Lu Linjiang listened silently to Jiang Cheng’s analysis, his mind wandering for a brief moment. This was the first time he had heard Jiang Cheng praise someone so highly; it was quite a novelty. Once Jiang Cheng finished, Lu Linjiang pulled out his phone and brought up a photo. "Is this Jiang Langmin?"
Jiang Cheng took the phone. It was a screenshot from the laboratory’s surveillance footage, showing Jiang Langmin stepping out of his lab.
"Yes, that’s Jiang Langmin."
With his suspicion confirmed, Lu Linjiang wasn't surprised. "This is from the day before you all departed. According to the records, the missing influenza strain likely disappeared during this window. Did anything unusual happen then?"
"Anything unusual..." Jiang Cheng exhaled slowly. "That’s why I asked for you. I know Matthew needed the influenza strain for an experiment before we left. If the strain really was leaked from the institute, all I can say is that Luo Jia visited Matthew’s lab."
This was an unexpected windfall. Lu Linjiang’s spirits rose. "When?"
"In the afternoon, after lunch. The experiment had reached a critical stage, so I went back early. It was right after Jiang Langmin left my lab—I saw Luo Jia walk past my door."
The timing roughly aligned with the surveillance. "Did you see Luo Jia enter Matthew’s lab?" Lu Linjiang frowned, sensing a discrepancy. "There are two other labs between yours and Matthew’s. Did you step out into the hallway?"
"No. I intended to speak with Jiang Langmin, but I turned back just as I reached the door. Jiang Langmin hadn't closed my lab door, and the glass happened to reflect Luo Jia exiting Matthew’s lab. You should be able to see it if you check the footage." Jiang Cheng looked at Lu Linjiang. "You just need to have Jiang Langmin send the files over."
Another hollow hope.
Lu Linjiang hadn't intended to tell Jiang Cheng that the surveillance system had been under maintenance and failed to record the crucial segments. However, he knew Jiang Cheng was no fool; a casual excuse wouldn't fly, especially with Jiang Langmin involved in the middle.
"Jiang Langmin already sent the footage. The system was being serviced. Luo Jia appeared there at a very specific time, perfectly avoiding the cameras. We can't even see when he left."
Jiang Cheng’s expression froze, his face blank. After a moment, he slumped onto the table as if resigning himself to fate. "I never should have come back to Jinghai. This place is cursed for me."
These words pricked Lu Linjiang’s conscience. Suppressing his internal awkwardness, he said slowly, "As long as you didn't do it, you have nothing to worry about. I will find the real killer."
Jiang Cheng didn't lift his head; he simply tilted his face to peer at him. "Well, aren't I just so grateful to you." His tone was strained. Perhaps the blow had been too great, leading him to a state of reckless abandon. The distance and reserved dignity he had maintained toward Lu Linjiang over the past few days had vanished, replaced by a distinct sense of disdain.
This version of Jiang Cheng seemed to have stepped out of an old black-and-white photograph, his features suddenly imbued with vivid life.
Lu Linjiang couldn't help but frown. "Is there anything else you need to report?"
"Report?" Jiang Cheng let out a sharp laugh. "Yes. Do I need to scrub my backside for prison?"
Lu Linjiang: "..."
Jiang Cheng’s face rolled back and forth against the table. "I want a lawyer!" The four words were muffled, his voice shifting between clarity and a blur.
Lu Linjiang felt his usual interrogation tactics deserting him. Although the man across from him was neither heinous nor cunning, his casual, irreverent attitude made it impossible for Lu Linjiang to even muster a reprimand.
After "rolling" for a while, Jiang Cheng finally lost interest. He sat up unsteadily and countered, "Anything else?" Seeing Lu Linjiang remain silent, he added, "If not, then please, do your best!"
The heavy irony in his voice was unmistakable. This was a Jiang Cheng that Lu Linjiang had never seen before. The timid, eager, yet perpetually suppressed person of his memory had vanished without a trace. This Jiang Cheng—was far more interesting than the old one.
***
By the time Lu Linjiang returned to the canteen, the head chef was already packing up. Seeing him wander toward the window, the chef called out from a distance, "What’s this? Still hungry?"
Lu Linjiang nodded vaguely. The chef glanced at him and picked up a tray. "Fine, you get what’s left. Everyone else has already finished their round anyway."
The chef managed to scrape together a bowl’s worth of food for him. Lu Linjiang took an extra portion of rice and was looking for a clean table when someone nearby hailed him. "Over here!"
Guo Junyi was actually still lingering in the canteen.
Lu Linjiang sat down beside him, noting the five or six bowls and plates spread out in front of him.
"Are you at a banquet?"
"You're still not full?"
They spoke simultaneously, then shared a knowing smile. Guo Junyi pulled a napkin from his pocket and leisurely wiped his mouth. "Delivering food to someone?"
Lu Linjiang ate without looking up, not even sparing him a glance, offering only a curt nod. Guo Junyi clicked his tongue in wonder, crossing his legs and adjusting his posture. "Captain Lu has learned how to dote on people. I can't believe it!"
Lu Linjiang cleared half his tray with whirlwind speed. "What’s so unbelievable? Didn't I give you a hot dog the other day?"
Guo Junyi let out a "Heh." "That’s true. Ever since I ate that hot dog you gave me, I’ve had to eat two extra bowls of rice per meal."
Lu Linjiang glanced at the empty bowls on the table, feeling certain this idiot was going to ruin his stomach. Just as he was about to toss a few insults his way, Guo Junyi’s phone vibrated on the table. He picked it up, looked at it, and began to chuckle.
