Chapter 39: 39

“Captain Lin, over to you.” Lu Shimiao had already compiled her information and turned to Lin Shu.

Last night, Lin Shu had made numerous calls to the lab, forcefully compressing a 24-hour process into 8 hours.

“The fire was ignited by a homemade bomb, using a remote detonation system that triggered the melting point via an electrostatic current, causing the explosion.”

“There were two types of gunpowder: low explosive and high explosive. The four points on the second floor were low explosives, composed of potassium nitrate and acetone derivatives. The filling process was mechanical dry mixing, sourced from agricultural fertilizers.”

“The high explosive components are similar in nature to TNT, XX and XX. Although the quantity is small, the power is extreme. They were placed at the connection points of the gas pipelines. Upon remote ignition, the fire erupted instantly. The fire was immense; the overall temperature on the third floor was exponentially higher than the second.”

“High explosives?” Li Siting’s face darkened as he questioned, and everyone present fell silent.

Especially Lu Shimiao.

Hearing the components Lin Shu listed, she knew the perpetrator was no ordinary criminal. This person used ordinary channels to purchase explosive ingredients, extracted, refined, and assembled them, even creating a remote detonator mechanism. It required not only sufficient expertise but extreme meticulousness and daring. One wrong reagent ratio, temperature adjustment, or shaking method, and his own skull would be blown off.

What started as a simple arson case was now at risk of turning into a retaliatory attack.

…

“Currently, our Fire Squadron has elevated the threat level to maximum; the entire city’s fire department is on high alert.” Lin Shu finished and took the report away.

“Then I’ll continue,” Lu Shimiao said, standing next to Lin Shu.

“Based on the trace evidence, the perpetrator’s motive appears to be deliberate retaliation, not driven by an antisocial personality. According to what Captain Lin just shared, the suspect likely has a high level of education. The victim was manually strangled with extreme speed, suggesting the perpetrator is male.”

“He likely conducted extended surveillance within the mall and remained on-site the night of the crime. After planting the bombs, he waited for the victim to enter the mall. However, the exact timing of the detonation is currently unclear—whether it was meant to destroy the body or to attack society at large.”

“The suspect likely used a vehicle to enter the mall, or accessed the underground parking from the adjacent office building, entering the fire escape through a blind spot to set up the devices. Today, Forensic Investigation Team 2 will head to the underground parking to examine all nearby exits thoroughly.”

Li Siting slammed the table, addressing the silent detectives. “You all have wives and kids, right? You all live nearby, right? Get your heads in the game!”

“This suspect is extremely dangerous, possesses strong counter-surveillance skills, and has a very clear retaliatory motive. Internal employees are key suspects. We need to intensively map and investigate Zhang Lin’s social network. All assigned personnel, conduct your visits. The Video Surveillance Unit must lock down the suspect’s entry and exit route by tonight.”

“Identify the suspect by tonight.”

Lu Shimiao yawned as she walked into the cafeteria, Lin Shu trailing behind her.

“Are you seeing this case through?” Lu Shimiao extended her meal card to pay for Lin Shu’s food, a display of the Criminal Police Unit’s hospitality.

Lin Shu put away her mobile payment code. “Thanks. I should be heading back tonight.”

“Is the fire department really tough? I heard you can’t go home for the entire year.” Having pulled an all-nighter together, the distance between Lu Shimiao and Lin Shu had narrowed. Outside the Serious Crime Unit office, they couldn’t discuss the case, so they turned to idle chatter.

“It’s alright. Our forensic team has it easier than the frontliners. They face blades and infernos; we handle the post-disaster reconstruction.” Lin Shu smiled, carrying her tray to find two seats.

“You detectives aren’t any better off than us. Major cases mean you can’t go home either,” Lin Shu added.

“Ugh!” Lu Shimiao waved her hand dismissively. “Your job is way more dangerous than ours.”

Lin Shu lowered her head to eat her pork bun, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “Do you usually go along on field arrests? Female detectives seem quite rare.”

“Female firefighters are even rarer! You’re the flower of our police force!” Lu Shimiao gave a heartfelt thumbs-up. “We’re just mules, running wherever we’re needed.”

In recent years, there’s been an endless stream of TV dramas about criminal police—Mist Theater, Suspense Theater, all that. Lu Shimiao felt they mythologized the work. They make it seem all bold and dashing, sweeping across the land, looking cool in crime scene suits and badass drawing their guns.

Little did people know, the moment a gun is drawn from its holster, they have to write a mountain of reports, even self-criticisms.

Then there are interrogations, arrests, bail hearings, asset freezes, special operations—endless paperwork and procedures. Reports for the Procuratorate, battles over supplemental investigations, administrative staff constantly nagging about overdue equipment checks and study reports. The 24-hour shift system made her jump at every phone ring, and the forms never stopped needing signatures.

Four years in a grassroots Criminal Police Unit made Lu Shimiao feel like she’d seen the darkest side of an ordinary person’s entire life.

Drug addicts overdosing right in the station, drug dealers with broken families, people swindled out of over 3 million yuan still believing they’d found true love.

The most absurd was last month: someone with talismans plastered all over his forehead rushed into the station past midnight, claiming he was being followed. The officer on duty was terrified and recited the Core Socialist Values five times in a row before they finally realized the man had a mental illness.

Lu Shimiao ate her bun, head down.

