Chapter 104: The Third Person

3 am in the morning.

Zhou Xiao Zhuan is sitting in front of the computer yawning.

The office is big and empty.  Only the light directly above his head is turned on while everywhere else is dark, making the place seem rather spooky.  He reaches up his hand to tug his eyelids open and then gets up to pour himself a cup of coffee. He goes back to the computer with his eyes wide open and continues reading the information about the case, as well as to guard that "precious" fingerprint in the evidence bin.

He doesn't know how much time has pa.s.sed.

A rustling noise.

Outside of the door at a distance, there seems to be some noise, yet it seems quiet at the same time.

Xiao Zhuan turns to look out of suspicion but all he sees is the dark window with tree branches swaying in the wind.  He doesn't think too much of it. He pulls up his jacket and resumes his full concentration to the monitor while humming a melody.

_____

Inside of the interrogation room in the main building about a hundred meters away.

Han Chen is holding a pair of binoculars looking through the blinds watch the other side.  Su Mian and Chatterbox also have their own binoculars and are watching with full concentration.

It's been a long while but it's still quiet.  Chatterbox lowers his binoculars and asks, "Leader, how did you guys confirm that Professor Xu is one of the killers?"

Han Chen and Su Mian glance at each other.  Su Mian responds first, "When we conducted the lie detector test with Situ Yi last time, I already felt that something didn't make sense.  There was clearly something wrong with Situ Yi, but when I questioned his results, he gave me a kind of feeling that I couldn't explain."

Chatterbox asks, "What kind of feeling?"

Su Mian thinks for a second and says, "Do you remember how I said before that a lot of mentally ill patients are impulsive and can become angry easily where they cannot control their temper?  It's in their nature. Although that feeling came and went in a flash, I felt a hint of——enmity. However, I thought at the time that he was just more self-opinionated and didn't like others challenging him.  Therefore, I didn't think about the possibility of him being a member of the seven-member organization.

It was yesterday afternoon when I became completely suspicious of him based on his browsing activity record."

The image of the data results floats into Su Mian's mind.  She lets out a slight "Hmph!" and says, "Xu Nan Bai probably never thought that we would install a monitoring software inside the work system to view everybody's browsing history.  Where there is a comparison, there will be results. A criminal's and a police officer's way of thinking is clearly not the same." She looks toward Chatterbox, "You quickly skimmed through all the doc.u.ments and then focused on examining the fingerprint——this suits your personality and what your job requires."

Chatterbox, "Oh, oh——"

"Xiao Zhuan took his time and read everything slowly.  Xu Si Bai focused on the way the perpetrators executed their crimes and then kept reading the autopsy reports.  Cold Face's browsing history was also surrounding his work……And when a criminal sees the police records of the case from back then, how do you think he feels?  The answer is——Xu Nan Bai actually focused on the various reports from the police including their summarizations, as well as the information on the police officers who were involved in investigating the case.  He only skimmed through the information regarding the victims and the killers' method of execution!" Su Mian smiles slightly and looks at the two of them sideways, "I've done quite well haven't I from following the tiny clue to find out the truth!"

"He's here," Han Chen, who's been standing in front of the window quietly, says suddenly.  Su Mian and Chatterbox are full of energy now. They hold their binoculars and look toward the small building.

At the dark and unlit entrance, there is a black shadow that has appeared out of nowhere.  The shadow makes a dash and enters the building without a sound.

_____

The night is getting darker and darker.  Zhou Xiao Zhuan is almost leaning against the computer.  The light from the monitor reflecting on his face shows his full concentration.

He doesn't notice that someone is coming near from behind him.

It's a man with a tall figure who is dressed all in black.  His footsteps are light like a cat. In the darkness, he slowly approaches Xiao Zhuan, little by little.

Zhou Xiao Zhuan is still in his original position and doesn't budge.

The man makes it to his side and stands there quietly.

Xiao Zhuan snaps out of his daze and notices a shadow on the wall appearing behind him suddenly.  He gasps from fright. He grabs the notebook on the table and wants to throw it behind him but he feels a hard hit on the back of his neck.  Sharp pain and dizziness drown him. He doesn't get a clear look at the person's face before he falls to the floor with a "thump" sound.

That person stares at him for a few seconds.  He lifts his head and looks around to confirm that there isn't anybody else.  His gloved hands reach over to Xiao Zhuan's waist to grab the key and open the evidence bin.

