Hu Sheng and Ji Feng turned in astonishment. On the road nearby, police cars came speeding toward them one after another. In moments, the cars had reached them and formed concentric rings, surrounding the men who had been trying to surround someone else.
The sudden turn of events left the officers from the Municipal Public Security Bureau dumbfounded. Instinctively, they stopped trying to seize the man.
Yan Li, Deputy Captain of the Criminal Investigation Corps, and Detachment Captain Pang Bo stepped out of their cars and approached Hu Sheng and Ji Feng. Saluting without expression, Yan Li said, "On Director Zhou's instructions, we are taking Dou Guozhong back to the Public Security Department. Director Ji, please leave with your men to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings!"
He had dealt with this executive deputy director of the Municipal Bureau during Song Tianlin's rape case, though that encounter had been anything but pleasant for either side.
Ji Feng returned the salute, then produced the arrest warrant again and said with a frown, "Captain Yan, we are..."
Before he could finish, Yan Li raised a hand and cut him off coldly. "Director Ji, there's no point saying any more. Director Zhou's orders are to bring him back. If you have any objections or requests, you can call Director Zhou, or come back to the department with us. As it happens, Director Qu Hongying from the Provincial Procuratorate is there too!"
Deputy Director Ji couldn't help feeling irritated. The word "orders" had triggered his memories of their previous encounter. Every time he recalled the man's declaration-"This is an order, not a discussion"-his chest tightened with frustration.
Deputy Procurator-General Hu Sheng sighed inwardly. Given the situation, using force was clearly out of the question. As that Criminal Investigation Brigade captain surnamed Li had said, were they