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墨書 Inktalez
In front of the large dog lay an old, open porcelain basin, reminiscent of the ones I used to wash my face and feet with back in China. The exterior of the basin was so worn that its color was barely discernible, while the inside was empty, its grimy walls giving off a sense of filth. Numerous flies rested on it, suggesting it was the dog's food bowl. I couldn't fathom how this dog had managed to grow so large with such meager meals.
As I circled around the dog, I noticed the front door had been opened. Several plainclothes officers were inside conducting a search, moving cautiously. "Ah Huang" explained that they were all professionally trained, skilled in evidence collection, such as fingerprinting, and that most people wouldn't notice if someone had been in their home after they returned.
We stood in the yard, looking around but unable to make sense of anything. The police seemed busy and tense.
I knew we were merely spectators and didn’t want to disturb their work. Standing outside the house, I peered inside and saw that the furnishings were quite simple: a single bed, a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe. The bed was covered with a blanket, and there was nothing else in sight. It was puzzling what the officers were searching for. What stood out was the desk piled high with books—so many that I couldn't tell what they were from a distance. In a vacant space to the right lay a set of dumbbells, a hand grip strengthener, and rings suspended from the ceiling.
Could he be both scholarly and athletic? The thought flashed through my mind unexpectedly. I chuckled to myself; I hadn’t anticipated encountering such a "Cleaner" or "Honest" individual. Yet, for some reason, everything about this room felt familiar to me, though I couldn't pinpoint why.
As I stood at the doorway pondering what felt off, Ah Huang's walkie-talkie suddenly crackled to life. "What's going on?" he immediately asked into it.
"The target has returned and is currently at the intersection; the traffic officer is trying to stop him," came the response.
"What? You need to move closer and find a way to hold him up! At least five minutes! Report back on the situation!" Ah Huang hissed under his breath. Then he shouted, "Prepare to evacuate!"
Everyone hurriedly began gathering their things with swift and silent movements; anyone unaware of the situation would think this family had encountered a habitual thief.
Ah Huang quickly led us out of the yard. As we walked, he instructed, "Zhou, think of a way to wake up the dog!"
While giving instructions and moving out, Ah Huang guided us away from the yard and turned onto another street. He leaned out to check on the yard and pulled out his walkie-talkie again. "What's the situation?"
"Liu Yi has gone over there but still can't stop him; he’s already thrown down his motorcycle and is preparing to leave forcefully."
Ah Huang glanced back one last time after everyone had exited the yard. "Alright, use your earpiece to tell Liu to let him go. Remember, act natural!"
I crouched down and peeked my head out, glancing over to see the Cleaner coming around the corner, walking briskly with a sense of urgency that reminded me of our military days. As he approached the front door, he turned his head to survey the surroundings. I quickly pulled my head back.
"Let's go," Ah Huang said, turning away. "We need to get some distance!"
"What do we do now?" Tian asked from the side. We had already retreated to a street away. Ah Huang had left some personnel behind to continue monitoring that courtyard.
"I hope we haven't raised any alarms. We still have a lot of peripheral investigations and work to do regarding this person," Ah Huang mused after a moment.
He turned to me. "Brother, I can't see you off. We have to work overtime; you'll have to head back on your own."
I didn't mind much. After bidding farewell to Ah Huang, I returned to my unit while Lao Zhao went back to continue setting up his stall.
Once back, I immediately inquired about Old Tang and the Unit's situation. For some reason, even though I was on leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that something might happen at the Unit. I vaguely hoped there might be another mission, but everything remained quiet at the Unit. The only thing I learned was that Pudding was missing. Sheng Xiong reported that since my second day of leave, Pudding had disappeared without a trace. I wasn't too concerned; this kind of thing had happened before. Perhaps Pudding was like me—not exactly a pure warrior. I tended to be overly emotional and prone to overthinking.
The night passed uneventfully. Since it was the last day of my leave, I didn't want to go out. I feared that if I got too used to being free, it would be hard to adapt back to the regimented life in the barracks. So when I got up the next morning, I wandered around Camp and noticed that the Instructor was also present, seemingly conducting inspections for Internal Affairs unit by unit. To avoid running into him, I simply returned to my unit, changed into civilian clothes, and headed out again.
