by Mi Lei
Fang Mu.
It took the task force less than a day to gather a long list of leads. At Fang Mu's request the investigation focused on the show business community and on women who had come into conflict with Pei Lan over relationship matters. Working through the list, all potential suspects in Pei Lan's social circle were soon cleared. That left her fellow actresses, but Fang Mu suggested the investigation cover a longer time frame. In particular, he recommended looking into her time at the provincial art academy. He explained that it was rather unlikely that one of her current colleagues would attempt to unseat her with a kidnapping. There were just too many ways such a plan could go horribly wrong. Even hiring someone to do the deed was far too dangerous for a high profile actress. It just didn't add up.
According to Fang Mu, the suspect knew Pei Lan and was out not to physically harm her, but rather to ruin her future. Fang Mu also reminded the task force that they were likely dealing with a conflict between the male and female suspect. The two were probably fighting their own private war, even as the police closed in.
The suggestion to look into Pei Lan's past soon seemed to pay off. One by one, all of Pei Lan's current colleagues and co-workers had to be cleared as suspects. The investigators that visited her old school, on the other hand, soon had a number of promising leads.
As the task force worked through the night, they received news from Pei Lan's family: The male kidnapper had called again, this time demanding that the family prepare to pay the four million yuan by the next day. As previously instructed, Pei Lan's family claimed it would take them at least two days to get the money. They also asked to speak to Pei Lan. The kidnapper's only response was to say that he would contact them again. He then hung up without even telling the family where and how the money should be delivered.
The technical unit stationed with Pei Lan's family quickly got a lock on the caller's location, but the kidnapper would not allow himself to be caught so easily. When the police arrived, he had long since left the scene.
Xiao Wang gave an exasperated snort. "Knew that we can track the call and how long it would take. The bastard is a little expert then, is he? Probably one of those Hollywood movie buffs."
"He didn't allow the family to speak to the hostage," Deng Xiaosen pointed out, his voice thick with concern. "Does that mean that Pei Lan is already dead?"
"Unlikely," Fang Mu replied, shaking his head. "It would be a huge mistake for the kidnapper to take Pei Lan along with him to make the call. And if he allows her to call from the hideout, we would be at his door in less than ten minutes. Also," he said, pausing as he turned to the TV set standing in a corner of the room, "the woman does not want Pei Lan to die a horrible death; she wants her to live a horrible life."
They all fell silent. A kidnapping caught in such a tangled web was a first, but now was not the time for doubt or to get emotional. Even if the kidnappers gave Pei Lan's family another two days, the investigation would be under immense pressure. They were facing 48 hours of some of the toughest investigation work of their lives.
Time had become their most valuable asset.
When Fang Mu finally left the meeting room, the first light of dawn had begun to shine gloriously over the horizon. Throughout the night, their discussions and investigations had narrowed the list of potential suspects to a mere four.
On their way out, Xiao Wang offered Fang Mu a ride back to the hotel. To Xiao Wang's surprise, the criminal psychology expert instead asked if there were any shopping centers in the area.
"After all that, you still have a mind to go shopping?" Xiao Wang asked in disbelief. "What do you need? Just tell me and I'll have someone bring it over."
"That won't be necessary," Fang Mu replied. "A little stroll will do me good."
Balancing several full paper bags, Fang Mu finally managed to retrieve the room's key-card. The moment he heard the soft beep of the door unlocking, he reached down to the knob. He stopped himself just in time. Instead of just barging in, he rang the door bell. There was no response. He rang again and this time he could hear a soft voice from inside the room.
"Please, come in."
Fang Mu could hardly believe that he was in the right room.
A woman in a bathrobe was sitting on the bedside, her head hung low. Fair skin shone through the wet, black tangle of her hair. This quiet, shy woman looked nothing like the ferocious girl that had attempted to rob him yesterday.
Fang Mu dropped his bags on the bed, unsure what to say. It took him a good 30 seconds before he finally managed, "Did you sleep well?"