He retrieves the fingerprint.

He stares at it silently in the light.  He snickers, takes out a lighter and lights it up slowly.  He tosses it into the garbage can as it burns away gradually.

_____

"Should we go?" Chatterbox asks nervously while still holding up his infrared binoculars.

"Wait a little longer," Han Chen answers standing straight, "We still haven't received the signal yet."

They're going to be capturing a suspect from such a big case nonetheless and it's someone who works closely with the police.  Su Mian is also a bit worked up. She holds onto her binoculars with one hand while grabbing on to Han Chen's arm with the other, "Did Xiao Zhuan get hit hard?  You actually used him as bait. You're so ruthless."

Han Chen glances at her and then answers nonchalantly, "It's because he is the weakest one.  If it was anyone else, how would Xu Nan Bai have the courage to take such a big risk?"

Chatterbox chuckles, "Just ask Cold Face to boil some more soup for Xiao Zhuan later."

The three of them wait for another while.  Chatterbox asks as a follow-up to his previous thought, "Therefore, due to his browsing activity, you guys started suspecting him and set up this 'fingerprint' trap?"

Su Mian nods.  The image of what happened in the evening floats across her mind; the different reactions from everybody after Chatterbox uploaded the fingerprint into the system.

It was Han Chen's idea.  He sure is ruthless and innovative as well.  It was to test who the suspect was and also to throw out the bait——

It's because, at the time, the fingerprint that everybody saw was different.

The half fingerprint that they saw was their own.

"The instant you found out, you chased after me to report it," Han Chen says.

Chatterbox rubs his head with his hand and smiles.  He's a fingerprint specialist, so he's obviously very familiar with the patterns of all ten of his fingers and all ten of his toes.  After restoring the fingerprint for a while, he didn't notice it right away. It was when he took a closer look that he felt something strange about it——why was it his own fingerprint?  He was puzzled. He didn't think too much of it and raced out the door since they're used to asking Leader about everything.

Han Chen told him to stay calm and then revealed the whole plan to him which would be carried out tonight and asked him to be the "bait."

"And Cold Face and Xiao Zhuan didn't even care about the fingerprint.  They probably don't understand it," Su Mian says, "Xu Si Bai has great attention to detail.  The results of the fingerprint would also be related to his work in forensics so he figured it out right away.  The moment he saw his own fingerprint……" she pauses and then smiles, "he's got a quick mind, so he knew right away what we were up to.  He was a bit angry when he called me."

Chatterbox says, "So that's how it was."

Han Chen takes a look at her from the corner of his eye and doesn't comment.

"Only Xu Nan Bai," Su Mian's voice deepens as she continues to stare at the small building, "When he saw his own fingerprint, he kept quiet."

Chatterbox is getting a little excited.  He makes a loud snap with his fingers, "This is too intense, such a mind game!  What is he going to do? Even G.o.d wouldn't know what to do. Therefore, you guys plotted this plan tonight to lure him to take action?"

Su Mian nods and looks toward Han Chen.  Han Chen reveals a faint smile and says, "Even after seeing his own half fingerprint, with Xu Nan Bai's personality, he wouldn't act rashly.  He would still suspect this as a trap. Therefore, we had to add more fuel to the fire."

Su Mian adds, "On one end, we wanted Xu Nan Bai to think that the one we suspected was you and that we had set up a trap to catch you tonight.  This makes the whole situation a lot more believable. He would also think that we would loosen our defense afterward. On the other end, the things you said were key to let him think that you really just realized that the fingerprint looked familiar and was mistaken by us.  This increased his sense of danger——he thought that you would find out that it was his fingerprint very soon."

Chatterbox nods and continues where she leaves off, "And then you came up with the plan this afternoon.  You asked Cold Face to go out so that he would not be available. This way, you could ask Xiao Zhuan to stay and guard the fingerprint.  Under this circ.u.mstance, how would that fellow, Xu Nan Bai, not take action? The moon and stars are all lined up and this may be his only chance to erase his suspicion!  The temptation is too big! We are the ones to blame for acting too well."

Han Chen and Su Mian laugh.

Han Chen's cell phone rings.  One bold word appears on the screen: "Action."  The sender is Cold Face.

There's no more hesitation.  They rush down the stairs and run toward the small building.

