The Perfect Crime Chapter 5

I didn't look at him, just frantically clawed at the floor with my fingernails.

Incomprehensible mutterings escaped my mouth.

"Logic... logic is a trap!"

"She's listening... she's listening inside my ear!"

"Hahaha... she can't win... unless I go crazy!"

This was the only message I could convey to Captain Wright.

All my logic had been compromised.

So I had to enter a dimension she couldn't understand—complete madness.

Wright's expression changed.

He quickly approached and crouched down.

His voice filled with grief. "Marcus, you..."

I suddenly raised my head.

"Get away! You all want to steal my 'perfect crime'!"

As the guards pinned me down, my head struck the cement floor again.

Bang!

Excruciating pain!

A sharp tearing sensation came from deep in my right ear.

That thing—it had loosened.

I pretended to convulse, trembling fingers reaching into my ear canal.

Under everyone's horrified gaze, I quietly dug out that object smaller than a grain of rice.

Wrapped in blood and earwax, I didn't hesitate to put it in my mouth, hiding it under my tongue.

"The bug! The bug is in my brain!" I screamed, creating greater chaos.

Wright rushed over, trying to restrain my flailing hands.

I seized this opportunity!

I suddenly grabbed his wrist, my strength surprising him.

The moment he looked down at me, I spat the thing mixed with blood directly into his palm.

His palm grew hot, his entire body freezing.

My lips moved, uttering three numbers: "734."

This farce ended with me being injected with a sedative.

What followed was a lengthy psychiatric evaluation.

I used all my knowledge of criminal psychology to craft a perfect "paranoid schizophrenia" persona.

My ramblings contained codes only Wright could understand.

"My right ear... is a signal receiver, connected to Sirius."

"Number 734... is their secret frequency."

734 was the case file number of the first case Wright and I solved together when we joined the force—our crisis code word.

The evaluation report came quickly.

Conclusion: Marcus Lane, due to prolonged high-intensity mental work and severe psychological trauma, has developed serious mental disorders and is unfit to stand trial.

Recommendation: Transfer to Ashford Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center for mandatory treatment.

I was assigned to a private room.

Every day, I acted insane.

Talking to walls, drawing incomprehensible doodles on paper, hiding pills under my tongue on schedule.

Wright didn't keep me waiting long.

A week later, under the guise of "visiting an old friend," he appeared in my room.

He brought a small metal box.

"This is a signal blocker, military-grade. No information can leave this room."

He lowered his voice, his expression complex.

"You were right. I had military tech experts examine that hearing aid."

"After dismantling it, they discovered the internal structure wasn't a medical device at all."

"It's a military-grade micro signal transmitter connected to a bioelectric sensor chip."

"It can capture the weak bioelectric signals your cerebral cortex produces during thought, convert them to digital signals, and transmit them in real-time."

My heart felt gripped by an invisible hand.

"In other words."

Wright's voice was incredibly difficult.

"Elena has been eavesdropping on your thoughts all along."

"Is there a way to counter it?" I asked.

"It's difficult. This technology has strong anti-tracking protocols." Wright said. "Until then, you absolutely cannot leave here."

I closed my eyes, hiding all the hatred and sorrow.

"I understand."

I opened my eyes, my gaze calm.

"Captain, I need you to help me with something."

"Name it."

"Help me gather case files for all unsolved, high-profile crimes in the city from the past three months."

"What are you planning?" Wright frowned.

"Elena is a 'detective genius,' isn't she?" I laughed coldly. "Geniuses cannot be questioned."

"I'm going to send her a 'test' she can't refuse."

Wright looked at the fire rekindling in my eyes, silent for a moment before nodding heavily.

"I understand."

After he left, my world returned to silence.

The game had begun anew.