Po Sir's Police Affairs: The Hunter

After daybreak, Jiang Bo didn't go home. He sat in his office, a photo of Lin Xiaoxue spread out in front of him. Her face was round, her eyes gentle, and her smile sweet. She was wearing that pink tracksuit, standing by the river, the sunlight on her face; she squinted, the corners of her mouth turned up. The photo was taken by Dong Zhiqiang, who had taken many photos of the night running group members, all stored on a USB drive. Every single one was well-taken, the lighting, angle, and composition all carefully considered. He probably wanted to remember them, to remember what they looked like when they were alive. Now she was dead. He didn't know who she was, what she liked, or what she feared. He only knew she was dead, strangled, and thrown onto the rocks by the river, her hands clasped over her chest. When she left, she said she'd be back after an hour's run. She didn't come back.

Tangyuan lay at his feet, exhausted, fast asleep. It had kept him company all night, run around all night, and sniffed around the riverbank for so long. Now it was curled up in a ball, its head resting on its paws, breathing evenly, its belly rising and falling gently. Its tongue peeked out a little—pink and soft. Jiang Bo stroked its head; it didn't wake, but simply nestled its head into his hand, letting out a soft, contented hum.

Liu Tong pushed open the door and came in, carrying two cups of soy milk and a few steamed buns. He placed the soy milk on the table, looked at Jiang Bo, whose eyes were red, his eye bags were heavy, and there were red marks on his face from typing. "Bo Sir, eat something. You haven't slept all night, you can't stay like this. The case needs to be investigated, but your health is also important. If you collapse, who will investigate these cases? Who will remember those names? Who will apologize?"

Jiang Bo sat up, took the soy milk, and took a sip. It was warm and sweet, the soy milk was thick, and you could taste the grainy texture of the soy pulp. He took a bite of the steamed bun; it was filled with pork and cabbage, just like the ones Xiuying made. He remembered what his husband had said: "Your mother's dumplings are delicious. Pork and cabbage filling, Yizhou's favorite." He remembered his husband's eyes, so bright, like the river water in winter.

"Liu Tong, review Wang Jianjun's surveillance footage again. From 7 PM last night to 7 AM this morning. Check every frame. Don't overlook any detail. He couldn't have vanished into thin air. He must have appeared somewhere, someone must have seen him, and there must be something we missed."

Liu Tong nodded. "It's been checked. He got home at 9:10 and hasn't come out since. We checked the entrance to the complex, the underground parking garage, and the elevators. No one went out. His wife also said he stayed home all night and didn't leave. They have a good relationship and don't seem like the type to lie. The security guards in the complex also said they didn't see him go out last night."

Jiang Bo was silent for a moment. "What about his phone? Call logs, WeChat chat history, location data. Have you checked all of that?"

Liu Tong opened his notebook, which was filled with dense notes. "We checked everything. Last night he received three phone calls, all about business, negotiating prices with clients. He sent five WeChat messages, two to his wife saying he wouldn't be home for dinner and that she shouldn't wait for him. Three were to clients, all about shipping. His location was always at home, never moved. His phone never left that neighborhood. Officer Bo, he really didn't have time to commit the crime. We checked more than once. The technical department also helped check, but they didn't find anything unusual. His phone was never turned off, the SIM card was never removed, and there were no suspicious operations."

Jiang Bo stood up and walked to the window. Sunlight shone on the river, shattering into dazzling golden fragments. Those names, those apologies, were all in his heart. Now there was another name. Lin Xiaoxue. The killer wasn't Wang Jianjun. Then who was it? Who killed her? Who was imitating those cases? Who was provoking him? He remembered what Lao He had said: "This killer is different from the others. He's smarter, calmer. He knows we're investigating, but he's not afraid. He's provoking us." He chose Binjiang Park, where there were many people and many surveillance cameras. He chose 10 PM, when many people were still jogging. He wasn't afraid of being seen, wasn't afraid of being photographed. He was confident he wouldn't be caught. He was more terrifying than Lao Liu. Lao Liu was insane; he was lucid. He knew what he was doing. After killing someone, he could still eat normally, sleep normally, and go to work normally. He had no fear, no guilt, no dreams. What kind of person was he? He was a ghost.

"Liu Tong, investigate Lin Xiaoxue's social connections. Besides the night running group, what other activities does she participate in? Investigate her colleagues, her friends, her neighbors. Investigate everyone. She couldn't have been targeted for no reason. The killer must know her, or have been observing her for a long time. He must know her running route, her daily routine, and when she's alone."

Liu Tong nodded and started making a phone call.

At 2 PM, Liu Tong found a lead. When he pushed open the door, his expression was somewhat serious, and he was holding a folder in his hand.

"Mr. Bo, one of Lin Xiaoxue's colleagues said that she's recently been going through a divorce. Her husband is having an affair, and she found out. They've been arguing for a long time, and her husband has moved out. She's raising her child alone, and it's very tough for her. She goes for a run every night to relieve stress. She doesn't want her colleagues to know, so she hasn't told anyone. But one colleague who's very close to her knows about it. That colleague said that Lin Xiaoxue cried several times, saying she didn't want to live anymore. But she was fine the next day, saying she had to be strong for her child."

