858 The Eighth (1/2)
Welder Zhao was not a detail-oriented person, and he didn't provide much useful information. He complained repeatedly about how unlucky was. He was half delirious, and just repeated himself over and over.
Zhang Zian used an excuse to end his conversation with Welder Zhao.
To summarize the information available until now, he suspected that a certain creature in the aquarium tank had caused the massive poisoning incident. He was only 20 to 30 percent sure, however, so he didn't know if he should speak up about it. If he was wrong, he didn't mind being despised, but it would waste their precious time.
Sheng Ke saw that he was thinking about something and asked, ”Did you find anything?”
”Xiao Zhang, if you found anything, just speak directly. We can't let go of anything suspicious at this moment,” Bureau Chief Chen encouraged him.
It was a sunny spring day in March––not too cold or too hot––yet his forehead and Sheng Ke's were full of sweat.
The regular police inquired residents nearby to see if there had been anyone suspicious showing up recently. They also pulled out the surveillance recordings of the area. The Biochemical Specialist Police Unit wore thick protective gear and entered Carpenter Wang's residence in groups for a full search. The police and dogs kept the scene secure, waiting for orders at any time. If the Biochemical Specialist Police Unit failed to locate the source of poison, they might have to send the police dogs inside to search for suspicious objects.
To make matters worse, the toxin that caused harm was not a common one. All sorts of test papers, reagents, and detectors that the Biochemical Specialist Police Unit brought in were fruitless.
Bureau Chief Chen had been talking through a walkie-talkie. The pressure from higher offices had made him exhausted. Despite his troubled mind, he tried to look calm and gentle.
Zhang Zian made a brave decision and told Bureau Chief Chen, ”Bureau Chief Chen, I suspect that there's something wrong with Carpenter Wang's aquarium tank.”
Sheng Ke and Bureau Chief Chen's faces froze at the same time.
”Zhang Zian! You can't joke at this moment!” Sheng Ke told him seriously.
Bureau Chief Chen paid more attention and asked him, ”Are you saying that someone slipped the poison into the fish tank?”
”No, not like that.” Zhang Zian shook his head. ”The fish tank itself was the source of poison.”
Sheng Ke and Bureau Chief Chen looked at each other, their eyes full of skepticism. Had Zhang Zian not helped the police in a few cases in the past, they would have ignored him completely; they were not in the mood to listen to his nonsense.
Zhang Zian knew that the general public didn't know much about aquatic creatures. Even an experienced aquarium owner might not understand it. His words sounded unimaginable to most people. But in fact, some marine creatures were indeed capable of causing such serious harm.
The deep blue sea hid millions of strange creatures beyond human imagination.
”Are you saying that some fish in the tank is poisonous?” Bureau Chief Chen asked to confirm.
”It might be a fish, or something else. We won't know unless we see it with our own eyes. Otherwise, we can't be sure,” Zhang Zian said.
It was hard to see it with one's own eyes, as the fish tank was full of water and very heavy. It was hard to carry it downstairs. Besides, if the fish tank was indeed the of source of the poison, then carrying it out without discretion might be dangerous.
Bureau Chief Chen frowned and stared at Carpenter Wang's tightly shut windows, weighing the risks against the benefits in his mind.
Sheng Ke and Zhang Zian were wise enough not to disturb him.
”How sure are you?” Bureau Chief Chen asked after a long time, his face serious.
Zhang Zian stretched out three fingers. 30 percent was not a high chance, but it was worth betting for––especially under such clueless circumstances.
Bureau Chief Chen stayed silent for a moment, then waved his hand and said, ”Prepare a gas mask and protective gear for him.”
”Bureau Chief Chen, this…” Sheng Ke wanted to challenge him. Involving an unexperienced civilian was too dangerous.
”Xiao Zhang, would you like to go inside and try? Of course, it's kind of dangerous,” Bureau Chief Chen said, confirming with Zhang Zian.
Zhang Zian looked at the police dogs standing by. If he refused, they might have to send the police dogs in, which were far less tolerant than humans. Once they went in, they might never come out.
”All right, I'll do it.” He nodded in agreement.
Sheng Ke saw that he insisted on going in, so he sighed and stopped objecting.
The Biochemical Specialist Police Unit brought a full set of protective gear over. They put on protective clothing, a gas mask, and an oxygen tank on him, then explained to him the rules for safety. They also warned him not to run around in the house after he entered.
The weather was cool, but after wearing the thick, protective clothing, his entire body seemed to be covered in a cocoon. It was so hot and humid, and his joints were greatly limited. Unable to look back, he had to turn around if needed. Sounds were muffled and unclear.
The special police checked the air pressure for him to make sure it was not leaking. They then gestured him for follow them into the building unit.
Zhang Zian walked forward slowly, then turned his body back to look at Bureau Chief Chen and Sheng Ke. He waved at them, his eyes expectant and uneasy.
There were no elevators in the old residential building. Each step was exhausting. All he heard was his breath and a slight sizzling of high-pressure gas being released slowly from the oxygen tank.
When they reached the third floor, where Carpenter Wang lived, Zhang Zian was already sweating. Sweat dripped from his cheeks and stuck on his eyebrows. His face was so itchy, but he couldn't scratch it, which made it itch even more.
He forced himself to focus on Carpenter Wang's apartment.
There were a lot of shiny pieces of equipment at the door. The Biochemical Specialist Police Unit was busy analyzing and moving things. They were surprised to see Zhang Zian's strange face, and they asked through the microphone, ”Who is this? Expert from the provincial office?”
”No, he's not police. He is… someone Bureau Chief Chen sent for help,” the person that brought Zhang Zian upstairs explained.
”For help?” The specialist lead's tone was full of doubt. But since Bureau Chief Chen sent him, he couldn't say anything further. Maybe Zian person had something special in him. ”What do you suggest?”
Zhang Zian saw the fish tank in the living room corner right away.
In fact, judging from the location of the fish tank, Carpenter Wang was much more experienced than Welder Zhao and Electrician Wu. The corner was shaded and away from direct sunlight all day. A bright metal-halide lamp was placed 30 centimeters above the tank, with LED lights next to it to balance the light spectrum. The entire tank relied on artificial lights.
”I'll check out the fish tank.” He pointed at the fish tank and said, ”I think the source of poison is in the tank.”