Skin - Chapter 62

Chapter 62 – Mr. Lu’s Trick of Escaping Scolding

　　Meng Zhao knew that after Lu Yang published this article, not only would Wu Jiayi and Wu Weihan, father and son, be pushed to the forefront of public opinion, but the Criminal Investigation Department and even the entire Municipal Bureau would become the focus of attention.

　　Next, he would have to handle the case under tremendous public pressure, and he could only force himself to move faster.

　　On the way back to the city police station, Meng Zhao said, “The person who provided information to Lu Yang claimed to have been a victim of Cage. How did she escape? And after escaping, she did not choose to call the police immediately, but told Lu Yang the news at this point in time. Why did she do this? I always feel that something is wrong.”

　　”This is not the first time that Lu Yang has been used as a gun.” Lu Shichen said.

　　”Yes, could the person who provided the information about Zhao Yunhua’s accidental killing of Zhou Yan last time be the same person who told Lu Yang about Cage this time?”

　　Lu Shichen didn’t respond, seeming to be in deep thought.

　　Meng Zhao sighed: “Let’s solve the current problem first. No matter what, the murderer of Lu Yang must be related to Wu Weihan. The most urgent task is to find evidence of Wu Weihan’s crime.”

　　Lu Shichen said “hmm”.

　　•=|=•

　　The car stopped at the Municipal Bureau building, and Meng Zhao and Lu Shichen walked into the building.

　　The girl who was rescued from the building has been placed in the lounge, waiting to give her testimony. Lu Yang’s body and the murderer’s footprints had also been sent to the Trace Inspection Department.

　　Meng Zhao first took Lu Shichen to the lounge: “You take a rest first, I will go to interrogate the two managers. If everything goes well, I will go back to the hospital with you in the evening. If it ends too late, I will find someone to take you back first.”

　　”I’ll wait for you.” Lu Shichen looked around the lounge. “Do you usually stay here?”

　　”When I’m on duty, I stay here. Sometimes I work overtime too late, too.” Meng Zhao opened the door, turned to Lu Shichen and said, “I’m going.”

　　He went to the next conference room to get a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and grabbed a staff member from the administration department and said, “Send it to my lounge.”

　　”Okay, Captain Meng.” the man responded.

　　Meng Zhao walked into the interrogation room and looked at the keeper of the cage sitting inside through the two-sided mirror.

　　The man sat at the table, his shoulders hunched, his head lowered, looking a little embarrassed.

　　‘How to get a confession from this person about Wu Weihan’s crime?’ Meng Zhao quickly sorted out the interrogation ideas in his mind. A few minutes later, he said “Let’s go” to the police officer who was going to interrogate the man with him, and then pushed the door and entered the interrogation room.

　　In the interrogation room, Meng Zhao walked to the interrogation table and sat down, staring at the man opposite him with a cold look.

　　Thinking that the policeman opposite him almost beat his companion to death not long ago, the cold look made the man shudder.

　　After a moment of silence, Meng Zhao asked, “Who is the mastermind behind you?”

　　The man said nothing.

　　Meng Zhao raised his voice: “I’ll give you one last chance, will you tell me or not?!”

　　After hesitating for a while, the man stammered with a painful expression: “Officer, I’m just an employee, I really don’t know anything… Please spare me, officer.”

　　”Just an employee?” Meng Zhao stood up angrily. “You just said it so casually, as if this matter has nothing to do with you. In your eyes, these unscrupulous things you did are just like ordinary jobs, not worth mentioning?!

　　”Illegal imprisonment, intentional injury, rape of a young girl, which crime can you escape? I tell you, if you don’t tell the truth, you will also be charged with intentional homicide!”

　　When the man heard what Meng Zhao said, he was so frightened that his knees went weak and he knelt on the ground, hastily defending himself: “Officer, I haven’t killed anyone, I really haven’t killed anyone, I am guilty, but I really didn’t kill anyone, officer…”

　　Meng Zhao flipped through the stack of documents he brought with him, pulled out a few photos and handed them to him: “Take a good look at these people, do they look familiar?”

　　It was a photograph of the several girls rescued from the basement of the sanatorium. After looking at the people in the photograph clearly, the man’s expression became even more terrified.

　　Meng Zhao looked at him: “They were also the anchors you managed, right? Do you know what their current situation is?”

　　The man shook his head in panic.

　　”After being injected with unknown drugs for a long time, they have completely lost consciousness. They might die in the short term, or might live as a vegetable for the rest of their lives! Tell me, who did this?” Meng Zhao clenched his fist and slammed the table. “Who are you working for?!”