Lu Linjiang assumed he was just having another episode and moved his tray aside. Unexpectedly, Guo Junyi sat up straight, dropping his playful demeanor. "I have some good news for you."
Lu Linjiang put down his chopsticks immediately. "The lab results are out?"
"I sent the storage tube and the scrapings from the paper to the bio-lab at Jinghai Medical College. Do you know how lucky we are? Those scrapings were just enough for a test! The gene sequencing is a match. It’s the mutated Influenza B virus."
Lu Linjiang froze for a second before breaking into a smile. "Shouldn't we go pay a visit to the only witness who organized Tao Minxing’s luggage?"
Guo Junyi let out a loud burp and began stacking his empty bowls. "Good luck to you!"
Lu Linjiang finished his last few bites and placed his empty tray on top of Guo Junyi’s stack of bowls. "Remember to send the forensic report to me."
Guo Junyi stared expressionlessly at the back of the "bastard" as he walked away, thinking to himself that not a single person in the Criminal Investigation Unit was any good.
***
Lu Linjiang rushed back to the office, intending to tell Tang Hua and the others that their lunch break was over, but he ran into Xu Sicheng hurrying out the door.
"What is it? Did Guo Junyi send the results?"
"What results?" Xu Sicheng asked instinctively, then waved his hand dismissively. "It’s not about the results! I just tried to contact Tang Hua, but I’ve called five times and he hasn't picked up!"
Lu Linjiang’s heart tightened. "How long has it been?"
"Nearly fifteen minutes," said Yang Bo, who was following behind with his phone out. "His phone is turned off now!"
Lu Linjiang’s expression shifted instantly. "Let’s go!"
The distance from the City Bureau to the International Hotel was less than ten kilometers. Lu Linjiang kept the accelerator floored the entire way. The small car roared, nearly taking flight as it reached the hotel in just twelve minutes.
The three of them jumped out of the car simultaneously. Lu Linjiang charged into the lobby first to ask if Luo Jia had checked out. He only breathed a sigh of relief when the receptionist said no. He ordered Xu Sicheng to stay in the lobby and watch the elevators while he and Yang Bo rushed into the closing elevator doors.
The elevator opened on the twenty-first floor. Lu Linjiang and Yang Bo sprinted out. Luo Jia’s room was near the end of the hallway. They dashed to the door, braked hard, adjusted their breathing, and exchanged a look.
Yang Bo drew his service weapon and silently pressed himself against the wall. Seeing he was ready, Lu Linjiang knocked. "Luo Jia, are you there? It’s Lu Linjiang."
Before he could finish, the door swung open. Lu Linjiang also drew his gun, silently counted to three, and charged in with Yang Bo. Tang Hua was lying face down on the bed. They quickly swept the room, and once they confirmed Luo Jia was no longer inside, they rushed to check on Tang Hua.
Yang Bo checked Tang Hua’s pulse and let out a soft sigh of relief. "He’s fine. He’s alive."
"Call an ambulance," Lu Linjiang said, while simultaneously calling Xu Sicheng. "Do you see Luo Jia?"
Xu Sicheng was hidden behind a large potted plant, eyes glued to the elevator bank. "No. I haven't seen him come down since you went up."
Lu Linjiang hung up and immediately ran out of the room. He sprinted to the elevators at top speed and hit the button for the tenth floor. The descent felt agonizingly slow, but fortunately, few people were using the elevators at this hour, and it didn't stop once. As soon as the doors opened, Lu Linjiang bolted into the fire escape nearest to Luo Jia’s room.
Once inside the stairwell, Lu Linjiang slowed his movements. He closed the door gently, walked along the wall for a short distance, and then stopped to listen intently. Sure enough, there was the sound of faint, labored breathing coming from above.
Lu Linjiang was about to move when he reconsidered. He stepped back a few paces, hiding around a corner to wait for his prey.
The breathing grew clearer, and the footsteps could no longer be muffled. The person likely didn't exercise much; carrying luggage and moving suddenly had exhausted whatever stamina they possessed.
Lu Linjiang leaned against the wall with composure, silently judging by the volume of the sound that Luo Jia was only three or four floors away.
It should have been a simple matter of catching a rat in a jar, but suddenly, the fire exit door on the thirteenth floor swung open. A very distinctive voice let out an "Oof!" and asked, "Hey buddy, what are you doing?"
Luo Jia clearly hadn't expected to run into anyone there. He froze for a moment before reacting. "I’m checking out."
The newcomer shouted with a booming, hearty voice, "Checking out? Use the elevator! You're only on the thirteenth floor—why go looking for trouble? Look at you, you're covered in sweat."
Luo Jia hadn't expected to encounter such a character, but he was in a hurry to leave and didn't want to cause a scene. Being a doctor of sorts, he fabricated an excuse on the fly. "I have claustrophobia. I can't take elevators."
The man looked at him with surprise. "Oh, I’ve heard of that. Well, hey, since you're an international friend, I’ll show some local hospitality and do my good deed for the day. Here, here!" Without waiting for an answer, he stepped forward and snatched the suitcase from Luo Jia’s hand. "I’ll carry this down to the first floor for you."
Lu Linjiang sighed silently, slightly regretting that he hadn't charged up immediately. He could only hope that Luo Jia wasn't carrying any lethal weapons.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
静海 | Jinghai | The city where the story takes place.
乙型流感病毒 | Influenza B virus | The specific virus strain involved in the case.
雷锋 | Lei Feng | A famous Chinese soldier known for his selflessness; "doing a Lei Feng" means doing a good deed.
市局 | City Bureau | Refers to the municipal police headquarters.
国际饭店 | International Hotel | The hotel where Luo Jia is staying.
