Chapter 384: Song Yangs Coup (1/2)

She explained that the murderer must have found the information on her cell phone after checking the Taobao purchases and Meituan takeaway she often used. Her default address was the store. I waved my hand, ”It doesn't matter. You don't have to blame yourself. In fact, it’s a good thing the murderer made the first move!”

”Is the store seriously damaged?” I turned to Dali.

”You broke a few shelves, but it's okay. We sell sanitary napkins and it’s not like they’ll be broken,” assured Dali.

Back at the station, we gathered in the conference room. Xiaotao spread out a map of Nanjiang City’s High-tech Zone on the table, that is, the area across the river where the murderer escaped.

I scanned the map and noticed two main roads in the area with the river in the rear.

”It should be easy to seal the area off. I’ll assign officers to watch the main road and send a patrol boat on the river,” said Xiaotao.

”The murderer has been shot,” I added. “Please send a few officers to guard the only hospital in this area.”

”With his intelligence, the murderer wouldn’t go to the hospital unless he’s crazy!”

I laughed, ”I know, we’re just putting on a show for the murderer to see. If he’s shot, he’ll stop the bleeding immediately. But after tonight, the wound will definitely get infected, giving him a high fever. So he needs anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. You can send young officers to pharmacies in this area to dress up as shop assistants.”

”Smart boy!” Xiaotao arched an eyebrow, “Using his own methods to deal with him! Are you waiting for the prey to fall into your trap?”

”We’ll get him to lower his guard, and then, aha!” I grinned.

”The officers might be recognized. I’ll contact the police academy and send some cadets,” suggested Xiaotao.

”They have to look like honest, decent folk who can do no harm. Take Dali for example,” I remarked.

Dali tsked, ”Don't always use me as an example!”

Xiaotao made a phone call to the police academy. When the cadets heard they could participate in an arrest, they were eager beavers who couldn’t wait to get started. The instructors chose more than twenty cadets who soon arrived and awaited Xiaotao’s screening. In the end, only fourteen of them were left. Those selected rejoiced while the rest slumped with sadness. ”Don’t look so glum,” I consoled. “I’ll call again next time we have a task.”

It was a race against time and we had to get in touch with more than a dozen pharmacies immediately. I hoped they would cooperate with the police. There was no time for training. These cadets would have to head to the respective pharmacies to learn how to be a shop assistant.

From my personal encounter with the murderer, his height, size, and age matched my speculations. He spoke with a Jiangxi accent and might have a criminal record, all of which could be used to screen chemical plant employees.

Xiaotao and her team stayed up for overtime while the rest of us waited in the conference room, too preoccupied with the load on our minds to speak.

The exhaustion gradually got to me so I took a nap at the table. When I opened my eyes, it was already dawn. My legs were cold and stiff, like stones. Bingxin spoke to me, her voice sounding nasaly.

”Do you have a cold?” I asked.

Bingxin sneezed, ”I might!”

”I'll get you some cold medicine,” I said.

I headed to a nearby pharmacy and purchased some cold pills. Looking at the mineral water bottles and ice packs on the shelf, an idea suddenly crossed my mind.

At 8:00 am, Dali said, ”I’m going back to the store. It’s a mess and l’ll have to clean it up.”

”I’m not going to the store today,” I replied.

”No problem. Let me know when you catch the murderer. I must give him a punch!” fumed Dali.