45 THE BASEMEN (1/2)
When Su Yang's phone rang, she glanced at a sleeping Xuan Tianmei before answering the call. ”Hey,” She said.
”Hey,” Lu Qihao's voice resounded at the other end of the line. ”We found your guy.”
Su Yang sat up. ”Really? Did he said who sent him?”
”No.” Lu Qihao said. ”He's denying having anything to do with the arson.”
”They always deny.” Su Yang chuckled as she spoke. ”Where are you guys?”
”At the basement.”
”Cook something before I get there.” Su Yang said in a brash tone.
”Why?” Lu Qihao asked.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.
”Because I'm hungry.”
”I'm not cooking for you, Su Yang.”
”But... I want to eat something you made.”
”I'm not cooking.”
”See... This attitude of yours is the reason you'll be alone for the rest of your life.”
Lu Qihao sighed. ”Just come quick.”
Su Yang glanced at Xuan Tianmei again. The latter was still fast asleep. ”Okay. I'll be there in a minute.” She spoke into the phone before disconnecting the call.
She grabbed a piece of paper from her jacket pocket and scribbled the words, ”Be right back on it.” Supporting one of its edges with a vase, she placed the note on the bedside table beside Xuan Tianmei's bed and dashed out of the room.
Half an hour later, she was standing at the reception of the Yangguang hotel, collecting the key card for room 111. Inside the room, she placed her black coin with the inscription of a knife in the handle of the closet.
When she stepped through the fireplace into the luxurious living room of The Black Knife's secret apartment, she made a beeline for a trapdoor that led to the basement.
The basement was just how she'd predicted it would be. Dark and cold. Zhu Daniya was perched on a chair in an isolated corner of the room, laptop on her arm. Yun Peng and Lu Qihao were resting on a table to the west and the supposed arsonist was sitting in the middle of the room; in front of a large table.
Su Yang asked Lu Qihao, ”Why did it take so long to find him?”
”He left Beijing on the night of the arson. I had him brought in from Shanghai.”
Su Yang chuckled. Even if this fool had run out of the country, he'd still have been found. She sat down opposite him and said. ”I'll ask you once before I start cutting you.” She pulled out a knife from the inside of her jacket. ”If you don't answer me after my third asking, I'll take your finger. Anyone of my choosing. Actually, I just need your fingernail but I'll take your whole finger.”
”I'm... I'm innocent.” The accused man stammered.
With a swift movement, she was standing beside the man and had slashed his face with the knife.
While Lu Qihao gasped, the man groaned in pain. Both Yun Peng and Zhu Daniya were unmoved.
”You didn't even ask him yet.” Lu Qihao lamented.
”But he already answered, didn't he?”
”Damn.” Lu Qihao shook his head.
”Who sent you to kill Xuan Tianmei?” Su Yang hovered over the man intimidatingly.
”No... I... It wasn't me.”
She cut him on the other side of his face. ”Third time... Your last chance. If you don't answer this time, I'm taking your finger.”
”Sir, she isn't playing. If you know what's good for you, then you'd better start talking.” Lu Qihao pleaded with the man.
”Are you gonna talk?” Su Yang's voice was chirpy. Her mood light.
”I... I didn't...” The man said. Visibly quivering.
Su Yang retrieved a sharper, smaller but firmer knife from her jacket, then placed the man's right hand on the table. With great care, she massaged his little finger with the small knife.
”I'll talk... I'll talk...” He panicked.
Su Yang sighed like she was no longer interested in his talk. She released his hand, then said. ”Fine. You talk.”
”I... Madam Shen Rui sent me.” The arsonist confessed.
Su Yang glanced at him curiously. ”What? Why would she try to kill Xuan Tianmei?”
”She... She didn't intend to kill her. She wanted me to do it when no-one was home. Since the girl left at night, I thought she wouldn't be returning so I set her room on fire. But when I came out, she was lying down on the couch. I... I just panicked and fled.”
”Interesting. Well, thank you.” She smiled and returned the man's hand to the table.
Lu Qihao looked like he was going to be sick.
”What? He wasn't supposed to let me ask up to three times.” Su Yang spat at Lu Qihao.
”Big brother, please ask her not to cut him anymore,” Lu Qihao probed Yun Peng.
Yun Peng glanced at Lu Qihao who was grabbing onto his arm and smiled. ”Nah. Let the girl have her fun. Or would you rather she were throwing knives at you?”