Read Skinner's Box (Fang Mu (Eastern Crimes)) for Free Online

are, whether they're dead or alive. This is the reason we've come here from Jiangbin City." Tai Wei cleared his throat. "I'm in charge of this case."
    Without saying a word, Fang Mu turned his head to look through the one-way mirror on the wall of the interview room. Luo Jiahai's head was hanging down and his hands and feet were cuffed to his chair. His body looked smaller than before.
    Fang Mu stood up. "Take off his handcuffs and ankle cuffs."
    A policeman from the precinct glanced at Tai Wei. Tai Wei waved his hand in a gesture that indicated to comply with Fang Mu’s request.
    The policeman got out the keys. While walking with Fang Mu around to the interview room, he said, "Be careful in there, bud."
    "Don't worry, I'll be fine." When Fang Mu reached the door to the interview room, he suddenly turned around and pointed a finger at Tai Wei. "But this time, don't you go slinking off."
    Everyone stared at Tai Wei in confusion. The corners of Tai Wei's mouth turned the slightest bit upward and his eyes softened.
    Fang Mu also smiled, and then opened the interview room door.
     
    Head drooping, Luo Jiahai sat in his chair unmoving. Fang Mu thought he was asleep. But when the policeman undid his cuffs, Luo Jiahai reached a hand over to massage his other wrist where the cuffs had left red marks and Fang Mu realized he had been awake the whole time. He contemplated the man for a moment and then asked for someone to bring in a bottle of mineral water in.
    When he handed him the water, Luo Jiahai thanked him in a quiet voice. After twisting the cap off he just took a tiny sip, then put the cap back on and placed the bottle on the table in front of him.
    Fang Mu lit a cigarette and scrutinized him from the other side of the table. After a few minutes he slid the cigarette pack over to him.
    Luo Jiahai looked up and shook his head. "No, thank you. I don't smoke."
    Fang Mu nodded slightly and continued to smoke in silence.
    The two of them sat on either side of the table from one another. Between them were the slowly twirling and dissipating trails of smoke. One stared at the bottle of mineral water in front of him, while the other stared at him through the smoke. Luo Jiahai remained silent, as both sat waiting, and as Fang Mu sized him up.
    Fang Mu knew that on the other side of the one-way mirror everyone was waiting anxiously for Luo Jiahai to start talking. He really wanted to tell Tai Wei to be patient, actually; an analysis of current circumstances, including Luo Jiahai's words and behavior, led him to believe that it was quite possible that Shen Xiang and Sang Nannan were both already dead. Whether they were found sooner or later didn't matter; it was too late to save them.
    What interested Fang Mu more was to learn the sequence of events that had led to this incident. What exactly had Luo Jiahai meant when referring to the smell ? Why had he killed Teacher Qin? Just how were Shen Xiang and Sang Nannan related to this murder case…?
    After he finished his cigarette, Fang Mu said in an unhurried tone, "You wanted to see me. Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
    Luo Jiahai did not respond right away; he waited a few seconds before looking up. Fang Mu did not avoid his gaze, but rather stared right back at him. In Luo Jiahai's eyes was a look of exhaustion mingled with deep despair and grief.
    After a long while, Luo Jiahai spoke in a low voice. "Officer Fang, if I said I'm not a bad person, would you believe me?"
    "I have no intention to try and make a character assessment here, but I'd rather believe that you are a good person." Fang Mu raised his voice very slightly. "But you've killed someone. Everyone makes excuses for himself after making a mistake. If you want me to believe that you're a good person, then you'll have to convince me."
    Holding his breath, he concentrated on Luo Jiahai, waiting for him to explain his motives. But Luo Jiahai just hung his head again and didn't move.
    He had thought it would be easy to