your point, Chief. As your friend, she may have told you things we donât know.â
âWhether sheâs my friend or not makes no difference. In fact, as I told you, I met her just two days ago,â he said, wondering whether Huang would take his word for it. âAs cops, we have to tell ourselves what we can do, and what we canât.â
âI couldnât agree more. Youâre a man of principle. I would not have detained her, but Iâm the youngest one on the team; they wouldnât listen to me. Not to mention that Internal Security is in the background, and they backed the decision.â
That was probably true, Chen thought, but he still hoped Huang would try to get her released. âThere is something strange about this case, Huang. To begin with, the timing of the murder. It happened just as the IPO for the company is coming up, and in the midst of the persisting controversy about its dumping of industrial waste,â Chen said deliberately. âIâm stuck here on a vacation that has been pushed on me, as Iâve told you, and I really have nothing to do at the center. I think we can look into this case togetherâyou and I.â
âYou mean we can work on a case together? That would be absolutely fantastic, Chief Inspector Chenâto investigate under your supervision. Iâve dreamed of it for a long, long time.â
âNo, itâs not my case. Nor is it the time for me to make a move out in the open. Iâm not a cop while Iâm in Wuxi. We have to make sure of that.â Chen added, with touch of self-irony, âI know you like Sherlock Holmes stories. Remember how he occasionally stays in the background and lets the police do the job?â
âYes, he does that in several stories, Chief Inspector Chen.â
âNone of your colleagues should know about my working with you.â
âWhatever you prefer.â
âBut for me to work on a case, whether in the background or in the foreground, there are things I do, and things I donât do.â
âI understand.â
âFor one thing, I donât want to crack a case by detaining and interrogating people without justification.â
âYou meanââ Huang left the sentence unfinished with an edge of hesitation in his voice.
Chen knew why the young cop was hesitant, so he decided to give him another push.
âHonestly, I was surprised when I was told to come here on a vacation I donât need. But Comrade Secretary Zhao must have his reasons.â
It was no more than the truth, but to the young cop, it hinted that Chen had been sent here for something highly confidential; something Chen himself had wondered about.
âI happened to know Shanshan,â Chen went on after a dramatic pause, âbecause of something said by Comrade Secretary Zhao. He read an article by herâsomething about environmental protection. So he wanted me to do some research on new problems in Chinaâs economic reform,â Chen said. He thought it wasnât too much of a fabrication. âIâm about to write a report on sustainable economic development, development that is not at the expense of the environment. Itâs not at all my field, but I couldnât say no to him.â
âNo wonder you came to know her so quickly,â Huang said with an awestruck look on his face. âI really appreciate your trust in me, Chief Inspector Chen. I understand itâs highly confidential. Iâll do my best.â
âGive me what additional information you may have about the case. In particular, has the final autopsy report come out yet?â
âYes, Iâll get you a copy too.â
âDonât mention Zhao or me to anybody,â Chen added in a hurry, reaching for the car door handle. âItâs a very delicate situation, but youâre capable of judging how to deal with it.â
âSure, Iâll follow your
Legs McNeil, Jennifer Osborne, Peter Pavia