Hidden moth

Chapter 8 Prejudgment
How could I get through to He Kao's phone? It was busy, and she was talking to Sister Liang.

It seems that the police's action was very sudden. They brought the search procedures and contacted the owner only after arriving at the door, because they were afraid that the suspect would get the news in advance and move the prohibited items.

He Kao: "Don't worry about this for now, just help me take a look at the situation."

The gate of the courtyard was locked from the outside. The lock was cut open, and then the door lock of the house was also opened. However, the result was a disappointment to many onlookers - the police did not find anything.

The rumor might be a bit exaggerated, saying that Zhou Yan's family pulled several trucks of fireworks and firecrackers and hid them here, but after taking a look at this three-story building from beginning to end, the police immediately came to the conclusion that there were no such things at all.

When the police entered the room, Zhou Yan looked ashen and had collapsed on the ground. But at this moment, she suddenly came back to life, grabbed the police's clothes and demanded an explanation. In the end, her husband pulled her away.

Even Sister Liang was puzzled. It was hard to tell whether her tone was happy for He Kao or disappointed for the audience: "Oh, why are they gone? Where did those things go? I want to go in and take a look, but the police won't let me."

He Kao glanced at Huang Xiaopang, said to Sister Liang, "Thank you," and hung up the phone.

Huang Xiaopang patted He Kao's shoulder and said, "Fortunately it was a false alarm. Don't forget to ask the police to compensate you for the door lock."

He Kao hesitated to speak, already having a guess in his mind. His aunt must have hidden the banned fireworks at his house, otherwise she wouldn't have reacted that way at the scene.

But where did the thing go? It must have been moved by the hidden moth or Huang Si. Only then did he notice that Huang Si had a peculiar smell, similar to the smell of gunpowder from firecrackers.

He Kao didn't notice it just now in the restaurant with a complicated smell, but now he was in the utility room and had some guesses in his mind, so he could smell it vaguely.

He Kao was 99% certain that the hidden moth really existed, and that the current hidden moth was Huang Si. The thing the police were looking for had been promptly removed by Huang Xiaopang, just as he had taken the apples from E Zong's house.

Xiaopang knew about this but didn't tell him. It was probably because he didn't want to reveal his identity, or maybe he couldn't explain it to an ordinary person like him.

At this time, Huang Xiaopang spoke again: "My father was a policeman back then, and I know their habits. The police will definitely contact you and say that they have detected explosive residue in your house, and scare you into confessing and cooperating with the investigation.

You don't have to be afraid, just say whatever you need to say. You haven't been home lately anyway, so this has nothing to do with you. If the police say they found explosive residue in your house, just say you set off fireworks during the Spring Festival.

If they find double-kick firecrackers or other firecrackers during a search of your home, you can say that you probably bought some for the Lunar New Year and didn't finish setting them off, and forgot to put them away. Those items aren't enough to warrant legal action, and the police will at most give you a warning."

He Kao wondered, "Why are there firecrackers and double-kick firecrackers?"

Huang Xiaopang: "How would I know? Maybe you had some left over from setting off firecrackers during the New Year and forgot. It's not a big deal. Another possibility is that the informant framed me and secretly put something in there, but the amount is unlikely to be large, so it's okay."

He Kao was a little confused when he heard this. It seemed that Huang Xiaopang had not moved all the things away. The large fireworks and the like should have been moved away, but a batch of firecrackers and double-kicks were left behind. Maybe there was not enough time.

If the quantity was small, it could be explained. He couldn't have thrown away the unused items he'd bought for the New Year, could he? The police could at most give him a warning, but they couldn't do anything to He Kao.

Huang Xiaopang's father was indeed a policeman. He was once the director of the Jiangbei Detention Center in Qiyuan City. Unfortunately, he died early. He died of illness when Huang Xiaopang was in college. He was just in his early fifties.

He Kao checked his phone again. There were several missed calls from the same number. He frowned but didn't call. It was already late for work this afternoon, so he decided to go upstairs.

In the afternoon, General Manager E even came over to check on him and asked about his health. New colleague Qian Guran also expressed his concern when he passed by his workstation, but General Manager He Kao was a little absent-minded.

He Kao had a rough idea of why Huang Xiaopang had become a hidden moth. His father, Zhou Du, had been detained there. Uncle Huang wasn't the director at the time, but he was a staff member and had known his father since childhood.

Before his father died, he must have left the legendary hidden moth to Uncle Huang and given him some instructions. He Kao had no idea what his father had done, and Uncle Huang was now dead.

