The Old Road (13)

"Isn't this the road to the police station?"

A few minutes later, Fu Qian sat in the car Sheriff Jones was driving himself and asked thoughtfully.

The town wasn't large. Since yesterday, he'd had plenty of time to memorize its general layout, especially the locations of places like the police station.

And Fu Qian was quite sure this wasn't the way there.

"Now that we have another missing person, shouldn't we go back and organize more people for a thorough search?"

"A thorough search certainly looks like the most reasonable approach."

Jones finally responded, but only with a cold snort.

"But my experience tells me that since we didn't find much just now, doubling our manpower probably won't make a difference."

"I prefer approaches that are less reasonable, but might be more effective."

"Oh? What would be more effective?"

Sheriff Jones was no ordinary man, it seemed. Fu Qian asked with interest.

"All violence has a motive. Start with the people who had one, and keep going until you prove they're all innocent."

"You could've just said process of elimination. But that is an effective approach a lot of the time."

Fu Qian wasn't particularly surprised by his answer.

"Since you've already got me, this suspicious person, under control, are you planning to go find—Harold?"

Heh.

Jones snorted but didn't deny it.

"Faking an accident scene and actually plotting to kill his wife. Forgive my bluntness, but although it's a common scenario, pulling it off takes a certain level of competence."

Fu Qian nodded.

"I'm increasingly starting to wonder whether you're really a student."

Jones gave Fu Qian a long look.

"You sound more like a professional criminal consultant."

Clearly, Jones had also heard Fu Qian's conversation with Fran, in which he'd called himself a consultant.

"In fact, I investigated