Chapter 117: Special Task Force Leader Lin Dongxue

Chen Shi managed to locate the buyer’s approximate address through his online comments, and fortunately, it was within the same city.

“Next-day delivery is quick, we need to intercept it immediately,” Chen Shi said.

Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue jumped into the car, speeding past several vehicles. “Years of careful driving, and now this,” Chen Shi remarked.

“No worries, I’ll explain the situation to the traffic department later.”

“By the way, did you get your driver’s license back? What about your car?”

Lin Dongxue stuck out her tongue. “I crashed it while chasing a thief last time. It’s completely wrecked, and repairing it would cost tens of thousands, which I can’t afford.”

“If you want to drive, you can use mine.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll wreck it too?”

Chen Shi thought for a moment. “I am. Maybe you shouldn’t.”

“You!” Lin Dongxue punched him playfully.

They finally arrived at the apartment complex and saw a delivery person downstairs. Chen Shi ran over and asked, “Hello, do you have a monitor in your vehicle? We’re the police, and that monitor might be dangerous. We need to intercept it.”

The delivery person replied, “It was just picked up by a resident in Building 3.”

“Which apartment?”

“1204.”

Chen Shi signaled Lin Dongxue, and they sprinted towards Building 3. The elevator was slow, so Chen Shi decided, “I’ll run up; you wait for the elevator.”

Chen Shi sprinted up twelve flights of stairs and banged on the door of apartment 1204. A surprised woman answered, and Chen Shi flashed his badge cover. “Did you order a monitor?”

“Yes, why?”

Chen Shi heard voices from the bedroom, a father and son assembling a computer. The son said, “This cable goes here.”

“Sorry to intrude,” Chen Shi said, pushing past her into the bedroom. “Don’t use that monitor! It might explode. I’m a police officer, and it’s been tampered with.”

“What?” The father was stunned.

The ten-year-old son muttered, “He’s probably a scammer. How could a brand-new monitor have issues?”

The father said, “Let me see your badge.”

Chen Shi reluctantly showed his badge. The father snatched it and read, “Criminal Investigation Consultant? I’ve never heard of such a title. This must be fake.”

“My partner is coming up in the elevator. Please…”

Before he could finish, the son had already turned on the power. The boy, thinking Chen Shi was lying, wanted to prove it by action.

The computer booted up, and the monitor started making suspicious humming noises. Realizing the danger, Chen Shi quickly pushed the father aside, grabbed the boy, and dived behind the table. There was a loud bang as the monitor exploded, leaving a smoking hole.

The room was a mess, with debris covering the bed and walls. The family was in shock. Chen Shi set the boy down and said, “Luckily, no one was hurt. I’m leaving now.”

The father grabbed Chen Shi, “Wait, aren’t you going to compensate us? My room is a wreck, and my son is terrified. You should pay for the damages.”

Chen Shi felt a mix of anger and amusement. He freed himself and said, “Contact the website. They’ll compensate you.”

As he left the building, the father continued to follow him, complaining, “You knew it was dangerous. Why didn’t you warn us sooner? Why didn’t you have the website take it down? What if my son had been injured? Who would be responsible?”

Chen Shi ignored him. When Lin Dongxue arrived, she asked, “What happened?”

“Nothing, let’s go!”

In the elevator, Chen Shi recounted the incident. Lin Dongxue laughed, “Good intentions met with hostility. The world is full of strange people.”

The ordeal left Chen Shi exhausted and hungry. Lin Dongxue noticed a nearby grilled fish restaurant and treated him to a meal.

After eating, they returned to the station. Lin Qiupu sighed in relief, saying, “Dongxue, you’re now in charge of the fraud case!”

Lin Dongxue was thrilled, “Are you promoting me?”

“Not exactly. I’m putting you in charge of this special task force. I have to go to the provincial office for a few days. Instead of the team idling, I want you to focus on this major case.”

“Can I handle leading the task force?”

“If I say you can, you can!” Lin Qiupu turned to Chen Shi, “Mr. Good Samaritan, please assist and take care of my sister.”

“Is there a bonus involved?”

“When have you ever missed a bonus? If you solve this case while I’m gone, I’ll give you a big red envelope for the New Year.”

“That’s motivation enough, Captain Lin. Rest assured!”

Leading a task force for the first time, Lin Dongxue was both excited and nervous. She checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. “Is this outfit too casual? Should I wear my uniform?”

“You should wear your uniform and hold a press conference,” Chen Shi joked.

“Forget the press conference… Are you mocking me?”

Chen Shi laughed, “Just be yourself. You’re leading a task force, not becoming the chief.”

“You talk like you’ve led a task force before,” Lin Dongxue teased.

Chen Shi’s expression turned serious. “I… I haven’t.”

“I know you haven’t. It would be strange if you had! What should we do next?”

“Call the team together and hold a briefing. This case has few leads, so brainstorming might help.”

“Let’s do it!”

Gathering the officers took some time. When they learned Lin Dongxue was leading the task force, their initial reaction was disbelief, followed by shock.

An hour later, all available officers were in a conference room. Faced with expectant, smiling faces, Lin Dongxue grew increasingly nervous as they egged her on, “Leader, give us orders!” “What should we investigate?”

The more they urged, the more tongue-tied she became.

Chen Shi stood up and said, “I’ll brief the case details on behalf of the leader. Is that okay, Leader?”

Lin Dongxue nodded vigorously, full of gratitude.

Chen Shi outlined the current intelligence. “I think we should divide our objectives into two parts. The smaller goal is to determine if the gaming uncle’s wife is involved in insurance fraud. The larger goal is to identify the mastermind.”

Chen Shi’s explanation was clear, and everyone understood. Xu Xiaodong raised his hand, “Is the insurance agent Yang Min the mastermind?”

“We’re not sure yet, but finding him will bring us closer to the truth.”

Chen Shi glanced at Lin Dongxue. She cleared her throat and asked, “Anyone else have comments?”

From the corner, Peng Sijue spoke up, “The gaming uncle’s son died in a car accident. There’s a detail I’d like to revisit. We found traces of isoflurane on his body.”