I looked at the driver, who stared at us both, utterly bewildered and angry, as if he could devour us.
I knew the driver would eventually return home safely, but no one wants to be detained and interrogated; it’s not a pleasant experience, and all of this was thanks to us.
It couldn’t be said that it was just us; it was the so-called bosses, Chen and Liu, who masterminded this entire affair. Wen Siqiang was motivated by greed, which led him to participate actively. As for me, I merely wanted to eliminate them as quickly as possible and then return to dealing with my own matters.
I had no idea what was happening at the club. My pager had also been confiscated, so I couldn’t get any news from that end. I could only silently pray that everything there was going smoothly and that Xiao Hong was unharmed.
After driving for over an hour, we were taken back to the city police station and brought before a building.
I hadn’t seen Mr. Song at all throughout this. He wouldn’t appear before us, yet I knew that everything that happened that night was closely related to him; he was the one manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
The three of us, along with the two old Burmese men from another police car, disembarked. The Burmese men wore raincoats and hats, and I still hadn’t gotten a clear look at their faces. We were led into a building with a corridor and many rooms. We were assigned to different rooms; the front was for interrogations, separated by a row of iron bars, and at the back was a floor mat, presumably for suspects to rest.
I was taken to a room, and the officer escorting me removed my handcuffs. He had me sit on a chair. The iron bars weren't closed. The officer also brought me a bottle of water and asked if I wanted anything to eat or smoke. I said I didn’t want anything to eat but could have a cigarette.
He handed me a pack of cigarettes and said, “Apart from not being able to leave this room, you are otherwise free. If you need to use the restroom, you can call the officer on duty outside. There’s a public toilet outside, but you’ll have to wear handcuffs to go out. Please understand.”
I understood. I couldn't go out immediately, and I could comprehend their reasons.
But they knew I wasn’t a suspect, which was more important than anything else.
After the police officer finished speaking, he left. I knew the others were being interrogated. The most wronged was the driver, who had been dragged into this for no reason.
I went to sit on the floor mat in the inner room, tore open the cigarette pack, and took out a cigarette, lighting it. I didn’t actually have a smoking habit; it made no difference whether I smoked or not. I lit it simply to have something to do, as it was too boring to just sit idle.
I sat there and dozed off. In the middle of the night, I woke up thirsty for water and heard quite a few people moving about in the corridor outside. My door was locked, and there were no windows. I figured that tonight was definitely unusual, and many people would be up all night.
I drank some water and went back to sleep, continuing until a police officer came in. He brought me breakfast and took me to the restroom.
After breakfast, I was called out, as someone wanted to see me.
In the reception room, I saw Lan Ya and Sister Zhang. They had brought me some daily necessities, along with fruits and packaged food. Sister Zhang’s eyes were red. I told them I was doing well there and that they didn't need to worry about me.
Lan Ya said that the matter at the club had been resolved, but I would have to stay there for a few more days. They couldn't make it too obvious; it was impossible to catch all of their people, and there would surely be some who escaped. They had to play the part thoroughly to avoid leaving any loose ends. She also mentioned that I would have to testify in court and that a lawyer would contact me to prepare my defense for innocence. Holding my hand, she told me that everything would be fine and to rest assured and stay there.
Sister Zhang also came over to hold my hand, making it seem like a farewell for life and death.
I asked if Zhou Yingying had been brought in. Lan Ya said no, that she wasn’t involved yet. If anyone were to confess later, she might be implicated.
I said it was best if she didn’t get involved; I still had scores to settle with her.
The two of them looked at me reluctantly. I took the items and returned to the visitation room.
Although I had performed well in this operation, for my own safety, I couldn’t be released immediately. If my identity were exposed, my safety and the safety of those around me would be threatened.
Here, I still had to stay with the two bosses, Chen and Liu, for some time until they were sent to prison for life.
I had to wait for the sentencing, which would give me sufficient reason to leave here openly and legitimately.
In the afternoon, a lawyer came to see me. He was a middle-aged man in his forties. He asked me many questions, and I only needed to answer yes or no, know or not know, have or not have. He then told me that he would represent me in court with a defense of innocence and that I should answer truthfully as we had discussed.
The lawyer informed me that the first trial would commence after the investigation concluded. However, this case involved too many people and had layers within layers, so the date might be postponed. During this period, he might need to verify some issues, and he hoped I could recall the details as thoroughly as possible.
Later, the lawyer visited again to supplement some details.
I received special treatment inside. Apart from not being able to go out, everything else was no different from being outside. Lan Ya and Sister Zhang visited me every few days, bringing things. However, no one from my family, including my mother, had come to see me.
Wang Xin and Xiao Pang had visited a few times. Wang Xin cried when she saw me. I couldn't explicitly tell her anything, only that I was fine and she shouldn't worry.
The case didn't go to trial until early summer of the following year. We were taken to the courtroom. Many people were brought in together, most of whom I didn't recognize. Standing in the front row were the two bosses, Liu and Chen, along with the old Burmese men and the two individuals who wore raincoats that day. Because their facial features were different from ours, I believed it was them who handed over the goods to us that day.
Wen Siqiang was also brought in, but his complexion was poor, and his spirits were low. I suspected it was due to the drug-related issues; he couldn't take drugs here anymore, hence his condition.
The charges against Mr. Chen and Mr. Liu were numerous. They were to be handled in a separate case, and this trial was only for the charge of drug trafficking.
My charge was participating in drug transportation, not drug dealing.
Since our link in the chain did not involve any transactions, it could only be transportation.
Wen Siqiang was also indicted on this charge, but he had an additional charge of drug use and involvement in drug dealing.
I assumed he had dealt with drugs previously, otherwise, he wouldn't have this charge.
The female demon was not present, indicating that Chen and Liu had still not revealed the full extent of their criminal activities. This was for the best; it gave me an opportunity to personally ensure she was brought in.
Mr. Chen and Mr. Liu stood in the center, exuding an air of defiance, like dead pigs unafraid of boiling water.
During the trial, Mr. Chen downplayed his involvement and claimed ignorance. When the prosecutor presented evidence, he remained silent, neither admitting nor denying. However, the court operated on evidence, and everything they had done was supported by direct and circumstantial evidence, leaving them with no room for denial.
I was the smallest link in this chain, and it would take some time before it reached me.
Liu and Chen were jointly involved in drug trafficking, and their charges were the same. The trial for him proceeded more smoothly. Although he also remained silent, he eventually bowed his head in the face of the evidence.
When questioning the old Burmese man, the court provided him with a translator. He confessed to all his involvement in drug trafficking and also revealed new criminal evidence that the court had not yet discovered.
As a foreigner, he likely waited until the end to speak, wanting to earn merit and gain leverage during negotiations between countries, thereby avoiding immediate execution.
The two individuals who transported the drugs to us were merely workers hired by the old Burmese man. In court, the old Burmese man specifically made a statement on their behalf. After the trial, they were released in court and picked up by their own people.
I did not see the driver who had driven us that day; I assumed he had been released at the time.