Chapter 19: Professional Angler 'Chen Mo'.

If we are to assume the innocence of the two, then the true culprit who killed Xu Qiang is not the suspect Li Dong.

The murderer simply drove the same model of car and wore the same clothes; even passing by the bank entrance was likely intentional.

Quite a clever idea, attempting to commit the perfect crime right under the police's noses.

"To rule out their suspicion, they only need to state their whereabouts on that day, but both of them refuse to say a word."

Captain Long looked solemn. If they could just prove they had an alibi during the time of the crime, their suspicion could be cleared immediately.

"It cannot be ruled out that their refusal to disclose their whereabouts on the day of the crime was also factored in by the murderer."

Chen Mo slowly tapped his thigh with his index finger, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Following the murderer's logic of framing them—from their jobs to the motive, and then to the weapon—it all silently speaks to the fact that the murderer is a meticulous thinker.

And the whereabouts on the day of the crime—such a glaring loophole—should have been anticipated as well.

So?

What exactly did the two do on the day of the crime?

Why are they unwilling to speak even when faced with imprisonment?

"Exactly. Such a sinister and cunning person wouldn't leave such an obvious loophole. Leaving it behind only makes us suspicious."

Captain Long thought for a moment and agreed with Chen Mo's line of reasoning.

Is the price of speaking out much higher than the current situation?

What price could be more serious than going to prison?

Their lives?

Is the murderer threatening their lives?

Will they die if they speak?

Not only was he pondering this, but Chen Mo, standing beside him, was also thinking rapidly.

For ordinary people, the price of going to jail is undoubtedly huge.

Since the two won't talk even when facing imprisonment, it is clear that the cost of speaking out is even greater.

Looking at it from the suspects' perspective, what is most important to them?

He lowered his head and picked up their files to examine them carefully.

The content was quite ordinary, with no major ups and downs in their lives.

If there was one thing to note, it was that both were married and had children.

According to the records, both Li Dong and Wang Shuangxiong treated their wives and children very well.

This was indeed a point worth exploring.

A flash of insight struck him.

Chen Mo's face showed an expression of realization.

He had roughly guessed the reason why the two refused to talk.

"It is very likely that revealing their whereabouts on the day of the crime would affect their family relationships."

"For a middle-aged man, perhaps his only hope is to see his children grow up healthy and have a complete childhood."

What he said were the most simple and sincere emotions in the human heart.

Captain Long, also being a middle-aged man—though he didn't have children yet—could understand the significance of this statement to a middle-aged man.

Following their life trajectories, they should no longer have much desire for money; the only things they value are their families and children.

"So, they likely did something on the day of the crime that would affect their family relationships, which is why they dare not speak?"

Captain Long felt this was more and more plausible, because for them, there really was nothing more important than their families and children.

—Creak.

Officer Xiao Zhang and Officer Xiao Liu walked out of the interrogation room together, their faces full of frustration with Wang Shuangxiong.

This guy, he kept his mouth shut tight.

He would talk about anything, but the moment the whereabouts on the day of the crime were mentioned, he would immediately clam up.

"Captain Long, Brother Mo, what should we do in this situation?"

"If we don't use some methods, he definitely won't talk."

The two officers were extremely irritated by Wang Shuangxiong.

It was one thing that Li Dong was a tough nut to crack, but they hadn't expected Wang Shuangxiong to be just as stubborn.

If they didn't think of a solution, they would just be wasting time.

"Let me try."

Chen Mo brushed past them and pushed the door open to enter.

According to his file, Wang Shuangxiong was 45 years old this year, had an elementary school education, started working as a fruit shop owner three years ago, had been married for over 20 years, and had a son and a daughter.

At this moment, he was wearing a white T-shirt with a pattern on it and a pair of ripped jeans.

"Is that your son's shirt?"

This is a very common thing in many families: fathers wearing their sons' clothes, mothers wearing their daughters' clothes, and parents using hand-me-down phones.

"Yeah, my son grew taller, and it would be a shame to throw away such good clothes."

