Chapter 410: Stockholm Syndrome (2/2)

”Go away!” I waved my hand. “I didn't know you two were home today.”

”Youyou, why don’t we go shopping!” suggested Dali.

Just as they were about to leave, I reminded, ”Be careful out there! Don't walk around alone and buy a stun gun or pepper spray if you can.”

”Who have you offended this time?” asked Dali.

I kept my worries to myself. In fact, I had a premonition the arrival of the Dog Trainer meant a tough battle ahead. The case of the four young masters was just the warm-up. I didn't want to involve the people around me. If something were to happen to them because of me, I couldn’t live with myself.

At four in the afternoon, I took my thermos and headed down to the station. Xiaotao had just concluded a meeting. Seeing the thermos filled with chicken soup in my hand, she smiled with, ”Did you specially make this for me?”

I scratched my head awkwardly, ”I cooked too much soup and I thought you might like a taste.”

”Why won’t you just admit it?” Xiaotao playfully poked my cheeks. “Do you think I don’t know what you’re like. You order takeout every day!”

She slipped into her office to taste the soup. When I asked how it was, she scooped some and fed me, ”Try it yourself.”

Afraid someone would suddenly barge in, I glanced around furtively and took a sip.

”It needs more salt,” I remarked. “I'll do better next time!”

”I think the soup you personally cooked tastes better than any delicacy!” gushed Xiaotao.

”I have some good news to share,” she continued. “I have in my hands a clue that may be the key to bringing down the four young masters.”

”What is it?”

”I won't tell you yet,” teased Xiaotao. “You’re always making me guess! So this time, I’m taking a page out of your book!!”

A few days later, while the task force was still following up on the case, I would visit Xiaotao from time to time. Investigating their accounts was a tedious task, especially when it involved the rich. One man alone had several accounts and the payee had to be verified one by one. Therefore, it often took several months for the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate a corrupt official. In the course of the investigation, certain cases of bribery were unexpectedly discovered. In order not to alert the ones responsible, these details were kept under wraps for the time being.

Early this morning, I received a call from Xiaotao. ”Song Yang, we have a witness!” she shouted excitedly.

I immediately rushed down to the station. Upon meeting Xiaotao, she handed me some files. ”This is Qin Guozhu’s expenditure over the past month.” She pointed to several transactions, ”All these were made out to an overseas trading company, totaling sixteen million yuan. But after verification, this company doesn’t exist.”

”Creating a fake company and collecting money in the name of investment are indeed the usual methods of the organization. Sixteen million divided by four… So the original price to protect one of them is four million. The prices are clearly marked indeed.”

The four young masters shared the same interests. If one person were caught, the others would be arrested as well. Qin Guozhu gritted his teeth and paid such a large sum to protect his son.