62: Chapter 62 The Collapse of Psychological Defenses

Fine beads of sweat could be clearly seen seeping from Zhou Zhiqiang's forehead.

He subconsciously licked his cracked lips, his gaze fixed intently on the hardbound notebook.

Zhao Yang was in no hurry to press further; he waited patiently.

Interrogation is sometimes a contest of patience.

After a long three-minute silence, Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly laughed, his voice dry:

"Comrade, what can a notebook prove? That's just what I use to record my work insights."

He deliberately tried to sound relaxed, but his legs curled up involuntarily.

"Work insights?" Zhao Yang slowly opened the notebook,

"Recording the acceptance of bribes and doing favors for people—is that also part of your job description?"

Zhou Zhiqiang's face turned pale, but he then stiffened his neck: "This is a frame-up! Someone must have stuffed it in while I wasn't home!"

"Enough!" Zhao Yang interrupted sharply.

"Zhou Zhiqiang, you've been a police officer for over a decade. You should know, is denial of any use?"

He stood up, walked around the table, and slowly approached Zhou Zhiqiang.

The light shone from behind him, casting a shadow over Zhou Zhiqiang's face.

"Since we could find this, we can find more."

Zhao Yang's voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Zhou Zhiqiang's heart:

"The people who gave you money—President Jin, Sister Hong, Section Chief Xu. Who do you think will be the first to talk?"

Zhou Zhiqiang's breathing quickened, and a trace of daze appeared in his firm gaze.

Zhao Yang leaned down and looked him straight in the eye:

"Let me do the math for you. Rape and murder—death is an inescapable penalty.

"Once you're executed, what will happen to your elderly parents? Who will raise your daughter in middle school?"

Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly looked up to meet Zhao Yang's gaze, his eyes bloodshot, a sneer flashing at the corner of his mouth:

"Since you know I'm facing the death penalty, what's the use of telling me all this?"

Zhao Yang met his gaze, his tone calm and steady:

"That's not necessarily true. If you take the initiative to confess who the mastermind is and actively perform meritorious service, we will record it and suggest a lighter sentence.

"If you get a chance for a suspended death sentence and perform well, you might still have the chance to care for your parents in their old age and see your daughter get married and have children."

Zhao Yang stopped there.

Zhao Yang speculated that in May, Guo Mingkai had already begun planning the restructuring of the Tongan Die-Casting Machine Factory.

That Section Chief Xu was very likely a plant placed by Guo Mingkai.

Guo Mingkai was Ji Hongwen's man, and Ji Hongwen wanted to convict Sun Hongwei quickly.

Calculating it this way, Section Chief Xu producing a hundred thousand in cash was very likely for Zhou Zhiqiang to go and frame someone.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yang suddenly raised his voice:

"There's only one chance. If Section Chief Xu confesses first, the only thing waiting for you will be the firing squad!"

At this time, lethal injection had not yet been fully implemented.

In Tongan City, the method of execution was still by firing squad.

Hearing the words "firing squad," Zhou Zhiqiang's body jolted violently.

He had witnessed execution scenes more than once.

The horrific sight of a head being blown apart by a single shot was deeply etched in his mind.

Sweat poured down Zhou Zhiqiang's forehead, and his whole body trembled slightly.

Lu Zheng knew that under Zhao Yang's offensive, Zhou Zhiqiang had reached the limit of a mental breakdown.

He spoke coldly, continuing to up the ante:

"Zhou Zhiqiang, Section Chief Xu has already been brought in and is awaiting interrogation. We don't have time to waste with you.

"Now, I'll give you two minutes to think. Xiao Zheng, start the timer!"

Zheng Beichen took an alarm clock，Placed on the interrogation table，Facing Zhou Zhiqiang：

"It is now 7:58 PM. We finish at 8:00."

The interrogation room fell silent, the ticking of the clock clearly audible.

Tick-tock, tick-tock!

Less than a minute had passed when Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly spoke:

"I'll talk, I'll tell you everything!"

Zhao Yang glanced at Lu Zheng, indicating that he would handle the questioning next.

