How You Can Sue Me for My Crimes in Dreams

Linlan City Criminal Investigation Division.

In the holding room.

It wasn’t as grim as an interrogation room. Jiang Hai wasn’t handcuffed, just sitting nervously across the table.

He was a clown.

A literal clown, with heavy makeup, squeaky, comical shoes, an exaggerated afro wig, and a bulky clown costume.

This was his afternoon job. After five o’clock, when the children got out of school, he would wear this outfit and sell things on the street.

At night, he worked as a loader, and during the day, he took shifts at a restaurant.

His twenty-four hours were almost completely booked. The police had no idea how he even found time to sleep.

But that had nothing to do with the case.

”Jiang Hai, thirty-six years old, divorced, has an eight-year-old daughter, junior high school education...”

Qian Hua read from the file.

”You’re the president of the Lung Cancer Patient Mutual Aid Association, aren’t you?”

”Y-yes... that’s me.”

Jiang Hai looked a little intimidated, forcing a stiff, sheepish smile as he spoke.

”How many people are in the Mutual Aid Association?”

”I’m talking about patients from the last three years, not including family members, who are still in Linlan City.”

”And, uh, the ones whose conditions are so severe they’re considered incurable.”

The relationship between the president of a support group and its members tended to be close. After all, people under immense pressure needed an outlet.

Sharing with each other provided that outlet, so they would usually call each other at the slightest sign of trouble.

Jiang Hai knew the situation of every single person under his care!

”Twenty-four...”

Jiang Hai shrank back, his voice quiet.

’The number of people who fit that description is small.’

’Incurable. One step forward and they’re dead. Patients who reach this stage usually die quickly, so the number wouldn’t be large.’

”What about their files? Can you identify their records?”

A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Qian Hua’s face as he looked up at Jiang Hai.

”Even one name would be enough.”

’Twenty-four people, all of whom he knows inside and out. Find six culprits among them...’

’No, even if there’s only one culprit in that group, the police could quickly identify the other five and draw up an arrest plan!’

But unexpectedly...

”I don’t remember.” Jiang Hai gave an awkward laugh, shrinking his head back as he spoke in a low voice.

”You don’t remember?”

Qian Hua was stunned.

”Do you have their phone numbers?”

”No. By the time they get to that stage, they’ve usually sold their phones to buy medicine. Even if I had the numbers, they wouldn’t go through.”

”I’m talking about the phone numbers themselves!”

Qian Hua’s brow furrowed, and he stressed his point.

”As long as you still have the numbers, the police can trace their identities!”

Jiang Hai froze. After a moment of silence, he said:

”Usually, if a number doesn’t connect after a few tries, I cross out their contact information. I black it out and consider them deceased.”

”If the people you’re looking for are in that group, I probably can’t give you any useful information...”

Qian Hua’s heart sank.

’We finally found a breakthrough, how could it end with him knowing nothing at all!?’

”Do you have an online chat group?” Wang Hu asked.

Jiang Hai paused, then nodded. ”Yes, but the people in there aren’t critically ill, and their families are better off. They don’t fit the criteria you mentioned...”

”Do you know the presidents of any other patient associations?”

Xu Huo suddenly spoke up. He looked Jiang Hai up and down, feeling that something was off.

”I’m the only one for the Linlan City Lung Cancer Mutual Aid Association...” Jiang Hai said quietly.

”Only you?”

”Only me...”

”Has anyone gone missing recently?”

Xu Huo suddenly cut to the chase. His eyes were completely impassive, devoid of emotion, as they rested on Jiang Hai.

”No,” Jiang Hai answered immediately.

”Are you sure? Not even one?”

”Really, no one,” Jiang Hai said with certainty.

Everyone fell silent.

’Nothing...’

’We thought we’d found the light at the end of the tunnel, but it turned out to be a dead end...’

’The information about the culprits isn’t with him... so where is it?’

’The illness is connected to a hospital. For them to get so desperate they’d break the law, their condition must be extremely advanced.’

’Chemical plant workers and painters are frequent lung cancer patients. Even if the culprits don’t have lung cancer, their illness is likely related to the respiratory department. And the Lung Cancer Mutual Aid Association isn’t just for lung cancer; it also covers general respiratory diseases...’

’Either way, he should have the information.’

’Did the police miss something?’

Qian Hua frowned, lost in deep thought.

Xu Huo said nothing, just looked Jiang Hai up and down.

After a long moment, he spoke abruptly.

”Mr. Jiang.”

”You’ve probably heard about the recent case in Linlan City.”

’What case in Linlan City? The bombing, of course.’

Jiang Hai nodded nervously.

”A lot of people died in this case. The whole of Linlan City is in an uproar about it.”

Xu Huo sighed. By now, basically anyone in Linlan City with any social life knew about the case.

It couldn’t be helped. Two explosions within twenty-four hours, and malicious, fatal ones at that...

The public outcry was bound to be huge!

”Mr. Jiang, to be frank, the reason we asked for your cooperation is because of this case.”

Xu Huo’s expression turned serious.

”According to our investigation, the culprits’ identities are very likely connected to patients.”

”In fact, it’s highly probable that they are hiding within your Mutual Aid Association, Mr. Jiang!”

”So, Mr. Jiang, have you noticed anything unusual lately?”

Jiang Hai shrank back, a little scared. ”I haven’t noticed anything unusual.”

”You haven’t?”

Xu Huo nodded. ”Alright. Thank you for your time.”

With that, he stood up and began to pack his things. Across from him, Jiang Hai lowered his head and started to walk out.

He put the comical clown nose on, adjusted his costume, and cautiously made his way out.

The atmosphere in the holding room was glum. Qian Hua was still frowning, trying to figure out a new angle of approach.

Until...

Just as Jiang Hai reached the door, Xu Huo suddenly asked a question.

”By the way, Mr. Jiang, based on the information the police have released, what are your thoughts on the victims’ gruesome deaths?”

”Serves them right...”

Jiang Hai replied subconsciously. And after those three words left his mouth...

A strange mood suddenly fell over the holding room.

Jiang Hai froze. For some reason, a sudden, inexplicable nervousness washed over him. He looked at the officers before him, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet.

”Officer... is something wrong?”

He cautiously eyed Wang Hu, who was staring intently at him.

No one spoke. The atmosphere was terrifyingly tense.

Wang Hu and Qian Hua stared at him like robots, not saying a word.

The oppressive atmosphere made Jiang Hai even more terrified.

Until...

Wang Hu swallowed, his throat dry. He looked at Jiang Hai and said slowly:

”The police...”

”...never released any information about the victims.”

’Never released?’

Jiang Hai faltered. The next second, his face went deathly pale. Even the comical clown makeup couldn’t hide his panicked expression.

”The police released a lot of information.”

”But we never released a single detail about the victims.”

”You...”

Looking at Jiang Hai, Wang Hu stood up straighter, his gaze fixed on him.

”How did you know the victims deserved to die?”

As his words fell, the air went completely still.

In a daze, Jiang Hai...

...was frozen to the spot.

...

PS: This isn’t entrapment, it’s a conditioned reflex (just putting that disclaimer out there).