The girl was no quicker. After another awkward silence, she mumbled, "Mhm."
He glanced at his watch before pointing to the bags on the bed. "I brought a change of clothes. I will be waiting for you in the cafeteria."
At this hour, the cafeteria was almost entirely empty. Fang Mu grabbed a quick breakfast. He found a table and sat down, and then waited, sipping a glass of orange juice and rubbing his aching temples. He had to chuckle as he thought back to the night before. Of course, he should have taken her back to the Public Security Bureau. He could not think of a single reason why she should not be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Regardless of her gender, regardless of her circumstances, she had committed a crime. And it was the duty of the police to deal with crimes. Yesterday, he had almost done just that, but something had changed his mind. He still was not entirely sure what.
It was not hard to figure out, though. When the girl had started crying, he had immediately been reminded of Liao Yafan: Was she out there, wearing rags? Was she hungry? Was she standing in some dark corner, afraid and miserable, clutching a glass shard, just like that girl? Was she, right now, waiting for her moment to strike?
Fang Mu knew that he was just asking for trouble, but he couldn't have done any of actions differently, not even if he had it to do again. Perhaps his old friend Tai Wei had been right; there was something deep inside him that was just not right for a policeman.
He was deep in his own world when she entered the cafeteria.
Wearing a brand new shirt, jeans, and sneakers, there was nothing to distinguish her apart from the city's many college girls. Her eyes wandered across the cafeteria as she entered, looking from patron to patron. Even though she was clearly searching for him, she blushed and hung her head the moment their eyes met. She quickly turned away and hurried to grab a tray. After she had picked out her breakfast, she stood rooted to the spot for a few seconds. It took all her courage to finally walk over and sit down across from Fang Mu.
She did not speak. In fact, she did not even raise her head. She only sat there, head lowered, eating in silence. Fang Mu lit a cigarette and studied the young woman's face through the gently curling smoke. She couldn't be older than 25. Now washed and clean, her skin looked flawless, but her hands were still covered in unhealed nicks, bruises, and deep-seated grime. Feeling his gaze, she blushed again and hurried her food along. Even as she wolfed down her breakfast, she looked a world away from the miserable girl he had met yesterday.
After she finished eating, she seemed to freeze, a near immobility coming over her. She just sat there, almost motionless, looking up at Fang Mu. Beneath the table, however, she was nervously fiddling with her hands.
He looked down at her empty plate and quietly asked, "Are you still hungry?"
The girl said nothing, answering with a shake of her head.
He pressed out his cigarette and stood up. "Go back to the room and rest. Lunch is served in the cafeteria; just credit it to Room Twelve-Twenty-Six."
He had already turned away when he heard her whisper, "Why are you helping me?"
"Hm..." For a moment he had no idea how he should respond. Finally, he replied, "I am a police officer."
"But...then you should have arrested me." Her long hair covered her face, jet black strands concealing her contemptuous stare. "Just don't expect me to return the favor."
Fang Mu frowned has he again took his seat across from her, ligh
ting another cigarette. "What's your name?"
"Do you really need to know?" she shot back.
"I do not need to know." A smile stole its way across his face. "But consider it a courtesy. I should know what I can call you." He paused, still smiling. "I can hardly call you Little Ms. Robber, can I?"
Robber. The word made her pale face glow crimson red. Chewing her lower lip, she quietly told him, "Mi Nan."
"Well, Mi Nan," he said, lowering his voice, "why do you rob people? It doesn't really concern me, but for a young woman to resort to robbery, she's probably in some serious trouble."
Mi Nan looked away, her long, fluttering eyelashes brushing over the tears now freely flowing.
"There are no needle tracks on your arms, so you weren't out to score a quick hit," he said, steadily examining the young woman as she tried not to cry. "You had a long, peaceful sleep in the hotel room, so you were not stealing to cover some emergency…"
"It's not that complicated!" she whispered hoarsely. "I was starving. That's it."
