Sha Qing

Chapter 11: The Floral Fragrance On The Paper (1)

Leo and Rob had taken turns on the interrogation for a whole day, but the suspect was more unyielding than what Leo had expected. The young Latino man's face and spirit had gradually worn down after being subjected to hunger, drowsiness and psychological manipulations but despite all these, his mouth was still tightly shut.

 "I plead not guilty." Reggie's hands were handcuffed to a metal railing on the table, and with his legs crossed, he exhibited a leisurely posture. "So don't waste your breath and just ask the government to appoint me a lawyer."

 "You were caught at the scene of the crime and that is a piece of conclusive evidence. Even if you ask a prophet to be your lawyer, they wouldn't be able to help you. I advise you to admit the truth and dismiss any plans of escape. You can take the initiative to plead guilty and perhaps you get to reduce your prison sentence by a few years." Rob adopted both hard and soft approach.

 "Conclusive evidence?" Reggie mocked. "Your arrest can only attest that I attempted to inflict an injury to Quentin- he's still alive isn't he? Ah, plus the two hours of me holding someone in captive1." 

Rob slapped the table "The semen prints detected from the victim in the second homicide matched with your DNA. This evidence is sufficient enough to sentence you with a first-degree murder." 

"That clue can only prove that he had a sexual intercourse with me before he was killed. That was consensual and I'm sure he is already over 16 years old, isn't he?" 

"The murder weapon and rose petals found in your backpack are also proofs that can pinpoint you as the murderer of these three serial killings!" 

"Those things can only suggest that I am an admirer of Interfector Rosa, someone who wanted to imitate his modus in an attempt to assault Quentin- but it only remained a plan and it ended without causing any injury." Reggie said defiantly. "According to the law, a crime attempt combined with illegal imprisonment of someone will only result to how many years of sentence? 8 years? 10 years? Maybe, I can also get a bail by paying hundreds of thousands of dollars, can't I?" With his elbows rested on the metal table and his chin supported by a slightly clenched hand, he pulled a wicked grin on his face in front of the federal agent. 

Rob became livid. He gnashed his teeth, pushed his chair away to stand up, and left the interrogation room. 

When he came out, he saw his partner standing outside the surveillance wall with a cup of coffee on his hands. Rob grabbed the half-empty cup and drank a mouthful of coffee. He then complained: "This guy is exactly like the Chinese saying you said— dead pigs are not afraid of boiling water2!" 

His anger didn't affect Leo. The black-haired agent only sneered, "It's useless. No matter how much he refuses to confess, as long as the formal trial procedure starts and all the evidences were brought to the court, three first-degree murders, one attempted murder and one illegal confinement, plus with his brutal and cruel methods, he will definitely be sentenced with a death penalty. His refusal to admit guilt will only lead to a delay in the trial." 

"I know, but this boy's attitude is too arrogant and irritating which makes people angry. If the regulations allow, I really want to beat him up- heck, even if the regulations doesn't, I would like to do so!" Rob angrily said and continued, 

"Like many others before, he will surely use and play with the legal procedures under the pretext of human rights to fight with the prosecution court, to repeatedly appeal thus wasting the taxpayers' money, and even call on the governor or president for administrative intervention to announce a commutation, amnesty or delay the execution of death penalty. The entire process might take seven, eight or even ten years before a formal conviction can be made-perhaps by that time, Oregon had officially abolished the death penalty system. At the thought of all these, I wish I could put a bullet directly into that bastard's head so that it's all over!"