096 Internal Strife

Han Bin pulled Zeng Ping aside. “Captain Zeng, the man in sunglasses is my informant.”

“Why did your informant end up at the Grand Prosperity Hotel?” Zeng Ping frowned.

“I had him keeping an eye on Tang Yu and Xiang Hongbo.”

“Is he reliable?”

“Completely.”

“Contact him and find out exactly what’s going on.”

“Understood.”

Zeng Ping thought for a moment, then went over to Sun Jianyi. “Chief Sun, this theft case may be connected to the female corpse case. If possible, we’d like to take over this matter.”

Sun Jianyi hesitated before saying, “I have no issue with that, and I’m willing to cooperate with your criminal investigation team. But I still need to report this to the station chief.”

“Of course.” Zeng Ping nodded.

...

Han Bin stepped aside and called Chen San. “Hello, where are you?”

“Brother Bin, has something happened at the hotel?”

“How did you know?”

“I’ve been following those two the whole time. I saw them answer a phone call, then hail a cab in a hurry toward the hotel. The man was even cursing under his breath.”

“You guessed right. There really has been some trouble here. We’ll talk when you get back.”

“Okay, see you in a bit.”

Han Bin ended the call and returned to Zeng Ping. “Captain Zeng, I got in touch with him. We’ll arrange to meet and talk later.”

Zeng Ping nodded. “I already spoke with Chief Sun. Our team will take over the theft case.”

“Captain Zeng, I’m sorry to trouble you.” Han Bin managed a wry smile.

Zeng Ping clenched a fist and gave Han Bin a light punch to the chest. “What are you being so formal for, you brat?”

“Captain Zeng, I have a suggestion.”

“Go on.”

“Since we’re taking this case, when Tang Yu and Xiang Hongbo return, don’t let them inspect the scene first. Take them away separately and interview them. We might be able to shake loose some useful leads,” Han Bin proposed.

“Good idea.” Zeng Ping asked, “Who do you want to question?”

“Xiang Hongbo.”

“I thought you were going to pick the beauty,” Zeng Ping laughed.

“That beauty won’t be easy to handle. Better leave her to you.” Han Bin shook his head with a bitter smile.

Until his micro-expression analysis reached an advanced or expert level, it would be difficult for him to see through Tang Yu’s true feelings.

Not long after, Xiang Hongbo and Tang Yu hurried over. Sweat beaded on Tang Yu’s forehead, smudging her eyeliner.

Han Bin and Zeng Ping stopped the two of them directly and took them to separate rooms in the hotel for questioning.

Han Bin and Li Hui were responsible for Xiang Hongbo’s interview.

Han Bin turned on the body camera, asked the routine opening questions, and then got to the point.

“Xiang Hongbo, where did you go this morning?”

“Officer Han, what does that have to do with the theft in the room?” Xiang Hongbo asked in return.

“Of course it does. Because you left the room, it gave the thief an opening. Maybe the thief deliberately lured you out,” Han Bin said solemnly. “Answer my question.”

“We went out to meet a friend.”

“What friend?”

“A local friend here in Harbor City.”

“What’s his name?”

Xiang Hongbo twisted his hands together. He and Tang Yu had come back in such a hurry that they had not coordinated their story. He wanted to lie, but feared it would differ from what Tang Yu said.

“Could this theft case be related to your friend?” Han Bin asked.

“No, no, it has nothing to do with him.”

“Then why won’t you say?”

“Luo Xinghua. My friend’s name is Luo Xinghua.”

“What did you go to do?”

“Some private matter. Nothing to do with the theft.” Xiang Hongbo evaded.

“When did you realize the room had been robbed?”

“Not long ago. The police from the local station called and said Room 405 had been robbed. They found on the surveillance footage that the thief also went to Room 406, so we hurried back.”

“What valuables were in your room?”

“Nothing of much value.”

“Think carefully. For example, phones, computers, jewelry, and so on?” Han Bin prodded.

Xiang Hongbo’s gaze flickered. He shook his head. “I can’t remember.”

“What was in the safe?”

“Officer Han, why don’t you let me go back to the room and take a look first? I haven’t actually seen the room yet, so I don’t even know what I’ve lost,” Xiang Hongbo said.

“You don’t know what belonged to you?” Han Bin countered.

“I... I really can’t remember.” Xiang Hongbo wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

“When you left the hotel, did you see anyone suspicious?” Han Bin asked.

“No.”

“Any suspects in mind?”

“No suspects.” Xiang Hongbo repeated.

“Do you think Luo Xinghua is suspicious?”

“I don’t think he is.” Xiang Hongbo glanced to the right.

Han Bin smiled. Xiang Hongbo was not Tang Yu; he could not control his emotions.

“Didn’t you want to go back and check the room? Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Officer Han.” Xiang Hongbo stood up and hurried toward the room.

Han Bin followed behind him and saw that the moment Xiang Hongbo returned, he immediately checked the safe. He rummaged inside, and his face darkened with disappointment and anger.

“What was lost?” Han Bin asked lightly.

“Huh.” Xiang Hongbo jumped in fright and turned to look at Han Bin behind him. He answered perfunctorily, “It seems some cash went missing.”

“Anything else?”

“I’m the kind of person who panics when something happens. Once I panic, I forget everything.” Xiang Hongbo lowered his head.

“If you remember any clues, call and tell me.”

“Okay, okay.”

Han Bin left the room and found that Zeng Ping and Tang Yu had also come out. After Tang Yu nodded in acknowledgment, she too hurried back into the room.

“How did it go?” Zeng Ping asked.

Han Bin shrugged. “He kept hemming and hawing, refusing to say.”

“Mine was the same. That woman is slippery. I asked where she went, and she said she went to meet a friend with Xiang Hongbo. When I asked what that friend’s name was, she said it was Xiang Hongbo’s friend, and she didn’t know him well enough to know his name.” Zeng Ping snorted.

“I just questioned Xiang Hongbo. The person they met was Luo Xinghua. I also deliberately probed a little, and Luo Xinghua may very well be connected to the theft case,” Han Bin speculated.

“Now that’s interesting.” Zeng Ping stroked his chin. “If there’s discord between them, that’s a good thing for us too.”

Buzz.

Han Bin’s phone vibrated.

He checked the chat app. “My informant is here.”

“Let’s go. I should meet him too,” Zeng Ping said.

Since Chen San was already involved in the case, Zeng Ping could no longer pretend to know nothing.

“I’ll tell him first.”

“Go ahead.”

Han Bin stepped aside and called Chen San again. “Where are you now?”

“Right outside the hotel,” Chen San replied. Then, curious, he asked, “Brother Bin, what happened at the hotel again?”

“I was about to ask you that.”

“I can’t split myself in two. I followed those two outside—how would I know what happened in the hotel?”

“There was a theft at the hotel. The manager reported it to the nearby police station, and the officers there found two suspects. You, kid, are one of them,” Han Bin said.

“Brother Bin, don’t joke like that. I didn’t do anything,” Chen San hurried to explain.

“Of course I believe you. I’ve already reported this to our captain. Captain Zeng has always looked after me; he took the theft case over directly. You just need to report the details of your tailing to him yourself and make everything clear, and it’ll be fine,” Han Bin said.

“Oh, that scared me to death. Good thing Brother Bin has my back.” Chen San let out a long breath.

“When you meet our captain, don’t start talking nonsense.”

“Would I do that?”

Chen San chuckled. “Brother Bin, about the informant fee... can I mention that to Captain Zeng?”

Han Bin: “...”