Chapter 15 (2/2)
”Yeah, there was a john who died after taking some drugs. Our station started the investigation and worked on the case for a while.” Seeing Jiang Zhengkai really didn't know anything about the case, Zhang Nan started to relax a bit. ”Later, our colleagues over at the sub-bureau's vice squad took over the case, and we moved to a supporting role. One of the people we questioned was that woman named A-Xiu. She refused to confess to any wrongdoing, and we didn't have any other incriminating evidence, so the case was dropped.”
”Wait, drug offenses are supposed to be under the jurisdiction of the narcotics squad, not vice. So why was Vice involved in this case?” Jiang Zhengkai asked in surprise. The various squads at the sub-bureau had very clear mandates on what types of cases each handled. Prost.i.tution and gambling went to Vice, drug trafficking went to Narcotics, and arson and homicides went to Jiang Zhengkai.
”Hehe, well, that I don't know,” Zhang Nan chuckled. ”That was something the leaders.h.i.+p at the sub-bureau decided on. I'm just a lowly sergeant. Oh wait, I was only a corporal back then, so yeah, that's not exactly the type of question I was allowed to ask.”
”So who was the station sergeant back then?” Jiang Zhengkai asked casually. Even though the Ju'an Road Police Station had the Yanhua Alley in its area of responsibility, violent crimes in this neighborhood were quite rare, so Jiang Zhengkai never had much exposure to this part of town. As such, he had almost no recollection of who the previous station sergeant was.
”Oh, that was Gao. He got transferred,” Zhang Nan replied. ”It's been almost two years since he transferred.”
”So you're saying shortly after A-Xiu was questioned, he was transferred?” Jiang Zhengkai pensively asked with a gloomy look on his face.
”Yeah, that sounds about right!” Zhang Nan carefully thought for a moment and said, ”I think he was transferred about a month after she was questioned.”
”I don't recall having a sergeant with the last name Gao in our sub-bureau or any of its subordinate stations,” Jiang Zhengkai raised his head and continued to ask Zhang Nan.
”He was transferred to a position at another sub-bureau,” Zhang Nan replied with a smile. ”If he hadn't been transferred, he would've been due for retirement.”
”I see.” Jiang Zhengkai furrowed his brow. ”What can you tell me about this Sergeant Gao?”
”Well, he's an old cop who spent his entire career in the force. He was…” Zhang Nan meticulously described everything he knew about Gao to Jiang Zhengkai. From his recounting, Jiang Zhengkai could tell Zhang Nan had great admiration and respect for Gao. However, with regard to how Gao handled the A-Xiu case, Zhang Nan had more than just slight misgivings. The only things that kept him from openly opposing Gao were Gao's professional reputation and his own status as a subordinate. Police officers are human beings, too. They aren't supermen or G.o.d-like personas as portrayed in countless crime movies. And as human beings, they are subject to all the worldly pressures faced by everyday people. When it came to making decisions, people made decisions that they subjectively believed to be the most appropriate.
”Inspector Jiang!” Wei Xin called out as she entered the office. ”I found the files you wanted.”
”Hehe, here comes the young and the resourceful,” Zhang Nan commented at the sight of Wei Xin. He then turned around to give Jiang Zhengkai a profound look. ”Inspector Jiang, you're not so young anymore though, right?”
”Hehe, yeah, she is definitely young and resourceful. As for me, you needn't worry too much.” Jiang Zhengkai picked up the first half of Zhang Nan's comments but tactfully swatted the second half.
”What are you two gentlemen talking about? Am I missing something here?” Wei Xin asked with a confused expression.
”Haha, it's nothing.” Zhang Nan half-jokingly replied to Wei Xin, ”When you're free, bring your boss over to my place. I'll tell my wife to cook us a few dishes.”
”I will!” Wei Xin readily promised. ”I love eating home-cooked food!”