Chapter 18: Mutual Suspicion

“Hello, Director Liu,” Lin Ying replied calmly. Anger flickered beneath her gaze, but Liu didn’t notice. He kept talking.

“Director Lin, why didn’t you let us know you were coming? We could have sent a car. The higher-ups specifically instructed us to arrange your reception.”

“I’m here to take up my post, not to sightsee. There’s no need for a reception.”

Liu smiled awkwardly. His opening remarks had been clumsy; he was clearly unsettled.

The corridor was filled with Gaoshan police officers, all studying Lin curiously. Police chief, acting county chief and deputy Party secretary—what sort of extraordinary person received such an appointment? To have her as their leader must be their good fortune.

Someone shouted, “Welcome, Director Lin!”

“Welcome!” Thunderous applause followed. Lin was momentarily taken aback. It reminded her of taking up a new post in a military region years ago.

She looked around and nodded. “Hello, comrades. I’m Lin Ying. I’m pleased to begin working with you today.” Her words were brief, but her clear voice reached almost everyone.

Liu smiled at her, as did Li Jianmin. Lü Dayong, however, dared not look. Several other officers’ hearts raced; their eyes shifted, and when Lin’s gaze passed over them, they quickly looked away.

The crowd dispersed. Lin looked at Xu Xianglin, who stepped forward. “I’ll show you to your office, Director.” He gestured for her to follow.

She went with him without another glance at Liu. He kept smiling until she disappeared, then his face turned cold. Ma Guoliang’s photograph had shown him that Lin resembled Gao Lan, but seeing her in person revealed just how close the resemblance was. He wondered whether they were related by blood.

Li and Lü entered Liu’s office, all three looking grim. Lü was especially pale. He had watched Gao Lan die. How could another woman with the same face appear, and become their superior, the head of the bureau?

“What’s going on?” they asked.

“How should I know?” Liu snapped. He explained that Ma had shown him the photograph, but he didn’t know the answer either. Li and Lü grew still more uneasy.

“Director, we should have someone investigate her,” Li said. “The new chief won’t be easy to handle. What if she really is connected to Gao Lan?”

“Of course we’ll investigate. But even if they’re related, so what? Gao committed suicide out of guilt. She wasn’t murdered. The evidence is conclusive and we can close the case. Write the closing statement; I’ll sign it. Quickly!”

Li hesitated. There was no real evidence. The million yuan in cash was missing. There were no witnesses or physical evidence apart from the fruit knife Gao had supposedly used to slit her wrists. The burglars hadn’t been found, and Gao’s body had been cremated. Close the case like that?

He wasn’t stupid. Even with Liu’s signature, the case would be riddled with holes. If anyone investigated, Li, as the person closing it, would be implicated.

“Director, could we find a little more evidence?” A rushed closure was bound to cause trouble.

“Evidence? You’re overthinking it.” Liu gave him a contemptuous look. Li shuddered and lowered his head.

“Brother Jianmin, we should close it quickly,” Lü said. “Before Director Lin reaches into it…” His thoughts were chaotic, but he could still think clearly. He had investigated the case and was the first person responsible for it. If anyone dug deeper, he would be the first caught.

Li sighed inwardly. If the closure caused trouble, he would be the first to suffer. But what if Lin investigated before they closed it? Reopening a closed case required cumbersome procedures and sufficient grounds. Closing it would at least buy time.

“All right. I’ll close it as soon as possible.” Li gritted his teeth. For now, it was the only thing he could try.

“Any news of Lu Xiujuan?” he asked Lü.

Liu gave them a cold look. “Leave Lu alone for now. Someone is handling it.”

Li and Lü looked at each other, hearts sinking. Who else could do it? Of course: they worked on the lawful side, but Gaoshan also had its criminal side, with more people and more ruthless hands.

“Go on. Tell Xu Xianglin to arrange a welcome dinner for Director Lin tonight.” Liu intended to give her nothing to criticize. In the past he would never have bothered, but things were different now. Gao’s death had been handled too crudely and too hastily; the flaws were easy to spot. He had to keep Lin calm.

Both men nodded. Li left first. Lü lingered, wanting to speak.

“What is it?” Liu suddenly thought of something, his gaze sharpening. “Dayong, tell me the truth. You didn’t touch Gao Lan that night, did you?”

He stared at Lü. Startled, Lü waved both hands. “No, no! Believe me, Director, I never touched her.” His eyes flickered and he quickly lowered his head.

Liu was suspicious. There had been four men. He hadn’t seen Lu’s report, but Liu Yumin, head of the examiner’s office, had said material from three men had been found in Gao’s body.

“Dayong, understand this. Gao Lan was a county chief. Even though she’s dead, if someone touched her before she died, it changes the nature of the whole affair. Understand?”

Sweat broke out on Lü’s forehead. His heart nearly leaped into his throat. Seeing his reaction, Liu’s dread intensified. Had Lü really done it?

Liu stared at him, a murderous thought rising. If Lü Dayong had touched Gao Lan, he had to die.