Many years later, Huang Xiaopang became the next hidden moth, presumably because Uncle Huang left something to him. So, there might be another hidden moth between his father and Huang Xiaopang, and that person is Uncle Huang.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, He Kao finally received a call. The caller claimed to be Chief Hu from the Public Security Department of the JB District Public Security Bureau and wanted to find him to find out about the situation.

While answering the phone, He Kao searched on his computer and found that there was indeed a deputy section chief named Hu in the Public Security Department of the Jiangbei Branch.

Section Chief Hu first confirmed He Kao's identity and address, focusing on confirming that he was the owner of No. 65 Aimin Road, Pugang Town, and then asked in a questioning tone -

"We received a report from the public that you illegally stored a large amount of flammable and explosive dangerous goods without any legal source and without following the required procedures.

Today we applied for a search warrant to search your residence at 65 Aimin Road, Pugang Town. Why couldn't we contact you during on-site law enforcement?

He Kao: "What are you saying? I illegally hid dangerous goods? That's not true... I work and rent a house in the city. I don't live in Pugang Town at all."

Hu Ke: "We called you at noon, why couldn't we get through?"

He Kao pretended to be dumb and asked, "I don't know what's going on over there. Why can't I get in touch with you?"

Section Chief Hu: "Why is your phone always busy?"

He Kao: “I was on the phone at the time.”

Section Chief Hu: "Did someone tip you off and move the illegal items ahead of time?"

He Kao: "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't live there at all, and I've never hidden any illegal items."

Section Chief Hu: "We've detected significant explosive residue in your residence. We hope you can come to the precinct and explain the situation and cooperate with the investigation. Our policy is..."

He Kao interrupted him and said, "Excuse me, didn't you hear what I just said? That's not where I live now. I live in the city, and there's no way I could hide any explosives there. What do you mean by explosive residue? I don't understand."

Section Chief Hu: "Technology is very advanced nowadays. Even if you moved the items away, we can still detect traces. There is sufficient evidence to prove that you once stored flammable and explosive dangerous goods there."

The police didn't find anything today, so they called He Kao. Otherwise, they would have taken him away directly.

He Kao couldn't help but secretly admire Xiaopang. He really knew the police's routine very well. Regardless of whether this matter had anything to do with He Kao or not, he would just put the blame on him and scare him.

Although explosive residue detection sounds mysterious, it is actually very simple. There is one at the entrance of every airport. Just wipe a small piece of absorbent on clothes and packages, and the special equipment will detect the presence of nitrate ions in just a few seconds.

Although the things in the main room were moved away in time and the police did not find them, the remaining traces can still be easily detected.

Reports from the public cannot be used as evidence, the police cannot convict if they have not found anything, and the test results of explosive residues are only suspicions. The police do not even have enough basis to detain and summon He Kao.

What Section Chief Hu said seemed quite informal; it shouldn't have been discussed over the phone, but rather the subject of a formal face-to-face interrogation. However, in the real world, grassroots casework is often overwhelmed by complexity and limited staffing, and this is often the case.

He Kao reiterated decisively, "I didn't do that. I never did that." Section Chief Hu asked, "When did you move to the city?"

He Kao: "After the Spring Festival this year, I graduated from graduate school and started working in the city... Actually, I've lived on campus since I started college seven or eight years ago, and I only go back home during holidays."

Section Chief Hu: "Are you sure you didn't store any flammable or explosive dangerous goods in your home at any time?"

He Kao: "Does buying fireworks and firecrackers during Chinese New Year count? Other than that, nothing else."

Section Chief Hu: "You did store fireworks, where did you move them now?"

He Kao: "Why transfer? Every household is setting off fireworks during the New Year!"

Section Chief Hu: "How many are there, and what varieties are there?"

He Kao: "There weren't many firecrackers, string reds, fireworks, etc., and the total cost was only 1,500 yuan. I borrowed a tricycle and hauled them all back in one go."

Chief Hu: "Is the total value 1,500 yuan?"

He Kao: "Yes, you have no idea how expensive fireworks are these days, especially those big ones that shoot up into the sky, which cost hundreds of dollars each."

Section Chief Hu: "Where did you get the goods from?"

He Kao: "My aunt has set up a business there."

Section Chief Hu: "Your aunt's name is Zhou Yan, right?"

He Kao: "Yes, my uncle's name is He Changshan."

