Chapter 440: Armed and Dangerous

After the case was resolved, everyone praised Chen Shi. He modestly said, “It’s noon, let’s go for hotpot. Watching him eat made me hungry.”

Lin Qiupu interjected, “It’s too early to celebrate. There are still ten guns unaccounted for. Head back and stay on alert.”

Having just faced a gun, Chen Shi admitted, “Whether the case is solved or not, we still need to eat. Let’s go, hotpot is on me!”

They found a buffet hotpot place. Chen Shi downed a large glass of iced drink. Lin Dongxue remarked, “You’re going to fill up just on drinks!”

“Negotiating is intense,” he said.

“You could’ve let my brother handle it,” she suggested.

“But I found it interesting. I think I’m getting the hang of it.”

Chen Shi smiled, “Let’s eat.”

The meal was cheerful, and for once, no emergency calls interrupted them. Chen Shi thought, it was worth treating everyone.

As they were finishing up, Lin Qiupu took a call and came back to say, “There’s been a report of an armed robbery over the past few days.”

“Anyone hurt?” Chen Shi asked.

“No, just someone using a gun to rob victims in secluded places at night, taking their phones and wallets but not hurting them. There have been two victims so far. Team Three is on the case.”

Lin Dongxue said, “The person who distributed these guns has caused so much trouble. These people were just regular folks. Like that man today, he wouldn’t have ended up in jail if not for having a gun.”

Chen Shi said, “There’s a saying: ‘He who holds a weapon has the intent to kill.’ A gun is a dangerous thing; just a pull of the trigger can kill.”

“But there’s a positive side to this incident,” he added.

“A positive side? How?” she asked.

“Yes. These people already had someone they wanted to kill, but lacked the means. The appearance of guns pushed them to act. Without this incident, they might have done something else later, like poisoning. Today’s guy wanted to take revenge on the restaurant owner. Without a gun, he might have tried something else eventually.”

Lin Qiupu understood. “So you’re saying this incident condensed several potential future crimes into one.”

“Exactly, like defusing a bomb, removing some unstable factors.”

Lin Dongxue countered, “But still, the presence of guns caused harm. If everyone had a gun, crime rates would only rise.”

“You’re right. Many foreigners marvel at how safe our country is,” Chen Shi said.

Lin Qiupu added, “By the way, negotiation isn’t about unconditionally meeting demands. If it were a bank robber asking for a car and a helicopter, would you give it to them?”

Chen Shi laughed and shook his head. “I understand. Today was a special case.”

“Next time, let me handle it. I’ll show you proper negotiation.”

“Sure, I’d like to watch and learn.”

Lin Qiupu took another call. His expression grew serious. “Another armed hostage situation!” he announced.

On the way to the scene, Lin Qiupu explained over the radio: “This time, the suspect is a woman, holding her husband hostage. She suspects him of cheating. Neighbors heard escalating arguments, followed by gunshots. The husband shouted for help, saying ‘She’s going to kill me!'”

When they arrived at the apartment complex, Lin Qiupu removed his gun belt, donned a bulletproof vest, and equipped a radio and a hidden microphone. Lin Dongxue warned, “Be careful, bro!”

He nodded and went upstairs. As he stepped inside, a gunshot rang out, shattering glass, scaring everyone. A woman screamed, “Don’t come in!”

“I’m a police negotiator, here to help. Please calm down, I’m unarmed,” Lin Qiupu said.

It seemed the shot was a warning. Even so, Lin Dongxue clutched Chen Shi’s hand in fear. Chen Shi gently patted her hand to comfort her.

Inside, the place was a mess, likely from the argument. Lin Qiupu peeked into the bedroom and saw a man kneeling and a pair of bare female feet.

Standing by the door, he showed his badge. “May I come in?”

“Stay at the door!” the woman screamed.

This was a sign she was willing to negotiate, a small relief for Lin Qiupu but also heightened tension as he was now exposed.

The bedroom was chaotic. The woman, in her underwear and barefoot, held a gun. Her husband knelt, crying and too scared to speak. The gun alternated between pointing at him and Lin Qiupu.

Noticing the open window behind the bed and the potential sniper spot in the opposite building, Lin Qiupu ordered, “No action without my command!”

Then he asked, “How did you find out your husband was cheating?”

“How did I find out?” she raved, eyes wild, “He bought lingerie for that bitch and hid it in the closet. When I asked, he lied and said it was for me!”

The husband protested, “It was for you, don’t you remember—”

“Shut up!” she screamed, firing at the closet, making him tremble and wet himself.

Lin Qiupu spoke into his radio, “She shot the furniture. No one’s hurt… Keep talking.”

She cried, “I checked his expenses. Thousands gone every month. He even brought that whore into our home!”

“Did you see her?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“No, but I could feel it. Things were out of place. I even found a woman’s underwear under my pillow once, not mine. It disgusted me. He always denied it… Damn all your promises of loyalty! Why did you betray me? Why!” she screamed hysterically, her husband too scared to speak again.