Chapter 49 You Can't Escape
The old-fashioned air conditioner in the archives hummed, and Bai Xiao lay under the lamp in the corner, turning the pages of the yellowed file one by one.
The door was gently pushed open.
Yuan Jianhua walked in carrying two cups of instant coffee and placed one of them directly on his left.
"Still investigating a ten-year-old case? I thought you'd shelved it long ago."
"Sealing the box doesn't mean the case is closed." Bai Xiao said without looking up, his voice hoarse.
"Investigating cases is important, but health is the foundation of everything."
Yuan Jianhua pulled up a chair from the side and sat opposite Bai Xiao, frowning: "Look at you now, you don't shave, you don't cut your hair, there are cigarette butts all over the place. Your sore throat, which you just recovered from, has been flared up again by your smoking. You cough all the time. If no one takes care of you, you'll be lying in the operating room sooner or later."
Bai Xiao continued smoking, his gaze still fixed on the documents. The smoke swirled in the middle of the table, as if building a barrier to the silence between the two.
Yuan Jianhua sighed: "I don't object to you investigating a case from ten years ago, but you've been investigating this case for ten years. Sometimes I really don't understand. There are so many backlogged cases in the archives. Tang Xiaoman and you are not related. Why do you keep focusing on her case?"
Bai Xiao said, "I'm not against the case, I'm just against my own conscience."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Jianhua's expression shifted slightly.
He looked at the file in Bai Xiao's hand, a color photograph reflected in his pupils.
It was a photo of a seven-year-old girl whose tendons in her limbs had been severed, and who had been dragged into an abandoned church and tortured to death.
“I know a little about the case from back then. I heard that the scene was very gruesome, and even the forensic doctor couldn’t bear to look at it. But at that time, there was no full coverage of network surveillance, and there were no eyewitnesses. The crime scene was in a remote suburb, and it was at night. Trying to find clues was like the blind men and the elephant.”
Regarding murder cases, they fear two types of cases the most.
One type is an unidentified corpse.
Another type is random crime.
Especially around the turn of the millennium, computers were not even common in the country, let alone surveillance cameras, fingerprint and DNA technology. At that time, any case involving these two technologies would basically be defined as an unsolved case.
Back then, investigating cases relied on witnesses and physical evidence; without a network of connections, suspects couldn't be identified.
Even if a suspect is found, without witnesses or physical evidence, the case will reach a stalemate if the murderer insists that he did not commit the murder.
In Tang Xiaoman's case, the murderer was a typical street predator.
"It doesn't matter if we can't find any clues. As long as I know the murderer is still alive, that's enough for me."
Bai Xiao said in a calm tone.
That scene from ten years ago is like a sharp knife, repeatedly cutting open the wound in his heart that has never healed.
Every time Bai Xiao touches this photo, his heart involuntarily tightens, as if an invisible hand is gripping his heart.
Everyone thought the murderer acted randomly, but only Bai Xiao knew that the murderer was targeting him.
“Based on your past habits, Lu Yao and Zhao Qiangdong’s case would have been solved long ago. Your current work status is making me very worried,” Yuan Jianhua said, expressing his concerns.
Bai Xiao was silent for a moment: "I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I will give you an explanation next week."
“I don’t mean to rush you. You know I’m under a lot of pressure from above. Many eyes are watching me for any mistakes. I have no choice but to accept it. After all, you’re the only capable person in the bureau.”
"clear."
"Alright, since you seem to know the answer, I won't ask any more questions. Once this matter is resolved, I'll approve a month's leave for you to properly adjust and get back into shape."
With that, Yuan Jianhua patted Bai Xiao on the shoulder and got up to leave.
Bai Xiao remained silent.
He picked up the instant coffee on the table, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
He then forcefully shoved the cigarette butt into the disposable cup, and a hissing sound emanated from it as steam rose from the butt.
Bai Xiao stood up.
Reorganize the file folder and put it back in its original place.
Turning around, I immediately saw a person standing in the corner, the person's whole body shrouded in black mist, with only a pair of eyes showing.
There was no emotion, no warmth.
Do you think you can hide forever?
Bai Xiao's gaze gradually sharpened, as if it could pierce through the darkness and look directly into the shadows hidden in the shadows.
The dim light in the archives shone on the man's figure, whose gaze was fixed on Bai Xiao.
Bai Xiao walked step by step toward that person.
The two were less than half a meter apart.
The white owl leaned close to its ear and whispered, "You can't escape. I will keep an eye on you forever, and I will make you die in the most painful way in the world."
After saying that, Bai Xiao turned and left.
The archives room fell into darkness and silence once again.
...
"I have a general understanding of the situation."
After typing the last line on his computer, Xu Zhi looked up at the high school student sitting across from him and continued, "Besides what you've mentioned, is there anything you've overlooked? For example, what is that person's appearance? What are their distinctive features?"
Lin Yueyue seemed a little nervous. She thought for a while and shook her head: "He was wearing a baseball cap with the brim pulled down low, so I couldn't see his face clearly. I can only be sure that he is a man."
Have you told anyone else about this?
"I talked to my best friend about it once."
Xu Zhi nodded: "Okay, thank you for providing us with the clue. You can go home now. If you think of anything suspicious later, you can call us anytime."
Lin Yueyue stood up and bowed politely.
Stepping out of the police station, Lin Yueyue breathed a long sigh of relief; a weight had finally been lifted from her heart.
Xu Zhi stared at Lin Yueyue's retreating figure, a thoughtful expression on his face.
He had some recollection of this girl.
After all, on the day Zhao Qiangdong's case occurred, she was with several city leaders, so it was hard not to notice.
Xu Zhi rubbed his temples, feeling a little sleepy, and got up to make himself a cup of coffee. Just as he put the cup on the table, he heard footsteps approaching.
He looked up and saw Bai Xiao walking out of the archives room, coming straight to him. He glanced at the coffee on the table and said, "Thank you for your hard work these past two days."
Xu Zhi immediately stood up and gave a military salute.
"Serving the people is not hard work."
Bai Xiao smiled and patted Xu Zhi on the shoulder: "After you've finished being busy these past two days, let's have a meal together. I'll cook myself."
Xu Zhi was taken aback, then laughed awkwardly, "Forget it, Master, I've never seen you cook."
Before he could finish speaking, Bai Xiao rolled his eyes at him and said, "Just tell me if you're going to eat or not."
Xu Zhi shrank back and said with an awkward smile, "Uh... Master, please don't be angry. Even if it tastes terrible, I promise I'll finish it all."
"That's more like it."
Bai Xiao smiled with satisfaction and turned back to his workstation.
Xu Zhi hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "By the way, Master, Weiwei just made a phone call. Based on the angle of the needle insertion, she deduced that the murderer is very likely to be left-handed."
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