Trafford's Trading Club

571: The Fog and The Shadow in The dark 571: The Fog and The Shadow in The dark “Hmm… the palm prints are definitely different, but the bloodstains should be the same.”

With gloves on, Xiaobao looked at the two test strips in his hand, “Actually, the blood type of these bloodstains is identical, but to confirm if they’re from the same person, we need to compare the DNA.”

Officer Ma immediately replied, “Then hurry up and run the DNA comparison.” “Officer Ma, this will take too long.

The fastest, it’ll be ready by tomorrow.” Xiaobao shook his head. “The instruments in the medical room here aren’t complete— they’re enough for a basic autopsy, but anything more detailed, we can’t do.”

Officer Ma paused, “Any findings on Qian Guoliang’s corpse?”

Xiaobao said, “Hmm, let me start with the stab wound on his chest…

I found out that there were actually two stabs, each with a different force.”

Officer Ma frowned and asked instinctively, “What do you mean, two stabs?”

Xiaobao used his finger to mimic the weapon, poking it against his own chest to explain, “The first stab went in here, but didn’t go deep enough to be fatal.

Then there was a second, harder stab, which went directly into the ventricle.” “Two stabs, one after the other?

Maybe the killer didn’t use enough force at first, then tried again?” Lin Feng wondered aloud. “Can’t rule that out,” Xiaobao answered seriously. “But it’s also possible that two different people were responsible for each stab.

Other than the victim’s fingerprints, there were no suspicious prints found on the weapon, so I can’t say for sure.

Still, I think it’s more likely just one person.

Personally, I’m with Officer Lin’s theory— first stab wasn’t enough, so they followed up with another.” “Hmm… anything else?” Officer Ma continued.

Xiaobao said, “I also found a tiny wound between the victim’s thighs…

The blood sample shows signs of poisoning.

As for what poison, we’ll have to wait for results from headquarters.

Anyway, I’ve already sent the data back.” “He was poisoned too?” Officer Ma said in astonishment.

Xiaobao nodded, “Seems so, and the poisoning happened some time before death.”

Just then, a crew member rushed up to the crime scene, panting from running, “Officer Ma, I found the keys for the storeroom you wanted.” “Open it up for me, let me take a look.”

So the door, marked by a handprint, was unlocked and swung open.

A foul smell instantly poured out.

Lin Feng shone his flashlight inside— it was a tiny room, filled mostly with cleaning tools, plus bottles of disinfectant and cleaning agents.

Except…

After squatting and inspecting the place for a while, Lin Feng finally stood up and shook his head, “Officer Ma, there’s nothing here.

Looks like this storeroom hasn’t been opened for ages, there’s dust on the floor and no footprints.

So the victim couldn’t have come out from here…

Besides, a dying man wouldn’t lock the door, and he wouldn’t have the key, right?” “This is confusing!” Officer Ma scratched his head in frustration.

At that moment, Captain Mu Enli walked over and asked seriously, “Officer, any new discoveries?”

Officer Ma shook his head, “Nothing very useful, I’m afraid.”

The captain said, “In that case, maybe you should all take a break.

I’ve already booked the dining hall for you.

You might not feel hungry, but you should at least rest a little.”

Officer Ma had just eaten so he wasn’t hungry, but figuring Xiaobao and the other officer must be exhausted too, he agreed with a nod. “Luo Qiu, you come along too.” Officer Ma looked at Boss Luo, who had quietly observed everything on the scene, and suddenly spoke up. … “Miss, you’re gorgeous.”

On the way to the restaurant, Flying Eagle suddenly whistled at a passing woman, then brazenly brushed her ear, making her scream and run away like she’d seen a ghost.

Seeing this, Officer Ma twisted Flying Eagle’s arm and barked loudly, “Flying Eagle!

You want me to add assault and harassment to your charges?” “Sir, come on, everybody knows gentlemen go after beautiful ladies!