　　The man collapsed and buried his head even lower. He knelt on the ground with his forehead almost touching the ground, tears streaming down his face, “I dare not say it, I dare not say it… If I do, they will kill my family, officer…”

　　Meng Zhao looked at him coldly: “You are thinking of your family now. When you were torturing those girls, why didn’t you think of their families?”

　　The man lowered his head and sobbed.

　　Meng Zhao calmed himself down and continued in a cold voice, “You are already like this, do you think the ‘they’ you mentioned dare to be so arrogant? The police will not let a bad guy escape, but they will also ensure the safety of ordinary people. If you can confess, the police will be fully responsible for the safety of your family.”

　　The man cried quietly for a long time before he choked up and said, “Officer, I’ll say it…the boss’s surname is Wu, and his name is… Wu Weihan.”

　　After getting the most crucial confession, Meng Zhao felt a little relieved.

　　The psychological defense of the person before him had been broken, and all the following problems would be solved. He continued to ask: “Who are those clients your boss brought? Do you have a list?”

　　”I really don’t know this,” the man immediately shook his head in panic, “The boss wouldn’t tell us this.”

　　Seeing that he looked flustered and didn’t seem to be lying, Meng Zhao observed his expression and asked a few other questions about the Cage’s operating model. The man answered them one by one.

　　Just as the interrogation was about to end, Meng Zhao received a call from Zhou Qiyang: “Brother Zhao, come over quickly, we made a major discovery!”

　　”I’ll be there right away.” Meng Zhao called Ren Bin to continue interrogating the keeper of the Dark Cage for him, and then quickly walked towards the criminal investigation office.

　　Pushing the door and entering the office, Meng Zhao walked behind Zhou Qiyang and finished watching the video content on the computer. He patted Zhou Qiyang on the shoulder and said, “Well done. Copy these videos to the pad and report to Director Xu. Immediately apply for an arrest warrant.” After that, he quickly changed his mind and said, “Forget it, I’ll go myself.”

　　Meng Zhao quickly ran to Director Xu’s office, but Director Xu was not there. The director’s secretary pointed him in a direction and told him to go to the lounge.

　　”I’ll go take a look.” Meng Zhao immediately ran in the direction he pointed.

　　Turning a corner, he saw Director Xu walking to the door of his lounge, pushing it open and walking in.

　　Meng Zhao quickly followed, and before Director Xu closed the door, he stretched out his hand to block the door and walked in: “Why are you here?”

　　Director Xu turned around and asked him, “Why are you here?”

　　Lu Shichen in the room looked up at Meng Zhao.

　　”I’m here to report about the case to you,” Meng Zhao reported the current progress of the case to Director Xu, and then said, “Please inform the procuratorate. I need to get an arrest warrant immediately.”

　　”Got it. As for you,” Director Xu put two fingers together and poked Meng Zhao’s shoulder a few times, “When everything is done, come to see me no matter how late it is tonight.”

　　”Then I’ll go to the hospital to see Wu Weihan first.”

　　”I’ll go with you.” Lu Shichen stood up at this time.

　　Before Meng Zhao could speak, Director Xu spoke first. He walked over and patted Lu Shichen on the shoulder: “Xiao Lu, please sit down. Let him go and do his work first. I have something to talk to you about.”

　　After Director Xu finished speaking, he waved the back of his hand twice towards Meng Zhao, signaling him to leave quickly.

　　Meng Zhao opened the door and walked out. When he closed the door, he couldn’t help but guess. From Director Xu’s tone, it seemed that he had something important to discuss with Lu Shichen, but what was there to talk about between these two people?

　　After organizing all the evidence in hand, Meng Zhao called Zhou Qiyang and several other police officers to drive to the hospital where Wu Weihan hospitalised.

　　Wu Weihan had been staying in the hospital the last few days since he suffered a cardiac arrest in the detention center.

　　When Meng Zhao and Zhou Qiyang arrived at the ward, Wu Weihan was eating half-leisurely. He picked and chose in the lunch box with his chopsticks, not eating any fat, onions or garlic. He took two mouthfuls of rice and a sip of soup, looking relaxed.

　　Seeing his picky appearance, Meng Zhao, who was standing in front of the window, became furious.

　　Thinking of the girls who were still unconscious in the hospital, the girls covered in scars in the dark cage, the tragic death of Lu Yang, and Lin Lang who had not left the house for ten years, Meng Zhao almost wanted to pull him over and beat him up.

　　But this time he finally held back. This kind of sinner should be judged by the law, letting everyone witness his crime and making him a prisoner despised by thousands of people. Perhaps, this is the ending he deserves.

　　Meng Zhao pushed the door open and walked in, greeting him casually: “Mr. Wu, is the meal to your liking? Staying in the hospital seems to be pretty good.”

