my heart.Thank you. I will try to hold him back, but I can't promise anything. Frank picked up the coat from behind the door and waited to help me put it on. As I reached in, he said to me: I did as promised, Casey, now it's my turn You fulfilled the agreement. The others were in the hall downstairs, all with puffy eyes and dull faces.Xiao Rui stood by the window shaking one knee, Justin curled up in the chair like a poor stork, only Abby sat upright, cupped her hands on her lap, and looked calm and self-possessed. Thank you for coming, Frank said happily: You have helped a lot, a lot.Your mate Daniel has a few things to discuss with us, and he says you'd better go first, he'll be back soon. Justin sat up straight as if awakened.But, why but before he could finish his sentence, Abby cut him off, fingers on his wrist. Thank you, Mr. Detective, and please call us if you need any further assistance. Of course, Frank winked at Abby as he spoke.He held the door, and before we had time to react, he shook hands and said goodbye to everyone. goodbye.We passed in front of Frank, and he told us one by one. Why are you doing this?After the door closed, Justin immediately asked: I don’t want to keep Daniel here, I’ll go first. Shhh, Abby squeezed Justin's arm pretending to be relaxed, and said: keep going, don't look back.Frank is probably watching us. Back in the car, the four of them remained silent for a long time. So, just when I felt so quiet that it hurt my teeth, Xiao Rui said: What did you say?He folded his hands on his chest, raised his head slightly, and then turned to look at me. do not talk.Abby said from the front seat. Why Daniel?Justin was still thinking.He was on a rampage like a crazy old woman, slamming on the gas pedal so desperately that I was worried about running into a traffic policeman, and then overly cautious.He spoke in a voice that sounded like he was about to cry: What are the police trying to do?Have they arrested him? No.Abby's tone was firm.Of course she couldn't have known, but Justin's shoulders relaxed a little.He'll be fine, don't worry. He always does.Xiao Rui said to the window. He'd expected this day, Abby said: just didn't know who the police would nail.He thought it might be Lacey or Justin, or both, but either way, he guessed the police were going to break us up. I?why me?Justin was hysterical. Oh, Justin, please open your eyes.Xiao Rui is on fire. Go slow, Abby said: lest you get pulled over by then.The police just want to shake us up to see if we know what we haven't said. but how could they think Stop thinking about it, lest they play into their hands, they just want us to guess what they are thinking, why they are doing it, scare yourself half to death, don't be fooled by them. If we were tricked by those monkeys, Xiao Rui said: It’s just fine to go to jail, but the ghost also knows that our brains are bigger than our brains. Shut up!I yelled and punched Abby on the back of the chair.Justin gasped and nearly pulled the car off the curb, but I didn't care one bit.shut up!This is not a game!It's my life at stake, not a fucking game, I hate you guys! After I finished speaking, I was so angry that I burst into tears.I haven't shed a tear in months, not even when I broke up with Rob, got out of the life of the crime squad, and faced the aftermath of Vesta's failure.But at that moment, I couldn't stop my tears. I put the sleeve of my jumper over my mouth and let the tears come, crying over Lacey's changing face; crying over the baby's never-before-born face; Little Ruiqin's masterful hands and Justin kissing my forehead; crying for all I did and will do to them and a million lost things; Destined to go and cry. After a while, Abby reached out to the shelf for me with a pack of tissues.She opened the window and the air roared like a strong wind in the woods and everything felt so peaceful I just kept crying.