Chapter 11: Meeting

“A lot of officers are out on assignments. How are they supposed to get back?” Liu Yixiong glared at Xue Huaimin.

“Director Liu, there’s nothing I can do. It’s the new chief’s first order. If I don’t carry it out, I’m afraid I won’t be able to answer for it.”

“First order or not, shouldn’t an order be reasonable? You’re going to carry out something so unreasonable?”

Xue hesitated. He was only the political affairs director and dared offend neither of them. But this was the new chief’s first order. Who knew how she might react if it wasn’t carried out? She had said anyone who failed would lose this month’s performance bonus. If the entire bureau failed and lost its bonuses, word would spread and there would be an uproar.

“Director Liu, what do you suggest?” Xue knew Liu resented the newcomer. But she was police chief, acting county chief and deputy Party secretary. Even the county secretary didn’t know what to make of that combination. It had been years since administrative and police authority had been concentrated in one person. The new chief was no ordinary appointment.

“Tell her many officers are on assignments and can’t return immediately. Gather everyone who’s at the bureau and conduct her so-called surprise fitness inspection.” Liu didn’t want to reject her first order outright. If she were merely police chief, he wouldn’t be afraid, but she held two other powerful posts. The arrangement was deeply unsettling. Ma Guoliang probably felt the same.

“Well…” Xue looked uncomfortable.

“What? Is there a problem?” Liu shot him a cold glance.

Xue flinched and forced out the words. “Director Lin said anyone on assignment must return unless they’re physically unable to walk. Otherwise, they’ll be marked absent without leave.”

“Fuck!” Liu sprang up, almost slapping him. “Absent without leave?” How had attendance become part of this?

Xue ventured closer and offered his thoughts. The new chief would be his superior from now on. If he failed to follow her instructions, she might make life difficult for him later.

“Director Liu, I suggest calling the officers back. At least those working inside the county should return. If Director Lin finds out afterward, she might blame us for disobeying.”

“What, does a newcomer’s order outrank everything else?” Liu shouted. Xue fell silent.

Liu glared at him, then stopped to think. Gao Lan’s case hadn’t been fully settled. He couldn’t fall out with Lin Ying yet, certainly not so soon. The higher-ups’ unusual arrangement was too troubling. A police chief who was also acting county chief—it was enough to keep a man awake at night.

There was time. He would avoid a direct clash until he learned what she was after and understood her background.

“All right. Make the arrangements. Call the officers back for a surprise fitness inspection this afternoon.”

“Yes, sir.” Relieved, Xue smiled and hurried out.

Lu Xiujuan didn’t know whether Chen Zhengyang would betray her. She dared trust no one. If even Lü Dayong might be protecting criminal forces, who was clean?

What role had Liu Yixiong played? He had personally promoted Lü. The thought that the deputy police chief might have murdered Gao Lan made her heart pound.

She found Friendship Hotel and carefully surveyed the area. Only after confirming she wasn’t followed and saw no plainclothes officers did she enter. A heavyset young man looked toward her. Frightened, she turned to leave, but he called out, “Lu Xiujuan?”

She froze, unable to move or even turn around. Her mind raced.

“I’m Xu Pang.”

The words sounded like music. Tears nearly came to her eyes. She turned sharply. Xu went to the entrance, checked that no one had followed her, then grinned. “Come with me.”

Lu nodded and looked at him again. For some reason, he seemed familiar.

He led her to a room and knocked: one knock followed by two.

“Come in,” a steady voice answered. Xu pushed the door open.

A straight-backed figure stood by the window and turned toward Lu. The woman looked vigorous and commanding; her presence almost made Lu want to kneel.

Who was she?

“Lu Xiujuan?”

“Yes. You are…?”

“Lin Ying.”

Lu’s heart jumped. Her expression changed, and tears nearly came again. “D-Director Lin…” Her voice caught. She had finally met her.

“Don’t be nervous. I’ve already sent someone to fetch your mother. Wait a little; they’ll bring her to meet you. Don’t worry.”

Lu was astonished and delighted. Her lips trembled. “You…” She was too nervous to know what to say.

“Sit down and have some water. You’re safe here. Don’t worry about anything else for now. Take a rest.”

Lin signaled Xu to pour her a glass. Lu drank it down at once. She had barely drunk anything in two days, not because she wasn’t thirsty, but because she feared someone might drug her. As a medical examiner, she knew exactly what would happen if they did.

Xu poured a second glass, and she emptied that too.

“More?” he asked. Drinking too much at once might make her need the restroom.

“No, thank you.” She gave him a grateful look, then turned to Lin. For some reason, seeing her profile made Lu feel secure.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” Lin asked.

Lu’s heart tightened. Her eyes shifted away. Could she trust this new police chief?