by Gangxueyin
The New China Bookstore
They rushed over, but the briefing had already started. The occasion was quite grand. All of J City’s media had reporters present, though this probably had nothing to do with Xu Sanpi and everything to do with his uncle, a major advertiser.
Xu Sanpi was onstage. He was a big man, with a shaved head and large black-rimmed glasses on his oversized face. With microphone in hand, he exaggerated the creative evolution of his new book.
Han Yin and Ye Xi casually made their way around the room until the briefing ended.
The bookstore had arranged Xu Sanpi’s latest book, along with his previous novels, on a table in the sales area. Han Yin leafed through them and discovered that none of the author bios mentioned his time at Old Capital University. Maybe that phase of his life left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
It was tedious waiting for the event to conclude. Ye Xi and Han Yin didn’t waste any time approaching Xu Sanpi. Ye Xi flashed her police badge. There was a frivolous smile on Xu Sanpi’s face as he looked her up and down. “What do you want, pretty lady? I’m a top-notch citizen who energetically wields his brush pen to add bricks and tiles to the development of our ancestral land’s spiritual civilization!”
“Oh, thank you so much for having worked so hard on behalf of the people of the ancestral land!” Ye Xi gave a cold laugh as she imitated Xu Sanpi’s pompous tone. “Might you be so kind as to inform the people of the ancestral land where you were over the New Year’s holidays when you weren’t laying bricks and slotting tiles?”
“Why?” Xu Sanpi seemed surprised.
“I assume you’ve heard about the dismemberment crime from the beginning of the year?” Han Yin’s eyes bored into Xu Sanpi.
“Sure, yeah. What’s that have to do with me?”
“No one’s said it has anything to do with you. We’re just doing a routine check,” Ye Xi said.
“I still don’t understand. How does a routine check involve me?” Xu Sanpi was being aggressive.
“Unfortunately, we can’t disclose the details of the case. We’re asking you to cooperate with us.” Ye Xi smiled.
That smile could melt snowbanks, and Han Yin couldn’t help feeling his heart beat faster.
Ye Xi’s abrupt change of tone made Xu Sanpi feel good about himself. He immediately flushed and said, “On New Year’s Eve, I was out drinking with some friends at a restaurant. We were having a wild time and were out past midnight. I drank a lot, and friends took me home. I got up the next day around noon, feeling like crap. I had a splitting headache. I also vomited and went to the hospital. Medical University Second Affiliated. They said it was alcohol poisoning. They kept me there for a week.”
Xu Sanpi listed the pals he had been out with that night. Ye Xi pulled out a notebook and jotted down the names, smiling to show her gratitude. The nicer she was to Xu Sanpi, the more insolent he seemed to get. Assuming an intimate tone of voice, Xu Sanpi said, “I have no connection with those dismemberment cases, but if I get to meet a pretty police flower like you out of it, fine by me.”
“Since you mentioned the dismemberment cases, let’s now talk about Yin Aijun,” said Han Yin.
Xu Sanpi pursed his lips, looking like he regretted opening his mouth. He awkwardly shifted his weight and said, “What’s there to say? I already talked about it. It really had nothing to do with me.”
“Since you’re clean, there’s no harm in answering a few questions,” said Han Yin.
“Okay. Ask.” Xu Sanpi nodded.
“How did you and Yin Aijun meet?”
“We didn’t know each other very well. We met in a bookstore a few times. We both went to Old Capital University, and when we’d run into each other, we’d chat for a bit.”
“How did that poetry book show up at your place?”
“I don’t know,” said Xu Sanpi, looking innocent. He paused and went on, “I’m the type who likes to make friends. That year, lots of people always gathered at my place, coming and going. Someone might have put it there.”
Han Yin nodded, lost in thought. Xu Sanpi was suggesting that someone had planted the book to frame him. This meant he had seriously considered the possibility and probably had some ideas about who might have done it. “Who do you think would want to frame you?”
“Uh . . . um . . . that’s not easy to say. I’m just thinking out loud. Maybe Ma Wentao. He had opened a bookstore near Jade Bird Road and wrote in his spare time. We got along pretty well and would often talk and drop by each other’s places. I ran into Yin Aijun several times at his bookstore.”
