“I’ve seen plenty of lawyers like that; it’s just how dark the world is!”
“He Sheng, I know you couldn’t help the imprisonment situation. You only hid your identity back then for the mission, but that action wasn’t authorized by Director Zhang. Without proof that you were undercover, this matter is a bit tricky.”
“I understand. However, as long as we can prove Kelly was the mastermind behind the experiment, then my actions of apprehending one criminal to capture another will be justifiable!”
“Are you suggesting we shift our focus to finding out if Kelly was the behind-the-scenes player in this whole scheme?”
“Exactly. Forget about the undercover business. Please, I’m restricted in my actions now. This is probably the organization’s intention – they want me incapacitated so they can do as they please!”
“Hmph!” Liu Yuning slammed her fist on the table, clenching her hands into fists, her eyes burning with intensity. “How ridiculous! They think the Sin Punisher Squad will fall apart without you? They’ve underestimated Captain Liu. This time, I’ll show them all what this old lady is capable of! I’ll make them unforgettable, forever living in shame!”
“Great! My Captain Liu, I’m counting on you. With Zhang Keying, the strategist behind the scenes, those scoundrels won’t be able to stir up any trouble.”
As I spoke, Liu Yuning solemnly clasped my hand, gave me a heartfelt look, and then stood up to leave. I was then escorted back to the detention room by two bailiffs.
I figured I’d be stuck in the detention room for a while. I hoped Liu Yuning would find evidence quickly. I prayed inwardly and drifted off to sleep. I didn’t know how long it had been, and there was no news. I had no idea how things were going on her end, so I just waited day by day. Until one afternoon, a bailiff came to the detention room and told me, “Regarding your case, the trial starts today. Do you wish to appoint a lawyer for your defense?”
After some consideration, I called Liu Yuning. She contacted Director Zhang for me. Director Zhang knew about my situation and was very anxious. He managed to find a lawyer named Bao Zhengping. I had heard of him; he was rumored to be the most righteous ace lawyer in Huaxia. I never expected Director Zhang to bring in such a formidable figure for me.
After meeting Mr. Bao, he patted my shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, Detective He. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ve never liked that old man. This time, I’m going to thoroughly crush his arrogant spirit!”
“Please, Lawyer Bao. Has Yuning provided you with any evidence?”
“Of course, it’s all with me. And I have the password!”
“Mmm!” At this, I subtly turned my bracelet, notifying the two great heroes He Xiaoyu and He Jinghui to come and keep watch. Although this Lawyer Bao seemed very astute, the organization might try to interfere in the courtroom. I needed two masters ready to step in at any moment.
Just as I watched Lawyer Bao prepare to enter the courtroom, I suddenly realized the two bailiffs beside him were the two great heroes. Damn it! They’d disguised themselves as bailiffs!
He Xiaoyu gave me a wry smile, while He Jinghui looked stoic. “Let’s go!”
Back in the courtroom, this was the first time in my life I was being tried. As soon as I sat at the defendant’s table, the judge announced, “Today, we begin the trial of He Sheng, accused of imprisonment and operating an illegal laboratory. Case number is…”
I saw Liu Yuning, Xiahou, and others in the gallery. They all supported me and were doing everything they could to help me through this ordeal.
After the boring opening remarks, a prosecutor stood up and said, “Defendant He Sheng, the evidence provided by Lawyer Lei to me last time clearly shows your involvement in the imprisonment of Ms. Kelly. Furthermore, you participated in the experiment. Both witnesses and surveillance footage can corroborate this. How do you explain this?”
Countless eyes shifted to me.
Calmly, I gripped the microphone and slowly stated, “I’ve said before about the imprisonment; it was a stratagem devised to apprehend Klovts. It was a plan I came up with on the fly. Ultimately, we apprehended the criminal, so isn’t that what matters? Isn’t the method flexible?”
We didn’t bring up the undercover issue this time. Knowing there was no evidence, the prosecutor didn’t press the matter further, instead asking, “But how did you participate in the experiment? Don’t you understand how abhorrent such experiments are?”
“I certainly do. I’ve been involved in this case all along. The reason I conducted the experiment was a measure to protect myself. If I had resisted, I would have been shot dead. How could I have waited to create an opportunity to apprehend the criminals? Everything I did was to pave the way for future plans. I had no criminal intent whatsoever; these were all preparations for a brighter future.”
