Actually, Director Tang had received a tip-off and spotted Middle-parted Hair. He had ordered Officer Lan and another officer named Lü to go arrest him.
Director Tang Changan had changed his previous contemptuous attitude. He told Tong Haojing to stay in the Criminal Investigation Team's office, saying the truth would soon come to light. Tong Haojing calmed down somewhat, but the two auxiliary officers still followed him every step of the way, making him deeply uncomfortable.
Several horn blasts sounded outside the police station. A Volkswagen sedan pulled up at the entrance, and a tall, handsome man stepped out. He wore casual clothes and a pair of highly polished black regulation leather shoes. This man was Gao Weimin, Director of Public Security for Tangdu City. A graduate of the Chinese People's Public Security University, he was forty-five years old and in the prime of his life. He had come to Tangdu City as part of an interregional exchange assignment to serve as Director of Public Security.
Gao Weimin had rushed to West City Police Station after receiving a report from the Command Center that someone had jumped into the Tangdu River and their fate was unknown. He had gone straight to the scene before coming to the station. Without asking many questions, Gao Weimin immediately summoned the station personnel to report on the case.
This showed his usual decisive and forceful style.
The upper floor of West City Police Station was deathly quiet. Gao Weimin listened to Director Tang's case report, while Deputy Director Hu Yuancheng, Director of Political Department Wu Dean, Captain of Criminal Police Qian Fu, and the fire and rescue personnel stood nearby.
According to Tangdu City Public Security Bureau regulations, the director had to personally attend the scene of any case involving human life. Leaders in charge of criminal investigations were no exception. This was Director Gao Weimin's order.
When Gao Weimin had received the report, he had thought both men had jumped into the river and died. He ordered criminal investigators, forensic examiners, and the fire and rescue team to head immediately to the scene. He also made sure to bring Director Wu Dean of the Political Department with him at all times. He wanted to identify capable people in the heat of battle. He had not forgotten the first task Political and Legal Secretary Li Dongfeng had assigned him upon his arrival in Tangdu City: stem the flow of drugs through West City. Unexpectedly, Gao Weimin had already begun Tangdu's anti-drug campaign without even realizing it.
After arriving at West City Police Station with Director Wu and learning the details of the case, he finally let out a long breath. But then he frowned. "A robber jumped into the river, and his fate is unknown. The man who caught him claims he acted bravely for a just cause. This is no small matter. One careless step, and it could stir up a media frenzy!"
Director Tang was an experienced station chief and had likewise recognized the sensitivity of the case. He had reported it to the supervising leadership at the first opportunity.
Gao Weimin cut him off. "Has anyone gone to the scene?"
"Officer Lan led the team," Director Tang said softly, lacking confidence.
Gao Weimin's face immediately darkened, and his voice suddenly rose. "What is the name of the person who caught the robber?"
Director Tang said, "Tong Haojing. He is a retired soldier awaiting placement. He has already been brought back to the station for questioning. He says he still wants to become a police officer."
Director Gao Weimin smiled faintly. "What about the robber? Did he have accomplices?"
Director Tang said, "Well... well... all we know right now is that he has a scar on his face. After jumping into the river, his fate is unknown. We are still searching for him!" Director Tang knew perfectly well that it was still too early to identify Scarface as the robber, but he could not say so outright in front of the director.
Gao Weimin asked, "Who was the victim?"
Director Tang said, "That is the crucial issue. This person never came forward to file a report, and his identity is unknown, so the nature of the case has not been determined. What troubles us now is, first, that we have sent many people to look for the victim but still have no leads. Second, what do we do with Tong Haojing, this retired soldier?"
Director Gao Weimin pondered for a moment, raised his brows, glanced left at Deputy Director Hu and right at Director Tang, then said to them in an almost admonishing tone, "Gentlemen, human life and acts of bravery for justice both concern the vital interests of ordinary people. There can be no sloppiness whatsoever. We must handle this according to the law!"
Deputy Director Hu said, "Rest assured, Director. We will assign additional personnel to uncover the truth. We will never wrong a good person, nor let a bad person go unpunished!"
Tang Changan followed the arrangements without speaking. Director Gao's words may have been a reminder to me, but he still left the decision to me. That showed how shrewd he was. Deputy Director Hu's response was even more flawless, leaving no opening to exploit.