“So you’re saying he and Yin Aijun knew each other well?”
“Right. Every time she went there, Ma Wentao paid special attention to her. He probably had his eyes on her. He probably gave Yin Aijun the poetry book, killed her, ran to her dormitory, stole the book, and dropped it at my place to pin the blame on me.”
“Why didn’t you tell that to the task force back then?”
Xu Sanpi scratched his head. “Because they thought I was the killer. Day and night, they interrogated me. My brain went blank, and I was so worried and tense that I forgot everything. And back then, I really hadn’t given this any serious thought, but these past several years I had nothing to do, and I occasionally thought about the case and analyzed it. Maybe he tried to frame me.”
“Do you have anything to do with Ma Wentao now?”
“No, not for a long time. We haven’t met up since I went abroad.”
“Other than him, did you have any others acquaintances you feel might be suspects?”
“I can’t just throw out the first person who comes to mind.” Xu Sanpi shrugged. Turning to Ye Xi, he said, “This evening at the Donghao Grand Hotel, my uncle’s arranged a cocktail reception to celebrate my new book. A number of my university friends from those days will be there. If you’re willing to grace us with your presence, you can talk to them yourselves. How about it?”
Han Yin almost laughed. He knew Xu Sanpi was just trying to get into Ye Xi’s pants.
Ye Xi caught his look when their eyes met and decided to have some fun with Xu Sanpi. Her laugh was charming. “You’re not worried we’d spoil your cocktail party?” she asked, ever so sweetly.
“Not at all! Not at all!” He was practically beside himself and said, “Just as long as I can see you.”
“You’ve got bad intentions. I’ll have to give this some thought.” Ye Xi winked at Xu Sanpi.
“No way! Nothing like that in mind. I just want to help you!” His face flushed.
“So why are you helping us, then?”
Xu Sanpi was even more giddy. “All right, fine. You’re pretty, and I want to hit on you.”
Ye Xi laughed and gave Han Yin a wink. They turned and casually walked out.
Xu Sanpi had no idea what had just happened. He stood there, dumbfounded for a second. Then he called out, “Donghao Grand Hotel. Second-floor banquet hall, seven p.m. Somewhat formal attire.”
They got in the car.
“Well, he made no secret about wanting to chase after you!”
“Okay, enough already! The kind of guy who thinks being shameless is being honest doesn’t interest me. And he’s a writer too . . . as far as I’m concerned, he’s just another hoodlum. He sees a woman and turns into a horny teenager.” She felt disdain. “Let’s not talk about it anymore! Do you think there’s anything suspicious about Xu Sanpi?”
Han Yin turned serious. “Since he told us right away that he spent the entire holiday in the hospital and mentioned several friends who could provide alibis, I’d say he’s not involved in the Wang Li case. Naturally, we’ll need confirmation from the hospital. However, when I mentioned Yin Aijun, he tensed up. He shifted his weight, and his right foot had instinctively turned outward, a subconscious sign of avoidance, a desire to flee.”
“So you think he really did have something to do with her murder?”
“We still can’t say, but this guy’s a little on the weird side. After al
l these years, suddenly he throws out a potential suspect’s name? I wonder why.”
“Maybe our questions scared him. Or he’s hiding something and wanted to divert our attention. Then again, maybe the literary guy, Ma Wentao, is actually a suspect.” Ye Xi paused, then excitedly added, “If he was telling the truth, it’s possible Ma Wentao was the killer in the Yin Aijun case. What do you think?”
Han Yin didn’t express an opinion. He was not as excited as Ye Xi. Xu Sanpi was forty-six years old and had a flirty, unreliable way about him. Han Yin wondered how much of what he said was actually true. There’s no way he wouldn’t arouse suspicion. And why, when faced with possible incarceration, didn’t he mention Ma Wentao to the task force? And now, with soft questioning, Xu Sanpi comes out with that name? And Han Yin knew all the head-scratching showed he was telling lies.
“Ma Wentao’s bookstore was near Jade Bird Road. No doubt that the police checked it out that year. I figure the file would have notes on him. Drive me to the cold case group when you can. I’ll locate the file and give it a good read. And please get someone to check out what’s going on with Ma Wentao these days.”