With nowhere specific to go and curious about the progress of that case, I wondered if Ah Huang and his team had made any breakthroughs in their investigation of the Cleaner. So, I took a taxi back to Ah Huang's office this time without calling Lao Zhao; after all, he wasn't particularly close with Ah Huang and wouldn't want to help with someone else's business.
When I arrived at Ah Huang's office, he was on the phone giving instructions. I waited at the door until he finished before stepping inside. Upon seeing me, Ah Huang quickly stood up and prepared to pour me some water.
I joked, "Maybe I'll transfer here after my service; I've been more diligent than some of you lately! Oh right, this is my last day of leave—let's see if there's anything I can help you with before I officially start my grueling life again. Let me know the outcome of this case; I'm genuinely curious about what the truth is."
Ah Huang smiled but didn't respond directly as he continued pouring water. After a moment, he changed the subject. "Finally, there's some good news. Do you want to hear it?"
"What news?"
"When the family reported it, Zhou Tao's car also went missing. We have already notified the relevant vehicle information across the province. We just received news that the car has been found." Ah Huang handed me a cup of water.
"Where?" I casually asked after taking a sip.
"At an abandoned factory in a nearby county." Ah Huang raised the fax in his hand. "Fortunately, a small amount of blood was found inside the car. The criminal police there have already sent over the inspection report, and the blood type has been identified. Additionally, some hair was found on the vehicle, and it is evident from its external characteristics that it does not belong to the same person. Later tests confirmed this."
"Should we do a blood type matching for Zhou Tao first?" I blurted out.
"Yes! I've already instructed the relevant parties; we're just waiting for the results." Ah Huang nodded. "It seems that Zhou Tao is in grave danger, but we are one step closer to the truth."
"The families of Zhou Tao and those with him have probably prepared themselves mentally, but they are reluctant to face reality. This is a devastating blow for them," I said with some regret.
"That's why we must find the murderer and give the families justice," Ah Huang said firmly.
"What do you mean?"
"Find that Cleaner, obtain hair samples, and then compare them with those found on the vehicle to see if they belong to the same person."
I suddenly understood. "If so, that would mean the Cleaner had contact with Zhou Tao, which directly links Zhou Tao's disappearance or death to the Cleaner?"
"Exactly!" Ah Huang said decisively.
"Is that so? Then you will have to make direct contact with him?"
"Not exactly direct contact, just going to collect samples. We still need to gather evidence first, but it won't be us doing the sampling; it will be you," Ah Huang said lightly.
"Huh?" I was taken aback. "What does this have to do with me? You could just intercept him and force him to undergo an examination. You can approach him as police officers, saying something like, 'We suspect you might be involved in a case; please cooperate with our investigation.' That's how they do it on TV." I was surprised that Ah Huang would think of involving me.
"Heh." Ah Huang chuckled softly. "You know it's just a TV show, right? The reality is much more complicated, and that approach isn't very feasible. The situation is this: currently, this person is the prime suspect. However, from our investigation at his home yesterday, we determined that he has a strong sense of counter-surveillance and is very cautious. If we were to arrest him, it would only alert him, and if he escapes, this case could turn into a cold case. Therefore, we need someone familiar to approach him and obtain a hair sample. After comparing it, we can report it up the chain for an arrest. With careful planning, we can control the situation effectively. So we thought it best to get the groundwork done first, but the person who approaches him must be quick-witted and able to adapt. You are the best candidate."
"That's impossible! Why not find someone from the hospital?" That was my immediate reaction. Of course, I understood the difference between personal and professional matters; helping you out as a friend is one thing, but doing your work for you is another.
Ah Huang patiently explained, "We've already conducted an investigation at the hospital. This Cleaner is quite reclusive and doesn't like interacting with others; he has no friends, so there's no one who can get close to him."
"And also, Brother, listen to me—this isn't just for me; it's for you too."
"What do you mean?" I frowned slightly, feeling displeased. People are like that; I can help you when I have nothing going on, but that doesn't mean I'm obligated to help you at all times. If you take my assistance for granted, it will create an awkward situation for everyone.
Seeing my reaction, Ah Huang became flustered. "I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that you mentioned not long ago that you faced some difficulties in the army and lost your Third-Class Merit, right? I thought I could find an opportunity for you to regain some face."
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