Po Sir's Police Affairs: The Hunter

As dawn broke, Jiang Bo returned to the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

After taking Xiuying home, he didn't sleep; he came straight back. His mind was too preoccupied; he couldn't lie still. There were still traces of Xiuying lying on the sofa, and the blanket was neatly folded and placed to one side. He stood there for a while, then walked to his desk and opened the metal box.

The photos were spread out on the table. One by one, like an old deck of cards. The person wearing the hat, the person who looked like Tung Chee-hwa, the person wearing the J ring—they appeared in every single photo. Different angles, different times, but all of them were of the same person.

Jiang Bo picked up the photo of the profile and examined it closely in the morning light streaming through the window.

The morning light was soft, tinged with a pale gold, shining on the photograph and making the yellowed paper appear somewhat translucent. He held the photograph very close, his eyes almost touching it.

He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and a downturned mouth. His eyes were gloomy, as if he saw through something, or perhaps he was plotting something. That kind of gaze was like a river in winter, calm on the surface, but with undercurrents surging beneath. He had seen that kind of gaze before. He had seen it in Ding Laosan's eyes, in Chen Zhiming's eyes, and in the eyes of all those who kept their true intentions hidden.

It's completely different from the photo in Tung Chee-hwa's file.

He had seen Tung Chee-hwa's photos many times. The one of him in his police uniform standing in front of the police station, smiling brightly in the sunlight, his eyes were bright, righteous, and full of light, like the rising sun. This man's eyes, however, were dark, sinister, and devoid of light, like the moon obscured by dark clouds.

How can the same person have two completely different looks?

Unless, they are not the same person.

Jiang Bo put the photo down and picked up the photo of the baby.

He himself. Thirty-one years ago. Wrapped in a red bib, eyes closed, sleeping so peacefully. His little face was wrinkled, his little hands clenched into fists and placed on his chest. That posture seemed to be protecting himself, or perhaps waiting for something.

He recalled Zheng Jianguo's words in his letter: "This child cannot be kept. But someone wants to protect him."

Who is protecting him?

He thought of Dong Zhenhua. He thought of He Wu'an. He thought of those people he had never met but who had been protecting him in secret. They were like shadows, sheltering him from the wind and rain in places he couldn't see.

They are his protectors.

That person was their enemy.

They were also his enemies.

Tangyuan lay asleep at his feet. Exhausted from the night, it breathed evenly, occasionally shifting its legs as if dreaming. Its fur was dry and fluffy, gleaming softly in the morning light. Its brow was slightly furrowed, as if chasing something in its dream.

Jiang Bo stood up and walked to the window.

The sun rose. Golden sunlight shone on the river, shattering into countless fragments. The river flowed slowly, its surface shimmering like it was sprinkled with gold dust. Cars gradually filled the Yangtze River Bridge, one after another, forming a flowing river. A new day had begun.

He remembered his master's words: "The river can take away evidence, but it cannot take away sins."

Now, the evidence of his sins is in his hands.

Those photos, that letter, those missing people, those dead people, were all waiting for him.

He must find that person.

Liu Tong pushed open the door and came in, holding a stack of printing papers. His eyes were still red, like a rabbit's, bloodshot. His hair was still messy, like a clump of withered grass, with a few strands sticking up high. But he was in better spirits than last night, and his steps were steady.

"Officer Bo, the notice for assistance has been sent out. It has been sent to all precincts, police stations, and all retired officers. Also, I have retrieved the missing persons files from 1992 to 1993."

He placed the stack of printed papers on the table. The papers were thick, more than two hundred pages in total, with slightly curled edges, and carried the musty smell characteristic of the archives.

Jiang Bo walked over and started flipping through the pages.

Missing Persons. That year, several people went missing in Jiangcheng. Men and women, young and old. Some ran away from home, some accidentally fell into the water, and some vanished into thin air. Behind each name was a family, and people waiting for them to come home.

Jiang Bo looked at each one one by one. Name, age, occupation, time of disappearance, and place of disappearance.

His finger stopped on a name.

Zhang Jianguo. Male, 12 years old, fisherman. Missing on December 18, 1992. Location of disappearance: near the old pontoon bridge.

December 18, 1992. Two days before Jiang Yizhou disappeared.

Jiang Bo pulled out the file and looked at it carefully.

Zhang Jianguo, born in 1957, was a fisherman who lived alone. On the evening of December 18, 1992, he went out to fish on the river and did not return home that night. The next morning, someone found his boat on the riverbank; the boat was empty, the fishing nets were still there, but he was gone. A search lasting three days, with five boats deployed, covered thirty li (approximately 12 kilometers) upstream and downstream, but he was not found. His death was later ruled an accidental drowning.

There was also a photo in the file. It was a black and white ID photo of Zhang Jianguo. He was in his thirties, thin, with dark skin, large eyes, and a kind of simple honesty typical of fishermen. He was facing the camera, smiling slightly, revealing his slightly crooked teeth.

