Wang Defa and Old Snake waited silently in the warehouse for news from Qin Siyang.
Meanwhile, inside the Police Bureau building in Zone 14121.
The lights were on in Deputy Bureau Chief Du Wei's office, where he was reviewing the latest case reports.
Bureau Chief Cui Zhonghua's office was locked and dark. Citing family matters, he had just taken a week's leave. The entire Police Bureau was now under Deputy Bureau Chief Du Wei's command.
This was Cui Zhonghua's third leave of absence that month.
No one objected to his taking leave.
Everyone knew that for a man only two years away from retirement, clinging to power served no purpose. Better to step back early with dignity and make room for the younger generation.
Although Du Wei would not necessarily become Bureau Chief after Cui Zhonghua retired, he was at least one of the strongest candidates to succeed him.
Letting Du Wei take charge ahead of time gave him opportunities to distinguish himself. If Du Wei really did become Bureau Chief someday, he would owe Cui Zhonghua a measure of gratitude.
Clinging greedily to everything would likely cost a man his good name in his final years.
That was indeed one reason Cui Zhonghua had stepped back early, but everyone knew only half the story.
His main reason for relinquishing power was his judgment of how events would unfold.
Cui Zhonghua's keen political instincts had alerted him to the dangerous undercurrents swirling through this lousy patch of land, Zone 14121.
Especially the confrontation between District Chief Pan Youguang and Mayor Chen Zhongming during last month's Gaokao.
The two sides had squared off in the ring. Cui Zhonghua had merely been an assistant passing towels from the sidelines, yet even he had been splattered with blood. He could hardly imagine what