Chapter 208: Chapter 208

The interrogation room was small. It contained a table, and on the table, a bright lamp shone directly on Adrian Desmond, so dazzling it was hard to keep one’s eyes open.

Rene Carlson interrogated, "Won’t you confess to your crimes?"

Adrian hadn’t slept for three days and nights, but he wasn’t listless like other prisoners. His mental state was excellent, his thoughts clear. He hadn’t suffered a mental breakdown from the high-pressure interrogation methods, which might have caused him to reveal things he shouldn’t have.

"I admit I slept with her, but I don’t admit it was rape," Adrian stated. "She was my woman; I could sleep with her whenever I wanted! Anytime, anywhere, as long as I desired!"

"Your woman? You’re shameless! That woman isn’t someone you should even dream of coveting!"

"Why are you so worked up? Don’t tell me you like her too?" A murderous aura emanated from Adrian.

"I have a girlfriend."

"Well, then you have no hope. Sienna is very possessive; she won’t share a man with other women." Adrian retracted the murderous aura, returning to his previous careless and arrogant demeanor.

The interrogator concealed in the shadows asked, "What about drug trafficking?"

"I deal in many things, but drugs aren’t one of them. Though the profits from drug trafficking are enormous..." Adrian replied.

"We found firearms in your room. How do you explain that? This Colt Rattlesnake Pistol, do you admit it’s yours?"

The interrogator produced a handgun, sealed in an evidence bag. Adrian glanced at it and scoffed, "That’s a Westorian Colt pistol, but you’ve got the model wrong. It’s not a Rattlesnake; it’s a Colt Python. Rattlesnakes are for women! I wouldn’t use a woman’s gun!"

"Do you admit this gun is yours?"

"Then you should know that private firearm possession is illegal in Orienta."

"Apologies. I’m from Abyanabad, and I wasn’t aware that citizens here aren’t permitted to possess firearms," Adrian said leisurely, remaining seated.

He hadn’t slept for three days and nights, nor had he eaten or drunk any water. Yet, this man showed no signs of listlessness. He sat there, handcuffed, yet still exuded a strong sense of oppression, as if he could pounce and rip out your throat at any moment.

"Care for a cigarette? You look exhausted," Adrian suggested, noticing the interrogator’s fatigue.

"Sienna Johnson’s man!"

The interrogator sneered, "I know that woman is captivating, and many men desire her. But you actually forced yourself on her. Are you even a man? Do you really think that after raping her once, she’ll be yours?"

"Sienna knows very well whether I’m a man or not. Besides, she was mine from the beginning!"

The interrogator slammed both hands on the table, roaring, "Don’t be so arrogant! All the evidence is against you; you’re going to jail!"

"Does Sienna want me to go to jail?" Adrian countered.

"The crimes you’ve committed will send you to jail."

Adrian laughed. "Tell her, if she wants me in jail, then I’ll go. But she’ll soon be begging me to get out."

After saying this, Adrian closed his mouth and didn’t utter another word, no matter what the interrogators asked. He sat with his eyes closed, appearing as if he had fallen asleep.

Rene Carlson left the interrogation room in frustration. In his ten years as a policeman, it was the first time he had encountered such a man. His police intuition told him this man was definitely not good and, in fact, was an extremely dangerous individual.

"How did it go? Did he confess to anything?"

Fletcher handed Rene Carlson a cup of water. Rene drank it in one gulp and said, "He confessed to everything except drug trafficking."

"Then convict him, hand him over to the judiciary, and let him reflect in prison. What’s troubling you?" Fletcher asked, puzzled.

"I just have this feeling that he’s no ordinary person."

"Of course, he’s not ordinary. He actually forced himself on..." Fletcher broke off. The fact that Sienna Johnson had been raped was ordered by their superiors to be kept confidential; no more than four people knew. "...This kind of scum, the dregs of society! Let him go to jail, and everyone can rest easy."

"He’s not afraid of jail at all!"

"He’s probably just putting on an act."

"I heard from the Special Police who were on duty that day. They said that even when more than a dozen of them pointed their guns at him, he wasn’t afraid in the slightest. Not only was he not afraid, he didn’t even take them seriously. We haven’t let him sleep, eat, or drink for three days and nights, but look at his condition—completely unaffected. That’s not something an ordinary person can withstand."

Fletcher looked through the one-way glass at the man sitting in the interrogation room. The dazzling light shone on him, but his eyes were closed, his face as peaceful as if he were asleep.

"Brother Rene, it looks like he’s about to fall asleep. Should we wake him?"

Rene walked over and looked at Adrian through the glass. Adrian suddenly opened his eyes and smiled in Rene’s direction. The glass was one-way, allowing observation from the outside, while those inside couldn’t see out. Yet, Adrian’s gaze made it seem as if he could see Rene.

"Brother Rene, the Director is looking for you."

Rene patted Fletcher on the shoulder. "I’ll be back soon. Keep a close eye on him."

"Director, you were looking for me."

"Sit, sit..." the balding Director gestured.

Rene sat down opposite the Director, a desk between them. The Director asked, "How’s the interrogation going? Has that man confessed?"

"He has. He confessed to the other charges, but not to drug trafficking."

"Then we can proceed with conviction."

Rene said, "Drug trafficking carries the death penalty. If he’s not prosecuted for that, he’ll be out of prison in just a few years." For original chapters go to NoveI(F)ire.net

The Director fumbled with his teacup. "President Johnson wants to meet him privately tonight. You make the arrangements. This matter must be kept strictly confidential; not too many people should know about it."

Rene was an upright police officer, but he wasn’t so rigid as to be impractical. He understood the need to comply with certain societal rules; otherwise, he would be ostracized from the system.

So, he asked no further questions and simply followed the Director’s instructions to arrange the private meeting between Sienna Johnson and Adrian Desmond that evening.

That evening, Sienna Johnson arrived very late.

She was dressed conservatively in a dark professional suit, wearing light makeup. She looks like she just came from a funeral, Adrian thought.

When Adrian saw Sienna Johnson slowly walk in, his eyes first flashed with surprise, then filled with joy.

"Sienna!" he called out affectionately, but Sienna Johnson remained cold and aloof.

"Sienna Johnson!" she stated. Such an intimate address was inappropriate for their current relationship.

"Although you’ve forgotten me, after last night, I’ve decided our relationship has taken a quantum leap forward. The way we address each other needs to change too.

"Calling you Sienna Johnson sounds so formal, so distant...

"Sienna, don’t you agree?"

"Sienna Johnson!" Sienna repeated firmly.