“Okay. I’ll handle the Ma Wentao business. If we can solve the Yin Aijun case, that would be amazing,” she said.
Just as she was dropping him off, Ye Xi thought of Xu Sanpi’s invitation and asked if he’d be going.
“How would you do an investigation at a noisy cocktail party?” Han Yin asked. Xu Sanpi had been looking for a chance to get close to Ye Xi, and this was it. Then Han Yin smiled. “That invitation was aimed at you. Whether I go or not is irrelevant.”
Ye Xi gave a snort and laughed. “Am I sensing a little jealousy?”
Han Yin felt uncomfortable about Ye Xi’s joke. After a moment, he said, “Okay, I’ll go, then. Maybe he’s sincere about wanting to help. And even if not, we can find out a little more about him.”
They set a time to meet, and each went back to work.
Han Yin found the records for Ma Wentao at the cold case group.
Ma Wentao, twenty-eight years old, was a resident of Z City in this province. When the event occurred, he was working at the Literary Wave Bookroom at 144 Jade Bird Road, Gulou District. Because his bookstore was near the last place Yin Aijun was seen, the task force had closely investigated him. Ma Wentao admitted that Yin Aijun had gotten books there but denied she’d been there on the day she disappeared. The Literary Wave Bookroom’s shop front faced the road. It had two stories, a ground level used for business and a second story apartment leased by Ma Wentao two years prior to this. The police thoroughly checked the bookstore but found no trace of evidence. Ma Wentao was then eliminated as a suspect.
Even though Han Yin had not officially proposed a report titled “Portrait of the Yin Aijun Murder and Dismemberment Killer,” he had generated one in his mind. The file on Ma Wentao was incredibly brief, but had it matched his thoughts in many places. First, the ages matched. Second, the hometowns were located north of the Gu River. Third, these people knew Yin Aijun. Fourth, they had independent space. Fifth, the initial point of contact had been the killer’s place of work. Sixth, the work schedule was independent and freely controlled.
The information intersected. Ma Wentao was certainly a suspect, and a major one at that. Han Yin couldn’t help recognizing the truth of Xu Sanpi’s statements and felt greatly energized. In pursuing the Yin Aijun case, they wouldn’t ease up on the Wang Li case. They’d be solving them simultaneously.
18
WRITTEN IN BLOOD ON A DORM WINDOW
It was closing in on 6:30 p.m., when Han Yin and Ye Xi had scheduled to meet, and he was waiting by the guesthouse door.
The pomp and circumstance over Xu Sanpi’s book really disgusted Han Yin, with the press briefing, then throwing a black-tie affair for himself—such vanity. Nonetheless, Han Yin had taken out his business suit and had the cleaning service at the guesthouse give it a good ironing. Now he stood wearing his dark, well-fitting suit over a light-blue checkered shirt. Coupled with his refined, scholarly temperament, he looked cooler and more handsome than usual.
A few minutes later, Ye Xi’s car pulled up.
As he got into the car, he noticed how dazzlingly radiant she looked. Ye Xi’s makeup was more glamorous than usual. She was wearing a silver knee-length skirt. Her cleavage mesmerized him, and her flesh-colored silk stockings fit well with her high heels. Her graceful beauty and elegant figure were displayed to perfection.
Han Yin was lost in befuddlement.
Ye Xi waved her hand in front of his eyes. She laughed and asked, “What? Don’t recognize me?”
Only then did Han Yin come to, and he felt embarrassed. He turned away from her, a wave of heat running across his face. He tried to think of something amusing to cover up his shame, but nothing would come. All he could do was offer a few awkward giggles. Then he was nervous that she might think he was some kind of sleazeball.
Ye Xi considerately changed the subject. “Did you get anything from Ma Wentao’s file?”
“There’s a certain amount to be suspicious about, and it was worth the effort.” Mentioning the case made Han Yin feel much more natural, and he gave a full report on the notes from Ma Wentao’s file and his analysis of them. “How about on your end?”
“Not much to report. I found where he opened the bookstore, but that district has long been demolished and new buildings are there. The bookstores that were originally there have also shifted elsewhere. But I couldn’t find out Ma Wentao’s present location. I’ve assigned people to locate some of the old bookstore owners to find out what they know.”