_____

After Xu Nan Bai burns away the fingerprint, he takes just a few minutes to reorganize everything on the desk.

He turns on the measuring instrument, sets it to the highest brightness and focus and points it to a stack of sc.r.a.p paper.  He then picks up the lighter that Chatterbox left behind and tosses it into the pile of papers.

At most in ten minutes, the sc.r.a.p papers will light up in the fire.  It might even be able to cause a small fire accident. And when others investigate it later, they will only be able to conclude that it was due to the equipment malfunctioning or misuse of it.  As for Xiao Zhuan, since the Black s.h.i.+eld Team is panicking at the slightest movements, he won't be able to provide any valuable evidence due to having fainted. He might even be suspected like Chatterbox.

After completing everything and just as Xu Nan Bai is turning to leave, he hears a squeal.

He freezes and turns his head slowly.

A cabinet on the side opens.  A man with an expressionless face pokes his head out with his hand holding a mini camera pointing directly at him.

Cold Face.

Cold Face should be out tonight and nowhere to be found.

No one knows that he has been hiding inside of the cabinet for the whole night.

In the dim lighting, Xu Nan Bai swallows his throat without a sound.

Cold Face lowers the camera and says, "I've got everything you've done recorded and uploaded to the system.  Follow me and if you have anything to say, say it to them."

At this moment, all the events are linking together in a flash in his mind.  How would he not realize that everything from start to finish has been a trap set up by them?  He keeps quiet for a second before revealing an extremely cold smile on his face. He then grabs the laptop from the table, throws it at Cold Face and runs outside!

And among the members of the Black s.h.i.+eld Team, Cold Face is only slightly behind Han Chen in terms of skills.  But compared to Su Mian and Chatterbox, he is much more skillful. He dodges with his super quick reflexes and grabs Xu Nan Bai's shoulder.

But Xu Nan Bai avoids him and throws a punch at him!  Cold Face flinches in pain. This fellow is quite skillful!  His moves are fast and precise! This further confirms their belief——that day at Shao Lun's home, the person who attacked Xiao Bai was him!

In the middle of fighting each other, they can hear footsteps coming.  Xu Nan Bai lifts his eyes from fright. Cold Face uses this opportunity and punches him hard in the stomach.  Xu Nan Bai bends over in pain; Cold Face's punch is even quicker and more merciless than his. Cold Face twists his wrist and pushes him against the wall, "You can't run away!"

Xu Nan Bai pants to catch his breath.  The usual gentle and elegant professor now has his veins showing on his forehead, ruffled hair, gla.s.ses fallen to the floor and his watch and buddha bead bracelet s.h.i.+fted out of place.

But he turns his head toward Cold Face in the light and smiles suddenly.  Those jet black and dark pupils are hard to read.

"You think that you can catch me?"

Cold Face is stunned.

_____

Han Chen and the other two run down the stairs; they can see the door of the small building opened from afar.

Chatterbox is full of energy right now, so he can't help acting cute and start blabbering nonsense while running, "Oh man! That fellow, Xu Nan Bai, is too smart.  We couldn't put any surveillance cameras and couldn't hide near the entrance. He's part of our internal organization, so we couldn't alert the others! But the one guarding the place is our most fearless and skillful Cold Face.  He's careful and he must be able to put him down! I'm just afraid that he would beat him up too hard to take revenge for Xiao Zhuan……"

Accompanied by all the chatting, they arrive at the entrance in record speed.  Su Mian flips on all the light switches on the wall quickly.

But when they see what's in front of them, she and Chatterbox are struck dumb.  Han Chen's facial expression also changes. He walks to Cold Face in a couple of steps.

They see that the chairs and tables are all s.h.i.+fted out of place due to two people fighting.  Xiao Zhuan is still lying down on the floor unconsciously. Cold Face is also on the floor with a knife stuck on his shoulder.  A stream of blood is flowing from it and he's clearly unconscious. And Xu Nan Bai is nowhere to be seen.

"Screeeeech——" a loud and sharp sound of tires rubbing against the ground.  Everybody jerks their head back and sees a pair of car headlights piercing through the darkness and heading toward the station's exit.

"Call the ambulance!" Han Chen shouts and moves Cold Face into Chatterbox's embrace.  He gets up and runs toward the door. Su Mian chases after him.