Chapter 36: Cheng Zhenqing’s first trial

Xia Liang was despatched to the hospital, the place the bullet was promptly eliminated. Fortunately, there was no injury to the tendons or bones, and there wouldn’t be any lasting results. A interval of relaxation was wanted for a full restoration. Everybody breathed a sigh of reduction apart from Chief Zheng, who had a stern face. He slammed his cup onto the desk with a loud “bang,” inflicting the stress that had simply eased amongst just a few people to resurface.

Zheng Furui’s gaze scanned from left to proper throughout every face. He was about to talk when He Wei stepped ahead voluntarily, “It’s my fault. I didn’t command the operation nicely this time, and the investigation was insufficient, resulting in a colleague getting damage through the operation. I’ll submit a report in two days and take full duty for any penalties.”

Hu Songkai stood up, “Chief Zheng, it has nothing to do with Lao He.  It was me who mentioned the room was empty and went to open the door with Xiao Xia. Lao He advised me many occasions to concentrate to security, however I used to be careless and gave the suspect a possibility. I’ll take the blame.”

Chong Zhen additionally stood up, “Xiao Xia is ok too. Getting injured whereas coping with criminals is regular. Chief Zheng, you don’t must be so onerous. A minimum of we caught the suspect.”

Zheng Furui checked out these three veteran members of the staff together with his arms behind his again, “Did I say I’m going to carry anybody accountable? Why are all of you leaping out in a rush, on the lookout for hassle?”

Their stares conveyed an analogous message: We are able to inform out of your expression that you just’re planning to put blame, however we’re admitting our errors voluntarily. Let’s simply let it go.

“Nevertheless it’s true that this operation was rushed. It is best to have totally investigated the enemy’s background earlier than planning. He Wei, I’ve all the time valued your stability and exact decision-making. Why had been you so impatient this time? You even let the criminals take the initiative,” Zheng Furui walked to the window and glanced on the reporters ready downstairs for interviews. “I’ve mentioned it many occasions, the media has been watching this case intently. All the pieces must be dealt with rigorously. They gained’t care about how onerous we work extra time within the workplace to collect proof, but when one thing goes flawed, there might be voices blaming the police for incompetence.”

Yun Xiaoxiao and the others had been filled with complaints however dared not converse out. It was as a result of the media had been watching and the case had been stagnant that they wished to catch Cheng Zhenqing shortly for a breakthrough. On this age of knowledge and superior expertise, no information will be stored hidden. He Wei made a snap resolution again then to keep away from delaying the investigation and giving Cheng Zhenqing an opportunity to flee.

Nonetheless, He Wei couldn’t escape the blame for Xia Liang’s harm, so he listened silently to what Zheng Furui mentioned, with no phrase of excuse. Zheng Furui checked out He Wei and sighed secretly in his coronary heart. He Wei was a uncommon expertise, exceptionally succesful, and had a relaxed and regular persona. Through the years on the metropolis bureau, he cracked a number of main instances, incomes each private and collective honors. Each town bureau and the provincial management held him in excessive regard and had excessive expectations. A small mistake may not matter a lot to a median particular person, however when it got here to He Wei, it was magnified a number of occasions over. Even the smallest points had been scrutinized by numerous pairs of eyes.

Being in a outstanding place additionally made He Wei a goal for others’ consideration. Zheng Furui had promoted him with warning, hoping he would easily ascend the ranks with out making any errors that might give others a possibility to shine.

“Alright, Xiao Xia is secure and sound, I gained’t examine this matter any additional. However He Wei, bear in mind, you possibly can’t be careless sooner or later. You’re main a unit now, with so many individuals beneath you, it’s important to take in your duties.”

He Wei nodded, taking the recommendation to coronary heart. After Chief Zheng left, Yun Xiaoxiao rested her chin on her arms, “Our captain actually had it tough, getting scolded for no motive.”

“Nicely, once you’re a frontrunner, you both take the blame or move it on. Lao He obtained the shorter finish of the stick, falling into the previous class,” Hu Songkai mentioned, rubbing his arms. Regardless of washing them a number of occasions, he might nonetheless faintly scent the bloody scent that belonged to Xia Liang. He continued, “It’s all that man’s fault. Rattling it, he thinks he’s the king simply because he has just a few awful weapons? Carry him out, I’ll interrogate him!”

Chong Zhen cleared his throat, reminding them to make use of acceptable language and contribute to a harmonious society. Fortunately, Hu Songkai had joined the police power; in any other case, his language on the streets might need made him “ErHu-dage.”

