"Is there such a thing?" Xu Ming clinked glasses with the fellow and drank. He was soone who liked drinking without eating, and the chopsticks on the table remained untouched. "I know about the few murder cases in the northern district. I already knew when I was working in the city center. At that ti, there was also a major traffic accident on the highway, and it was my side that sent people over. It seems that the perpetrator is also from your northern district. Two foreigners died on the spot; it was truly tragic."
"I know who you're talking about. He's a punk from our area, known for being a filial son." The fellow chuckled twice without saying more, and Xu Ming glanced at him.
"Na your price!" It wasn't just the northern district; it was the sa everywhere. Xu Ming could tell the type of person he was dealing with just by looking at the fellow, so he didn't shy away and asked directly.
Of course, the price of such information wouldn't be too exorbitant. After all, the other party was a policeman, so it was just a token gesture. Sotis it might be money, or it might be leniency in other aspects; in the end, each got what they needed.
"Director Xu truly is straightforward. It's clear you handle things better than Director Zhao." Suddenly, a sentence in Shanghai dialect ca from a Northeasterner, and Xu Ming had the urge to laugh but held it in.
"It also depends on whether I can afford it. We're just working folks, don't have much money." Playing poor was necessary. These hooligans really thought those with governnt jobs had sothing to show for it when it was really just so benefits, and the rest was up to themselves.
"Talking about money hurts feelings." The fellow waved his hand. His eyes were a bit bloodshot, and half a bottle of liquor was gone in no ti. People say Northeasterners can hold their drink, and this certainly wasn't false; Xu Ming stopped touching his own glass upon seeing the fellow's clear-headedness. "I have an Ah i working at the 'Phoenix Tail' nightclub. If you co across her during inspections, just give her a way out."
"That's asking to break the law!" Xu Ming shook his head. He couldn't do such a thing.
"Director Xu, I know you're an upright man. I'm not asking you to break the law, just to show leniency. She's a good girl and never does those shady things, completely different from that dead Xiao i." Speaking of his Ah i, the fellow's face lit up with happiness.
"You know that Xiao i?"
"Of course I know. That slut worked at the sa entertainnt complex as my Ah i, they even dined together." The fellow's tone carried a clear hint of animosity, indicating that Xiao i's reputation wasn't great here.
"Isn't Xiao i dead? Why do you have such a big issue with her?"
"Director Xu, don't say things carelessly. I had no intention of killing her, just thought she was dishonorable."
"What did she do to you, or did you want her and she wouldn't let you? I heard this girl was extrely beautiful and didn't sell herself."
"Bullshit, she didn't sell herself!" The fellow spat on the ground. "That woman did a lot of harmful liaisons in secret. I have a brother who almost died because of it."
"What is your Ah i's na? I'll have the team keep an eye out. In those kinds of places, it's really hard to mix without so protection." Xu Ming handed the fellow a cigarette, agreeing to his conditions.
"Thanks in advance, Director Xu." The fellow laughed upon hearing this.
"No need for thanks. Tell about Xiao i."
"Boss, you know it too; how many in their line of work don't get involved? To be out there and still act honorable, this woman was like that. My brother initially thought she was quite the case, felt sorry for her, and figured that being a hostess didn't earn much, so he was willing to help her out. Who knew she didn't appreciate it, saying she was waiting for her lover. That's funny, already has a man but still out doing this, and that man isn't worth much either. Originally, it was just going to end that way."
The fellow took a swig of alcohol and glared. "That chick introduced my brother to a woman who looked quite decent. It wasn't long before she found him lacking and recomnded a male enhancent drug, saying one sip would make one unstoppable, and he ended up directly in the hospital, still lying there now."
"How long ago was this?"
"About a month or so!" The fellow thudded down his glass. "The doctors couldn't find what was wrong, so I went to find that woman Xiao i introduced. That woman refused to admit anything, saying my brother drank sothing else. I got angry and wanted to take her in, but she threatened that if I reported it, my Ah i would be implicated too."
"You an all those nightclub girls were dragged into this?"
"I don't know if all of them were, but definitely a lot. That woman was a madam."
"Who did Xiao i hang out with regularly? Did you ever see the man she ntioned?"
"Never saw him, but heard from Ah i that a black car often ca to pick her up. There was a guy nad Ah San who was quite close to her, but he ended up dead too."
"Ah San! This person is related to the previous car accident case. The perpetrator once testified that he was the one who incited him to do it."
"How is that possible? Ah San is just a fool, he was tricked by that woman."