Director Gao Weimin gave a cold smile and said heavily, "Good. Very good. I will wait for your good news!" Gao Weimin had intended to ask about the progress in the previous arrest of Dong Guapi, the drug user, but the urgent phone call had made him forget. He then went downstairs and saw Tong Haojing. Casually remarking, "He has potential," he prepared to leave the police station. Director Wu followed behind him, listening closely. He immediately understood the implication behind Gao Weimin's words and found a direction in his heart.
Just then, a crowd suddenly gathered at the entrance to the police station, blocking Gao Weimin's path. At their head was Ma Shaokang, assistant to Long Wen, the owner of the West City labor export company. With several followers, he shouted that the police station must severely punish the murderer and repay his brother Shorty with a life.
Tang Changan was baffled. How had Ma Shaokang learned the highly confidential news that Shorty was dead? Could there be something fishy going on?
Beside Ma Shaokang stood a gray-haired old man in his seventies. He looked listless, his mouth half open. His cries of "Seek justice for my son! Seek justice for my son!" were drowned out by the followers beside him. From time to time, he watched Ma Shaokang's expression, as if he only dared cry out whenever Ma Shaokang blinked. Clearly, this was not the old man's own intention.
This man was Shorty's father, Liu Benzhong. After receiving news of his son's death, he had been forcibly dragged by Ma Shaokang's men to the entrance of the police station to cry out for justice.
Ma Shaokang, male, thirty-five years old, was of average height. Long Wen's assistant, he was slightly plump with a square face and a somewhat cultured appearance. He often showed off classic lines from the Three Character Classic before Long Wen and was deeply valued by him. Ma Shaokang had only arrived at the police station to make a commotion after receiving a call from a public telephone. Scarface had made that call. On the phone, Scarface insisted that Shorty had been wounded and killed by the tall fisherman. He and Hu Pan could not show themselves at the moment, so he asked Long Wen for help.
The cunning Scarface had not told Assistant Ma the truth. Without understanding what had happened, Assistant Ma reported it to Long Wen. Long Wen believed the boss behind him had immense power, and he also wanted to curry favor with that boss. Scarface was somewhat related to the boss by blood, though Long Wen had no idea exactly what kind of relatives they were. Thus, Long Wen fearlessly ordered Ma Shaokang to pressure the police station and demand justice.
Across from the entrance to the police station, Long Wen, the owner of the West City labor export company, hid quietly in the shadows and watched the situation unfold.
No one had expected this.
At this critical moment, Ma Shaokang had jumped out to cause trouble. Director Tang gritted his teeth in fury. Standing in front of Director Gao, he shouted, "Ma Shaokang, whatever it is, wait and talk later. Move aside!"
"Severely punish the murderer... severely punish the murderer..." Ma Shaokang led the crowd in cries that rose wave after wave with an almost deliberate rhythm.
At that moment, Director Gao pulled Tang Changan back with one hand, stepped forward a few paces, and introduced himself. "Everyone, quiet down! I am Gao Weimin, Director of Public Security for Tangdu City. Please believe that the Public Security Bureau will handle this case according to the law, uncover the truth, and give everyone a satisfactory explanation!"
In the distance, Long Wen suddenly disappeared from sight after receiving a text message from Hu Pan. Qian Fu, standing behind Director Gao, caught that fleeting change. Perhaps his warning glance had reminded Long Wen that this was the newly arrived Director of Public Security, and he could not push his luck too far.
Hu Pan had sent Long Wen a text message.
Long Wen had learned the truth about Shorty's death from Hu Pan. He immediately instructed Hu Pan in secret to find a way to comfort Shorty's father, Liu Benzhong, and make him keep quiet. Long Wen himself slipped away without a sound, and Ma Shaokang's group gradually dispersed as well.
As Director Gao left, he once again instructed Director Hu and Director Tang that this was a case involving human life. They must strike at lawbreakers and criminals with "stability, precision, and ruthlessness," and protect the safety of the people.
After Gao Weimin left, Deputy Director Hu did not dare delay. He immediately summoned the criminal investigation unit and the police station personnel to begin their investigation. But when it came to whether the special task force should be led by the Criminal Investigation Team or the police station, Deputy Captain Qian of the Criminal Investigation Team and Director Tang Changan got into an argument.
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