Chapter 403: Playing Hard To Ge (1/2)
In the eyes of the law, hostage-taking fell under the crime of illegal restraint. Since Mr. Zhao wouldn’t sue, the officers didn’t bother adding that to Zhao Dapeng’s charges. Xiaotao sent two experienced officers to interrogate our suspect.
During the entire interrogation, Xiaotao and I both watched outside as we sipped on coffee. Although Zhao Dapeng was a coward, his lips were sealed and refused to admit any involvement in the murder. The guy might be foolish but even he knew that confessing now would be the end of the road for him!
One of the interrogating officers made an excuse to leave the room. “Captain Huang, this man isn’t easy to deal with,” he said. “We have no evidence in hand. We’re at an impasse. This boy refuses to talk.”
After using the Eyes of Yama twice today, my head was still a little dizzy. I figured activating it once more would only be detrimental to my health so I suggested, ”Why don't we search his residence?”
”Alright,” concurred Xiaotao. “You guys stay with Zhao Dapeng. Song Yang and I will look for evidence.”
As soon as we left the room, I noticed a man in a suit and tie walking towards us with a briefcase in hand so I quickly pulled Xiaotao along.
”What's the matter?” she asked.
”Do you see that man?” I smiled. “It must be the lawyer Mr. Zhao hired. Let’s not bump into him.”
Despite having the initiative, we were actually passive in terms of the law. Once the lawyer intervenes, we would lose whatever advantage we had. As Director-General Cheng once said, solving a case is sometimes like fighting a war, and discreetly playing a few tricks was required for victory.
”You’re getting more and more cunning!” laughed Xiaotao. “I’ll turn off my cell phone so we won’t be disturbed.”
We headed to the address Zhao Dapeng had registered. It was a high-end residential area and the apartment purchased by Zhao Dapeng was on the top floor–a duplex.
I unlocked the door with my tools and entered the apartment. The furniture and furnishings were of superior quality but the apartment was in a mess. Most noticeably, a pink panty was thrown on the couch. The smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke pervaded the room, choking Xiaotao. I walked over to open the window and air the room.
Covering her nose, Xiaotao frowned, ”I can’t stand people who live like vermin!”
”Were you about to say that such people should be arrested and executed?” I chimed in.
”It's a waste to kill them. We should throw them into remote rural areas and make them work hard. Let them experience the vicissitudes of life!”
Xiaotao merely coughed and turned away, ”I didn't see anything!”
I continued exploring the apartment, looking for clues we might have missed. ”That’s strange!” I cried.
”What is it?” asked Xiaotao.
”Don't you notice something unusual?”
Xiaotao scanned the room and shook her head.
”There’s an open bottle of alcohol on the table, but the cups were washed clean and placed in the cupboard,” I analyzed. “Empty snack packets are everywhere on the ground but the ashtray is very clean. The shelves are full of dust but the doorknobs, tables and chairs are spotless.”
”Someone came here and removed all fingerprints and DNA?” Xiaotao gasped in shock.
”Yes and this man is a master criminal. He’s cleaned up so well that we wouldn’t have noticed anything if we didn't look carefully. But the more he tries to hide, the more conspicuous the truth becomes. All signs point to the fact that Zhao Dapeng and his three friends stayed in this apartment.”
Lost in thought, Xiaotao frowned. ”We have another clue!” she exclaimed, arching her brow.