Chapter 7
BBQ

Second Team Meeting Room.

When Xie Qing arrived, Cao Haisheng and the other detectives were already seated. Huang Zhenyi chaired the meeting and summarized the current findings. After extensive visits, the detectives received two pieces of feedback.

A fishing enthusiast reported that around 6 PM, a little boy and a man wearing a baseball cap went up the embankment one after the other. However, he was fishing at the time and didn’t notice where the child eventually went. Moreover, the distance between them was over fifty meters, so he couldn’t see their faces clearly and wasn’t sure if the child was Huang Qi.

Another man passing by on a bicycle reported seeing a boy getting into a red Xiali (*) car around that time, but he didn’t think it was a taxi. Since he didn’t think much of it, he didn’t pay attention to more details.

(*) car’s brand from China.

These two clues only suggest that a man wearing a baseball cap might have taken Huang Qi in a Xiali car.

They still knew nothing about the killer.

Three detectives went to the traffic bureau and conducted a preliminary investigation of all Xiali taxi drivers in the city.

There were quite a few young taxi drivers, with over three thousand cars and more than four thousand drivers working in shifts, about half of whom were under thirty. As for whether the drivers were married and when they got married, due to outdated information, it was difficult to check in a short time. Therefore, if the killer was assumed to be a taxi driver, they could start by investigating the Wangjiang Community and Qinghe area, which would require a lot of time and manpower.

After Huang Zhenyi finished summarizing the situation, veteran detective Du Zhun raised a question: “It’s reasonable to assume the killer is a taxi driver, but we can’t rule out people who live in the Qingjiang area, run short-distance transport, or have private cars. This range is quite large, so we need to think of other ways to narrow down the targets.”

Huang Zhenyi said, “Old Du’s point is good. We need to narrow it down. Everyone, think hard. Besides checking on foot, is there any better way?”

At that time, there was basically no surveillance, so what good method could there be?

A dozen detectives smoked and drank tea, but no one spoke.

Huang Zhenyi sat in his chair and looked up to see Xie Qing. He rubbed his stubbly chin and asked with a smile, “Xiao Xie, any ideas?”

All the veteran detectives turned to look at Xie Qing.

“Um.” Cao Haisheng cleared his throat, “Xiao Xie is new here and doesn’t know everyone yet, so what ideas could she have?”

He directly shielded Xie Qing.

Huang Zhenyi laughed, “Old Cao, you’re already protecting your apprentice.”

Cao Haisheng said, “Just being honest.”

Huang Zhenyi didn’t mind, “Old Cao, any ideas?”

Cao Haisheng said, “The autopsy only reveals so much, nothing more we can do.”

“You…” Huang Zhenyi pointed at him with his index finger, and then his face turned serious as he returned to the main topic. “The killer has already killed three people and even targeted a child. The higher-ups are very concerned, and we must act quickly. Since we don’t have any good methods, we’ll have to conduct a thorough investigation. Li Ji, go to the archives and look through old unsolved cases. Old Du, take some people to the traffic police department and check the owners of red Xiali cars in our city. Everyone else, hit the streets and conduct a full-scale investigation of Xiali taxi drivers in the Qingjiang area.”

After Huang Zhenyi finished the deployment, the detectives responsible for the Huang Qi case adjourned the meeting.

Xie Qing and Cao Haisheng left the office building together.

Cao Haisheng said, “It’s good for young people to have insights. The reason I held you back was to avoid you standing out too much. Take it slow.”

Xie Qing respectfully replied, “Thank you, Master. I understand.”

Cao Haisheng nodded slightly, “A loud drum doesn’t need a heavy hammer. I’ll be off.”

He headed to the bicycle shed.

Xie Qing was also heading to the dormitory when Li Ji caught up with her. “Xiao Xie, you’re free anyway, help me out.”

“Looking for files?” Xie Qing hesitated. They were all young people, and being alone in a room with a man could lead to misunderstandings.

“I’m here! I’m here!” Li Ke rushed over like a cannonball with a big bag on her back. “I heard there’s another murder case?”

“Yes,” Li Ji was happy. “Your dad told you, right?”

Li Ke’s father worked at the prosecutor’s office and had access to information faster than most people.

“Yes.” Li Ke linked arms with Xie Qing. “Let’s go. What do we need to do? I’ll join you.”

The three of them chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the archives on the fourth floor.

The archives were spacious and well-ventilated, but the air was still filled with the musty smell of old paper.

Li Ji skillfully led Xie Qing and Li Ke to a shelf at the back. He pulled out two large boxes from the bottom. “These are unsolved cases from recent years. Let’s see what we can find.”

Li Ke threw her bag on the shelf and squatted down. “What are we looking for?”

Li Ji said, “Look for similar cases, bodies dumped in the Qingjiang River, or heads smashed with bricks.”

Xie Qing took a few files from the box Li Ji was holding and quickly flipped through them.

The three of them stopped talking, and the only sound in the quiet room was the rustling of paper.

About twenty minutes later, Li Ke said, “Look at this.”

Xie Qing and Li Ji gathered around—a vicious case from four years ago in an old town alley where the victim was killed with a brick. The crime occurred at night, the killer fled after the attack, and there were no witnesses. The victim was a thug who often robbed minors. The case remained unsolved.