Jiang Bo clenched his fists. "What's her husband's name? Where is he now? Did he have the opportunity to commit the crime?"

"His name is Zhang Wei. He's 38 years old and works in sales. After he moved out, he lived in an old residential area in Jinghu District. He lives alone. Last night, he didn't have an alibi. He said he was watching TV at home for a long time, until the early hours of the morning. But no one can verify that. The community's surveillance cameras captured him returning home at 7 pm and not leaving afterward. But that community is old, with few surveillance cameras, only one at the entrance, and many blind spots. He could have gone out through the fire escape without being noticed. The fire escape leads to the back door, and there are no surveillance cameras at the back door. After he went out, he could have taken a taxi to Binjiang Park, committed the crime, and then taken a taxi back, sneaking in through the back door. No one would have known."

Jiang Bo stood up. "Go find him. Go now."

Zhang Wei lived in an old neighborhood in Jinghu District. His apartment was small, two bedrooms and a living room, but fairly clean. An ashtray sat on the coffee table, overflowing with cigarette butts. A neatly folded blanket covered the sofa. He wore an old T-shirt, his hair was a little messy, and his eyes were red, as if he had just woken up or had been crying for a long time. When he saw Jiang Bo, he paused, then lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.

"Who are you? What brings you here?"

Jiang Bo showed his identification. "Lin Xiaoxue's husband?"

Zhang Wei's face turned pale. As white as paper, his lips trembled, and he couldn't speak for a long time. "Yes. She...she had an accident? I heard about it this morning, but I can't believe it. I saw the news; it said a woman's body was found in Binjiang Park, wearing a pink tracksuit. I called her, but I couldn't get through. I went to her house, but no one answered. I know it's her. I know she's dead. How could she...she goes for a run every night, and nothing ever happens to her. How could this happen?"

Jiang Bo looked at him. "Where were you last night? From 7 pm until the next morning, where were you? Is there anyone to corroborate that?"

Zhang Wei's lips trembled. "At home. I was home alone. Watching TV. Watching for a long time. Watching until very late. No one can prove it. I know you suspect me, but I didn't kill her. She's my wife, the mother of my child. I won't kill her. Although I feel sorry for her, I won't kill her. She's still young, only thirty-four years old. The child is still young, only in elementary school. I can't let the child be without a mother."

Jiang Bo stared into his eyes. Those eyes held fear and sorrow, but no guilt. The fear was of being wrongly accused, the sorrow of his wife's death, but there was no evasive light. He wasn't the murderer. At least, he didn't seem like one. He was just a man who had made a mistake, a husband who had wronged his wife, a father who didn't know how to face his children.

"After you moved out, have you seen her again? When was the last time you saw her? What did she say?"

Zhang Wei lowered his head. Tears streamed down his face, dripping onto the ground. "I saw her. I saw her once last week. I went to see the children. She wouldn't let me in, and we had a fight downstairs. She said she wanted a divorce, she wanted the children, she wanted the house. I said okay. I don't want anything. I was wrong. I'm sorry to her. But I don't hate her. I won't kill her. She's the person I've wronged the most in my life. How could I possibly kill her?"

Jiang Bo was silent for a moment. "Do you know if she's been acting strangely lately? Has anyone been following her? Has anyone been harassing her with phone calls? Has anyone been sending her strange messages?"

Zhang Wei thought for a moment. His brows furrowed, and his lips pursed, as if he were trying hard to recall. "Once, she told me that someone was following her while she was jogging at night. She thought it was a bad guy, but later found out it was someone from her jogging group. She said the man's name was Wang Jianjun, and he was the new group leader. He said he was worried about her safety, so he was following her. She didn't think much of it. She said he was a very nice and helpful person. She also said that Wang Jianjun had treated her to a meal, and they talked a lot. She said Wang Jianjun was also a pitiful person; his wife had died, and he was raising his child alone. They got along well."

Jiang Bo clenched his fist. "Wang Jianjun? Have you met him? What does he look like? Have you talked to him?"

Zhang Wei shook his head. "No. She mentioned it a few times, saying he took good care of her. I didn't think much of it. I had already moved out by then and hadn't been in contact with her much. I don't know much about her."

After leaving Zhang Wei's house, Jiang Bo stood downstairs and lit a cigarette. Tangyuan lay quietly at his feet, keeping him company. The sunlight shone warmly on the apartment complex. Several elderly people were sunbathing downstairs, chatting about everyday things—whose child got into university, whose wife had given birth to a second child. They didn't know that the man upstairs had lost his wife. They didn't know that the man was crying. He was crying silently, his shoulders trembling. He sat alone on the sofa, facing the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts, unsure of what to do.

"Liu Tong, where is Wang Jianjun? Have you found him? I need to see him, now."

Liu Tong's voice was tense. "Found him. He's at the company. He went to work as usual today, had meetings as usual, and conducted business as usual. He seemed perfectly normal, like nothing had happened. His secretary said he was in a good mood today and even joked with clients. Mr. Bo, something's wrong with this guy. He's too normal. Abnormally normal. Most people would at least be surprised or saddened to hear that an acquaintance has died. He wasn't. He acted like nothing had happened."