She only ran off ’cause she’s shy, nothing illegal here, right?” Flying Eagle laughed, “Back at school, the boys would always flip the girls’ skirts.

Why didn’t you arrest them?” “Bullshit!” Officer Ma smacked Flying Eagle hard on the back of the head, growling, “Behave yourself!

Or I’ll tie you to the railings and dry you like a salted fish!” “Sir, that’s abuse!

Fine, fine… no violence, I’ll keep still.”

Flying Eagle looked genuinely frightened by Officer Ma’s thunderous scowl and begged, “Just let me eat, I promise I’ll be good.” “Move it!” Officer Ma yanked and kept dragging Flying Eagle along. “Don’t walk so fast, sir, I’m exhausted…” Bantering as he went, Flying Eagle quietly clenched his free hand.

Inside his palm was a black U-shaped hairpin— swiped just now from the hair of that woman he’d harassed.

But Flying Eagle’s secret delight didn’t last; suddenly, he collided with a gaze— from a young man who didn’t look like a cop, but whom all the police seemed to treat with unusual respect.

Flying Eagle froze.

Luo Qiu glanced at him, half smirking, half amused.

Flying Eagle instinctively frowned, but Luo Qiu just kept walking, acting oblivious, not looking at him again.

Paranoid much…

Flying Eagle muttered, but that feeling of being watched— he was sure he’d felt it somewhere before. …

When everyone arrived at the restaurant Captain Mu Enli had arranged, Officer Ma was surprised to find that two familiar faces were already here tearing through the food— Ren Ziling and Lizi! “Luo Qiu!

Over here!

I got you loads of yummy stuff!” Ren Ziling called out and waved. “I’ve eaten, not hungry.” Luo Qiu shook his head, as calm as ever.

Under the table, Ren Ziling’s hand clenched into a fist, though her face stayed relaxed… if it weren’t for that suspicious twitch of her eyelid.

Officer Ma told one of the other officers to swap the handcuffs over, letting him restrain Flying Eagle, “Take him over there to eat!

And don’t let him wander around, not even to the bathroom!

If he complains his stomach hurts, let him crap right there!”

Flying Eagle moved his lips and was dragged off in despair, sitting at another table and shooting a middle finger at Officer Ma, cursing under his breath, “You bastard!”

Officer Ma didn’t even look, now free to sit comfortably, asking, “What are you guys doing here?”

Lizi, gnawing on her fork, said, “Officer Ma, we bumped into the captain on the way.

He said he’d booked the restaurant, so Sister Ren suggested waiting here for you.”

Officer Ma eyed Ren Ziling suspiciously, “You’re sure you haven’t been stirring up trouble?” “Officer Ma, what do you mean ‘stirring up trouble’?” Ren Ziling shot back coldly. “Think about it— when have I ever not helped out?

If you’re so sure, try finding your own leads next time!” “If only you’d charge me less every time, I’d be grateful!

Scraping together fees for your informants means I barely eat a decent meal each month!”

Luo Qiu pulled out a chair for You Ye, letting her sit before he quietly sat down too, smiling at Officer Ma and Ren Ziling’s bickering. “Alright, alright, calm down,” Lizi hurried to smooth things over. “Officer Ma, I think we’ve got ourselves a lead!

Me and Sister Ren found something out.”

Officer Ma looked surprised, “Oh?

Let’s hear it.”

Miss Ren declared, “Pay up!”

Officer Ma fired back, “Kid’s here, watch the attitude.

Think about your image.”

Miss Ren realized her future daughter-in-law was present…

Yeah, she needed to keep up appearances, so she cleared her throat and switched to a gentle tone, “Besides, talking money hurts feelings.

You all never let me finish— honestly, Old Ma, after all these years, do you really think I’m that money-grubbing… uh, ahem!

Anyway, Lizi and I found that at around four last night, there was a brief power outage in the control room.” “A blackout?” Officer Ma was stunned, frowning. “Really?

When I went with the captain to the monitoring room, he didn’t mention that.”

