In Tang Changan's eyes, this was an opportunity to earn Gao Weimin's trust. He desperately wanted to seize it, take charge of the case, and make Gao Weimin notice him.
"Director Hu, we know the people and the area. Let our station handle this case!" After briefly learning the case details, Tang Changan had concluded that Scarface and Middle-parted Hair, the two men involved, were local hooligans in their jurisdiction.
"Did you hear what Director Gao said just now? He clearly has some doubts about us. That means we must attach great importance to this case, get to the bottom of it, give Director Gao an explanation, and give the victim an explanation!" Hu Yuancheng said solemnly, making his stance on handling the case clear.
"Director Hu, why not let the Criminal Investigation Brigade handle it? Look at that group of emotional people outside the station. It's obvious they have grievances against the station," Qian Fu said.
Long Wen's shadow seemed not to have faded from Qian Fu's mind. He knew that Long Wen's appearance outside the station at this moment must have carried a deeper meaning, and Qian Fu's barbed remark thoroughly enraged Tang Changan.
"What grievances? Stop talking in that sarcastic tone. If you've got something to say, say it plainly!" Director Tang was like an enraged lion, completely shedding his usual rigid and steady image. Even in front of Hu Yuancheng, he showed Qian Fu no courtesy.
"Director Tang, that wasn't what I meant," Qian Fu said.
"That wasn't what I meant either," Tang Changan said.
The two spoke in riddles and clashed in the station's conference room, leaving Hu Yuancheng thoroughly displeased. They're both departments under my supervision. One is no less important than the other. But for the sake of caution, he still decided it would be better to hand the case to Qian Fu.
"This case involves a death and is complicated. Let the Criminal Investigation Brigade take the lead, with the station assisting!"
That was exactly what Qian Fu wanted, and he secretly rejoiced.
Tang Changan was about to object, but Hu Yuancheng shut him down at once.
"That's enough. It's settled!" Hu Yuancheng spoke firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Tang Changan had wanted to solve the case quickly and leave a good impression on the newly arrived director. Who could have expected that, with Hu Yuancheng's approval, Deputy Captain Qian would forcibly snatch the case away? The atmosphere turned awkward. In the end, Hu Yuancheng made the final decision: criminal investigation would take the lead, while the station would assist. In a commanding tone, Hu Yuancheng ordered Director Tang not to harbor any resentment and to cooperate fully.
Deputy Director Hu's words were an order. Besides, the Criminal Investigation Brigade was the main force in solving cases anyway, so Tang Changan had no reason to fight over it.
As soon as Deputy Director Hu left, Director Tang slammed the table and stomped his feet in fury. He had no idea what Deputy Director Hu and Qian Fu were really after. Director Tang sat alone in the conference room, staring at a map of the West City jurisdiction on the wall, sinking into deep thought... Soon afterward, Deputy Captain Qian took Tong Haojing away.
Three hours later, Hu Pan was arrested by the West City station.
At the Municipal Bureau Case Handling Center, Qian Fu intensified the interrogation. Smoke filled the interrogation room as Qian Fu lit one cigarette after another, making Tong Haojing cough incessantly.
Qian Fu carefully reviewed the station's statements. He found that, apart from Tong Haojing denying that he had stabbed Shorty, three statements gradually pointed to Tong Haojing as the one who had stabbed Shorty and forced Scarface to jump into the river. The only piece of evidence favorable to him had been negated by Uncle Mumu's poor eyesight. Worst of all, Shorty's dying statement at the hospital directly implicated Tong Haojing.
Unable to rule out Tong Haojing as a suspect, Qian Fu sternly said, "Who do you think you are? Commit a crime and you'll still go to prison..." Tong Haojing could feel this officer's extreme hostility.
"Officer, I didn't commit any crime... If you want to accuse me, you need evidence!" Tong Haojing answered with unyielding pride, making a chill suddenly rise in Qian Fu's heart.
"The fact that someone was stabbed to death is evidence!" Qian Fu's words were like a time bomb exploding over Tong Haojing's head. He froze at once.
"Shorty died? How could that be..." Tong Haojing finally realized the severity of the situation. Everything before him was pitch-black. Even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he would never wash himself clean...
Tong Haojing could not defend himself no matter what he said. That night, he was locked in the detention center. It was something he had never imagined, and his mind went completely blank.
Late at night, in a dilapidated mud-brick house in the Baoyun Community hollow by the river embankment pond in West City District, an old man lit three sticks of incense and a candle beneath dim light. It was Liu Benzhong. The wrinkles on his face stood out sharply, and he wore no expression, shed no tears, and muttered, "You useless thing. I can't even bring myself to speak up for you at the Public Security Bureau. Maybe it's better that you're dead, so you won't keep causing trouble outside and disgracing me. Now you're gone, and it's peaceful. Sigh, who told me I'm your father? No matter how many mistakes you made, the dead deserve respect. I still have to seek justice for you!"
Liu Benzhong had received news of his son Shorty's death from Ma Shaokang. He felt neither grief nor surprise. If the cremation of the body had not required a family member's signature, he would never have followed Ma Shaokang's men to the station to make a scene.
It was already midnight. Liu Benzhong sat alone beside his son's memorial tablet, with a small dog crouched nearby. He thought again of his younger son, Qian Long, who had not returned home for years. He had no idea where he was...
"Crack!" At the sound, the little dog suddenly ran anxiously to the closed door, pawing frantically behind it with its tail tucked between its legs and barking wildly.