“Since ErHu volunteered, let him do the interrogation.” He Wei smiled at Hu Songkai, “I’ll inform the pre-interrogation staff. At this time, we’ll give ‘Noticed-mouthed Gourd’ an opportunity to showcase his abilities.”

“…” Hu Songkai hesitated, regretting his bravado. What did he learn about pre-interrogation methods? He was simply letting off steam due to Xia Liang’s harm.

“Anyway, we now have the official arrest, and there’s no time restrict. Simply take your time with the questioning,” Chong Zhen patted Hu Songkai on the shoulder. “ErHu, I consider in you. You’ll undoubtedly make that felony cry!”

Half an hour later —

He Wei and the others had been observing exterior the interrogation room, watching as Cheng Zhenqing teased and provoked Hu Songkai to the purpose of frustration, storming out of the room: “Rattling it! This man is an entire rascal! Not a single truthful phrase got here out of his mouth, he stored getting into circles. It’s been half an hour wasted!”

He Wei crossed his arms and known as over two specialists in pre-interrogation to proceed questioning Cheng Zhenqing.

“Title.”

“Cheng Zhenqing.”

“Age.”

“33.”

“What’s your occupation?”

“International or home?”

“Reply each.”

“Overseas, I used to be a sniper; in China, I’m an unemployed drifter.”

“You had been a sniper?” The pre-interrogator checked the data. “Didn’t you say you had been washing dishes in Canada earlier than?”

“Nicely, I washed dishes on the aspect whereas being a sniper. They don’t battle.”

“You most likely used dishwashing as a canopy for being a sniper? You shot and injured our colleague with out hesitation, although.”

“Come on, I calculated it nicely. If he didn’t transfer, the bullet would have grazed his hair,” Cheng Zhenqing sighed, his tone tinged with a touch of grievance. “I actually didn’t intend to harm anybody; I simply wished to scare him.”

Behind the one-way mirrored glass, Hu Songkai was about to leap up. “See! Not a single truthful phrase! If it had been up to now, he would’ve been thrown into an interrogation room and crushed up!”

He Wei, arms crossed, remained calm. He picked up the gooseneck microphone and mentioned, “Ask him concerning the individuals he killed as a sniper.”

The interrogator heard via his earpiece and requested, “Because you declare to be a sniper, inform us, who have you ever killed?”

Cheng Zhenqing’s expression noticeably modified. He clenched after which launched his arms, and after a second, he burst into laughter. “Officer, you truly believed I used to be a sniper? Oh, I simply mentioned that casually.”

The interrogator furrowed his brows. “Cheng Zhenqing, have you learnt the place you might be? Thoughts your perspective!”

“Okay, okay, severe and cooperative, I’ll absolutely help with the investigation. However I used to be actually washing dishes in Canada. In the event you don’t consider me, you possibly can test.”

The next questions yielded solutions much like what Hu Songkai had requested. Cheng Zhenqing and Cheng Zesheng had reunited three years in the past, and Cheng Zesheng had returned to China to develop his profession, with Cheng Zhenqing following go well with. Whereas Cheng Zesheng favored weapons, he was too timid to really use them, so Cheng Zhenqing helped his brother acquire firearms overseas after which smuggled them again to China. Unintentionally, they’d arrange an armory within the basement.

As for his brother’s demise, Cheng Zhenqing had no concept. Cheng Zesheng didn’t have enemies, and he couldn’t fathom who would need him lifeless. After the armory was uncovered, Cheng Zhenqing had loads of time to flee again to Canada, however he stayed right here to search out his brother’s killer.

“Ask him for the secure code within the basement of Fusheng Jinlong Backyard.” He Wei mentioned.

After the pre-interrogator requested, Cheng Zhenqing all of a sudden turned his head, staring on the mirrored glass wall. He knew that this one-way mirrored glass made it unimaginable for the individuals inside to see the skin, however all of them felt as if Cheng Zhenqing’s eyes had seen via it, with a give attention to He Wei.

“85553113.”

Chong Zhen famous it down and went to open the secure they’d introduced again. He Wei instructed the pre-interrogator to proceed asking about Cheng Zesheng’s data. Cheng Zhenqing spoke about his brother’s issues fluently and in a relaxed state, as if he wasn’t a detained suspect, however quite having an informal chat with a buddy.

After some time, Chong Zhen returned, holding a leather-based envelope with a neatly sealed flap that hadn’t been opened earlier than. Hu Songkai handed him a utility knife, and simply as He Wei was about to chop it open, he heard Cheng Zhenqing ask, “Officer He’s exterior, proper? Did you get that envelope?”

