Chapter 432: Subway Hostage Situation

Back at the office, a subordinate handed Lin Qiupu a cardboard box, explaining it was found at the home of the junkie they had arrested. Lin Qiupu took the box and opened it to find a note inside: “For [Junkie’s Name] Only!”

“Have the fingerprints been checked?”

“Yes, only the gunman’s prints were found.”

“What about his wife?”

“She’s been sent for mandatory rehab. She was quite resistant and even bit one of our officers. It took a lot of effort to get her there.”

Lin Qiupu nodded and dismissed the officer. Most addicts can’t quit; physical addiction can be beaten, but psychological addiction is harder to break. Once this couple leaves rehab, they might return to their old ways, becoming a potential hazard to society. He could only sigh at this reality. He remembered what Song Lang once said, “Police are like the white blood cells of society. We only devour the viruses and infected cells but can’t cure them.”

Sometimes, being a police officer made Lin Qiupu feel helpless; they could only address the symptoms of societal issues, not the root causes.

Lin Qiupu gathered his things to head home. As he passed the information department, he saw Lin Dongxue, Xu Xiaodong, and another officer poring over something. He considered saying hello but decided against it.

The next morning, the department received an emergency call reporting a man holding hostages at a subway station. Lin Qiupu quickly assembled a team and headed out.

It was rush hour, and the subway station was packed. The officers struggled to push through the crowd, shouting, “Excuse us, police!” When they finally reached the platform, they saw a battered man holding a woman by the neck, pressing a gun to her temple. Opposite him stood a burly man with a shaved head, wearing a leopard-print tank top and a thick gold chain.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered, many filming with their phones.

“Clear out! Clear out!” Lin Qiupu shouted, pushing the crowd back.

“Thank God the police are here!” the bald man said. “You need to settle this! This guy molested my wife on the train, so I taught him a lesson. Then he pulled a gun and took a hostage! Where’s the justice?”

The woman screamed, “Officer, don’t listen to him! He’s not my husband; he’s a pervert!”

The gunman said, “He’s the pervert! I intervened, and he attacked me. I had no choice but to do this!”

The woman yelled, “Don’t believe him! He’s no good either!”

The bald man roared, “Who are you calling a pervert? Look, his fly is still open!”

Lin Qiupu was getting a headache. What a mess of relationships. He steeled himself and said, “Everyone, calm down. Sir, please lower the gun. The police are here now. No one will hurt you. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

The gunman, visibly agitated, said, “Make this guy leave first, and don’t arrest me.”

“Put the gun down first.”

“If I do, you’ll arrest me. I won’t!”

The woman screamed, “Shoot him! This pervert is disgusting!”

Upon closer inspection, Lin Qiupu saw something suspicious bulging in the gunman’s unzipped pants, rubbing against the woman. The bald man got furious, clenching his fists, “Let go of my wife, or I’ll kill you!”

“I’m not your wife… Officer, arrest him! He’s been stalking me for days!”

The police were about to lose it. Just then, a dark-skinned man in a blue shirt pushed through the crowd. Lin Qiupu recognized him but couldn’t place him immediately.

The man flashed a badge, “I’m Yan, Deputy Director of Public Security. I’m here to negotiate!”

Lin Qiupu remembered him. Yan had taught crisis negotiation at the police academy, though it was an elective few took seriously, as China had no formal role for negotiation experts. Such tasks were usually handled by officers with relevant skills.

Seeing a deputy director, the gunman’s demeanor softened. “Promise me something.”

“Go ahead.”

“All the police leave, and arrest this bald guy. Then I’ll release her.”

The bald man yelled, “Why? Everyone saw who the real bad guy is. Why arrest me?”

“Look at what you did to me!” the gunman yelled.

“Calm down! Everyone calm down!” Deputy Director Yan gestured. “Sir, please step back. Don’t provoke him further. This won’t solve anything and will only make things worse. Your wife is still in his hands!”

The woman shouted, “I’m not his wife!”

“Alright, alright. Regardless of your relationship, let’s prioritize. We’ll deal with your issue later. First, let’s handle this man’s situation.”

Lin Qiupu admired Yan’s negotiation skills. He quickly took control of the scene.

The gunman said, “Promise me!”

Yan replied, “Your demands are too much. We can’t meet them all at once. Let’s compromise. I’ll pull back half the officers, and you let go of the woman. So many people are watching. It’s bad for both of you.”

“Okay, I agree.” The gunman released his hold on the woman’s neck.

Yan signaled to Lin Qiupu, who told his team to withdraw.

Yan addressed the onlookers, “Please, everyone, disperse. If anyone gets hurt, it won’t be good. Go to work if you need to.”

He turned to the gunman, “I have a question. Where did you get the gun?”

“None of your business!”

“Just curious. How did you get past security?”

“I… I have my ways.” The gunman stammered. Lin Qiupu noticed his change in demeanor and quietly instructed Old Zhang to check with the security staff if they recognized the man.

Yan continued, “You seem to have a job and family. Have you thought about the consequences of this extreme action? I suggest you put down the gun. This can be a minor issue. If you surrender, you’ll get leniency. We’ll give you that chance.”

The gunman began to cry, “But I don’t want to go to jail!”

“Who said anything about jail? Disturbing the peace might just mean a few days’ detention. If you fire that gun, it’s a different story. Your life will be ruined. I urge you to reconsider and make amends while you can. Fix a small mistake before it becomes irreversible.”

The gunman suddenly shouted, “Stop your sweet talk! Make all the police leave, and I’ll release her right away!”