Liu Benzhong realized the sound had come from outside. Instinctively, he grabbed a wooden club and hid behind the door, shouting, "Who is it?"
"Open the door! Public Security Bureau!"
Liu Benzhong lowered his guard. Could the Public Security Bureau be here to ask about the situation? He opened the door, and three masked men quickly stepped inside. Holding daggers to Liu Benzhong's neck, they viciously gripped his throat and threatened, "Don't speak, or we'll kill you!"
Liu Benzhong was terrified senseless and could not say a word. His two eyes could only stare fearfully at the three masked men.
"Old man, your son's death has something to do with the Public Security Bureau. This is one hundred thousand yuan in compensation. Don't go making trouble anymore, and don't tell anyone. Otherwise, you'll be walking a dead-end road. We'll make sure you die without a burial place!"
One of the men waved a stack of renminbi before Liu Benzhong's eyes and said, "This thick stack of money is all yours. Don't be ungrateful. Take care of yourself!"
Liu Benzhong stared wide-eyed, not daring to breathe loudly. He only nodded.
The three masked men released the old man, Liu Benzhong, left behind the huge sum of money, and strode away.
The little dog stubbornly chased after them, barking wildly, and only squeezed back through the crack in the door after their figures had completely vanished.
A long trail of wet bloodstains remained on the ground. Liu Benzhong stood frozen before the door for more than ten minutes. Only when the little dog wagged its tail, dragging one leg and begging for sympathy, did he come to his senses and realize it had been injured.
"They even hurt a little dog. How vicious!" Liu Benzhong thought. Those men were ruthless killers who struck without hesitation. His body twitched, and he trembled all over, his face full of terror. How could he dare offend those devils?
The night fell quiet again. Under the dim light, blue smoke from the incense filled the room. Liu Benzhong sat before his son's memorial tablet, his fear lingering on. He did not close his eyes all night.
He could guess that those men were not from the Public Security Bureau, but he chose silence.
On the third day, Officer Lan and Lu Tong handed over the captured Middle-parted Hair, Hu Pan, to Qian Fu. Qian Fu saw a strangely dressed man with a middle-parted hairstyle. Qian Fu did not know Middle-parted Hair, but Middle-parted Hair knew Qian Fu. That was because Long Wen often boasted before his underlings about his special relationship with Qian Fu.
Middle-parted Hair was taken to an interrogation room at the Case Handling Center. The interrogating officers forced him into the interrogation chair.
"Sit down! Keep your hands where they belong. What are you looking at?"
Middle-parted Hair was stunned for a moment. When he came back to his senses, he arrogantly yelled, "I know your leaders wouldn't treat me like that. What's so great about you?" Middle-parted Hair pinned his hopes on Qian Fu. For Long Wen's sake, they won't do anything to me. A quarrel broke out in the interrogation room.
"What's going on? What's going on?" Qian Fu entered from outside. Seeing Middle-parted Hair act as though no one mattered and wear a disdainful expression, anger flared in his heart. He slammed the table hard, and the sound instantly cowed Middle-parted Hair. When he saw Qian Fu, he finally calmed down.
"Captain Qian!" Middle-parted Hair said with a fawning smile, as though greeting an old acquaintance.
"Cut the nonsense. Explain what happened yesterday!"
"Captain Qian, you don't believe me? It was clearly that tall guy who shoved my brother into the ditch and injured Shorty. Instead of questioning the murderer, you're framing me!"
"What framing? We handle cases according to the law. Keep resisting and you'll be heading for a dead end!" Another officer slammed the table and shouted.
"Don't be so fierce. Long..." Middle-parted Hair wanted to mention Long Wen and his connection, but at that moment, a mysterious text message arrived on Qian Fu's phone. Qian Fu stepped out of the interrogation room and opened it. His expression changed. With a frown, he quickly deleted the message, then returned to the interrogation room without revealing anything.
"What's your name?" Qian Fu asked.
"People usually call me Thug. My real name is Hu Pan."
"You need to tell the truth!" Qian Fu's tone had clearly changed and was no longer as cold and hard as before.
"I told the truth. What else do you want me to say?"
Qian Fu fired off several questions in succession: "Who was that woman? Who injured Shorty? Where is Scarface?"
Hearing him ask who the woman was, Hu Pan did not know whether Captain Qian had said it deliberately or let it slip. Clearly, the victim had not been found. For a seasoned investigator, such a mistake should not have happened.
This was clearly a deliberate hint to him. Hu Pan immediately made up his mind: deny knowing anything.
Qian Fu was somewhat exhausted. He helplessly shook his head and told the other officer that, since there was still no news of the victim, further questioning would not yield anything. He hastily ended the interrogation, then called Deputy Director Hu to report the progress and suggested placing Hu Pan under criminal detention before releasing him on bail pending trial.
Before that call, Hu Yuancheng had received a phone call. His expression changed subtly, and he was caught in a dilemma. By coincidence, Qian Fu called to report the interrogation results.
"Hu Pan denies robbery. Scarface and the female victim still haven't been found, while Hu Pan claims Tong Haojing injured Shorty. I suggest placing both men under criminal detention and then releasing them on bail..."
"Is there no other way?" Hu Yuancheng asked, feigning a test.
"The evidence is insufficient. We can't determine the murderer or the nature of the case, but the death is a fact!" Qian Fu answered with certainty.
It was exactly what Hu Yuancheng wanted. Going with the flow, he replied that they should proceed according to procedure. Meanwhile, the female victim still had not been found, and Scarface's fate remained unknown.
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