Chapter 2

“No need. It's only one thing. This morning, some people at the shop messaged me. They said three or four days ago, a man called Meng Erxi came in with that woman to look at phones. They started arguing for some reason. He even slapped her.”

I froze.

Before I could ask more, he hurried to distance himself.

“That's only what I heard. Ask my staff, or go straight to Meng Erxi.”

Then he trotted out of the Criminal Investigation Unit.

I frowned.

A victim everyone described as gentle, someone who never quarreled, had argued with a man and been slapped?

It made little sense.

Xiao Cheng patted my shoulder.

“What now?”

I organized my thoughts.

“We've got a lead. Start with Meng Erxi. Keep interviewing all the market staff too. A place that size—someone may have seen something.”

We soon found him.

He was a rough-looking man with the ruddy cheeks of someone who worked outdoors all year.

As we described the case, his red face turned pale.

“It wasn't me! I don't know anything! I didn't know the way, so I asked her to show me. Once we got there, she left. How was I to know this would happen?”

He kept waving his hands, close to tears.

He didn't look as though he was lying.

But when I asked the market employees about his relationship with the victim, they told a different story.

“That fellow had bad luck. The girl wanted two hundred yuan for showing him the way. He didn't have it. She called him dirt-poor, and they argued.”

“That's right! He slapped her hard. But she wasn't taking that. She went straight for him. In the end, he slunk off.”

“So he held a grudge. I saw him hanging around here yesterday with a knife, looking vicious.”

“If you ask me, it had to be him. I just read a novel—maybe he's a cannibal. Probably ate her organs.”

From the staff, I heard an entirely different account.

Meng Erxi was no longer an honest farmer.

The victim wasn't a flawless young woman either.

Both had been ready to explode, fighting after only a few words.

Then he'd nursed a grudge, killed her, and dumped her in the street.

When I showed him their statements, he burst into tears.

“I didn't kill anyone! They're lying!”

I didn't think we could conclude that yet either.

All we had were the employees' verbal statements.

Not a single piece of solid physical evidence.

To settle a serious murder case on that alone would be far too careless.

Just as I contacted the provincial forensic expert to arrange another examination, my phone rang.

Tang Lin, head of Criminal Investigation.

“Lu, how's the computer-market case going? It's had a huge impact. The whole province, even the country, is watching. Solve it as quickly as possible.”

I answered at once.

“Captain Tang, I'm contacting the province's most experienced pathologist. If the examination turns up something linking Meng Erxi to the victim, that'll be our strongest physical evidence. Then we can announce we've solved it.”

Silence on the other end.

Then he said, “We've got statements from plenty of employees. The evidence is already clear. Besides, Meng Erxi can't prove an alibi. I think we can close the case.”

“The family has repeatedly asked to have the body cremated so she can rest in peace. I'm ordering you to stop investigating immediately. We don't need more public panic. It'll be good for both our records.”

I was stunned.

We hadn't established the truth.

How could we rush to close it?

If we wanted to reduce the impact, shouldn't we find the real killer quickly?

Was our record more important than the truth?

By the time I recovered, all I heard was the disconnected tone.

“What happened?”

Seeing my face, Xiao Cheng asked.

“Back to headquarters. Captain Tang just called. He wants us to stop investigating and prepare to close the case.”

I spoke as I got into the car.

When we reached headquarters, I discovered the body had already been cremated.

Her family had taken the ashes.

Meng Erxi had been transferred to the provincial public security department under the designation of pretrial detention.

Without Tang Lin's permission, we couldn't even see him.

“Then... do we keep investigating?”

Xiao Cheng's voice was low.

“Yes.”

I clenched my fist.

“Forgot our goal? The major case we've been waiting for is right in front of us. Are you backing out?”

He smiled.

“Of course I haven't forgotten. We'll solve a case everyone admires. You'll fulfill your dream of being a good cop, and I'll turn it into a book and become a millionaire.”

He raised his fist.

I bumped it with mine.

“Where do we start?”

“Back at the computer market. Everything started there. I don't believe it's as simple as they say.”

I thought for a moment, then answered firmly.

“Captain Lu, what do you want from us? An inspection today, another tomorrow, every single day. Are we allowed to do business? I'll put cameras in if I have to. Is a little thing like that worth harassing us over?”

At the market entrance, Yu Tian blocked our path with both arms spread.

“Mr. Yu, we're carrying out official duties. We won't affect your business... unless you're doing something illegal.”

I held my badge in front of him.

“I know, I know. Protectors of the people, servants of society. But don't fixate on me. Nine visits in three days—who could stand that? Business is hard enough after that incident. You keep showing up, and everyone says I'm the killer.”

His face crumpled.

He pressed his hands together and swayed, as though he might drop to his knees and beg if we refused.

Employees passing by gave us all kinds of looks.

Some enjoyed someone else's trouble.

Some were coldly indifferent.

Only one was different.

As he passed me, his eyes shifted noticeably.

He seemed to want to say something.

But one glance at Yu Tian made him swallow it.

Xiao Cheng noticed too and gave me a discreet look.

After years as partners, I understood at once and memorized the employee's face.

Xiao Cheng turned to Yu Tian.

“All right. If you think we're hurting business, we won't inspect today. But cooperate when we need you again.”

Yu Tian broke into a grin.

“Of course! Of course!”

We left, changed into plain clothes, and went to a café opposite.

Over sips of coffee, we watched the main entrance.

It wasn't until eleven that night that I finally saw the employee.

Unlike the others leaving in groups, he was alone.

His head was lowered, his eyes fixed on his shoes.

At the academy, I'd learned that posture often appeared in people burdened by a secret that made them anxious.

Instinct told me he knew something.

We quietly followed.

Once he'd separated from the others, we went up and put an arm around his shoulders from either side.

“You—”

He started.

Recognizing us, he immediately fell silent and looked down again.

“...What do you want?”

I put a can of Coke in his hand.

“Relax. Just a few questions. What's your name?”

He lowered his head and fiddled with the tab.

“Wang Wuyu. Call me Xiao Wang.”

I nodded.

Timid as he was, he was willing to cooperate.

After three days of cold shoulders, that was a relief to both of us.

I asked immediately, “How long have you worked here? Did you see the man and woman fighting a few days ago?”

He shook his head.

“No. I only heard it from the supervisor. I started two months ago. I was off that day...”

Xiao Cheng and I exchanged a glance and sighed.

Apparently, he was only nervous.

He didn't actually know anything.

We were about to reassure him and let him go when he suddenly spoke.