Chapter 291: A Tragic 60th Birthday (2/2)

Director-General Cheng dialled but the call didn’t connect despite the full signal shown on the screen. Instead, I tried calling Director-General Cheng with the phone. Puzzlement swept across his face as he stared at the caller ID. ”It's not a number I’m familiar with,” he replied.

”Someone switched his cell phone and placed this one into his pocket,” I deduced. “The text message is a warning for the next crime! This isn’t suicide. It's a serial killing, and Officer Cui is the next victim!”

”That’s impossible, Officer Cui died five years ago...” murmured Director-General Cheng. He suddenly looked up in a wide-eyed fluster. ”Damn it! The murderer’s target is his family!”

Ascertaining the murderer’s next move, we immediately set off for Officer Cui's house.

Before we started our journey, Director-General Cheng announced to all the officers in an almost hoarse voice, ”Attention. Attention everyone, this is not an exercise. I repeat, this is not an exercise. From this moment, the Nanjiang police will go into DEFCON 1! I’ll need at least one SWAT team to bring their full gear for reinforcements. Those in the criminal investigation department, follow me.”

Bingxin wanted to tag along but I quickly stopped her. ”Bingxin, I need your help. Go back to the station at once and give both Officer Ouyang and Officer Niu a brain CT scan to see if there’s anything out of the ordinary.”

”Song Yang-gege, you must be careful!” cautioned Bingxin.

I instructed Dali to accompany her. Xiaotao hadn’t driven to the hotel so we went in Director-General Cheng's car. An officer had just opened the car door when he was suddenly pulled aside by Song Xingchen, who had appeared out of nowhere. Before the officer could react, Song Xingchen had already lowered himself onto the back seat.

”Who the hell are you?” yelled the officer.

I apologetically explained that it was my other assistant but Song Xingchen seemed too impatient to deal with the man. He turned to me, a hint of disapproval in his cold voice, ”This case is too dangerous!”

”Did you show up just to stop me again?” I frowned.

”I’m well acquainted with your temper,” Song Xingchen smirked. “So I’m here in case of an accident.”

If it weren't for the solemn atmosphere, I would've retorted with, “You might as well quit being a bodyguard and be a babysitter instead!”

On our way to Officer Cui’s house, I asked Xiaotao, ”Did you guys locate Officer Niu's cell phone?”

”No, we didn't realize the text would be a foreshadowing,” explained Xiaotao. “How do you think the murderer did it?”

For the first time ever, I was overwhelmed by a deep feeling of helplessness. ”The two cases weren’t suicide but I haven’t yet discovered the murderer’s methods. Unless of course, the murderer is able to manipulate people into doing something against their will!”

When we neared Officer Cui’s home, Director-General Cheng ordered the other officers to lie in wait. With the SWAT team closely monitoring the situation, we were the first to test the waters. As we advanced upstairs, Director-General Cheng briefly described Officer Cui's family of four–his parents, wife and a young son.

Outside the door, I stood there trying to catch a whiff of blood but found nothing to my immense relief. Despite knocking on the door several times, we received no reply. I grabbed my lock-picking tools and successfully opened the lock. The police immediately pushed the door wide open and entered in a practiced formation.

The house was empty but I noticed a flyer on the table announcing the opening of a new restaurant. Dialling the number on the advertisement, I waited like a cat on hot bricks for the restaurant to pick up. But to my utter dismay, all I heard was a dial tone. ”We have to go and see if they’re there,” I blurted.

Director-General Cheng swept his eyes over the flyer. ”It's just around the corner,” he said. “Let's go!”

Hence, a team of policemen rushed to the restaurant, only to be greeted by a panic-stricken group of customers who dashed out, screaming, “They’re dead! They’re all dead!”

A boy ran towards us and grabbed an officer by the hand. ”Officer, please do something. The people in the restaurant are all dead! If it weren't for my fast legs... ”

”Who did this?” I asked.

”No one,” the boy shuddered. “They seem to have gone mad! They all just started to commit suicide at the same time...”

Xiaotao sent someone to appease the boy and take his statement when he managed to compose himself. The metallic odor of blood emanated from the restaurant, spreading into the vicinity. What should have been a grand opening had descended into a scene out of a Hollywood gorefest. There was blood everywhere, dead bodies lying from end to end in strange positions. The entire restaurant took on a crimson hue under the illumination of bloodied light bulbs.