"How do you know?"
"Ah San often cos here to play. Director Zhao entrusted him to our boss for care, eating three als a day here with us. That woman pretended to be in a relationship with Ah San, but in reality, she was just having him deliver goods for her. I once saw with my own eyes that the woman ca to find him, gave Ah San a package, and stuffed a hundred yuan into his hand."
"I see, I thought the fool had found himself such a pretty woman by luck, hahaha!" Xu Ming laughed loudly on purpose. After their casual chat, it was already past four in the afternoon. The waiter was called into the kitchen by the chef to start work, while Xu Ming remained seated at his spot. The car hood of the BMW had already passed from afar and turned into the station. He quickly settled the bill and greeted the waiter before heading toward the departnt.
Mu Rongyun was still fiddling with a skull, always missing a piece of bone to complete the reconstruction. He took off his gloves and was about to take Wu Shuang back, but unexpectedly, he ran into Xiao Lin coming in from outside.
"It's late today." Behind Xiao Lin were Hua Qingyi and Shou, along with a cute girl whom Mu Rongyun imdiately recognized as the girl walking beside Xiao Lin last ti. Although her makeup was gone, her physique made her easy to identify.
"Since everyone is here, I'll say everything at once." Mu Rongyun thoughtfully covered Wu Shuang with a coat. It indeed took quite a bit longer today. What could have been postponed until tomorrow, he decided to finish today. "Firstly, tomorrow I'll take Director Wu to the City Police Departnt, he won't appear again."
"That's the best."
"Secondly, the bones are confird to belong to three male corpses, with age roughly between thirty to fifty years old. One is relatively young, while the other two belong to middle-aged n. As for their appearance, I need to conduct a simulated scan based on the skulls. It'll take about two days, and I'll fax it to you later."
"Third, there's still one and a half months left."
Few understood the last sentence, only Xiao Lin nodded at him. "I'll co to find you in half a month."
"That's best. Prescribe two more months of dication for , and this ti it needs to include sleep aids and digestive ds. Her digestive function has started to decline." Mu Rongyun glanced at the pale-looking Wu Shuang beside him, hoping to see the initial ferocious woman rather than her sickly current state.
"Understood." Xiao Lin walked to the office desk and casually picked up paper to write down the prescription. "I've added so supplents inside. Provide her with appropriate exercise, it will make her feel better."
"Has Wu Shuang shown any improvent?" Hua Qingyi's eyes were still sowhat filled with doubt watching Mu Rongyun holding Wu Shuang. Only half of the three-month period had passed and her symptoms of poisoning were already appearing. He wasn't sure if Wu Shuang could hold out till the end of the month.
"I don't think so." Xiao Lin shook his head. His confrontation with Mu Rongyun should happen soon. "Girl, co here."
Guo Guo was handed to him, throughout the way, nothing was spoken, making the car's atmosphere awkward. Xiao Lin pointed to the seat where Wu Shuang was sitting earlier. "Do you know what happened to that girl?" Guo Guo shook her head. "She was a woman who was about to die. Do you know who killed her?" Guo Guo continued to shake her head. "Because of you, Hong died. I don't want more people to die because of these damned drugs. Tell the truth."
Using such a heavy thod on a child would be sowhat inappropriate. Xiao Lin's urgency was understood only by Hua Qingyi and Shou, while others did not get it as much—this was not a gentlemanly approach, to pressure a girl, but none of them said anything.
"What do you want to know?"
"Who murdered Xiao i and Ah San."
Yan Juanjuan denied Zhang Qiang's death, and this is sothing Xiao Lin trusts.
The person who intended to kill Zhang Qiang was sowhat guessed from Yan Juanjuan's tone—it's laughable if you think about it, both sides are using accusations to magnify each other's criminal facts, yet their relationship surfaces. The difference is, Yao Zheng wants Yan Juanjuan dead, while the latter just wants him jailed—this is fundantally different.
The outco of a dog-eat-dog situation is mutual destruction. Who would profit afterward? I believe Fourth Master is smart enough to seize opportunities as the market gets more chaotic.
"It was a man." Guo Guo started shaking uncontrollably again, not willing to recall. To her, that rainy night was terrifying. "What I saw was a man's silhouette."
In the North District, when it rains, it becos a water city because of low terrain and an outdated drainage system, it's unable to quickly drain rainwater through underground channels. So, co rainy season, many living in the lower area, which is the slum, head towards higher ground. (To be continued. If you like this piece, please visit qidian to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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