Section Chief Hu: "Are the fireworks they sell legal?"

He Kao: "It's legal, right? Who would dare to sell it publicly without formal procedures? You should ask her about these matters. I am just a customer."

Section Chief Hu: "Do I have to pay to get the goods from your aunt's house?"

He Kao: "Let me think about it. My aunt and uncle were not at home at the time, and my cousin was watching the stall. I asked how much it was, and she said 1,500 yuan. She didn't say it was free, so I scanned the code and paid."

This is almost entirely true. He Kao spent a lot of money to buy fireworks and firecrackers during the Chinese New Year and set them off by himself. It seemed like a ritual, a remembrance and farewell, as well as a prospect and celebration.

Section Chief Hu: "Were all the fireworks set off at that time?"

He Kao: "They should have all been set off. There might have been some firecrackers and double-kick firecrackers left, but I can't remember exactly. I received the notice to start work at the time and was anxious to report to the unit, so I left in a hurry... Didn't you go to search it?"

This sentence was half true and half false. He was mentally prepared and of course said it without hesitation.

Section Chief Hu: "We've detected explosive residue, so there's probably more than what you mentioned. Oh, and I forgot to ask, you've been back since the Spring Festival, haven't you?"

He Kao: "I've been back three times, each time for just a weekend. The most recent time was two months ago. I cleaned up the house and yard, but didn't do anything else."

Section Chief Hu: "Please come here on your own initiative, explain your situation, cooperate with the investigation, and seek leniency."

He Kao: "Of course I have to go back. I heard from Sister Liang next door that you broke two of my door locks this afternoon. Can I file a complaint and ask for compensation?"

Section Chief Hu was furious: "It's just a door lock, I'll find someone to fix it for you!"

He Kao: "We are very busy at work. I will find time on the weekend to go back and talk to you about compensation."

Section Chief Hu: "No need to change, I will compensate you personally!"

He Kao: "Forget it, I'll just replace the door lock myself. Just tell me who to give the invoice to after the replacement."

Section Chief Hu: "Let me ask you again, since you don't live there anymore, who has the key?"

He Kao: "My aunt has it."

Section Chief Hu: "Besides your aunt?"

He Kao: "Then I don't know. It should be gone, unless someone takes the key to get a copy."

The eldest aunt had the key to He Kao's house. It was the eldest aunt who took the initiative to ask for it, using the excuse of helping to look after the house on weekdays. In fact, besides the eldest aunt, Xiaopang's family also had the key, but He Kao didn't tell her.

He Kao also understood why Section Chief Hu was angry. If legal property was damaged during law enforcement, compensation was required according to regulations. The key point was that the police did not find any prohibited items.

If this matter went through the formal process, it would have been embarrassing for everyone involved, and it would have been a bit of a hassle. It was just two door locks, and no one wanted to file a report, rather than pay for it privately.

The department worked overtime again that night. During dinner, Huang Xiaopang asked He Kao about the situation, and He Kao told him the phone number of Section Chief Hu.

Huang Xiaopang curled his lips and said, "It's none of your business! They're not fools, they should know this has nothing to do with you. But you should still ask them to compensate you for the lock, otherwise it will look like you have a guilty conscience."

After working overtime and returning to his apartment, He Kao would often take out his phone and glance at it, unable to tell whether he was feeling anticipation or disappointment. He was waiting for a call, a call from his aunt's family, or even if there was no call, at least a message would be fine.

It was still the old one-bedroom apartment, not the new one-bedroom apartment he rented today. His things were all here and he hadn't taken them over yet. He had walked back unconsciously.

Sitting in the apartment, he picked up the phone several times. After hesitating for a long time, he finally took the initiative to dial the number. Before he could say anything, he heard the voice of his uncle He Changshan: "Xiao Kao, I was just about to call you when you called. Something happened here today..."

He Kao: "I've heard from Aunt Liang next door that someone reported you and my aunt... and they pried open my gate and my room door. I heard they didn't find anything. Is everything okay over there?"

He Changshan: "We're fine, nothing happened at all, what could possibly happen!" He denied it three times in a row before sighing, "There's so much jealousy going on right now. They always think we're making a ton of money, but really, selling fireworks is just hard-earned money."

The uncle didn't want to tell He Kao the truth and was unwilling to admit what he had done, so he was stuck in a dilemma. He really wanted to ask He Kao whether those things were moved after he discovered them and where they were moved to, but he couldn't ask.

**
(End of this chapter)