Jiang Bo stared at the photo, something stirring in his mind.

December 18, 1992. Old pontoon bridge. Missing.

The same day as the photo taken with Zheng Jianguo.

In the photo, the limping man is talking to someone by the old pontoon bridge. Another person has their back to the camera, so their face is not visible. But the way that person is standing is striking: a slightly hunched back, legs apart, and left hand in their pocket.

It's Zheng Jianguo.

Zheng Jianguo was talking to the lame man.

That day, Zhang Jianguo disappeared.

coincidence?

Jiang Bo put Zhang Jianguo's file aside and continued flipping through it.

The second name made him stop.

Li Mei. Female, 3 years old, restaurant waitress. Missing on March 9, 1993. Location of disappearance: near the old pontoon bridge.

March 9, 1993. The night Ah Zhen died.

Jiang Bo clenched his fist.

Li Mei, a restaurant waitress. Like A-Zhen, she worked at a riverside restaurant. Like A-Zhen, she was young and beautiful. Like A-Zhen, she disappeared. Like A-Zhen, she never returned.

He recalled Ah Zhen's words in her suicide note: "They are all dead."

They. More than one.

It wasn't just Xiaomei, it wasn't just Azhen. There were others too.

He kept flipping through the pages. The third, the fourth, the fifth…

Chen Fang, female, 8 years old, went missing on August 12, 1992.

Wang Li, female, 9 years old, went missing on September 5, 1992.

Zhao Xiuying, female, 10 years old, went missing on October 18, 1992.

Liu Xiaoqin, female, 11 years old, went missing on November 3, 1992.

Sun Xiaomei, female, 12 years old, went missing on December 7, 1992.

Sun Xiaomei. Xiaomei.

Jiang Bo's hands were trembling.

Xiaomei went missing on December 7, 1992, not in 1993.

Ding Laosan said he killed Xiaomei in 1993. But the file says it was December 7, 1992.

Is Ding Laosan lying?

Or is there a mistake in the file?

Jiang Bo pulled out Sun Xiaomei's file. There was a photo on it: a young woman with a round face, big eyes, and a sweet smile. She looked exactly like Xiaomei in Ah Zhen's photo.

Date of disappearance: December 7, 1992. Location of disappearance: Near the old pontoon bridge.

Jiang Bo stared at the date, his mind racing.

Ding Laosan said he killed Xiaomei in 1993. That was what he said during his first confession. Later, he recanted his confession, then admitted it again, then recanted it again. Which of his statements are true, and which are false?

Or perhaps he couldn't even remember when he killed Xiaomei?

Impossible. How could someone not remember committing murder?

Unless, he killed more than one person. He killed so many people that he lost count of how long it took.

Jiang Bo looked up at Liu Tong.

"Check Sun Xiaomei's case. The original files, the more detailed the better. Also, review all of Ding Laosan's statements and the timeline."

Liu Tong nodded and went out.

Jiang Bo continued flipping through the pages. At the very end, he saw a name.

Jiang Yizhou. Male, 12 years old, police officer. Disappeared on December 20, 1992.

His dad.

Jiang Bo stared at that name for a long time.

Jiang Yizhou, born in 1960, joined the police force in 1980. He went missing on December 20, 1992, while on duty. After an unsuccessful search, he was determined to have died in the line of duty. His family has received a death benefit. Note: His wife, Xiuying, is missing.

His father's name, along with those other people's, lies in this stack of yellowed files.

Those fishermen, those waiters, those ordinary people—just like his father, they were all dead.

Jiang Bo put down the file and walked to the window.

The sun rose higher, and the sunlight became brighter. Boats came and went on the river, leaving long trails in their wake. Those trails quickly disappeared, as if they had never existed.

Those people, like these watermarks, have vanished.

Liu Tong pushed open the door and came in, holding an old file in his hand. The file was thick, with worn edges, and the cover had the words "Sun Xiaomei's Disappearance Case" written on it, the handwriting already blurred.

"I found it. Sun Xiaomei's case file, the original files. And all of Ding Laosan's statements, I've reviewed them all again."

Jiang Bo took the file and opened it.

Inside is a transcript of an interrogation. Subject of interrogation: Ding Laosan. Date: January 5, 1993. Location: Zhongshan Road Police Station.

Jiang Bo was stunned.

January 5, 1993. Two months before Ah Zhen died. Ding Laosan was asked about it back then.

He continued reading.

The transcript was handwritten, with neat handwriting, each stroke precise and clear.

Q: Do you know Sun Xiaomei?

A: Yes, I know him. He used to work at a restaurant by the river, and I've seen him a few times.

Q: Where were you the night she went missing?

A: I sleep at home. My wife can vouch for that.

Q: Have you ever been to the old pontoon bridge?

A: No. I didn't go that night.

