1993, Pengcheng Police Affairs

Chapter 39 Misleading

To avoid frightening the child, Gu Huai forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately ask for the full story.

He didn't speak again until they arrived at the village committee office and Luo Xiaojun had already sat down.

"Xiaojun, you just said you contacted your mother a few days ago, is that true?"

Gu Huai's words shocked Ling Yue, who had been waiting in the office. "His mother has already..."

"Shh." Gu Huai put his index finger to his lips and gently shushed her, signaling Ling Yue to be quiet.

Fortunately, Luo Xiaojun was drinking water and didn't hear what the two were saying.

After putting down the water glass, Gu Huai repeated the question he had just asked, wanting to make a final confirmation.

However, upon hearing Gu Huai's question, Luo Xiaojun appeared very puzzled. "Uncle, your question is strange. A mother is a mother, how can you say it's real or fake?"

Gu Huai was speechless at Luo Xiaojun's answer. He wanted to ask more questions, but he was afraid that asking too bluntly would frighten the child.

After thinking for a long time, he asked in the most tactful tone, "Xiaojun, can you contact your mother?"

"No," Luo Xiaojun shook his head. "It's always Dad who calls Mom. I don't know Mom's phone number."

After saying that, Luo Xiaojun looked at Gu Huai with curious eyes, "Uncle, do you know my mother? My mother said she's in Hong Kong. What is Hong Kong? Why does everyone say that we can't go to Hong Kong now? Is Hong Kong a foreign country?"

For a ten-year-old, knowing about Hong Kong is already the limit.

It would be quite difficult to make them understand what a treaty is or what historical issues are.

"Hong Kong isn't a foreign country." Gu Huai complained about the current compulsory education system while explaining, "In a few years, we'll be able to go to Hong Kong, and then Xiaojun will be able to see his mother."

"Oh." Luo Xiaojun gave a soft "oh" and then lowered his head dejectedly.

Seeing this, Gu Huai knew he couldn't continue asking questions.

After much deliberation, he gave Ling Yue a look and then left the office.

Ling Yue quickly followed her out of the office.

As soon as they stepped outside, Ling Yue eagerly asked, "Ah Huai, what did you mean by what you said inside? Li Xiumei isn't dead?"

Gu Huai nodded heavily. "Although it cannot be confirmed yet, this is indeed the reality."

"This..." Ling Yue was unsure what to do. "What should we do now?"

Yes, what should we do?

If what Luo Xiaojun said is true, then my previous investigative approach was completely wrong.

For a fleeting moment, Gu Huai felt as if several threads had sprouted from his back.

I felt like a puppet on strings, being manipulated by others.

And that control stick was in Luo Zhenbang's hands.

No, I must stay calm. There's still time. I must stay calm!

Gu Huai rubbed his face vigorously, forcing himself to calm down.

Based on the existing situation, he quickly made a judgment.

"Sister Ling, go talk to the village committee and ask them to send one of the village cadres who usually has the most contact with Luo Xiaojun to accompany him to the bureau. There are some things we need to ask Luo Xiaojun in detail."

Ling Yue nodded and said, "And what about you?"

"I'm going to check on Luo Zhenbang's place," Gu Huai said. "I'll see if I find anything there, and I'll tell him about the situation while I'm at it."

"it is good."

Gu Huai walked toward Luo Zhenbang's residence with a heavy heart, reviewing the case along the way.

He seemed to have grasped something vaguely, but he couldn't figure it out.

He always felt that the case was missing a piece of the puzzle.

The most troublesome thing is that he doesn't know where the puzzle piece is missing.

As soon as they climbed the stairs, they saw Hou Hao squatting at the top, ready to stop curious onlookers at any moment.

Upon hearing someone approaching, he looked up and, seeing it was Gu Huai, asked, "Ah Huai, where did you run off to? Your master has been looking for you for ages."

Gu Huai didn't answer his question, but instead glanced in the direction of Luo Zhenbang's house and saw Wu Feilin talking to Lao Zhou from the technical department at the door.

"What's the situation now? Have you found anything special?"

"Nothing?" Hou Hao shrugged. "Master Zhou and his men searched the place thoroughly three times, but they found nothing. They didn't find any suspicious items."

Hearing Hou Hao's words, Gu Huai's anxiety finally subsided.

The situation he least wanted to see has finally occurred.

Luo Zhenbang transferred all of his "collectibles".

The huge drop caused Gu Huai to lose his balance for a moment, and he staggered and grabbed the railing.

Seeing this, Hou Hao quickly grabbed Gu Huai, "Huai, don't blame yourself too much. It's just that the investigation approach went wrong. Don't worry, I also participated in the decision to investigate Luo Zhenbang. I'll go find Master later, and we'll share the responsibility."

"I didn't..." Gu Huai answered instinctively at first, but after processing Hou Hao's words, he immediately stared at Hou Hao with wide eyes, "What did you just say?!"

I told you not to worry.

"That's not it."

"Um... I'm saying we should share the responsibility," Hou Hao said in a low voice. "If you don't want to take it, I can do it alone..."

"It's not this one either!" Gu Huai said urgently.

"Uh..." Hou Hao hesitated for a moment, finally understanding Gu Huai's meaning, and slowly said, "We've been investigating for a long time, but we still don't have any evidence. I'm wondering if we were wrong from the start... Did we arrest the wrong person...?"

Seeing that Gu Huai's expression was getting increasingly grim, Hou Hao, fearing that Gu Huai would get angry, immediately changed his tone, "Even if we are right, there's not enough time..."

However, Hou Hao had clearly misunderstood Gu Huai.

Gu Huai's expression changed because Hou Hao's words had reminded him.

He finally understood what Luo Zhenbang wanted to do!

He's trying to divert attention from the investigation!

As the murderer, he knew from the beginning what the police wanted to investigate.

In order to manipulate the direction of the police investigation, he brought up his missing wife when questioned.

To increase credibility, he used vague language to entice the police to think that Li Xiumei was dead, thus making it possible for the police to confirm Li Xiumei's death as the key to solving the case.

Furthermore, in order to arouse suspicion among the police, he moved all his "collectibles" in advance, making it impossible for the police to investigate.

Ultimately, no matter what the police investigation uncovers, he can always produce Li Xiumei's contact information at the final stage, allowing the police to contact Li Xiumei and thus clear his name.

Regardless of whether Li Xiumei is really alive or not, judging from Luo Xiaojun's unwavering belief, the police have no way of proving that Li Xiumei is dead.

The best outcome of all this is like Hou Hao's: to develop self-doubt, wondering if the investigation was misguided or if the wrong person was arrested.

The worst-case scenario is that he can get out of the police station after the 24-hour period expires and then find an opportunity to sneak away.

Most people might not be able to do this, but judging from Luo Zhenbang's meticulous thinking, he must have prepared an escape route long ago.

If Gu Huai didn't have any memories of what happened afterward and had confirmed that he was the murderer, he might have actually been fooled by Luo Zhenbang.

Looking back now, if the victim hadn't managed to fake his death and escape, and if the police hadn't acted quickly and caught him red-handed, I really don't know if Luo Zhenbang would have been able to be caught so easily.

However, in the face of justice, all conspiracies and tricks are just paper tigers.

Perhaps fate had ordained me to end Luo Zhenbang's crimes ahead of schedule.

Even if it costs him his life, Gu Huai will not let Luo Zhenbang slip through his fingers.

Gu Huai calmed himself down and headed towards Luo Zhenbang's residence.

Before it all comes down to a fight to the death, he still wants to make one last effort.

As a police officer, he still wanted Luo Zhenbang to be punished by law!