Profiler (Fang Mu Eastern Crimes Series Book 1) (29 page)

He pushed lightly on the number. It absurdly spun round and round: 6, 9, 6, 9…

Tai Wei walked over and took a closer look. He discovered that the top of the two rivets holding the number in place had been unscrewed.

"This locker was originally number nine," he said, looking at Fang Mu. "Then someone got tricky and switched it to six."

Six...6.

The corners of Fang Mu's mouth curled into a faint smile.

That
someone
didn't get his way this time.

CHAPTER
19
The Meaning of Love

"U
h-huh… Okay, I understand. Then keep it that way for now. Bye." Fang Mu hung up the phone and pointed at the tangerines on the fruit stand. "How much per pound?"

Tai Wei's tone had been gloomy when he had spoken with Fang Mu just then over the phone. As he'd told Fang Mu on the night of the attempted murder, the police had made a huge effort and spent vast manpower combing the campus in search of the killer. However, they hadn't found a single clue. Because of this they still needed to be stationed on campus for the time being.

Fang Mu understood exactly how Tai Wei was feeling. He had finally been within striking distance of the killer, only to watch him escape from out of the palm of his hand. This was something that no cop could endure. He was probably going over and over every aspect of the event in his head: If only he had been a little faster... If only he had pulled out his gun more decisively… If only he had fired more accurately…

For his part, Fang Mu was much more at ease. Perhaps it was because they were approaching the problem from different perspectives. Tai Wei, for his part, was comparatively concerned with how soon he cracked the case. While Fang Mu also wanted to catch the killer as soon as possible, having stopped the man from committing another murder was even more important to him. After being questioned by the police on the night, Fang Mu had returned to his dorm and had a long and restful sleep. The next morning, when his fellow students heard the news, they started coming in droves to ask him what had happened, Fang Mu was still asleep.

After sending the last of them away, he and several of his friends decided to go visit Liu Jianjun in the hospital.

Carrying the fruit that they had bought at exorbitant prices from the stand near the provincial hospital entrance, Fang Mu and the others signed in inside and then headed to the third floor inpatient department. While Du Yu scowled as he searched for Ward 312, Fang Mu proceeded straight to the end of the hall where two police officers were standing guard outside one of the doors. Since one of them recognized him, no further questions were asked and they were allowed inside.

The bed beside the window was already surrounded by people, all of whom looked back at them as they entered. Fang Mu recognized two of them as the cops who had rushed to the gymnasium the night before.

They nodded at Fang Mu in greeting and then one turned back to the doctor and said: "So what you're saying is he's not fit to answer questions in his current condition?"

"Isn't that obvious?" said the doctor gruffly. "He's still half-comatose. How are you going to ask him anything?"

The two cops looked at one another helplessly and then silently left the room.

After placing the fruit on the windowsill, Fang Mu gave Liu Jianjun a long look.

Liu Jianjun's head was wrapped in bandages and his skin was deathly pale. His eyes were half-closed and an oxygen mask covered his mouth. He looked terribly weak.

Fang Mu's heart fell. Liu Jianjun's injuries were far worse than he had imagined. When the two policemen had carried him down to the court the night before, they had said he was "fine". Now it looked as if the word only meant was that he was still alive.

Fang Mu looked down at the health record hanging beside his bed. At the top of it was written simply: "Depressed skull fracture."

"Depressed?" he said quietly. The killer had probably hit him with a blunt object – a hammer, he guessed.

Liu Jianjun's roommate, Zou Tuanjie, was sleeping beside the bed.

Du Yu nudged him. "How is he?"

Zou Tuanjie yawned and said, "He finished surgery last night. The doctors said there's no threat to his life, but he's going to have to stay here for a little while so they can monitor him."

A sudden burst of noise sounded from the hallway. A man was heard arguing with the policemen on the other side of the door while a woman cried. "I'm his mother," she said through her sobs. "How can I not be allowed see him?"

The door opened and a travel-worn, middle-aged couple walked quickly inside. After anxiously scanning the crowded ward, they hurried over to Liu Jianjun's bed.

Before she had even reached his bedside, the woman began to wail.

Zou Tuanjie jumped to his feet and hurried to support her. "Come on, Auntie," he said consolingly. "Please sit down. Jianjun is going to be fine."

Liu Jianjun's mother sat down beside him. As big tears rolled down her face, she held one hand over her mouth, seemingly worried she would wake up her still-comatose son. She leaned over and lightly stroked his face with her hand.

Liu Jianjun's father softly read the words on his son's health record. "Depressed skull fracture?" Fear and sadness were written across his face.

"Don't worry, Uncle," said Du Yu quickly. "The doctors have already finished his surgery. They said he's not in any danger."

The father nodded, his expression relaxing slightly. He looked at all the young men. "You guys are Jianjun's classmates? What exactly happened?"

Du Yu looked at Fang Mu. "I don't know the specifics. However," he said, nudging Fang Mu, "this guy saved Liu Jianjun’s life."

Liu Jianjun's father turned to look at Fang Mu as his mother grabbed Fang Mu's hand.

"Child, please tell Auntie, what on earth happened?" she implored. "Who did this?"

"Auntie, I also don't know what exactly happened," Fang Mu told them. "I was just lucky enough to be there in time."

She suddenly got down on both knees and, choking with sobs, said: "You wonderful child. Auntie is so grateful. I only have this one son...thank you, thank you."

Fang Mu quickly helped her up, his face red from embarrassment.     