He sat in stunned silence, observing her. "You don't sound like a local. Where are you from?" he asked after a while.
"That's none of your business!" She began to sob.
With a gentle sigh, Fang Mu drew a few napkins from a dispenser on the table and handed them to her. Mi Nan grabbed the ersatz-tissues and wildly wiped them across her face. A few moments later, her tears began to subside.
"The far north; Harbin City," she murmured.
"Hm, I'll take you back as soon as I've dealt with a few things here," Fang Mu told her, and then continued in a kind tone: "You should rest for a few days."
"No way," she flatly refused. "I have nothing to go back to."
"What?" He was baffled. "You don't have a home?"
"I might as well not. The moment I come home, I will be bundled off to college." She blankly stared at her glass before finishing, "And back at college, they'll expel me sooner or later."
"Expel you? Why?" He couldn't hide his confusion.
Mi Nan burst into laughter before fixing her stare right on him. It was a look that would have seemed aggressive had her eyes not been full of despair. "I am pregnant"
Fang Mu reeled and then immediately stubbed out his cigarette. His voice was thick with shock when he spoke. "What's your plan?"
Apparently, she had never thought that far. For a long time, she sat in silence before whispering, "I have no idea."
Fang Mu was at a loss for words. Lost in thought, he poured her a glass of water. "What about the father?"
She didn't answer, her eyes glued to the glass in front of her.
"Another student?" he asked.
"No. Someone I met on the net. We chatted online for half a year." She swallowed, collecting herself. "Then, he came to see me at my school, we..." She paused again, pursing her lips. "Two months ago, I found out I was pregnant; scared the living daylights out of me and I ran to him. But he didn't give a damn. Then he made me..."
"Made you do what?" Fang Mu frowned, unconsciously clenching his fists.
"He wanted me to sleep with his friend." Mi Nan bit her lip. "I didn't do it, so he hit me and took all my stuff. I made a run for it first chance I got."
"Give me your home address," he said as he fought a losing battle to maintain his composure. He scowled to bite back his anger, making his words tight as he tried to reassure her. "Let me worry about the rest."
"No, no, no." Mi Nan's entire body seemed to convulse with fear. "I never want anything to do with him ever again. I should leave, the quicker the better…"
Fang Mu clenched his teeth. Then, heaving a deep sigh, he reached for his cigarettes. He had just pulled one from the pack when he realized what he was doing and quickly put it back.
When he looked up, he saw the trembling aftershocks rattle Mi Nan's body. With all the calm as he could manage, he asked, "What grade are you in?"
"I should be a senior now." Her hollow gaze met his eyes. "College started almost a month ago, but I..."
Fang Mu shook his head and picked up a pair of chopsticks. He placed them back on the table, forming parallel lines.
"If this was the path of your life, you certainly have run into problems," he said as he pushed the chopsticks together, crossing them. "It seems like you have hit a dead-end."
She looked down at the chopsticks. "Your point being?"
He smiled. "Things aren't all that bad." He returned the chopstick path to indicate an open road. "Let things go back to the way they were," he sad, firmly fixing his gaze on Mi Nan's eyes. "Return to your normal life."
She looked down at the chopsticks. She sat there, staring as the seconds ticked by. Finally, as if coming to an understanding, she straightened her back. "It is..." she asked, her voice trembling, "not too late?"
"Absolutely not," Fang Mu attested.
"But..." she said, clutching her belly, "I already..."
"What I am trying to say," he said, his expression sobering, "is that I can help you with everything else, but this child, that is your decision and your decision alone."
Mi Nan turned to the window as large tears began rolling down her face. "I want to go back. Back to the way I was." She struggled to control her sobs. "Happy, no worries, healthy..."
"You should think about it. Take your time." He got back to his feet. "I will wait for you to decide."
"You don't have to." Her tears had suddenly stopped falling. She wiped her eyes as she decisively stated: "I want the procedure."
As Fang Mu stared at the young woman, it hit him how much she looked like Liao Yafan. There was that same stubborn strength, hiding just beneath her delicate features.