　　Wu Weihan didn’t seem happy to see Meng Zhao. He put away his leisurely attitude and put the lunch box on the table beside him: “Officer Meng, you must be joking. I almost lost my life, how can I be doing well?”

　　Meng Zhao half leaned against the bed opposite him. “I’m really surprised that Mr. Wu also cares about lives. However, you should only care about your own life, right? As for Zhao Tong’s life, Lin Lang’s life, Lu Yang’s life, the lives of those innocent girls, and the lives of the dozens of ‘birds’ that you locked up, in your eyes, they are probably not even as important as ants, right?” Meng Zhao’s voice suddenly rose, and his tone became cold and stern. “Are their lives not lives? Can you trample on them so casually?!”

　　Wu Weihan still looked innocent. He looked at Meng Zhao and even laughed. “What are you talking about, Officer Meng? Zhao Tong committed suicide. This has been concluded a long time ago. Lin Lang is alive and well. As for Lu Yang you mentioned, I don’t even know this person. Officer Meng, please don’t arbitrarily accuse people without evidence. If Officer Meng has anything else to say, please go talk to my lawyer. My body hasn’t recovered yet and I need to rest. I’m sorry I can’t keep you company.”

　　Meng Zhao looked at him. Wu Weihan, who was under surveillance in the hospital, probably had no idea what was happening outside. He leaned over, leaned close to Wu Weihan’s ear, and lowered his voice and said, “Boss Wu, there is something I think you need to know. The people who manage the Dark Cage have confessed everything about you.”

　　Being so close, he could feel Wu Weihan’s breathing suddenly stop, and then the expression on his face froze.

　　Meng Zhao stretched out his hand towards Zhou Qiyang, and Zhou Qiyang handed the tablet to him.

　　Meng Zhao stood up, swiped the tablet screen with his fingers, and said in a natural tone: “Do you want to know what’s in it?”

　　After he finished speaking, he handed the tablet to Wu Weihan.

　　On the screen, Wu Weihan was sitting in the monitoring room of the dark cage, pointing his finger at the screen, as if issuing some orders to the other two guards.

　　Wu Weihan’s eyes were fixed on the screen, and his breathing began to become rapid.

　　”I want to know,” Meng Zhao looked at him and said, “Is it a coincidence that Mr. Wu is here?”

　　Wu Weihan’s facial muscles were tense and he remained silent.

　　Meng Zhao continued: “If that’s not enough, I’ll show you another one.”

　　After saying that, he slid the screen and played the next video.

　　Wu Weihan walked into the dark cage with a man of similar height to him. After the two chatted and laughed, Wu Weihan handed the man over to one of the caretakers, who then took the client to the second floor.

　　After putting on the hospital gown, Wu Weihan’s chest heaved violently, and his clenched fists began to tremble.

　　”Mr. Wu, it seems that you have nothing to say now, right? Let’s not continue watching. If you go into another cardiac arrest, it will not be good.” Meng Zhao put away the tablet and said seriously, “Wait for justice. You will pay the price for what you have done.”

　　After that, he turned off the tablet screen and handed it back to Zhou Qiyang. Then he showed the arrest warrant, looked at Wu Weihan and said in a deep voice: “Wu Weihan, I am now formally arresting you on suspicion of rape, illegal detention, and intentional homicide.”

　　He waved outside, and two policemen immediately walked in and quickly handcuffed Wu Weihan.

　　”It’s not me, you are framing me!” Wu Weihan raised his voice, “What you are doing is illegal! I want to see my lawyer!”

　　But the two policemen didn’t care about his excuses and took him off the bed without saying a word.

　　The escorted Wu Weihan struggled violently. When passing by Meng Zhao, he turned around and stared at Meng Zhao, gritting his teeth and said viciously: “Let me pay the price? Just wait and see who makes whom pay the price!”

　　Before he could finish his words, he was escorted out of the ward by two policemen.

　　Watching Wu Weihan being escorted into the police car, Meng Zhao stood where he was and closed his eyes. After a while, he let out a breath.

　　”Let’s go,” he walked forward, “Director Xu is waiting for me to return so that he can scold me.”

　　Zhou Qiyang quickly followed up: “I don’t know who was so shameless as to tell Director Xu about you beating someone up. That kind of person deserves to be beaten to death!”

　　•=|=•

　　Director’s Office.

　　”I asked you to work in the traffic police team for two months last time, but you didn’t learn your lesson, did you?” Director Xu slammed the table. “It’s only been a short time and you made the same mistake again? It’s all thanks to the prisoner who didn’t know anything. What if he reported you? Do you still want to do this?!”

