Linlin sneered. "No, it is not enough. I must keep going until you open your eyes. Nature cannot be changed unless you force it to. When a forest is poisonous, you set it on fire and plant new trees. Think with your head, not heart. Stop being foolish."
The breakroom air thickened, silence pressing from every side. Detectives whose ears were pressed to the door held their breath.
And then Liwu's palm cracked across Linlin's cheek.
The slap echoed like a gunshot, freezing the room, freezing the hallway beyond.