Was Liao Yafan in similar trouble? Was there anyone helping her?
With one more drawn, silent sigh, he quietly said, "Just as well." He made a sweeping gesture with his arm to one side. "Leave all these memories behind. Begin a brand new life."
Mi Nan responded with a forceful nod as she pushed a smile onto her face. "I will."
He gave his watch a quick glance. "If you have really thought this through, I could take you right now, if you want."
"You don't need to. I'll go on my own." She brushed her hair back. A glint of courage and resolve shone in her eyes. "I can't keep relying on others. I got myself into this dead-end, now I'll get myself out of it."
Fang Mu could barely believe how strong she was. After a moment of shocked surprise, he gently nodded in agreement.
"Take this." Pulling out his wallet, he handed her several 100-yuan notes. "It should cover the costs of the operation. Have the cafeteria deliver chicken soup or something like that to the room."
She took the money, but remained seated. Something was clearly still on her mind.
"What is it?" he asked.
She bit her lip, and then lifted her head to him. There was an air of total determination about her as she asked. "There is one more thing. Can you help?"
"Hm..." Fang Mu sat back down again. "What is it?"
"It's a guy. His name is Luo Hua. He often hangs out in an arcade on the north side of town, across from the post office." Her voice was almost a whisper now. "He has my ID card. And..." Her speech halted. "...My father's Parker pen." Her tone grew a little louder. "It's all I have left of him. Can…Can you help me get it back?"
"Not a problem," Fang Mu immediately replied. "You don't need to worry about it."
At that moment, someone called out his name from the cafeteria's doors. Fang Mu turned his head to see Xiao Wang cross the room with long strides, a stack of papers under his arm. Xiao Wang's eyes widened as he saw Mi Nan sitting across from Fang Mu. He nodded politely as he reached them and took a seat at the table. He unceremoniously helped himself to the glass of water, emptying it in one gulp.
"Get any sleep?" he asked, wiping his mouth. Not waiting for Fang Mu's answer, he unloaded the stack of folders onto the table.
"Not yet," Fang Mu replied flatly, eyeing the papers. "Are there new developments?"
; "You won't have time to sleep," Xiao Wang told him as he stared at Mi Nan, clearly holding his tongue.
Mi Nan tactfully rose from the table. "I'll be going now," she told Fang Mu. She quickly walked out of the cafeteria.
Fang Mu expected Xiao Wang to ask him about Mi Nan, but the young officer didn't have a single word to say on the matter.
Instead, Xiao Wang dove headfirst into the case. "This morning, our colleagues began their investigation into the four potential suspects and we have the results. One woman in particular has raised our suspicions." He held up a photo. "Her name is Tang Xiaomei. She was one of Pei Lan's fellow students and, at the time, her roommate. Shortly before graduation, both she and Pei Lan went to a casting for some production. Pei Lan was accepted and became the star she is today. Tang Xiaomei, on the other hand, spent a few years jostling between movies and television, never quite making it. Later, she tried her hand at directing, but she never made it further than MTV stuff and commercials."
"Hm, that certainly fits the motive we're looking for," Fang Mu said thoughtfully. He let the new information sink in.
"Yes," Xiao Wang agreed cheerfully. "And we have already compared Tang Xiaomei's photo with the security footage from the mall. Both women appear to be of very similar stature."
"Have we brought her in for questioning?" Fang Mu immediately asked.
"That's the problem." The smile disappeared from Xiao Wang's face. "Half a year ago, Tang Xiaomei returned to Suijing City. One month ago, she suddenly dropped off the face of the earth. Even her cell phone is disconnected."
"I see..." Fang Mu was lost in thought. "She really does look like a good suspect for it."
"Yes, we have already designated Tang Xiaomei our prime suspect." Xiao Wang leaned back. "The question is, where is she now?"
Fang Mu contemplated what he had heard before asking: "Has the Provincial Department sent us their results on the material evidence?"