What the hell was this thing...
Li Jie was starting to regret insisting on showing off in front of everyone. He should have shot Arnold Wesker dead the moment the man opened fire.
Well, this was just great...
He looked at the meek, deferential middle-aged man in front of him, then hefted the puppet in his hand.
The puppet wasn't heavy. A few layers of ragged cloth covered hardwood, and the workmanship was crude. Yet its eyes really did seem alive. Even holding it in his hand, Li Jie could feel that vicious glare fixed on him.
Heh. What were you looking at?
Gripping the puppet by its lower half, he casually swung it in circles through the air and looked at Arnold, unsure what to do.
The man had killed someone, so he ought to arrest him. But even the damn Police Department had collapsed. Not only was there nowhere to lock him up, he would also have to provide food, water, toilet facilities, and protection. That hardly seemed worth it. Still, the guy was being so obedient now. Wouldn't shooting him in front of everyone be a little too brutal?
"Uh..."
Still swinging his hand, he pointed at the submachine gun on the ground and asked Arnold, "You... don't want to give it a try? You might have a chance."
"N-no, Sheriff." Arnold bent at the waist and cautiously waved both hands. "I'm innocent. Those things... Scarface did all those things."
"Hah!"
Li Jie sneered. "That insanity defense crap won't work with me. You need to..." He stalled again. What was he supposed to do with this guy? Simply letting him go would be far too flippant.
After thinking for a few seconds, he decided to set the difficult problem aside for now. Maybe it would be easier