Did Xue Tong endure the same grind? Hong Kong’s law enforcement system was even stricter than the mainland’s. Why was she so easily tired before even turning 29? Back then, she would keep Xue Tong up until 1 or 2 a.m., and Xue Tong would be on duty the next morning without a single complaint.

“You seem upset?” Lin Shu seized a moment to ask.

“I’m fine.” Just missing Xue Tong a little.

“After eating, maybe go get some sleep? You can’t outlast a criminal on fumes. Your dark circles are even worse than Team Leader Li’s.” Lin Shu added with a light smile.

Lu Shimiao raised her phone and looked at the screen.

Haggard.

Getting older really does a number on you; one night shift and you’re a wreck.

“Sleep. I’ll crash in the dorm in a bit.”

After eating, Lu Shimiao borrowed the key to the duty room dorm from Lili and lay on the bed in her police uniform. She didn’t dream of Hong Kong specifically, but she did dream of Xue Tong kissing her, still so beautiful in the dream.

Beautiful enough that Lu Shimiao, still half-asleep, unconsciously dialed Xue Tong’s number.

She was so afraid Xue Tong would leave.

That she would slip away quietly while Lu Shimiao slept.

“What’s wrong?” Xue Tong answered, hearing no sound for a long while.

Her tone was as cold as the day she’d left.

As if she was still angry.

“Did you not come to the police station for the exchange study today?” Lu Shimiao’s sleepy voice was soft and childish, like a tiny cat kneading its blanket. She rolled over, tucking the phone under her ear, longing to hear Xue Tong’s voice more clearly, as if she could smell her scent through the screen.

“I’m here. You just didn’t notice me.” Xue Tong’s tone was ice cold.

“Huh? You’re here?” Lu Shimiao felt a bit more awake. She lifted her head from the pillow only for it to fall back down helplessly. She closed her eyes. “Where are you?”

“In the auditorium.” Xue Tong’s Mandarin was improving steadily, so standard that a groggy Lu Shimiao doubted whether it was really her.

Had Xue Tong come back?

Was Xue Tong really at the station?

Was this WeChat account really Xue Tong’s?

“I’m so tired. Please don’t lie to me.”

I’m afraid it’s a dream. Don’t lie to me, Xue Tong.

“Then why aren’t you sleeping yet?” Xue Tong sighed, her voice softening. “Go to sleep now.”

Lu Shimiao’s eyes grew unbearably moist. Xue Tong had scolded her with this exact line a hundred times in Hong Kong. It made her want to hang up. “Then I’ll go sleep,” she murmured.

“Okay, you hang up,” Xue Tong said, sitting in the auditorium, looking at the screen. This kid was so unbelievably foolish.

Joining the Serious Crime Unit was like entering boot camp.

Day and night, they worked the case, forgoing food and sleep. Team 2 returned from their investigation of the underground parking, and Lu Shimiao was summoned to the lab the moment she woke up. She didn’t take off her gloves until Li Siting called her.

Carrying a stack of reports, she rushed downstairs. The moment she opened the door, she heard Li Siting ripping into Lou Xiaoguang in Shanghainese.

“What are you all doing? If searching a three-kilometer radius isn’t enough, make it five! Match the posture you caught from that camera leak.”

“If screening 3,000 people is difficult, then call in more people! Is Team 1 out of manpower?”

“Reporting a lead, Team Leader.”

Unable to bear watching Lou Xiaoguang get chewed out so mercilessly, Lu Shimiao waved the documents in her hand, rescuing him from professional peril.

“Spit it out,” Li Siting said, finding a chair and sitting down.

“We found tool marks in the underground power distribution room.”

Yesterday, after discovering the severed wiring at the fire scene, Lu Shimiao had immediately organized a team to inspect the mall’s power room.

At the time, they hadn’t found any valuable clues; the perpetrator had clearly worn gloves and exhibited strong counter-surveillance capability.

But this afternoon, Team 2 discovered distinct scraping marks and cutting traces between the mall’s underground parking and the office building’s basement parking area.

The perpetrator had forcibly broken the door of the power distribution room.

On the day of the incident, all focus had been on the fire scene, so this detail had been overlooked. Only with a second, more meticulous and patient search was this crucial discovery made.

“So?” Li Siting had no patience for lab analysis right now; he just wanted the conclusion.

“The mall’s power distribution room manages electricity for the delivery area, the car park, the escalators, and the lighting. The tool marks are very fresh, likely made within the past couple of days.”

“Our forensic colleagues questioned the security guards. They said the power distribution room is usually locked when not in use, but due to internal inspections, it’s rarely secured inside the mall premises. The suspect likely needed a power supply. We’ll revisit the scene shortly to re-examine it.”

“Understood.” Li Siting waved a hand dismissively. “What’s the progress on the victim’s background checks?”

“The victim rented a place nearby. Work and home were her entire life. The apartment is in her name. Neighbors say Zhang Lin had a boyfriend who doesn’t come around often. The Cyber Police report that Zhang Lin’s social media presence is very clean—no conflicts of interest, no relationship drama.”

“Zhang Lin’s parents stated their daughter sent them money every month, roughly between 3,000 and 4,000 yuan. But the mall manager said her salary was only around 7,000 yuan pre-tax. We haven’t found any specific side hustle yet, and we’re currently tracing the money trail.”

“Prioritize investigating this boyfriend. Little Lu, give me a definitive answer when you get back,” Li Siting said, slapping the table and rising to his feet. “Let’s move, Little Lu.”