　　”It’s my fault,” Meng Zhao admitted his mistake straightforwardly, “I couldn’t help myself.”

　　”Do you have to beat someone to death before you learn your lesson?!”

　　Meng Zhao was silent.

　　”You’ve written an inspection and you’ve made a self-criticism. You’ve also been punished by working at the traffic police team. What else do you want to do?” Director Xu said sternly.

　　”Let’s not talk about the beating of the suspect for now. What about the WeChat article?” Director Xu paced back and forth, questioning Meng Zhao, “Lu Yang was clearly dead at that time, but you still published the article privately. If this matter is investigated, it’s not too much to charge you with fabricating evidence!”

　　”I think you are becoming more and more lawless. You bring civilians to crime scenes everywhere. Which police regulations do you care about? Also, it’s okay if he’s not a police officer, but Xiao Lu is our enthusiastic citizen. Can you guarantee his safety by bringing him to such a dangerous place?!”

　　”Someone called to threaten his life,” Meng Zhao finally said, “I thought it was safer for him to stay with me than to stay in the hospital.”

　　”Still talking back!” Director Xu raised his voice to suppress his rebuttal, “Can’t you just bring him to the police station?! I was thinking of promoting you to captain within this year after the case is over, but now it seems like you can forget about this position.”

　　”I have no objection.” Meng Zhao said.

　　After Director Xu cursed angrily, he paced back and forth twice and stopped in front of Meng Zhao. He stared at Meng Zhao for a long time and sighed.

　　When he spoke again, his tone became calmer: “Xiao Meng, as a policeman, you have a strong sense of justice, which I admire very much, but you must understand that a sense of justice is not an excuse for you to vent your personal anger. If every policeman arbitrarily uses lynching when facing criminals, then what is the meaning of the existence of the law? As a policeman, you must learn to be more patient and restrained than ordinary people. Do you understand?”

　　”I understand.” Meng Zhao said seriously.

　　”Louder.”

　　”I understand!” Meng Zhao raised his voice.

　　”Get lost!” Director Xu waved his hand, “Write an 8,000-word long self-review and hand it to me in person tomorrow morning!”

　　Meng Zhao immediately looked up: “Eight thousand words?! Why don’t you let me go to the traffic police team next door…”

　　Director Xu interrupted him rudely: “I didn’t give you any room for negotiation!”

　　After leaving Director Xu’s office, Meng Zhao suddenly felt a headache when he thought about having to stay up late tonight to write an 8,000-word self-criticism.

　　He hated writing the most in his life. Even when he was writing a Chinese composition in high school, he would never write 801 words even though the requirement was 800 words.

　　In a rage, he then thought of how Lu Shichen had repeatedly disobeyed orders and left the police car without permission during the day. He planned to vent all his anger that he had accumulated from Director Xu on Lu Shichen.

　　When he pushed the door open, he saw Lu Shichen leaning against the windowsill, seemingly having just finished a phone call.

　　”Lu Shichen, what’s wrong with you?” Meng Zhao walked towards him angrily, venting his anger, “I specifically asked Xiao Zhou to watch you during the day and not let you get out of the car, but you always agreed, but in the end you never listened, and even instigated Zhou Qiyang to rebel! To put it mildly, you are disobeying orders, and to put it more seriously, you are interfering with the police’s investigation, do you know that?!”

　　Before he could vent his anger, Lu Shichen raised his hand and gently supported his chin.

　　This inappropriate, almost teasing gesture made Meng Zhao even angrier. He was about to wave away Lu Shichen’s hand and launch the next round of verbal attacks.

　　But then, Lu Shichen pressed the slightly cold tip of his thumb on his lower lip. At the same time, he lowered his head slightly and his eyes fell on Meng Zhao’s lips.

　　His heart suddenly skipped a beat and Meng Zhao became speechless, completely forgetting what he was going to say next.

“Very dry.” Lu Shichen whispered.

　　”……What?”

　　”Your lips.” Lu Shichen’s hand dropped down, and he took the bottle of mineral water from the windowsill and handed it to Meng Zhao, “Drink some water.”

　　After looking at Lu Shichen for two seconds, Meng Zhao took the bottle of water, tilted his head back and drank all the remaining water in the bottle.

　　It was intentional, absolutely intentional!

　　After drinking all the water, Meng Zhao clenched his fingers and squeezed the mineral water bottle until it was deformed. In order to avoid being scolded, this man actually resorted to such excessive means!

　　Meng Zhao raised his hand and threw the bottle into the trash can. An idea flashed through his mind. At that moment, he thought Lu Shichen would kiss him.

　　And he didn’t even try to hide!