As Qiao Dingguo and the others left and passed the driver's cabin, Lin Xiaohe's driver, Hu Runsheng, was already standing at the door. Lin Xiaohe calmly said, "Notify Lawyer Chen to wait for me at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station."
"Understood, Mr. Lin," Hu Runsheng replied calmly.
When Lin Xiaohe was taken to the Yau Ma Tei Police Station Qiao Dingguo, four lawyers, accompanied by their driver Hu Runsheng, were already standing outside the Yau Ma Tei Police Station. As Lin Xiaohe got out of the police car, before they could even approach him, six or seven photographers with cameras suddenly appeared out of nowhere, some even carrying flashlights, Lin Xiaohe began snapping photos of him. However, not a single reporter asked the police or Lin Xiaohe any questions; they all simply took pictures in silence.
Lawyer Chen, who was the first to react, hurriedly pushed aside the photographers and took off his suit jacket to try to cover Lin Xiaohe, while Hu Runsheng was already trying to disperse the photographers.
"It's alright, let them take pictures if they want. Hong Kong law stipulates that you can take photos freely, but you can't say whatever you want. They're smart." Lin Xiaohe even smiled at the photographers before stepping into the police station accompanied by police officers and lawyers.
"I am Lawyer Chen, Mr. Lin's private lawyer. Whatever questions you want to ask Mr. Lin, I have the right to be present, and I request that Mr. Lin sign a guarantee as soon as possible." After entering the Police Station's main entrance, Lawyer Chen spoke directly to Qiao Dingguo, who was preparing to hand Lin Xiaohe over to Yan Hung and the others who had come to take over.
Qiao Dingguo turned and glanced at him. "Of course, it's just assisting with the investigation. If you insist on signing a guarantee, then..."
As he spoke, he glanced at his watch. "According to the Hong Kong Police Force Regulations, the Yau Ma Tei Police Station can provide a response regarding your bail application within twelve hours at the latest."
"Please hurry." A lawyer behind Lawyer Chen picked up his briefcase, walked past Lawyer Chen, gently patted it with his palm, and said to Qiao Dingguo meaningfully, "Or, could we talk in your office alone?"
Qiao Dingguo glanced at Lin Xiaohe, who had already been taken away by Yan Hung, and nodded slightly. "Of course, as a police officer, I am willing to answer any police-related questions for anyone."
"Mr. Lin, I'm sorry to trouble you to come to the Police Station so late to assist with the investigation. Around 6 p. m., a vicious murder occurred at the construction site of the Swire Crown Building in Kowloon Yau Ma Tei, where several construction workers were shot dead." Yan Hung, who was unusually dressed in his police uniform today, sat seriously across from the interrogation table, flipping through his notebook as he asked.
Two lawyers stood behind Lin Xiaohe, who sat calmly in his chair and said, "I don't know what I can do to assist you in this kind of murder case."
"Here's the thing: this morning, a large number of construction workers gathered at the Labour Department to demonstrate. To monitor and control the workers' reactions, the Yau Ma Tei Police Station deployed a large number of officers near several construction sites in its jurisdiction to prevent the workers from secretly gathering and colluding, thus preventing a repeat of this morning's situation. However, instead of problems with the workers, four assailants appeared with the intent to kill the union worker representatives who gathered at the Labour Department this morning. Fortunately, the police responded quickly, killing three assailants on the spot and seriously injuring one, who was then arrested. According to information obtained by the police, the seriously injured assailant is named Liao Jingxuan. Before shooting, Liao Jingxuan had threatened the workers, telling them not to cause trouble for the Lin Family. Therefore, I would like to ask Mr. Lin if he knows this armed assailant named Liao Jingxuan."
As he said this, Yan Hung stared intently at Lin Xiaohe's expression.
Lin Xiaohe shook his head, quite puzzled. "Liao Jingxuan? I know too many people; I'm not sure if I know him or not."
"Mr. Lin means..." Yan Hung was about to press for more information.
One of Lin Xiaohe's lawyers spoke up, saying, "Mr. Lin's statement just now neither confirmed nor denied anything."
"It's alright. So, Mr. Lin, are you aware of the news that construction workers gathered and protested at the Labour Department this morning?" Yan Hung pursed his lips, helplessly put a question mark on the previous question in his notebook, and then continued to ask.
"I don't know. This matter should be handled by my younger brother, Lin Xiaosen. If you have any questions, officer, you can ask him," Lin Xiaohe said gently to Yan Hung.
"A construction worker who was seriously injured but survived told the police that the perpetrator, Liao Jingxuan, had threatened them, the workers who went to demonstrate at the Labour Department, and had mentioned the Lin Family. This is why the police asked Mr. Lin to come back to assist in the investigation." Yan Hung twirled the pen in his hand and asked the third question.
Without any hesitation, Lin Xiaohe smiled and said, "Officer, if someone hires a killer to murder someone, why would they make the killer go on and on about being the mastermind? Don't you think that's a clumsy tactic? If the killer really said that the Lin Family master instructed him to do this, I think I should sue him for defamation."
Yan Hung swallowed nervously, feeling quite uncomfortable. He was no match for this person. He had asked three questions but hadn't received a definite answer. He also had to be careful with his tone and wording, not daring to utter a single harsh or threatening word, because there were two lawyers standing behind the other person, glaring at him intently, ready to find any flaws in his words.
In this atmosphere, let alone Yan Hung off Lin Xiaohe for twelve hours, even two hours would be a struggle.
In truth, Lin Xiaohe on the other side wasn't as calm as Yan Hung had perceived. He simply couldn't believe that Liao Jingxuan had shot and killed the worker. Without his orders, Liao Jingxuan couldn't have acted on his own; he must have been framed. However, he was currently trapped in the Police Station. Hong Kong law stipulates that if the investigation is not immediately concluded, and the police suspect the person assisting in the investigation of involvement in the case, they have the right to detain him for at least twelve hours. Only after twelve hours can he be released with a lawyer's bail and be available for questioning by the police at any time.
Twelve hours, which means that Lin Xiaohe will have to stay at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station until 11:00 a. m. before he can leave.
"Lawyer Wen..." Lin Xiaohe was about to say that he felt unwell and needed to go to the hospital when Lawyer Chen stepped in. Ignoring Yan Hung's gaze, he leaned close to Lin Xiaohe and whispered: