Lin Kirchhoff looked at Gabriel Voss with a mocking smile. Gabriel smiled back. Lin said, "Look at the eight words behind me and read them aloud, please."
"Strict punishment for resistance, leniency for confession… Did I say that right?"
"You're not the first dishonest suspect, and you won't be the last. Do you really believe…"
"Watch your words, Captain Kirchhoff. I am a suspect, not a criminal. I am still a citizen with rights! Detaining and interrogating me without sufficient evidence is against the law here!" Gabriel refused to back down.
"There's no evidence!" Lin Kirchhoff snapped. "Then let me help you remember. On September 9th around 3 a.m., a passenger named Melanie Bauer got into your car.
During the ride, she sent text messages to her boyfriend that prove you harassed her verbally. The next day, her body was found by the river—she was raped and murdered. Do you still claim you're innocent?"
Three pairs of eyes stared at Gabriel Voss. For a moment, surprise flickered across his face, then he regained his composure.
"Early on the morning of the 9th, a young woman got into my car," Gabriel said calmly, "and I drove her to the Maple Grove Hotel. My dashcam footage will confirm that."
If he lied now, he'd only make himself look more suspicious.
"Where did you pick her up?"
"I was parked for about two hours at a food stand near Linden Street."
"Why so long?"
"I fell asleep."
"As far as we know, the route from Linden Street to the Maple Grove Hotel passes right by the crime scene."
Gabriel rolled his eyes and shook his head with a faint smile. "Get my dashcam footage, then."
"That can be fabricated."
Gabriel chuckled. "What do you want? I told you there's proof, but you don't believe it. Now you want me to confess just to close the case? Do you think solving a crime is like like a blind date where you just pick someone who fits?"
"Watch your tone!" Lin Kirchhoff warned coldly.
"I'm an innocent citizen being held without cause. I haven't eaten or even had a glass of water all day. You're trying to pressure me into confessing. Am I not allowed to be frustrated?"
Lin Kirchhoff regarded him dismissively and then answered a call. Sophia Kirchhoff stepped forward. "Is it true you verbally harassed the passenger?"
Gabriel answered calmly, almost like reciting a rulebook: "Under our laws, verbal sexual harassment means using obscene language, telling explicit stories, or making sexual jokes. I didn't do that. I was merely making some small talk."
"Don't dodge the question. Did you harass the passenger verbally or not?"
"You don't really understand. What do you consider normal small talk? Asking for contact details? Inquiring about family? Or is that harassment?"
Sophia hesitated, then said, "From what I've heard, you tend to be overly forward with female passengers. Especially at 3 a.m., that's inappropriate."
"That's your opinion. First, I'm talkative. Second, I like women. And third, I'm single."
"What's wrong with talking to a pretty passenger when she gets in? Did I offend you just now by chatting?"
Lin Kirchhoff who got back from the call looked at Sophia. "What exactly did he say to you in the car?"
She frowned for a second before answering, "It was just normal conversation."
Gabriel added, "As a single man, I find it normal and legal to start conversations whenever possible. As a taxi driver I spend almost 24 hours a day in the car. Would I go crazy if I didn't talk to anyone?"
Lin slammed the table, clearly getting frustrated. "Stop avoiding the point! The fact is, the victim rode with you and you verbally harassed her. Then she was raped and murdered on the way."
Gabriel scratched his neck. "If you say it like that, I might really be in a bad situation right now. Well, give me some gum!" He hooked his finger.
"It's in my right pocket. I would like to reach for it myself but..." He waved with his handcuffed hands.
The others exchanged confused looks.
"Hey. I also want to get put of here als quick as possible. I could've made millions if I were driving instead of this shi- I mean not so comfortable place."
Lin's head twitched. 'Did he just want to say shithole?'
Sophia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Lin sighed, reached for Gabriel's pocket and gave him a gum. He happily chewed. They waited until he finished, but no confession came.
When the gum was nearly gone, Lin pushed: "Alright, time to tell the truth, isn't it?"
Gabriel looked up at the ceiling and said dramatically, "Thirty years ago…"
"Why are we going back thirty years?" the transcriber muttered.
"Thirty years ago, on an autumn night, a dog was hit by a car outside your house. The next day, you were born!"
"You!" Lin stood and slammed the table. "How dare you insult the police? You're risking everything!"
Gabriel flicked the gum wrapper away. "Did I say there was cause and effect? Did I?"
Sophia covered her mouth again, barely holding back laughter. Lin glared at her, and the transcriber was baffled.
Gabriel continued, "I admit what you said are facts, but facts don't prove causation. That's basic logic. Without clear evidence, these are just unrelated details."
"Fine! Fine!" Lin was so frustrated he didn't know what else to say.
Sophia thought to herself: This guy isn't like other suspects who are defensive and irrational. He argues objectively. Maybe he's not the killer after all.
She glanced at Lin's angry face and felt guilty for doubting.
Someone knocked on the door. An officer brought the dashcam analysis results. Lin glanced over them, whispered to the officer, and nodded for him to leave.
Lin held up the papers. "Your so-called evidence doesn't clear you. Not by a long shot..."
Certainly! Here's the revised and properly translated **English version** of your text, with all confusing or unnatural Chinese idioms removed. I've preserved the tone (serious, laced with dark humor), made it coherent, and polished the dialogue for clarity and flow:
"Cut it out!" Gabriel snapped, clearly losing patience. "You've even started making up false confessions. You're completely out of your depth. You donkey.
Lin Kirchhoff, caught in his bluff, looked awkward. "Who are you calling a donkey?"
"This is insulting a public official (Beamtenbeleidigung) and can be criminal."
Chen Shi raised an eyebrow. "Do you even understand what you're saying? First of all there is no such thing as insulting a public official, or atleast it's not punishable. And I wasn't insulting you.
But if you'd rather I be blunt, fine—you're out of tricks. Honestly, a donkey is hardworking and a hell of a lot smarter than you're acting. You should apologize to every donkey on this planet."
Lin turned bright red. It was the first time a suspect had humiliated him like this. He was running out of options.
He grabbed the receiver and spoke loudly, for effect: "Xaver, turn off the surveillance!"
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