“Well, if you really can’t find anything, we’ll just have to take a trip to his old hometown.”
Ye Xi nodded, started the car, and drove to the Donghao Grand Hotel.
It was J City’s most luxurious five-star hotel, with grand architecture—splendid and imposing. Han Yin and Ye Xi crossed the spacious lobby and rode the elevator to the second-floor banquet hall.
The elevator door opened, and there was Xu Sanpi at the hall entrance, greeting guests. The moment he spotted Ye Xi, his eyes shone and he smiled. He rushed over to greet Ye Xi and gave her delicate hands a couple of squeezes. He radiated a kind of sinister energy, greedily devouring Ye Xi with his eyes from top to bottom. Seeing Han Yin behind Ye Xi, a flash of jealousy streaked across his face. Han Yin and Ye Xi looked as if they were a natural couple.
Xu Sanpi walked them into the banquet hall.
The cocktail reception had an open bar. The hall was filled with guests and friends. Ye Xi noted that the place was full of J City’s most pompous and pretentious. All of these people were here to compliment a third-rate writer at the behest of his powerful uncle.
Xu Sanpi played the gracious host and led Ye Xi and Han Yin to the buffet table, said good-bye for the moment, and rushed off to tend to his other guests.
The level of attention directed at Ye Xi was absurd. This made Han Yin uncomfortable as he stood beside her. But Ye Xi was unaffected and exuded poise and gracefulness.
Xu Sanpi was racing throughout the banquet hall in good spirits, riding the crest of success. He seemed to have forgotten his earlier promise to them. Han Yin and Ye Xi detested this kind of venue. After a while, they reached the point of unbearable boredom and talked about quietly slipping away. They were heading toward the door when a woman called out Ye Xi’s name.
Ye Xi turned to see the stunningly dressed woman calling her name. As they faced each other, the woman shouted, “Ye Xi? My old schoolmate! It’s been years!”
Ye Xi walked closer and exclaimed in delight, “Shanshan! What a coincidence seeing you here. Still as beautiful as ever!”
“Nothing compared to you! Back then you were our famous campus flower!” She said this with traces of envy and admiration. “So, what high office does the old man occupy, hmm?”
“I’m not married.”
“Well, look on the bright side! I married early and had kids, and now I’m jus
t an old hag. Luckily, I’ve got what you’d call a good old man.” She mentioned his name and waved her hand, showing off the enormous gleaming and glittering rock on her ring finger.
“That’s awesome that you landed such a great catch.”
“I had no choice. I was never super good-looking, so if I didn’t marry a good man while I was still young, I probably never would. You’re different. You’re so pretty, and the older you get, the better you look. In a few more years, they’ll still be chasing after you!”
They continued to chat, and even though Shanshan praised Ye Xi, there were unmistakable barbs in her words. She must have been jealous of Ye Xi’s beauty back in their school days.
Ye Xi just kept smiling. But the woman didn’t seem to know how to let up. “Now I remember! You’re a year older than me. This year you should be thirty-four, right? You look so much younger than me. Maybe it’s better not to get married!”
Ye Xi had to really force her smiles, and Han Yin had had enough. Just at the right moment, he walked over and put his arm around Ye Xi. Then he looked deeply into her eyes, and said, “My dear, now that you’ve met your old schoolmate, why don’t you introduce us?”
Ye Xi pursed her lips and smiled. Then she looked back sweetly at Han Yin and said, “This is Shanshan, my high school classmate. And this is my boyfriend, Han Yin.”
“Your boyfriend is so young! And so handsome! It must be a big sister–younger brother thing, I guess. Ye Xi, you’re something else! So good at chasing what’s new!”
Ye Xi kept smiling and gazing at Han Yin, the perfect picture of love and affection. Her old friend realized she had suddenly become the third wheel. She sneered and found an excuse to leave.
Han Yin moved to let go of Ye Xi but was surprised when she didn’t try to let go.
“Thinking of backing out?” When Han Yin didn’t react, Ye Xi pulled her arm free and laughed. “Hey! You’re blushing!”