Q: Someone saw you near the old pontoon bridge.

A: Who saw it? Let him come and confront them.

Q: When was the last time you saw Sun Xiaomei?

A: I can't remember. It was a long time ago.

Q: Do you and Sun Xiaomei have any conflicts?

A: No. I'm not familiar with her, so what conflict could we possibly have?

Q: You'd better tell the truth.

A: I'm telling the truth. You can check if you don't believe me.

Signature of the inquirer: Tung Chee-hwa. Date: January 5, 1993.

Jiang Bo clenched his fist.

Tung Chee-hwa sprained his ankle in December 1992 and was recuperating at home. However, on January 5, 1993, he was at the bureau handling a case, interrogating Ding Laosan.

Your foot is better? It took more than twenty days to heal. That's normal.

But when he interrogated Ding Laosan, Ding Laosan lied. He fooled Dong Jianhua.

Then in March 1993, he killed Ah Zhen.

That man, the one with the limp, stood at the door watching.

He watched as Ding Laosan killed someone, then turned and left.

Why didn't he save Ah Zhen?

Because he and Ding Laosan were in cahoots?

Or is it because he is the "Third Brother Bao Ding"?

Jiang Bo continued flipping through the pages. There were several more statements, all from Sun Xiaomei's colleagues, neighbors, and friends: the restaurant owner, her fellow workers, and the old lady next door. None of them mentioned Ding Laosan. No one had seen anything. No one knew anything.

The case was thus left unresolved.

Jiang Bo closed the file and remained silent for a long time.

Ding Laosan killed Xiaomei. But when he was questioned on January 5, 1993, he said nothing. He lied. He deceived Tung Chee-hwa.

Then in March 1993, he killed Ah Zhen.

That man, the one with the limp, was watching from the doorway.

Why didn't he stop it?

Because he was the one who was "Bao Ding Lao San".

Jiang Bo recalled Dong Jianping's words: "The person who protected me is Dong Zhenhua."

Who are Bao Ding Lao San's men?

Is it also Dong Zhenhua?

Is it still that person who looks like Tung Chee-hwa?

He stood up and walked to the whiteboard.

The whiteboard was already covered with photos and clues. He wrote down the names one by one.

Zhang Jianguo, Li Mei, Chen Fang, Wang Li, Zhao Xiuying, Liu Xiaoqin, Sun Xiaomei, Jiang Yizhou.

Eight names. Eight lives lost.

The disappearances occurred between August and December 1992. All disappearances took place near the old pontoon bridge.

He picked up the stack of missing persons files and flipped through them page by page. Besides these eight, were there any others?

He turned to the last page and saw a name.

Gao Deming. Male, 3 years old, unemployed. Missing since March 10, 1993. Location of disappearance: near the old pontoon bridge.

March 10, 1993. The day after Ah-Zhen died.

Jiang Bo's hand stopped.

Gao Deming. Unemployed. Old pontoon bridge.

Who is this person?

He pulled out the file. On it was a photo of a middle-aged man, thin, with a pointed face and shifty eyes. He didn't look like a good person at all.

The file also contains a transcript of an interrogation. Interrogated person: Neighbor. Date: March 15, 1993.

The neighbors said Gao Deming was a hoodlum who idled away his days, stealing chickens and other petty thefts. He often loitered around the old pontoon bridge area and knew many people. A few days before he disappeared, he was acting mysteriously, saying he knew some secret and was going to get rich. Then he vanished.

Signature of the person asking the question: Tung Chee-hwa.

It's Tung Chee-hwa again.

As Jiang Bo looked at that name, the fragments in his mind began to piece together.

Gao Deming knew some secret. He was about to get rich. Then he disappeared.

What is the secret he knows?

Is it related to that lame man?

Is it related to those missing women?

Is it related to his father?

He recalled Zheng Jianguo's words in his letter: "He killed many people. Xiaomei, Azhen, and others I don't know about."

I don't know about the others. Does that include Gao Deming?

Does that include Zhang Jianguo?

Does that include people other than those eight names?

Jiang Bo posted Gao Deming's file on the whiteboard, placing it alongside the other names.

Nine names. Nine lives.

From August 1992 to March 1993, a period of seven months, nine people went missing. All of them were near the old pontoon bridge.

The lame man has been active since August 1992.

He killed these people.

Or, he had others kill these people.

He stood at the doorway, looked around, and then turned and left.

Jiang Bo picked up the photo; it was a profile of the limping man.

Who exactly are you?

Tangyuan woke up, came over, and rubbed against his leg.

He crouched down and stroked its head. Tangyuan's fur was soft and warm, shimmering gently in the morning light. Its eyes sparkled as it looked at him, as if asking: "Did you find it?"

"Tangyuan, we're almost there!"

Tangyuan called out.

That shout echoed through the office.

Outside the window, the sun shines brightly.

A new day has truly begun.