“They did it. I think, they fug did it.” While driving back to the prect, Brian Sai couldn’t help but sm the steering wheel, almost making the car honk: “The Lings, they got the kid through Big Sister Zhu, and then turned around and got her killed to cover it up.”

  “That’s - that’s surely a possibility.” Mick frowned while scratg his head: “It could also be the case that someone else tipped the mobs off, right? It could just be someone who’s not - not fortable with what’s going on?”

  “Then they could’ve goo the authorities.” Brian Sai shook his head: “If the tipper really came from the South-Western District, then they have a million ways to inform the city. Hell, at the time there was a fug hotli up just f Sister Zhu.”

  “But - if the tipper khat someone iy was corrupt and had to taeone from the South-Eastern District - ”

  “There’s not that much differen the level of corruption iy and unity collective.” Brian Sai shook his head: “Also, there’s a reason for not tipping off any authority. Many would have the same motivation. But I’d imagihe Lings would have it as well.”

  “You mearade records?” Mick rubbed his nose bridge: “Yeah, but that’s - that’s even wider a , right? As you know, her trade records would make MANY people want to see her dead.”

  “True, true.” Brian Sai let out a long exhale: “I know that, I know that. But don’t you think, it was a bit too sloppy if it was any other people? If we don’t put too much thought into making it a deep spiracy. Big Sister Zhu’s ts used to be retively powerful people, at least wealthy ones. I’d imagine if it was them, they’d take her out in a much er manner. Easily breakable encryption? Easily located in of the message? It reeks of amateurism.”

  “... and it would expin the fact that they were under iigation and being forced to move.” Mick looked out the window and sighed: “Who the hell would want to hang out with people like that?”

  “I think that’s it.” Brian Sai let out a long and frustrated sigh: “Looks like we’re gonna have to inquire more information from the city. And this would iably draw attention to our iigation.”

  “ I ask a question?” Mick asked after thinking for a short moment.

  “Sure, why? ” Brian Sai nodded while keeping his mind oraffic.

  “Is there something I should know? Something regarding these ongoing iigations?” Mick weighted his words before putting them out: “I feel like - there’s been a shift in the vibe of the entire prect. The dire where some of the iigations are going, and the detectives hiding their discussion of certain case details away from the uniformed officers. Is there something going on? Are we - are we suspeg that there’s a leak in our prect?”

  “What? NO!” Bria Sai was nervous at first, but then immediately procimed: “No - it’s just - retly we have uncovered certaiive details. And we’re following the captain’s orders on keeping unnecessary disclosure of this information i.”

  “And what about all the detectives sharing cases somehow?” Mick asked: “Looks like the detectives are not really handling their own cases - I mean the case with the Lings is assigo Detective Land Pahaik, and Marcus - I meaive Cai seem to be jumping from case to case all the time.”

  “Oh yeah, that’s because, these cases they seem to all share some - some on factors among them. And Marcus is most knowledgeable about para - I mean these on factors, so we are ALL looking at him for help.” Brian Sai tried his best to mask his words while driving: “I think you should talk to the captain about this. The information you just helped me, helped us get is really valuable. It helped us tie a lot of details together.”

  “What? About the death of the Lings?” Mick scratched his head: “What - what kind of help would this be? Big Sister Zhu is dead already, and her past subordinates would - I assume, they would not be seeking vengean her behalf.”

  “Yeah - yeah - but we’re thinking about les. There are certain - certain groups or entities that would als harm to them.” Brian Sai shook his head: “But - there’s still ohing that we may o figure out.”

  “What? What do you mean?”

  “Don’t you feel there’s something missing with the way the events unfold? I mean to Yixiang Zhuge.” Brian Sai thought for a moment before speaking out: “Okay, let’s start from the beginning, assuming we’re correct.”

  “Sure.”

  “The Lings want a kid, they couldn’t. So, they tacted Big Sister Zhu, who fetched them a kid.” Brian Sai reted the flow of hypothetical events in his head: “But then, for some reason, perhaps for fear of their trade being exposed, they tipped off the mobs to have Big Sister Zhu killed.”

  “The kid’s inal parents! The PARENTS!” Mick raised his voice, almost making Brian Sai jump out of his seat.

  “Yes.” Brian Sai nodded with his eyes narrowed slightly: “I wonder - I wonder who the parents were, and where they are, if they are still alive.”

  “And if they’re still alive. That means they would have the io hurt the parents. But - but not the child himself?”

  “Yeah, true.” Brian Sai shook his head, and stopped talking. This was only a random thought of his, he brought it up with the iion of distrag Mick. But Mick was too perceptive for this to work for long.

  “So - whoever did this could be another motivated party…” Mick rubbed his temples as he looked outside the window.

  “Yes. And VERY, VERY motivated.” Brian Sai sighed again.