When Red is Black

number.”
     
    What would his mother think? He had never told her anything about having a little secretary who worked for him at home. At this moment, however, he could not afford to hesitate.
     
    “Fine. Tell her that I will come over in the afternoon or in the evening. Thank you so much, White Cloud.”
     
    “Don’t mention it,” she said as she put a brown paper bag into the refrigerator. “Oh, here is roast beef with steamed buns. Last night you did not even have time to finish the steak. You like beef, I guess. For lunch, put them in the microwave.”
     
    Again, he was lucky to have her help.
     
    Then it was Party Secretary Li’s turn to call.
     
    “Detective Yu said that you wanted to talk to me about something. What’s it about, Comrade Chief Inspector Chen?”
     
    “Oh, yes. Detective Yu discussed the latest development in the investigation with me. So I would like to talk to you.”
     
    “Go ahead.”
     
    “Since our last talk, I have been giving a lot of thought to the case. As you have said, we should be aware of the political repercussions of the case. Just as you explained, the higher authorities have every reason to want us to solve the case without any political complications. So in my understanding, it is necessary for us to depoliticize the case.”
     
    Chen went on after a meaningful pause. “Now if we conclude in a hurry—with Wan as the murderer—this might be against the interests of the Party—”
     
    “What do you mean, Chief Inspector Chen?”
     
    “I mean, if Wan proves to be the real murderer beyond any reasonable doubt, we will punish him. No question about it. But there are still holes in his confession, as Detective Yu pointed out, so why not wait for a couple of more days?”
     
    “I’m still confused. Please explain.”
     
    “Once the press conference is held, people will come to know who and what Wan is. He is an ex-Mao Zedong Thought Propaganda Worker Team Member, who was once very politically red, but now what? Unfortunately, Wan is not alone. Many retired workers are having a hard time. Wan may well be seen as an example of an old worker going downhill, going to ruin. If Wan was capable of committing a murder in his desperation, then so could a lot of other people in a similar position. Wan might be seen as highly symbolic.”
     
    “You have a good point, Comrade Chief Inspector Chen,” Li said after a long pause, “but the city government is putting a lot of pressure on the police bureau.”
     
    “That’s what we have to take into consideration,” Chen said equivocally. “If some of the details were seized upon by a reporter, and published, and twisted—think about it—’the antagonism between an ex-Mao Zedong Thought Propaganda Worker Team Member and a dissident writer who denounced the Cultural Revolution.’ Such political associations could be disastrous.”
     
    “Then we have to apply strict information control.”
     
    “I doubt if it will work. Following your suggestion, I went to the shikumen house last week. There’re so many people there, all mixed together, that news and rumors spread as if they had wings. And reporters could go there too. Today, some of the newspapers are no longer what they used to be—they’re not so loyal to the Party authorities any more. To increase their newspaper’s circulation, they need sensational news.”
     
    Li said, after a slight hesitation, “If Detective Yu wants to take a couple of more days for his investigation, I think it should be okay. But it is important for people to know that the government is not involved in Yin’s death. And for them to learn this as soon as possible.”
     
    “I have one question, Party Secretary Li.”
     
    “Yes, Chief Inspector Chen.”
     
    “It’s about Internal Security. There’s something that puzzles me. It’s not their case. No one has told us about any involvement on their part. Yet they had searched Yin’s room even before Detective Yu first reached the building. And then they withheld information about Yin’s application for her passport renewal. Why, Party Secretary Li?”
     
    “Well, Yin was a dissident writer. It is understandable that Internal Security would be interested in the case. They are not responsible to us, as we know.”
     
    “But if it was such a politically sensitive case, they should have shared information with us.”
     
    “If they had found something of substance, I believe they would have informed you,” Li