Seeing Lu Zheng nod, Zhao Yang asked:

"What is Section Chief Xu's name?"

"Xu... Xu Biao!" Zhou Zhiqiang hesitated slightly, but then his tone became firm.

"What is his position?"

"security section chief of the Tongan Die-Casting Machine Factory."

"What was the purpose of him giving you a hundred thousand in cash?"

"He wanted me to sneak into Sun Hongwei's home and plant 300,000 yuan in cash."

Having finally obtained the answer he wanted, Zhao Yang let out a long sigh of relief.

He continued, "Describe Xu Biao's appearance."

"Xu Biao has a crew cut, fierce features, a very strong build, and is about 1.75 meters tall."

A crew cut!

Zhao Yang immediately thought of the person who had pressed a knife tip against the small of his back in the Die-Casting Machine Factory dormitory.

This Xu Biao was indeed Guo Mingkai's accomplice in exploiting the workers.

Zhao Yang then asked: "Since it was just a frame-up, why did you kill her?"

"I... I..."

Zhou Zhiqiang stuttered for a long time before finally confessing the truth.

It turned out he had been secretly observing Sun Hongwei's home for several days.

He found that Sun Hongwei rarely stayed out at night, and Chen Xue was home every evening.

Only in the morning after the two went to work would the house be empty.

On the morning of June 11, after witnessing Sun Hongwei leave home, Zhou Zhiqiang looked into the bedroom from the balcony.

After confirming no one was inside, he decisively sneaked in and placed the 300,000 cash in the nightstand drawer.

Just as he had succeeded and was about to leave, someone suddenly entered the bedroom.

Sun Hongwei's wife, Chen Xue!

Chen Xue was wearing pajamas and yawning.

Clearly, she had just returned from the bathroom.

Seeing a stranger in her home, Chen Xue was extremely nervous and turned to run outside to call for help.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhiqiang reacted quickly. Before she could make a sound, he grabbed her from behind.

At this point, Zhou Zhiqiang's eyes were full of remorse:

"She was too beautiful and wearing so little, I couldn't help myself for a moment...

"But she struggled desperately and shouted loudly, so I had to cover her mouth.

"Afterward, I found she had suffocated to death.

"Because I was nervous, while wiping away the traces of the crime, I missed the fingerprints on the dressing table."

So far, the cause and process of the incident had been explained, and it all matched the scene investigation.

Zhao Yang continued to press: "With the forty thousand in cash from President Jin and Sister Hong, you shouldn't have been short of money for the time being. Why did you do this?"

"One was greed, and the other was for a promotion. Xu Biao said he would have someone talk to Director Shen to promote me to Station Chief."

Once he started talking, Zhou Zhiqiang was like a bamboo tube pouring out beans, answering everything asked.

"Who is the Director Shen you're talking about?" Zhao Yang's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's at this moment.

"Shen... Shen ZhenTao." Zhou Zhiqiang hesitated slightly but still said the full name of the Public Security Bureau Director.

Zhao Yang decisively ended the interrogation and said to Zheng Beichen:

"Get him some water. In five minutes, you and Liu Yi continue the questioning."

Hearing this, Lu Zheng immediately stood up and walked out of the room.

He was experienced in handling cases and knew Zhao Yang wanted to arrange for Xu Biao's arrest.

Once outside, Zhao Yang lowered his voice:

"Master, I suggest we arrest Xu Biao immediately."

He then recounted the incident where he had secretly visited Sun Dehai and was threatened by Xu Biao.

"This person is very dangerous and is very likely involved in organized crime. It's best to leave the arrest to the Special Investigation Team."

At this time, the restructuring of the Tongan Die-Casting Machine Factory was not yet complete. As the security section chief, Xu Biao was considered a state cadre.

The Commission for Discipline Inspection had the right to issue a 'Liangzhi' requirement to forcibly take him away.

But executing it would be extremely risky.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, then took out his phone and made a call.

"Detachment Leader He, Xu Biao, the security section chief of Tongan Die-Casting Machine Factory, is heavily linked to the June 11 Case. Please send someone to arrest him immediately!"