Mentioning his son, a look of gratification appeared on Wang Shuangxiong's face.

This undoubtedly confirmed that in Wang Shuangxiong's heart, family came first.

"Are you still not planning to talk about your whereabouts on the day of the crime?"

"Even if it means going to jail and affecting your son's future schooling, you still won't say it?"

Chen Mo gazed at him quietly.

In the corridor outside the interrogation room, Xiao Zhang and Xiao Liu both looked at Captain Long.

"Is Brother Mo planning to try it this way?"

"We just explained to him that if a father has a criminal record, his son cannot take civil service exams and it might even affect his college education."

Watching their expressions shift from hope to disappointment, Captain Long couldn't help but laugh in frustration.

"Do you think Chen Mo is like you two? He asked that to determine Wang Shuangxiong's attitude toward his family, and obviously, Chen Mo guessed right."

"Just wait. As long as Chen Mo has gone in, he will be able to get something out of him, one way or another."

Hearing the captain's words, Xiao Zhang and Xiao Liu put away their disappointed expressions and regained a look of anticipation.

So, what would Brother Mo do to make this tough nut, Wang Shuangxiong, open his mouth?

They had tried every method before, but none of it worked.

They couldn't figure it out.

But their gazes fell back into the interrogation room once more.

"I..."

Wang Shuangxiong, who was just about to say something, managed to utter only the first syllable before falling silent and clamming up again.

"If you still refuse to talk, I plan to invite someone here."

Chen Mo's calm voice echoed in the interrogation room; it was a threat, and even more, a warning.

"Who?"

A nervous voice came from Wang Shuangxiong's mouth.

He could also sense the threatening intent of the police officer before him.

Subconsciously, he gulped.

"Wang Jiaxi, your son."

As soon as the words fell,

"No! What does this have to do with my son?"

"You can't do this, you can't!"

Wang Shuangxiong looked nervous and kept begging Chen Mo not to do that.

In the eyes of outsiders, he was just an ordinary, frustrated man, but in his son's heart, he was a towering, upright man.

If he let his son see his father handcuffed and sitting in an interrogation chair, he didn't know how he would face him in the future!

"So, are you still not planning to talk?"

Silence.

Wang Shuangxiong, who had been panicked, fell quiet again when Chen Mo's words landed.

He still didn't intend to talk.

Chen Mo, however, was not in the slightest bit anxious, because every step so far was still within his expectations.

"I can understand that you were very nervous just now because you didn't want your son to see you like this."

"And now I see relaxation on your face. Do you think that even if I bring your son here, as long as you don't speak, the thing you want to hide in your heart won't be discovered?"

Wang Shuangxiong's expression froze instantly.

He looked at the young police officer in front of him in disbelief.

Mind reading?

How could everything he was thinking be guessed?

"It's fine if you hide it from us."

"But you wouldn't want your wife and children to live every day in suspicion of you, would you?"

Since Wang Shuangxiong's purpose for not wanting to speak was because it would affect his family relationships, he wouldn't tell his family if he wouldn't tell the police.

In the simple sentiments of the people, resisting police investigation is a symbol of having something to hide.

"What will your wife think of you? What will your son think of you, and how will people in your village look at you?"

"They won't call you a bad person to your face, but they will certainly think so in their hearts."

"You are an adult; you should understand the principle that public opinion is a fearful thing better than I do."

Sweat streamed down Wang Shuangxiong's forehead.

He didn't have anything important in his life.

His wife and children, and beyond that, the opinions of his fellow villagers.

He was a person, and of course, he hoped others would respect him.

But if he couldn't walk out of here with a clean record today, even if he kept it hidden from the police, his future life would definitely not be happy.

If it were someone else, he would also be very wary of them.

"I... I'll talk."

"But on the condition that you cannot tell my family."

Wang Shuangxiong looked pleading.

"You want to talk now? But I suddenly don't want to listen anymore."

Chen Mo stretched and turned to leave.

You have to play the fish a bit before landing it; that's a basic operation for every angler.