Jiang Bo stubbed out his cigarette. "Let's go. Let's meet him. I want to see what kind of person he is."

Wang Jianjun's company is located on the eighth floor of an office building in the development zone. It sells building materials, and a sign with the words "Jianjun Building Materials" in gold lettering hangs at the entrance, gleaming under the lights. The receptionist is a young woman, wearing makeup and a business suit. She paused for a moment when she saw Jiang Bo.

"Who are you looking for?"

Jiang Bo presented his identification. "Wang Jianjun."

The young woman's expression changed. "Mr. Wang is in his office. I'll let you know. Please wait a moment."

Jiang Bo waved his hand. "No need. I'll go in myself." He walked straight inside.

Wang Jianjun's office was at the end of the corridor, the door open. He sat behind his desk, on the phone, smiling and speaking fluent Mandarin. He wore a white shirt and tie, his hair neatly combed. On his desk sat a lush, green potted plant. A calligraphy scroll hung on the wall: "Honesty is fundamental." Seeing Jiang Bo, he paused for a moment, then said into the phone, "Let's talk later," and hung up. He stood up, smiling, and extended his hand.

"Officer Jiang? It's an honor to meet you. What brings you here? Come, come, have a seat. Tea or coffee? I have some fine Longjing tea here, brought back from Hangzhou by a friend."

Jiang Bo didn't shake his hand. He sat opposite him, looking at Wang Jianjun. Forty-three years old, of medium build, wearing frameless glasses with clean lenses. His skin was well-maintained, without wrinkles, not like someone in his forties. His smile was professional, the angle of his upturned lips just right—any more would seem fake, any less would seem cold. But Jiang Bo noticed a silver ring on his right ring finger. It was thin and shiny, engraved with the letter J. It gleamed under the light.

"Lin Xiaoxue is dead. You know that, right?"

Wang Jianjun's smile froze for a moment. His eyes blinked a few times, and his lips twitched. His hand hovered in mid-air, then slowly lowered to his side. "I know. I heard about it this morning. It's very upsetting. She's a good person. A key member of our night running group. She comes to every activity, never missing a single one. She's not a fast runner, but she's very dedicated, always finishing the entire course. I really like her. Not just like, but admire her. She's a very strong woman. Her husband cheated on her, she's raising the child alone, and she still has to go to work. It's not easy for her."

Jiang Bo stared into his eyes. "Where were you last night? From the time you finished your run until the next morning, where were you? Can anyone vouch for that?"

Wang Jianjun thought for a moment. His eyes darted around, then quickly said, "I'm home. I went home right after my run. I got home around nine o'clock and haven't gone out since. My wife can vouch for that. She's home. We watched TV for a while and then went to sleep. My phone is at home too; you can check its location. I have nothing to hide. Check all you want."

Jiang Bo was silent for a moment. "Someone saw you running with Lin Xiaoxue. More than once. Do you admit it? Several people from the night running group saw it. They said you were always following behind her, very close. When she stopped to drink water, you stopped too. When she ran, you ran too. Do you admit it?"

Wang Jianjun's face changed. His smile vanished completely, replaced by an indescribable expression. There was tension, fear, and a hint of anger. The corners of his mouth turned down, his brows furrowed, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

"I admit it. I followed her. I was worried about her safety. It's not safe for a woman to run alone at night. As the leader, I have a responsibility to take care of every member. I told her that, and she said it wasn't necessary, that she was used to being alone and didn't want to trouble herself. But I was still worried, so I secretly followed her. I know it was wrong, but I didn't mean any harm. I didn't kill her. I didn't kill anyone. You can't doubt me because of this."

Jiang Bo stood up. "Can I see your ring? I want to see the letter engraved on it clearly."

Wang Jianjun withdrew his hand. He instinctively hid it under the table, his facial muscles twitching. His face turned even paler, as white as paper.

"A ring? It's just a regular ring. My wife gave it to me as a wedding anniversary gift. Nothing special. It's silver, so it's not worth much."

Jiang Bo looked at him. "J. What does that letter mean? Is it an abbreviation of your name, or does it have some other meaning?"

Sweat beaded on Wang Jianjun's forehead. He quickly wiped it away. "J? That's the initials of my name. Jianjun. J. It doesn't mean anything. It's just a regular ring. You can look if you want." He held out his hand, revealing the ring.

Jiang Bo looked at it. It was a silver ring, very thin and shiny. The "J" was deeply engraved, the strokes bold, as if deliberately meant to be seen. He reached out and touched the ring. It was icy cold.

"Does your wife know about this ring? Does she know it's engraved with a 'J'?"

Wang Jianjun's face changed. His lips trembled, and he couldn't speak for a long time. "She knows. Of course she knows. She bought it. She carved it. She chose this letter."

Jiang Bo didn't say anything more. He turned and walked out of the office. Tang Yuan followed behind. He reached the door and glanced back. Wang Jianjun sat there, head down, looking at his hand. The silver ring gleamed under the light. His fingers were trembling. His shoulders were shaking too.