“I counsel Officer He not open it proper now; the timing isn’t proper.” Cheng Zhenqing’s arms had been handcuffed to the desk, however his fingers had been stressed and informal, transferring absentmindedly. “You would possibly wish to wait till we’re carried out chatting, then determine whether or not you wish to open it.”

He Wei hesitated with the utility knife in his hand, and Hu Songkai was getting anxious on the aspect, “Lao He! Why are you listening to his nonsense? He’s simply being cryptic!”

Not likely. He Wei’s eyes had been involuntarily fastened on Cheng Zhenqing’s fingers. His index and center fingers gave the impression to be randomly transferring, but there was a definite rhythm, together with the pauses, that felt fairly acquainted—worldwide Morse code. Anybody attentive sufficient ought to be capable to decipher it.

1, 2. 12.

After tapping it out, his wrist turned barely, and the glint from the glass dial mirrored and vanished.

He Wei realized—it was 12 o’clock.

He crumpled the envelope a bit; the content material inside was considerably rigidly formed and sized like a photograph. 12 o’clock? Midnight?

After pondering for just a few seconds, He Wei put the utility knife down. Hu Songkai and Chong Zhen had been astonished, “You’re not opening it? Possibly there’s a key clue to fixing the homicide inside!”

“Don’t rush, there’s one thing off about Cheng Zhenqing.” He Wei stared on the man within the interrogation room, showing content material. One thing had felt off since his arrest. He might have fled easily, however he appeared deliberately elusive, solely to be captured ultimately. Trying again on it, it was as if he didn’t need the method of his seize to appear too simple, so he cooperated enthusiastically.

As for the interrogation simply now, a minimum of 80% of it was true, however for the remaining 20% of falsehoods, He Wei wanted to talk to him on to establish them.

He Wei stood up. “Take Cheng Zhenqing again, let him relaxation nicely, and I’ll take over the interrogation tonight.”

—

Xia Liang was sitting within the hospital room, his arm suspended, and Yun Xiaoxiao was feeding him dinner.

He Wei walked in carrying fruit and chuckled on the scene, saying, “Xiao Xia, each cloud has a silver lining.”

Xia Liang smiled shyly and defined, “My arm is injured, I can’t use my left hand to eat, so I’m bothering Xiaoxiao.”

Yun Xiaoxiao was fairly beneficiant in her response, “I’m the one one within the bureau with nothing to do. Your mother and father are out of city, so taking good care of you is like working extra time.”

“…” Xia Liang checked out her, “Isn’t it since you’re frightened about me?”

“After all, I’m frightened about you. We’re all on the identical staff, so if you happen to’re damage, we’re all involved.”

Xia Liang’s injured arm was nothing in comparison with the truth that his coronary heart had shattered into items after Yun Xiaoxiao’s confession.

Seeing from the sidelines typically gave clearer insights. Even somebody as emotionally indifferent as He Wei might inform how robust Xia Liang had it. He took out an apple and requested Xiaoxiao to clean it. After she left, He Wei sat down and mentioned, “You possibly can’t go on like this. Be extra daring. In the event you like her, it is best to say it. Xiaoxiao is an effective woman. In the event you miss this opportunity, you would possibly remorse it.”

Xia Liang wore a distressed expression, “I don’t suppose I’m being delicate right here. It’s fairly apparent! Is she actually oblivious or pretending to be?”

“Based mostly on my statement, she would possibly genuinely not perceive.”

“…” Xia Liang sighed deeply. Why was the trail of affection so troublesome?

He Wei needed to return to the workplace, solely staying for 5 extra minutes. Yun Xiaoxiao got here out holding an apple, handed it to Xia Liang, after which pulled He Wei apart to talk quietly.

“Captain, Yuqing is aware of you’re working late, so she’s getting ready dessert. Keep in mind to search out her once you return.”

He Wei felt puzzled, “Couldn’t she simply come to the workplace immediately?” He paused, “I don’t like candy issues.”

Yun Xiaoxiao fretted, “Captain, why are you so oblivious? Can’t you are taking the initiative for as soon as? As an alternative of all the time letting the ladies make the primary transfer?”

He Wei was each amused and exasperated. He had little interest in Zheng Yuqing, however others didn’t know that. He had turned down her confession two years in the past. Nonetheless, Zheng Yuqing hadn’t given up since then. He couldn’t be too unfeeling, so he maintained a passive stance of their interactions, treating her purely as a colleague.

He Wei glanced again at Xia Liang and dropped a touch, “Don’t accuse me of being oblivious. Take a while to self-reflect.”

Yun Xiaoxiao was left baffled. Self-reflect? Was the incident from the afternoon, the place Xia Liang virtually fell, about to be revealed?