"Auntie…Auntie, don't do that… It was nothing…"

After he finally convinced Liu Jianjun's mother to return to her seat, Fang Mu knew he couldn't stay there any longer. More than anything else, the mother's endlessly grateful eyes were too much to bear.

After all, Liu Jianjun's attack had been because of him.

Looking once more at his comatose friend, Fang Mu's heart grew heavy. He balled his hands into fists.

Son of a bitch! I swear I'll catch you.

Not wanting to let Du Yu and the others see the change in him, he quietly left the room.

Back in the hallway, Fang Mu felt much better. Suddenly he really wanted a cigarette. After looking at all the doctors and nurses passing back and forth, he decided to find a bathroom and covertly smoke there.

He was strolling down the hallway toward the bathroom when he unexpectedly saw Tai Wei sprinting up the stairs.

"Hey, you're here, too?" Tai Wei asked upon seeing Fang Mu.

"Yeah, I came to see my friend."

"The boy? How is he?"

"His life's not at risk, but he's still in a coma. What are you doing here?"

"I'm going to go ask the girl what happened. She's here, too, on the fifth floor. Want to come?"

After thinking about it, Fang Mu nodded and followed him up.

Deng Linyue's police protection was much tighter than Liu Jianjun's. Four cops in SWAT gear were standing guard outside her door. The room itself was very spacious and outfitted with every amenity, and she was the only occupant. It looked like an upscale two-bedroom apartment.

Also inside Fang Mu and Tai Wei found a dignified, very well-kept woman arguing with two policemen.

"Wait a few days and we'll see," she was telling them. "How can you expect Linyue to answer any questions in the condition she's in?"

The two policemen appeared to be in an awkward situation. "We understand your daughter's condition very well," said one with distinct politeness. "But she is the only person to have been in close contact with the killer. The sooner she can provide us with any helpful clues, the sooner we can crack this case."

"Well, that will just have to wait!" said the woman decisively. "My daughter must be fully rested." Then seeing Tai Wei enter the room, she snapped, "Who are you?"

The two policemen looked back and nodded. "Captain Tai."

"You're their commanding officer? Perfect," she said. "Then I'll ask you; when can those doorkeepers outside leave? Or do you take us for criminals as well?"

"For now they're going to have to stay put," said Tai Wei, looking around the empty room. "Where's your daughter?"

Deng Linyue's mother didn't answer him. Instead, a dark look covered her face. "Well then, is my husband going to have to give your department director a call?"

Tai Wei met her eyes for a moment. "I can't give you all the specifics," he said coldly, "but it is very likely that the killer is still after your daughter." He paused. "So then, how about it? Still want us to leave?"

All the color immediately drained from the woman's face. After several seconds she managed to squeeze out a few words. "In…in that case, perhaps things should continue like this for now."

A toilet was flushed in the bathroom, and then two nurses emerged and helped Deng Linyue into the room.

Her face was deathly pale and her hair was tied up in a bun. She wore a cast on her shoulder and her arm hung in a sling in front of her chest. Seeing Fang Mu, she smiled weakly and said, "It's you." Then nodding toward the woman, she continued. "This is my mom. Mom, it was these two who rescued me."

Deng Linyue's mother looked a little embarrassed. As if to make up for her disrespectful behavior from before, she forced a smile and waved for them to each have a seat.

The two nurses helped Deng Linyue to lie down and then placed the blanket over her. They raised the bed so she could talk comfortably with her visitors.

Curled up under the snow-white covers, she smiled at Fang Mu. "Thank you for coming to visit me."

"I came to visit Liu Jianjun." As soon as the words left his mouth, Fang Mu realized they were a bit rude, so he quickly added: "And you as well."

For a moment, she looked a little embarrassed, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, how is he?"

"He finished surgery, and the doctors have said he's no longer in danger."

Deng Linyue's mother snorted disdainfully.

Opening his briefcase, Tai Wei took out a notebook and pen. "Ms. Deng, would you be able to tell me a little about what happened last night?"

At once Deng Linyue's face grew even paler. Her breathing sped up with anxiety and her eyes filled with tears. Obviously, she was not yet able to get past what had happened to her.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Deng Linyue's mother quickly spoke up. "I told you not to ask her. Can't you be considerate of the victims? Come back in a few days and we'll see." She rose to her feet, her expression telling them to head for the door.

Having no other choice, Tai Wei placed his pen and pad back in his briefcase. "All right then, make sure to rest up," he said to Den Linyue. He turned to her mother as he stood up. "We'll be back in a few days."

Fang Mu was about to follow him to the door when Deng Linyue called him back.

"Fang Mu," she said, doing her best to sit upright, "what room is Liu Jianjun in? I want to go see him."

Her mother cut off the idea at once. "I won't allow it! How can you go see him in the state you're in?"

Tai Wei gave the mother a dark look, and then turned and strode out of the room.

Helpless, Fang Mu gave Deng Linyue a little wave and then quickly followed Tai Wei out. As soon as they left, they could hear Deng Linyue and her mother arguing quietly.

"Christ!" said Tai Wei, lighting a cigarette. Ignoring the "No Smoking" sign in the hallway, he took several deep drags and then said, "That woman is too goddamn difficult!"

Not knowing whether he was talking about Deng Linyue or her mother, Fang Mu vaguely tried to calm him down, saying "Well, she is in a delicate situation."

"The whole thing's a mess," continued Tai Wei. "The father's some senior cadre, and so far he hasn't been willing to cooperate with us in the least." He tossed his cigarette away. "These are our two witnesses. One's in a coma, the other won't talk. How the hell are we supposed to continue the investigation?"