Ren Ziling replied, “It should be true.

I heard it from one of the crew.

And the guy you saw in the monitoring room this morning isn’t the same as last night— they switched shifts.”

Officer Ma pondered, “And?”

Ren Ziling spread her hands, “Seems like Mu Qinghai, the deputy captain, was there too.”

Officer Ma instinctively glanced at Captain Mu Enli— as captain, he of course had every reason to be present.

Noticing the look, the captain nodded, “Officer Ma, I’ll double check this right away.” “Thanks,” Officer Ma said. “And call up the crew and deputy captain who were on duty— I want to question them myself.” “Of course.” The captain, looking a little heavy-hearted, quickly rose and left.

Lizi suddenly put down her food, gazing outside the restaurant and said quietly, “Hey, I think I’ve seen that woman before.” “Who?” Ren Ziling curiously followed Lizi’s gaze.

Across the street near a shop window stood a woman with a headscarf, looking their way— then quickly turning away.

Lizi said, “Ah, now I remember.

I saw her at the crime scene.

But as soon as she noticed me, she walked off.”

Officer Ma frowned and whipped his head around; just then, the woman outside suddenly ducked and hurried away.

Officer Ma sprang out of his seat, “Lin Feng, after her!

And you, watch Flying Eagle!”

The two men dashed out of the restaurant.

But not long after, Officer Ma and Lin Feng returned dejected, “We lost her, no idea which way she went.” “You let a single woman get away, both of you?” Ren Ziling exclaimed. “There’s not even a crowd outside right now!”

Lin Feng grumbled, “That woman… isn’t ordinary.

The way she picked her route, so calm— straight out of anti-surveillance training.” “Right,” Officer Ma nodded. “She seemed to hear us talking.

Before I’d even stood up, she left.

That kind of alertness is just…”

Between words, Officer Ma and Lin Feng exchanged glances, both pulled out their chairs and squatted to feel under the table. “Got it, here.” Lin Feng placed a tiny black object on the table, “Is this… a bug?

When was this planted?”

Ren Ziling picked up the device, “Old Ma, this doesn’t look like something you buy off the shelf.” “Exactly, this is no ordinary stuff.

If I’m not wrong, it’s a piece of equipment from the German GSG9 special forces.

Of course, it’s popular with plenty of spies— effective range…” said the officer who’d come along, taking the bug from Ren Ziling’s hand.

Listening to him rattle on like an encyclopedia, Officer Ma suddenly turned, shouting, “Wait— didn’t I tell you to watch Flying Eagle?” “Officer Ma— it’s fine, Flying Eagle— wait!” The officer raised his hand and his face changed.

There was no Flying Eagle, just a lonely handcuff dangling from his arm. “There!” Lizi stood up and pointed out the window, “Don’t let him get away!!”

Through the glass, Flying Eagle grinned with unrestrained glee at Officer Ma, wagged his butt, flashed three fingers, and then bolted. “Damn you!

If I don’t dry you into salted fish, I’ll crawl off this ship!” Officer Ma roared and tore off in pursuit.

Lin Feng and the other officer followed him out.

Ren Ziling shook her head, resting her chin on her hand, and sighed, “Classic Officer Ma, not a thing accomplished.

How has he solved any cases all these years?

By the way…

Luo Qiu, thirsty?

Want me to grab you something to drink?” “Not thirsty.” Luo Qiu shook his head, then looked at You Ye, “You Ye, pack up some food— Auntie’s alone in her room, probably hungry.

Let’s go check on her.” “Okay.”

Miss Ren then reached under the table… this time, pinching Lizi on the thigh.

Sister Ren, you can’t do this…

Poor Lizi looked at her, pitiful even while eating. … …

In a dim corner of the engine room, the table had been cleared except for a single lamp.

On the polished tabletop lay a heavily worn blueprint, and on top of it, a circular protractor.

A hand kept moving that protractor back and forth.

Suddenly, the hand stopped. “Could it… really be here?”