The logic of indirect speech
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC224267522.01.2008 · In these circumstances, indirect speech is the rational option. Note how this analysis is inconsistent with the traditional idea that indirect speech is an implementation of pure cooperation: The driver here is using indirect speech not to help the honest officer attain his goal (viz., to enforce the law) but rather to confound that goal.
Indirect speech - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indirect_speech In linguistics, indirect speech (also reported speech or indirect discourse) is a grammatical mechanism for reporting the content of another utterance without directly quoting it. For example, the English sentence Jill said she was coming is indirect discourse while Jill said "I'm coming" would be direct discourse. In fiction, the "utterance" might amount to an unvoiced thought that passes through a stream of consciousness, as reported by an omniscient narrator.