Chapter 19: The First Clash

Li Jianmin had just left the office when a young man in uniform approached. “You are…?”

“Hello. I’m Duan Fei, Director Lin’s assistant. Are you Captain Li?”

“Yes.” Li, head of the criminal investigation unit, looked at him warily.

“Director Lin sent me for the files on Case 518. Thank you.” Duan got straight to the point.

Li’s heart jumped. Case 518 was Gao Lan’s case. The new chief wanted the files as soon as she arrived?

“The materials aren’t fully organized yet. Give me a few days. I’ll bring them to Director Lin myself.” An experienced officer, Li knew how to handle such requests.

“No need. Give me what’s ready, including the evidence and the names of the investigators.”

Li’s expression changed. “Comrade Duan, I’m sorry, but this is a major county case. Access to the files requires Director Liu’s approval.”

Duan smiled, though his eyes grew cold. An old hand like Li wouldn’t be easy to deal with.

“Captain Li, you’d better hand them over. Otherwise Director Lin may think you’re deliberately preventing her from learning what happened to Gao Lan. It wouldn’t be good if she started wondering what was wrong with the case.”

Li stiffened. Liu had strictly forbidden him to give anyone the files. What did the new chief want with them?

“Wait a moment. I’ll ask Director Liu.” He turned to leave, but Duan quickly stepped in front of him.

“Captain, please get the files quickly. I need to report back.”

“You’re making things difficult. We’re police officers. Whether transferring files or doing anything else, we have procedures. If everyone ignored the rules as you do, the bureau would be in chaos.”

“Are you saying Director Lin has no authority to inspect a case file?” As police chief, Lin could review any case. Li was stalling.

Li’s face changed. They couldn’t openly oppose the new chief on her first day, especially one who was also acting county chief and deputy Party secretary.

“Comrade, let’s understand each other. May I call Director Liu?” He couldn’t make this decision alone. If Lin got the files, they were in trouble.

Duan let him call. Li stepped aside and spoke quietly.

Liu was silent for a while. They couldn’t avoid Gao’s case forever, and refusing to cooperate immediately would give Lin grounds to accuse him of disobeying the new leader. She was the person in charge. But they couldn’t hand the files over yet; the evidence needed to be made convincing first.

He gave Li further instructions. Li nodded repeatedly and returned. “Comrade Duan, give us a few hours to organize the materials and add some new information. We’ll deliver them this afternoon. Is that all right?”

Duan frowned and was about to refuse when his phone rang. He answered, then smiled mysteriously. “No need, Captain Li. See you.” He turned and left.

Li stared after him, puzzled. Then his own phone rang. “Captain Li, where are you?”

“What is it?”

“Something’s happened. The new chief sent people to take the Case 518 files.”

“What? What are you idiots doing? Didn’t I say the files couldn’t be viewed without Director Liu’s approval?”

“But they had Director Lin’s signed order. They came straight in and took them. We had no time to react.”

“Damn it, they just grabbed them?” Li cursed, then realized the danger. The evidence in Gao’s case was full of holes. An investigation would expose serious problems.

He ran to the archives. Wang Wen, an archives officer, stood up, troubled. “Captain Li, you’re finally here. Director Lin’s people took the Gao Lan files.”

Li wanted to curse. Duan had drawn his attention away; they had never intended to get the files through him. He called Liu. “Director, the Case 518 files have been taken by Director Lin.”

“Weren’t you going to hand them over this afternoon? Improve the evidence first.” If something was missing, it could be written in. As long as it wasn’t a key clue, they needn’t fear scrutiny. Some evidence could be described vaguely.

“Wang Wen says Director Lin signed an order and sent people straight to the archives.”

“What?” Liu sprang up, nearly smashing his phone. Was Lin playing him? Even a powerful outsider couldn’t take food from his mouth in his own territory.

He hurried to Lin’s office and knocked urgently.

“Come in.”

Liu entered and strode to her desk. She looked up and frowned. “Director Liu, what is it?”

“Director Lin, the Case 518 files are incomplete. The investigation is still underway, so…”

She interrupted him. “That’s fine. I only want to look. I know the case is still open. We can discuss it together shortly. From now on, transfer it to me. I’ll investigate personally.”

Liu’s face changed, and his heart raced.