My words caused the prosecutor to pause and sit down. Lawyer Bao gave me an approving glance. He bit his lip slightly and then stood up, continuing, “Your Honor, you’ve just heard what my client had to say. I believe that as a police officer, adaptability is a must, isn’t it? Should one rashly act when held hostage by criminals and unable to resist? That wouldn’t be the judgment of a qualified detective, would it!”
Upon hearing this, the jury exchanged glances. Some whispered to each other, and my keen ears quickly caught their words. They seemed to find it quite reasonable. At this point, Lawyer Bao looked at the prosecutor with a triumphant air.
However, the prosecutor quickly flipped through the documents, as if suddenly discovering something important, and holding up a piece of paper, said, “No, Your Honor, I have a crucial document here!”
“What document? Prosecutor, please present it!”
The prosecutor stood up and announced, “This is a list we found at the laboratory. It contains the names of many researchers, including the defendant He Sheng.”
“Let me see it quickly!” the judge said, and the prosecutor had already submitted the document. The judge took it and examined it carefully. I was a bit bewildered at the time. A list of laboratory personnel? What on earth? If such a thing existed, the police would have discovered it during their search. But if it wasn’t found, then the authenticity of this list was questionable.
However, after reading it, the judge looked up with confusion and asked, “Defendant He Sheng, do you have anything to say now?”
“Your Honor, may I see this list?”
“I object! Given the defendant’s situation, he should not be shown any physical evidence!” Before the judge could respond, the prosecutor nervously objected. I narrowed my eyes and noticed his hands tremble slightly. At this, Lawyer Bao quickly interjected, “My client has the right to view physical evidence in the courtroom!”
“Objection overruled. Defense attorney, hand the document to the defendant.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
Lawyer Bao took the document from the judge and handed it to me.
I quickly flipped through it. My name was indeed there, but there was something that even the judge had missed.
After reading it, I said to everyone present, “Everyone here should understand that everyone’s handwriting is different, right? This person is rather interesting, imitating my handwriting!” I chuckled.
I then adopted a flippant demeanor.
The judge, however, said sternly, “Defendant, please be serious. This is a courtroom!”
“Yes, Your Honor. May I have a pen?”
“You want to write something here?”
“Precisely. And ink and paper as well.”
The judge did not hesitate and instructed a bailiff to prepare them for me.
I took the items and began to write “He Sheng” on the table. Then I stood up and looked around at everyone present, of course, holding up the document for comparison. Many people, upon seeing the handwriting, exclaimed, “Isn’t it exactly the same?”
I shook my head. “No, look closely. On the document, the character ‘生’ (sheng) in ‘何笙’ (He Sheng) has a much fainter final stroke than mine. Also, the brushstrokes are quite delicate. If I’m not mistaken, this must be from a woman’s hand. Liu Yuning! Quickly investigate if He Xin is missing!”
Hearing me call her name suddenly, Liu Yuning became alert and made a phone call. Soon, she stood up, her voice filled with anger. “Your Honor, the defendant’s daughter is currently missing. We, the police, have reason to suspect she has been abducted and that this document was fabricated. Therefore, I implore Your Honor to immediately release the defendant. He is innocent!”
“Officer Liu, that’s not for you to say…”
Although everyone understood the situation, they also knew Liu Yuning was right. At this point, Lawyer Bao immediately continued, “Your Honor, Captain Liu is correct. That list must be a forgery!”
“Bring the two sets of handwriting here. Also, I need a sample of He Sheng’s handwriting from his usual writing.”
Liu Yuning quickly found one and handed it to the judge. As she approached the defendant’s table, she gave me a confident nod, and I nodded back. The elderly judge took out a magnifying glass and began to examine them. The prosecutor was extremely nervous, sweat already beading on his forehead.
After a while, the judge handed the two sets of handwriting to the jury for examination. They began to compare them. After about 10 minutes, the jury representative whispered a few words to the judge, who then said, “This list is indeed a forgery. Prosecutor, I would very much like to know how you obtained it.”
“Your Honor, I received it this morning. I don’t know how it happened; it just appeared in my document bag.”