Don’t Cry, Tai Lake

Internal Security was moving the case along.
    “No, not any I’m aware of. From what I just learned from the head of our local team, the case has been attracting a lot of attention internationally; the longer it drags on, the more damage it could do to the government’s image. So people from above gave the green light to Internal Security’s plan. I don’t like it. If this is how it’s going to work, then what the hell are we cops for?”
    “I don’t like it either,” Chen said, putting down the chopsticks even though he hadn’t finished his noodles. “Can you me get a copy of Jiang’s statement regarding his argument with Liu?”
    “Yes. He insisted that he hadn’t talked to or met with Liu for months. I’ll get you a copy.”
    “Also, can you get a copy of the phone records for the company? Particularly the general manager’s office, if that’s available.”
    Huang wasn’t sure he was following Chen’s thinking. He had assumed the scenario in which Mrs. Liu murdered her husband was beneath Chen’s approach, his examination of the crime scene, and the questions he asked at the company.
    Perhaps Chen had another objective in mind, Huang mused. Maybe he wanted to rule out the possibility of Jiang’s being the murderer.
    But was it too late? The “approval from above” that Internal Security had received sounded ominous. A chief inspector on vacation, no matter how well connected, could hardly match that. Perhaps that was what made Chen a different kind of cop—persistence. Chen plodded on, conscientiously, if circumspectly, in his own way.
    “But Internal Security is ready to conclude the case in the interests of the Party. It’ll be over in just a matter of days, I’m afraid,” Huang said, broodingly. “Not that I’m not willing to confront them if we could obtain any real evidence or witnesses, and with you at my side—”
    He broke off his sentence, however, at the sight of Shanshan walking into the canteen and striding over toward them.
    “Oh, you’re here, Chen!” Shanshan said, fixing her stare on him, “and along with Officer—”
    Her face showed surprise, which was quickly turning to something like anger.
    There was surprise on Chen’s face too, though perhaps for a different reason.
    “This is Shanshan, my friend. And this is Officer Huang.” Chen rose and made a hurried introduction, which wasn’t necessary for either of them. “He is a fan, having read every one of my mystery translations.”
    The second part of the introduction was meant for her benefit, Huang realized. He wondered whether she would buy that explanation, but he picked up on the cue not to reveal that Chen was a cop.
    “Mr. Chen is truly a master. I’ve read all the books he’s translated. He’s also a poet, you know, and that makes a huge difference in his translations. The language is superb.”
    “You seem to know your fans among the police very well, Master Chen,” she said, with undisguised sarcasm. “Or is this another ‘chance’ meeting?”
    “I think I have to leave now, Mr. Chen,” Huang said, rising. “You may call me any time.”
    “No, stay, Officer, and please continue discussing your important police work,” she said. “I’m leaving.”
    They watched her retreat from the canteen in a hurry.
    “I have some explanations to make, I think,” Chen said, rising and smiling a bitter smile.
    “Catch up with her,” Huang said. “We’ll talk later.”
    All of a sudden, the legendary chief inspector looked defeated and crestfallen, not that legendary after all.

TWELVE
    CHEN DIDN’T CATCH SIGHT of Shanshan when he hit the street after hurrying out of the chemical company. She must have turned at the intersection, but in which direction, he had no idea. She had walked away fast, in a state of high dudgeon.
    Her reaction wasn’t beyond comprehension. She’d asked him about his connection to the police officer who had released her, a question he’d parried, keeping his real identity a secret.
    But he had his reasons for doing so, at least during the course of the investigation.
    He turned onto a small road, which he thought might lead to the center. He was pondering what he had just learned from so many different sources. He had to sort out the information.
    Then he saw her walking in front of him.
    “Shanshan,” he said, breaking into a run. “Let me explain.”
    “You’re horrible,” she said without slowing her steps. “Officer Huang listened to you so