Li Ji sat back down. “This doesn’t seem to fit.”

Li Ke asked Xie Qing, “What do you think?”

Before Xie Qing could answer, Li Ji explained, “This kind of case looks more like a transient crime. No clues, no witnesses, and apart from the same weapon, there’s no further connection. Even if it is the same killer as the Huang Qi case, it won’t help us.”

“That’s true.” Li Ke agreed and put the file down.

Actually, if it were the same killer, the old town could be a condition for investigation. But Li Ji’s reasoning made sense.

Xie Qing nodded and focused on the files in front of her.

The three of them spent an hour in the archives and found nothing.

Li Ji locked the door. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

Li Ke checked the time. “It’s late. The cafeteria probably doesn’t have anything good left. Let’s go for some barbecue.”

Li Ji said, “BBQ is expensive. The cafeteria is free. Let’s just make do.”

Xie Qing also wanted to eat BBQ. “My treat. Let’s go.”

“This…” Li Ji hesitated for a moment. “I have something to do…”

Li Ke pushed him. “What could you possibly have to do? We’re colleagues, not dating. Whoever has money treats.”

…

Fuyang Commercial Street was a famous barbecue street in Anhai City, and Old Wang’s Barbecue was the most famous place.

The three of them found a small table and sat down.

Li Ke ordered thirty meat skewers and twenty tendon skewers. Li Ji ordered some vegetables and two steamed buns. Seeing their modest orders, Xie Qing took matters into her own hands and ordered kidneys, oysters, lamb legs, and several prawns.

Northeast barbecue was very distinctive, with the lamb being crispy and juicy and the chili being spicy and suitable.

The three of them were good eaters, and the meat skewers and vegetables were gone as soon as they arrived. It wasn’t until the oysters and lamb legs were served that they slowed down, and there were leftovers in the large stainless steel tray.

Li Ji tore off a lamb leg and put it on Li Ke’s plate. “Eat well. Tomorrow will be busy.”

Li Ke asked, “So we’re giving up on the archives?”

Li Ji said, “What else can we do?”

Li Ke pouted. “True.”

Xie Qing tore off a piece of leg meat and slowly said, “I think we should check the sub-bureaus.”

Li Ke asked, “There are four sub-bureaus. Should we check all of them?”

Xie Qing replied, “The Qingjiang River area is the core zone where the killer commits crimes. He either lives or works in this area or both. The Qingjiang River runs through three districts, plus the Guta District, making up four sub-bureaus.”

Li Ji said, “Alright, I’ll talk to Captain Huang tomorrow morning and try to visit each sub-bureau.”

Li Ke volunteered, “You take two, I’ll take two. We’ll divide and conquer. How about that?”

Li Ji said, “Why not go together? Two people can search faster than one.”

“Sure,” Li Ke agreed readily.

As the three of them chatted, a few more young people arrived at the edge of Old Wang’s Barbecue, including Chai Yu and Tan Yi.

Chai Yu picked up a beer mug and clinked it against Tan Yi’s. “How’s the barbecue here?”

Tan Yi took a sip. “Not bad. Raw grilling tastes better than cooked grilling.”

Chai Yu said, “Now that you’re here, I have company.”

Tan Yi took out a cigarette, tapped the bottom of the pack, and a filtered cigarette popped out half an inch. He put it in his mouth and lit it with a lighter. “Soon, in about a month.”

Chai Yu leaned in closer. “Any progress this time?”

Tan Yi frowned. “No.”

Chai Yu said, “Anhai is not a big place, the economy is neither good nor bad, and most people live peacefully and are afraid of trouble. I don’t think the person is here.”

Tan Yi took a puff of his cigarette. “I think the opposite…”

“What are you doing?” A clear voice interrupted Tan Yi.

Tan Yi stopped talking and looked towards the sound.

About ten meters away, a burly man was scolding a girl who looked like a student. “You little brat, why are you yelling? If you keep yelling, I’ll beat you to death.”

The girl’s face turned red. “How dare you scold me? You’re a thief!”

“Who’s a thief? What the hell did I steal? You’re looking for trouble.” The burly man raised his large hand. “I’ll beat you to death!”

Tan Yi stood up, but Chai Yu held him back. “No rush, someone… Hey, isn’t that Xie Qing?”

“Xie Qing?” Tan Yi repeated suspiciously.

At that moment, a man and two women stood in front of the girl.

Tan Yi then saw that Xie Chen’s little sister was among them. The girl was wearing sneakers, jeans, and a black T-shirt, with her mouth full of oil from eating.

The burly man looked around and warned, “Kid, mind your own business, or I’ll beat you too.”

The round-faced girl with big eyes sneered. “Look at you, forgetting there’s still the law.”

“The law?! Damn, why don’t you say that little brat falsely accused me? Do you think I’m easy to bully?” The burly man waved to a table to the east.

Three men sat at the small table, all with shifty eyes and burly builds, clearly not good people.

The girl was defiant. “I saw it clearly, you are…”

Xie Qing turned around and covered the girl’s mouth.