Roses in Flames

Xiao Lin handed the letter to Zou Xu, who was curled up on the ground, and said in a cold voice, "Did you destroy the letter?"

Zou Xu's pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes darting around in panic, unable to look at the letter. His lips trembled as he denied it, "No, I didn't! This murderer stepped on my genitals, I'm in so much pain! You guys need to take me to the hospital right now, or when my dad comes, you won't even be able to work as police officers anymore!"

Cheng Lei, Song Che, and the others, who were standing behind Xiao Lin, all saw the letter.

Right now, they're all furious.

Zou Xu is so arrogant and lawless because he relies on his father's wealth!

"Captain Xiao, he will never admit it!" Jiang Su took off his baseball cap and pulled off his mask, revealing a face full of hatred. "Back then, I was afraid that this letter would be stolen, so I took a picture and went to the police in the neighboring city. But what happened? I was disfigured and almost died. No one stood up for us ordinary people."

Jiang Su wiped away the tears that had slipped from his eyes. "The Zou family is too arrogant in the neighboring city. They don't care about the law at all. I dare not live with my original identity anymore. I can only live under an assumed name, with a different face and a different identity."

"I knew Zhao Jiashu and Luo Zilin had transferred to Yecheng, and I've been looking for an opportunity to deal with them first. I secretly followed them for a while and found out they liked to sneak out of school to go online, so I became the manager of an internet cafe they frequented."

"I secretly planted a listening device in the private room where the two of them often played. From Zhao Jiashu and Luo Zilin's conversation, I learned that Zou Xu liked girls with baby voices, and I also learned that Zhao Jiashu and Luo Zilin would be performing Romeo and Juliet at the school anniversary event."

"I deliberately broke the school's network and sneaked in to replace the prop dagger while people were fixing it."

"After Zhao Jiashu died, I knew that Luo Zilin wanted to go to the computer Zhao Jiashu used to play on in the internet cafe, log into Zhao Jiashu's game backend, and take away his top-level equipment in the game."

"So when Luo Zilin was passing through the alley in the west of the city, I slit his throat and cut off his genitals. Who told him to force Lingxi to do that kind of thing for him in the first place?"

Jiang Su looked at the cold and stern Xiao Lin, then suddenly knelt down on both knees. "Captain Xiao, I've been keeping an eye on you for the past two years. I've seen the cases you've solved, and I know you're a person of principle who won't be coerced by power. You've handled so many tough cases in Ye City, and no matter how powerful the other party's background, you never backed down. I deliberately lured Zou Xu to Ye City and deliberately caused a death, just so you could seek justice for Lingxi, Teacher Huihui, and Teacher Sun. I want the Zou family, and those who protected them, to pay the price they deserve!"

Looking at the photos of the three people on the tombstone, Jiang Su let down his guard and his voice trembled with suppressed sobs. "Lingxi, Teacher Huihui and Teacher Sun were both good people. They shouldn't have died so tragically. I know murder is a crime, and I'm willing to bear all the consequences. I only beg you to investigate thoroughly, bring those who committed evil to justice, and let the deceased rest in peace!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Su picked up the dagger from the ground and stabbed it into his own chest!

"Xiaoxi, Teacher Huihui, Teacher Sun, I'm coming down to keep you company..."

When Xiao Lin saw that Jiang Su wanted to commit suicide, his eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward like lightning, raising his long leg to kick the inside of Jiang Su's wrist.

With a clang, the dagger was kicked to the ground by Xiao Lin.

Before Jiang Su could react, Xiao Lin had already stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Su's shoulder with his left hand, and quickly pulled out handcuffs from his waist with his right hand, cuffing Jiang Su's hands.

The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Jiang Su struggled, his eyes filled with despair and pain. He roared, "Let me die! I killed someone, I deserve to pay with my life!"

Xiao Lin pressed down hard on Jiang Su's shoulder, his eyes sharp as knives. "You're just going to die like this?"

Jiang Su was taken aback, and his struggling movements paused.

Xiao Lin's deep voice carried a hint of accusation and heartache, "Don't you want to see the Zou family father and son brought to justice? Don't you want to see the day when justice is served?"

Jiang Su suddenly raised his head to look at Xiao Lin, his voice choked with sobs as he roared, "Of course I want to, but I killed someone, and I should pay with my life!"

Xiao Lin's facial features were tense. "If you cooperate with my investigation, once it's clear, the law will give you a verdict commensurate with your crime. If you try to escape your responsibility with death, you will miss the opportunity to witness justice."

Upon hearing Xiao Lin's words, Jiang Su burst into tears. He nodded vigorously, "I believe you, Captain Xiao." His voice was broken, yet it was filled with unwavering determination. "I believe you will find out the truth, and you will make the Zou family, their protectors, and all those who committed evil pay the price they deserve."

Jiang Su looked at the photos of the three deceased on the tombstone, his voice trembling, "Xiaoxi, Teacher Huihui, Teacher Sun, can you hear me? Your grievances have finally been heard..."

Xiao Lin patted Jiang Su on the shoulder, "Don't worry, as long as I'm still wearing this police uniform, I will never let any criminal get away with it."

Lying on the ground, Zou Xu heard their conversation and suddenly burst into arrogant laughter, his eyes full of mockery and disdain. "Hahaha! Captain Xiao, huh? You really overestimate yourself! You, a mere criminal investigation captain, dare to go against the Zou family? Do you know my father's power? He can make you unable to wear this police uniform with a flick of his finger!"

Zou Xu spat, his tone arrogant, "You think you can convict me based on a piece of tattered paper? That's ridiculous. Even if it were the original, does that prove the contents are true? I'm going to sue Lingxi for defamation!"

"She says I bullied and hurt her. Does she have any evidence?"

The surveillance footage from back then is long gone, and even Zhao Jiashu, who had leverage over him, is dead. Who would dare to convict him now?

"Without solid evidence, you can forget about convicting me! When my father arrives, you'll not only have to release me, but you'll also have to apologize to me. Anyone who opposes the Zou family will suffer a terrible fate!"

Xiao Lin slowly walked up to Zou Xu, looking down at him with an icy aura. "Whether there is evidence or not is not up to you. We will compare the handwriting on the letter with Lingxi's homework and notes before her death to confirm that it was written by her. We will also collect and compare the fingerprints left on the paper to see who snatched and tore the letter back then, as they may have left traces."

"Also, in your chat history with Luo Zilin, you claimed that you wanted Zhao Jiashu dead. Zhao Jiashu had leverage over you. Although Zhao Jiashu is dead, we will find out that leverage."

The arrogant smile on Zou Xu's face gradually froze into ice.

No, he didn't believe that the police would find the incriminating evidence that Zhao Jiashu had hidden and that even he hadn't been able to find!