Chapter 391: Carol's Statement
Chapter 391: Carol’s Statement
"Enough!" Carol snapped. "Please... stop defaming my deceased husband any further." She clenched her teeth as she replied, "We weren’t childless by choice, but..." Her voice faltered slightly, "The Doctor said it was my issue..." She paused, realizing she had said all she could. "Mr. Feng, Detective Mr., I hope you’ll keep this matter confidential. If anything I’ve said here today leaks to the media..."
"I understand... I understand..." Feng Bu Jue interrupted, waving his hand. "If this gets out, Yasali’s largest chaebol clan will come after us. Then... Mr. Scofield could lose both his job and pension. As for me..." He smirked, "I’ll probably end up stuffed in a suitcase at the bottom of the Mediterranean."
Sweat beaded on Scofield’s forehead as he solemnly declared, "I swear on my honor as a Police Officer and my personal integrity, Ms., not a word will escape my lips."
Feng Bu Jue remained unruffled as he continued, "In any case, given such circumstances, I believe my earlier suspicions about you were misplaced." He casually dismissed his previous accusations, adding with a slight bow, "Please understand, everything I said was mere conjecture, not an accusation. I hope you won’t take offense."
"I think most people would find it hard not to take offense at your words!" Carol shot back.
"Your anger is entirely justified—I completely understand", Feng Bu Jue replied. "If I were in your shoes, I’d probably be thinking, 'Dennis should’ve left this bastard by the roadside.'"
Carol offered no verbal response, but her expression silently confirmed she had been seen through.
"Let’s return to the first question", Feng Bu Jue said with a smile. "You see, you’ve dismantled my reasoning, leaving me at a complete loss. Unless you can suggest a suspect with both motive and opportunity, this Investigation will stall."
By now, readers likely grasp Feng Bu Jue’s method: provoke the subject with false accusations and nonsense until they feel cornered, then feign incompetence to coax them into revealing information they’d never disclose in a Common Inquiry.
In essence, it’s a tactic of "bluffing." The reactions of the innocent and guilty differ when accused, and both will respond differently when they perceive the detective as inept.
Additionally, Feng Bu Jue had meticulously arranged the order of those entering the room, as his repertoire included other tricks. The classic "so-and-so has already confessed" was one such technique, though that’s a story for another time.
As an experienced detective, Scofield was well-versed in the tactic of separating and interrogating suspects. However, this case carried significant risks. Without solid Evidence, employing "stripes" tactics against law-abiding citizens with no criminal records was inappropriate. Even if the case were solved, no gratitude would follow; failure would only invite endless trouble.
And this "trouble" wasn't as simple as a complaint to the department. As Feng Bu Jue had noted, Carol's maternal family—Yasali's most powerful clan—was formidable.
Just how influential were they? Consider this example: Suppose you accidentally reversed into and killed one of their Family members in a back alley at midnight. You’d receive a seven-year sentence, lose your home in compensation, go bankrupt, lose your family, and emerge from prison with nothing. Conversely, if you were crossing the street legally at a green light and their driver struck you dead, the perpetrator would receive a three-year sentence, suspended for one year, with probation. They’d serve no jail time after a year due to "good behavior." The compensation wouldn’t be trivial either, though the amount would barely cover one wheel of their sports car.
In short, if Scofield failed to catch the real culprit and instead recklessly smeared this family, his career would be over prematurely. He’d struggle to find any new work, as they could easily destroy his reputation nationwide—accusing him of being a gigolo before becoming a Police Officer, if they so desired.
Therefore, Detective Mr. had no intention of targeting this family.
Yet, to his surprise, Feng Bu Jue—a third party—proposed such an interrogation strategy and volunteered to execute it.
Naturally, Scofield accepted Feng Bu Jue’s offer. After all, it wasn’t the Police Officer who’d bear the blame. Besides, Feng Bu Jue was a known Celebrity Detective—unlike a monk who could vanish overnight, Feng had a reputation to uphold. If the case remained unsolved, any backlash would target him instead.
"Alright..." Carol finally relented after prolonged hesitation. "If I had to name someone with motive... I suppose... It’s just a guess..."
"Don’t worry", Feng Bu Jue assured her, sensing her hooking. "I won’t reveal your suspicions to anyone else."
"Perhaps Odette..." Carol’s gaze shifted sideways.
"Females are truly terrifying creatures", Feng Bu Jue mused inwardly. "You two chatted cheerfully from the moment she entered, and she stayed by your side after the incident. Yet you still named her..."
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Feng Bu Jue pressed aloud, shooting Scofield a glance to keep silent.
"I don’t know... Maybe because of Lord Kolston’s inheritance..." Carol explained. "Dennis is the eldest son, so she—the stepmother—has the most to gain, doesn’t she? And... and..." She hesitated again.
"And a twenty-eight-year-old woman marrying a fifty-five-year-old man... surely it was for money initially", Feng Bu Jue finished bluntly.
Carol said nothing, simply lowering her head.
"I understand", Feng Bu Jue said. "Thank you for your information. Detective and I will reassess the case." Having obtained what he needed, he gestured toward the door. "Please, you may go."
...
After Madam Carol’s departure, Feng Bu Jue instructed Dempsey outside to summon the next suspect, then closed the door behind him.
"You’re truly sharp, Mr. Feng", Scofield remarked before Feng Bu Jue could turn around. "Some things I could never bring myself to say."
"You mean to say I was disgustingly vile just now, right?" Feng Bu Jue joked self-deprecatingly.
"No, no, no..." Scofield waved his hands, but his expression betrayed agreement.
"Sometimes", Feng Bu Jue shrugged, "to achieve the Inquiry’s goal, being disliked is unavoidable." He returned to the desk. "Regardless of their gender, age, height, or build; be they noble or common, virtuous or scandalous—President or pauper, priest or pimp. A detective’s sole purpose is to extract the desired information, not to win affection."
"Mm-hmm", Scofield nodded, appearing duly enlightened.
"Therefore", Feng Bu Jue added, "in the next phase, I’ll deliver increasingly vile remarks—while maintaining decorum, of course. Be prepared for what’s coming."
(End of Chapter)
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