The Perfect Crime Chapter 2

Captain Wright looked at me, his lips moving wordlessly.

He wanted to believe me, but the "evidence" and "motive" Elena presented fit together so perfectly.

"That's absurd!" I snatched the microphone from her hand. "Those are just my personal analysis notes. I didn't submit them because they were too speculative!"

"Analysis notes?" Elena's face showed a pitying expression. "Marcus, even now you're still making excuses?"

She pulled out the USB drive and replaced it with a second one.

"You say they're notes. Then what about this?"

The screen flickered.

Surveillance footage appeared.

The location was the crime scene of the final "Rainy Night Butcher" murder.

A man matching my build and clothing stood with his back to the camera, carefully wiping a knife handle with a handkerchief, then gently placing it in the hand of the victim lying in a pool of blood.

"Boom—!"

The crowd erupted.

"My God! That trench coat—isn't that the one Detective Lane is wearing today?"

"And that watch... I remember it's a commemorative edition..."

"He... he's actually staging the scene!"

In my previous life, this video had nailed me to the pillar of shame.

But this time, I stared at the screen, my mind racing frantically.

"Your trap is too crude." I looked up, meeting Elena's gaze.

Elena's expression suddenly froze.

I raised my wrist, displaying the watch for everyone to see.

"I received this watch three years ago when Elena graduated from the police academy. The band was scratched during a pursuit operation last year, leaving a mark about 0.5 centimeters long, located below the clasp."

I pointed at the screen. "But the watch in this video is flawless."

The reporters below erupted in commotion, craning their necks to see the details on my wrist.

Captain Wright let out a long breath, the trust rekindling in his eyes as he looked at me.

Elena panicked for only a moment before bursting into laughter. "Worthy of Marcus Lane! Worthy of the 'legendary detective'! Even the details for clearing yourself are prepared so perfectly!"

She turned to face the camera, tears streaming down her face. "Everyone, do you see? He can use his ability to predict! Create evidence in advance!"

"Don't be fooled by him! The person in the video is him!"

Elena suddenly pointed at my coat pocket, her voice piercing:

"And the small finger bone from the victim's left hand in the surveillance footage is in his trench coat pocket!"

The entire venue fell silent!

Captain Wright's face went deathly pale. "That's impossible! I saw the medical examiner's report—the body was complete!"

"Complete?" Elena laughed shrilly. "This is his 'perfect crime'!"

"He can deceive everyone's eyes, make you believe what you see is reality!"

"Search him! Search him right now!" someone suddenly shouted from below.

"He's the real scum!"

"Arrest this monster!"

Every gaze became a blade, looking at me with fury.

I carefully retreated, glancing at Elena, etching her currently manic and victorious expression into my memory.

Then I suddenly turned, crashed through the backdrop behind me, and burst out from backstage at the press conference.

Behind me came Elena's hysterical screams.

"Stop him! Don't let him escape!"

"He's fleeing from justice!"