Chapter 118: Undercover Boy

Although Chen Shi knew what isoflurane was, he asked knowingly, “Captain Peng, what is isoflurane?”

“It’s an inhalation anesthetic used in medicine, a colorless liquid with a somewhat pungent smell. It’s chemically stable and undergoes very little biotransformation in the body, making it easy to detect.”

“How was this discovered? Wasn’t it an accident?”

“I pointed this out to Captain Lin, who had it investigated. The day before the accident, the deceased underwent sinus surgery where this anesthetic was used. The dosage was small, so it wasn’t considered intentional harm. Now, with his mother suspected of insurance fraud, I’m starting to wonder…”

“You think someone knew he had this anesthetic the day before and used the same drug to kill him, making it undetectable to the coroner.”

“Exactly!”

Someone commented, “But even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. How could his mother kill her own son for insurance money?”

Another person said, “I know this drug. It has a strong smell. How did the killer make him inhale it without him noticing?”

Peng Sijue answered, “Nothing with traces of isoflurane was found among the victim’s belongings.”

Officer Lao Zhang said, “I was involved in that case. I learned from the victim’s relatives that the boy wasn’t the biological son of the couple. The father wanted a child, but the mother was infertile, so they adopted him. When he was young, he overheard during a parental argument that he was adopted, which strained his relationship with his mother. After his accident, she didn’t even visit him.”

“So it’s possible,” everyone said.

Lin Dongxue remarked, “I spoke with his mother on the phone. She said she’d come back in a few days to handle the funeral. It’s a good chance to investigate. We need more evidence to prove her fraud.”

Chen Shi said, “If we can find that insurance agent, Yang, this woman’s case will collapse.”

But how to investigate, everyone was stumped. Xu Xiaodong asked, “Leader, who usually commits insurance fraud?”

“People with financial difficulties.”

“I’m not well-off, but I don’t commit fraud.”

Everyone laughed. Lin Dongxue cleared her throat, “Most fraudsters inflict self-harm to claim insurance. Some have heavy debts, some need money for medical treatment, and some are drug addicts… The drug addicts I encountered have been sent to rehab.”

Xu Xiaodong suddenly had an idea. “What if we pose as someone in desperate need of money and try to buy insurance from that agent? We could lure him out.”

Chen Shi said, “But there are many people in need of money. How will you find him?”

“Birds of a feather flock together. When I was working on a drug case, I cultivated an informant who knows many addicts. Maybe one of them knows that agent.”

“You mean you’ll go undercover?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Yes, undercover! I love ‘Infernal Affairs’. Going undercover is so cool. Dongxue… I mean, Leader, please fulfill this wish. It’s just one case, not a long-term assignment.”

“But what if it’s dangerous?”

“It’s not a drug cartel or gang, just insurance fraud. It won’t be dangerous. Besides, I’ve trained!” Xu Xiaodong demonstrated a few moves.

Lin Dongxue pondered. She realized the difficulty of being a leader, having to take responsibility for her decisions. Weighing the risks, she concluded that going undercover wasn’t too dangerous or time-consuming, and it offered a chance to reach the mastermind.

“Be careful and take all necessary precautions,” she said.

“Yay, undercover mission!” Xu Xiaodong cheered.

Xu Xiaodong’s informant was a former elementary school bully who used to torment him. After Xu Xiaodong became a police officer, he arrested this bully during a drug bust. Released, the bully now bowed to Xu Xiaodong, their roles reversed. Xu Xiaodong, out of pity, turned him into an informant.

Xu Xiaodong found the informant, A-Meng, working at a KTV. “Brother Dong, what brings you here? On a mission? Have you eaten? My treat!” A-Meng greeted.

“No need for formalities. Let’s talk somewhere quiet.”

In a private room, Xu Xiaodong explained the situation. A-Meng scratched his head, “Insurance fraud? I haven’t encountered that.”

“Don’t you know any addicts involved in fraud?”

“I don’t know any addicts. Since my last arrest, I’ve reformed and haven’t touched drugs.”

Xu Xiaodong sighed and pulled out a wad of cash. A-Meng reached for it, but Xu Xiaodong withdrew his hand. “Provide useful information first.”

A-Meng clicked his tongue. “There’s a guy named Li Dechao. Haven’t seen him for a while, but he came back with an eye bandaged and lots of cash. He said he found a new way to make money and wouldn’t worry about drugs for at least five years… I swear, his drug use isn’t related to me.”

Xu Xiaodong scoffed. Informants were rarely clean, and even police plants often ended up addicted or with a criminal record. He handed A-Meng the cash. “How can I find him? Don’t hold back. I’m not investigating you this time.”

“There’s a drug party tonight. He’ll be there.”

“A drug party?”

“Nothing to do with me, I swear.”

Xu Xiaodong thought about it. He was there to go undercover, not to bust a case. He needed to befriend the fraudster and get information, which meant blending in, possibly even using drugs.

Seeing Xu Xiaodong’s hesitation, A-Meng said, “Brother Dong, afraid of getting hooked?”

“Once you touch it, you’re ruined.”

“If you trust me, I have an idea.”

A-Meng left and returned five minutes later with a straw and a packet of milk powder. He crushed the powder into a glass and handed the straw to Xu Xiaodong. “Try it!”

Xu Xiaodong knew he had to fake it. He snorted the powder through the straw, coughing and tearing up. “My throat is clogged. Next time, use vitamin tablets.”