Chapter 22: Flaws
“Ugh, I hate it so much!” Lin Dongxue kicked the stones on the ground furiously as she walked downstairs.
“Miss Lin, why are you so angry?” Chen Shi approached from behind and asked with a smile.
“I hate my brother constantly controlling me!” Lin Dongxue stopped and began to abuse a branch extending from a flower bed.
“I’m curious, if your relationship is so bad, why did you join the police department?”
“It’s not like that! When I applied, I intentionally avoided the division where he worked. I didn’t expect that a year after I joined, he got transferred here as the captain, saying he wanted to take care of me. It’s so annoying!”
“Actually, your brother really cares about you.”
“Don’t speak for him. I hate hearing ‘he’s doing it for your own good’. It’s easy to say when you’re not in my shoes. Try having a control freak brother and see how you feel!”
“Alright, I won’t say anything more.”
“Where are we going next?”
“To the hospital to check if the little boy is awake. I haven’t paid the ambulance fee yet, so I’ll take care of that.”
Lin Dongxue looked around the neighborhood and said, “Aren’t we going to ask around? See if there were any eyewitnesses.”
“No need. Your brother will definitely handle that. The police will investigate more thoroughly. Since he agreed to share information with me, I trust he won’t go back on his word.”
Lin Dongxue looked at him curiously, “I thought you would say something high and mighty. Turns out you can admit your limitations too.”
“When was I ever high and mighty?” Chen Shi smiled wryly. “Working alone has its drawbacks. Investigating cases is all about manpower. The more people involved, the easier it is to solve. This is a big case; the police will definitely take it seriously. As for whether your brother can solve it before we do, I’m reserving judgment.”
Lin Dongxue chuckled, “You say you’re not high and mighty, but you clearly are!”
They then drove to the hospital. While paying the medical bills, Chen Shi said, “Please issue a receipt, made out to Long’an City Criminal Investigation Division.”
Lin Dongxue teased, “You’re really not shy, are you?”
“Why should I be? I’m not a millionaire.”
Led by a nurse, they arrived at the little boy’s room. The nurse said the boy had a fractured ankle and arm, a mild concussion, but was otherwise okay.
In the room, the boy, wearing hospital clothes, was sitting on the bed looking out the window, silently crying. Lin Dongxue suddenly felt a pang of sadness, remembering the day her parents died in a car accident when she was a child. For a kid, such a blow is like the sky falling.
“Hey there, are you okay?” Chen Shi asked softly.
The boy turned his tear-streaked face towards them but said nothing.
“Does it still hurt?”
“……”
“Can I ask you a few questions?”
“……”
Chen Shi was at a loss. Lin Dongxue whispered, “Let me try.”
She smiled and asked, “What’s your name, little one? I’m a police officer. Don’t be afraid; we’re here to protect you.”
The boy suddenly burst into tears and threw himself into Lin Dongxue’s arms. She held his thin body and gently patted his back, comforting him, “It’s okay, it’s okay.”
Chen Shi gave her an admiring look.
The boy cried so bitterly that Lin Dongxue didn’t know what to ask. Recalling the events of last night might be too cruel for him. While she hesitated, Chen Shi asked, “Do you remember what happened last night?”
The boy looked at him in fear, hugging Lin Dongxue tighter, still saying nothing.
Chen Shi asked again, “Your mom and dad…”
“Ah! Ah!” The boy suddenly shrank under the blanket, clutching his head in pain and screaming.
“Stop asking. It’s not the right time,” Lin Dongxue whispered.
“Why such a strong reaction?” Chen Shi pondered.
“Enough!” Lin Dongxue scolded, “Do you have any compassion? Let’s go. We’ll come back another time.”
Deep in thought, Chen Shi followed Lin Dongxue out of the hospital. Suddenly, he quickened his pace back inside, ignoring Lin Dongxue’s calls. Instead of returning to the ward, he went straight to the nurse’s station and asked, “Who’s in charge of the boy in room 203?”
A plump nurse replied, “Is there a problem?”
“Can we talk privately?”
The three of them stepped aside, and Chen Shi took out his phone, “Let’s add each other on WeChat.”
“What do you need?” the nurse asked warily.
Not sure what he was up to, Lin Dongxue showed her badge, “We’re police officers. Please cooperate.”
“Is something wrong with the boy’s family?” Seeing the badge, the nurse’s curiosity was piqued.
“Add me on WeChat. I need a favor,” Chen Shi repeated.
“Oh, okay!”
After adding each other on WeChat, Chen Shi quickly transferred her a thousand yuan. The nurse was shocked, “Wow, what’s this for? To take care of the boy? Don’t worry, I will. But I can’t accept this money; it’s against the rules here.”
“Do me a favor. While the boy is in the hospital, if anyone visits him, note their appearance and try to take a video. Then contact me. Can you do that?”
“You want me to be a spy?” The nurse looked bewildered.
“Don’t overthink it. Just assisting in an investigation.”
“But I’m only on day shifts this week.”
“Figure it out.”
Persuaded by the money, the nurse agreed and accepted the cash.
Leaving the hospital, Lin Dongxue looked at Chen Shi puzzled, “You, being so stingy usually, why so generous all of a sudden?”
“First, I’m not usually stingy. You don’t know me. Second, this is related to the case, I believe.”
“You think the perpetrator will visit the boy?” Lin Dongxue speculated.
“The biggest question in this case is why the perpetrator spared the boy. This is a crucial lead!”
“Not necessarily. Some people are evil but won’t harm children.”
“But they can harm an elderly person?”
Chen Shi’s words jolted Lin Dongxue awake, “You’re right!”
“The perpetrator’s primary concern is always their own safety. Given that, there’s no inherent goodness in them. If they can harm an elderly person, there’s no way they’d spare a child for no reason. There’s another reason, and this reason will determine the direction of the entire case.”
“Could the perpetrator be a relative?”
At that moment, Lin Qiupu called, “Dongxue, the case has been filed. Come back for a meeting.”
After hanging up, Lin Dongxue said, “My brother wants me back. Are you coming?”
“No, just update me later,” Chen Shi said, suddenly examining her.
“What are you looking at, old man?” Lin Dongxue asked.
“Are you going to a task force meeting dressed like that?”
Lin Dongxue looked down, remembering it was the weekend and she was dressed too casually. Chen Shi said, “Go home and change first.”
“Do we have time? I don’t want to be late.”
“If an experienced driver says we have time, we have time!” Chen Shi smiled.