In the interrogation room at the police station, Jack felt an unprecedented amount of pressure. The officers' sharp gazes and pointed questions were designed to break him and make him reveal the truth about the previous night.
"You need to tell us what happened last night and who those two people were. Only then can we help you. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that you won't be hunted down once you leave here," one of the officers threatened, trying to coerce Jack into talking.
Jack looked up, his eyes filled with fear. "I'm a coward. Don't scare me. I really don't know anything. I thought they were just after illegal cabs. I don't know who they were or anything else."
The officer looked disappointed. At that moment, someone knocked on the door, and an officer signaled for the one interrogating Jack to step outside.
Jack noticed a large mirror on the wall. He had seen similar ones on TV and knew there were likely people observing the interrogation from behind it. He guessed that the policewoman he encountered in the hallway—Director Yang—might be behind the glass, watching him.
"Director Yang, you wanted to see me?" the interrogating officer asked after stepping into the adjacent room.
"How's it going? Any progress?" Director Yang inquired.
"None. This guy is really slippery. There were no streetlights or cameras at the crash site, so we have no idea what happened afterward. We don't even know what caused the van to suddenly crash into the stone wall. It rained last night, and there's no valuable evidence at the scene," the officer reported.
"So, we can't hold him then," Director Yang said, nodding towards the mirror behind which Jack was seated.
"That's right. He's just assisting in the investigation for now."
"Let him go then. But assign someone to keep an eye on him. There's definitely something fishy about this guy. How does an illegal cab driver suddenly become Blainy's cousin?" Director Yang said, frowning.
Jack was surprised at how quickly he was released. He took a cab back to Shengshi Huating complex and found that Blainy hadn't gone to work and was waiting for him at home.
"You're back. They didn't do anything to you, did they?" Blainy asked, grabbing Jack's hand and checking him over before finally letting go.
"I'm fine, boss. But I need to tell you something. Last night, those two people who died in the crash—the police said they had guns," Jack said quietly, his voice filled with anxiety.
Blainy was stunned. She looked at Jack in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"Would the police lie to me? They said both of those guys had guns. The old man sent hitmen after you, boss. What do we do?"
"That old bastard. He lied to me and tried to kill me. Jack, he wanted to kill me?" Blainy muttered, clearly shaken.
After a long time, Blainy finally calmed down. She sat on the carpet, facing Jack. She glanced at him and said, "I'm sorry, I got too emotional. I met that old man at a party just after I graduated. He wasn't that old back then. I had just started at the TV station and was basically a gopher. Later, I became his secret lover. He's incredibly talented, especially at replicating famous paintings. Most people can't tell the difference unless they test the paper, which would damage the artwork. So, people rarely do that…"
These were secrets Blainy had never shared with anyone, especially her affair with the old man. She had kept these things buried in her heart for ten years, only bringing them out in the dark of night to comfort herself. Now, she found herself confiding in young Jack.
"I was the one who suggested he replicate the museum's paintings and swap them with the originals. Pretty clever, right? And it worked. To this day, no one has noticed that the paintings on display in the museum are fakes. Who's caught on? No one. He's about to retire and wants to retrieve the original paintings. How is that possible? I've wasted ten years of my life. What about my youth? Who's going to compensate me for that?" Blainy rambled.
Jack felt a pang of sympathy. Being an illegal cab driver was fine. The income was unstable, but at least he was free. Blainy, on the other hand, had wealth but was burdened with secrets that must have weighed heavily on her.
After speaking, Blainy went upstairs, leaving Jack alone in the guest room. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the police's words in his mind. He realized he had walked into a trap. While Blainy getting into his cab might have been a coincidence, everything that followed was part of her plan. This woman was a master manipulator.
Just as he reached this conclusion, Blainy knocked on the door and entered. Jack quickly sat up.
"I've arranged a meeting with the old man. Tonight, you'll deliver this to him. Mail isn't convenient, so I want you to take it in person," Blainy said.
"Me? Alone?" Jack was stunned, remembering the events of the previous night. He didn't dare go alone.
"Don't worry. He won't harm you. I have the paintings. Without seeing them, he won't do anything to you. Here's the list. I've marked what I want. He'll understand when he sees it," Blainy said, indicating that Jack had no choice but to go.