Animal Detective

Chapter 235 - 225: Denunciation Letter 3

Besides, if his own people went and solved a cold case that Pingyu couldn’t crack, it would bring honor to Nanjiang.

"That’s one way to look at it, but this case is six years old. Don’t push yourself too hard. Just do your best, understand?" Director Lv added as a final reminder.

Shen Xin nodded, taking note. He understood the situation.

After all, it was their case. He had to know where to draw the line.

"Also, take someone with you. It’s always good to have backup."

When he mentioned having backup, Director Lv’s tone grew heavier, and he gave Shen Xin a meaningful look.

It only took a moment for Shen Xin to understand.

Although it was Liu Jie who had requested his help, Liu Jie was now a deputy detachment leader who had been transferred to the city bureau.

This case, however, fell under the jurisdiction of the Songling Branch.

Distant authority can’t compare to the power of the man on the scene. Liu Jie had invited Shen Xin, but who knew what the people at Songling were thinking?

’Our boss doesn’t push us to solve our own case, but instead goes and asks for outside help?’

That was practically calling them out by name and saying they were incompetent.

How could the people at Songling be happy about that?

That was why Director Lv was reminding Shen Xin to be aware of the situation and specifically telling him to bring backup.

"Director Lv, if that’s the case, then maybe we should just forget it. We’ve got a pile of cold cases in our own bureau," Shen Xin said.

Director Lv raised an eyebrow. "You little rascal, you’re putting me on the spot, aren’t you? Fine, I was just making a point. In any case, you’re out there representing Nanjiang."

"If they don’t treat you right, just give me a call. I’ll personally have a word with them and teach them a thing or two about hospitality."

Those were the words Shen Xin had been waiting for. Only then did he stand up to leave.

Shen Xin wanted to take this case.

If he really managed to solve the case, then, just as Director Lv said, he would make a name for himself as a Druid expert.

Then, perhaps more similar cases would come his way in the future.

He could also make the most of his natural talent.

As for who to bring, ’it definitely has to be a guy’.

Shen Xin thought of Zhao Tianxing.

But as it turned out, he wasn’t free. He said a theft case had just been transferred over from Hutang.

More importantly, he said he didn’t feel like traveling for work anytime soon.

Shen Xin then looked toward Gan Yong.

He and Gan Yong were the two youngest colleagues on the team.

It wasn’t that Shen Xin was opposed to traveling with senior colleagues, he just felt it was more convenient with people his own age.

But as it turned out, Gan Yong also had a case on his hands.

Shen Xin looked up and saw Ding Yuwei sitting across from him.

She was staring at him with hopeful eyes.

"How about... you go?"

His reluctant tone annoyed Ding Yuwei.

’I’ve been looking at you this whole time, and you just acted like I was invisible.’

"Fine."

Ding Yuwei dragged out the word before asking when they would be leaving.

"Let me make a call."

Shen Xin called Liu Jie and told him the situation.

"Xiaoshen, thank you."

Liu Jie expressed his thanks and told Shen Xin to go directly to the Songling Branch, saying the original physical evidence was stored there.

"Let’s go then." Shen Xin slung his bag over his shoulder.

He felt that traveling with Ding Yuwei would be a bit inconvenient.

For one thing, when they got to Songling, their hosts would have to book two rooms instead of one, which was an extra expense.

They kept pre-packed go-bags at the bureau, so they could just grab them and leave.

He reminded Zhao Tianxing not to forget to look after Dou Dou and the others, listened to a few parting words from Sun Zhao, signed out his gun, and then they drove off toward Songling.

On the way, Shen Xin made a point to repeat Director Lv’s warnings to Ding Yuwei.

"We’ll play it by ear," Shen Xin concluded.

Ding Yuwei, however, was optimistic. "It shouldn’t be that bad. This is a six-year-old cold case that Liu Zhi himself handled back in the day. Since he’s the one asking for your help, won’t he have made the proper arrangements?"

Shen Xin shook his head. "How could it not be? It’s just human nature. If it were our case, wouldn’t you be a little bothered?"

Ding Yuwei shook her head again but didn’t press the issue. Instead, she asked Shen Xin to go over the case details with her.

Shen Xin carefully recounted the information from the case file and then asked for her thoughts.

After some thought, Ding Yuwei said, "I think it’s more likely one of the villagers was the perpetrator."

Shen Xin said, "Don’t jump to conclusions just yet. It could be that someone was just coincidentally passing by, coincidentally got into a fight with Han Xiaolong, hit him with a rock, and then coincidentally found that well and dumped him inside."

There had to be some element of chance involved, or it wouldn’t have become a cold case.

"When we get there, the first thing we’ll do is find the dog."

If Liu Jie were incompetent, he never would have been promoted from the Songling Criminal Investigation Division to Deputy Detachment Leader at the city bureau.

He worked this case for two years before it was finally shelved, and to this day, he still can’t let it go.

In other words, he must have already investigated every possible lead and explored every conceivable angle.

Shen Xin wasn’t going to nitpick the case file or criticize the previous investigation. He had to find his breakthrough with the dog.

Songling wasn’t far. They took the expressway and arrived at the Songling Branch in a little over an hour.

It was one hell of an impressive building.

Songling had previously been a county, then a county-level city, and now a district. On top of that, Songling was a wealthy area, so it was no surprise the building was so grand.

The two of them found the Criminal Investigation Division.

When the middle-aged man they approached heard they were from Nanjiang, his expression flickered. His brow furrowed for a fraction of a second before he gestured for them to sit, saying that Ding Junbao was in a meeting.

The two of them sat down. The large office was mostly empty; everyone must have been out on cases.

The few people who remained kept sizing up Shen Xin and Ding Yuwei.

Shen Xin shot Ding Yuwei a look.

’See? I was right.’

’Look at this. They didn’t even offer us a glass of water.’

Ding Yuwei returned the look, signaling for him to be patient.

After waiting for over half an hour, Ding Junbao finally returned.

He paused for a moment upon seeing Shen Xin and Ding Yuwei, then hurried over to greet them.

"Sorry, sorry, I was in a meeting."

The last time they’d met on Shushan Island, Shen Xin’s impression of Ding Junbao was that he didn’t seem like a very good person.

He hadn’t expected to see him all smiles now.

Seeing that the two of them didn’t even have a glass of water, he immediately started chewing out his subordinates in the office.

He told them that their guests had come from far away to help them, and it was outrageous not to even pour them a glass of water.

Shen Xin quickly said it was no problem, but inwardly, he was puzzled.

’This doesn’t feel like fake politeness from Ding Junbao.’

Ding Junbao led the two of them into his office, poured them some tea, and said, "I know about the Han Xiaolong case. I worked it with Liu Zhi back in the day."

"Since Liu Zhi wants to reopen this case, I’m all for it. I’ll give you my full support. After all, I have you to thank."

Shen Xin had no idea what this "thank you" was for.

Ding Junbao glanced at his watch. "Look, it’s almost five o’clock. Qingyuan is pretty far, so it’ll be late by the time you get there. Why don’t you stay here in the city for the night? I’ll arrange for someone to take you tomorrow."

"For now, let’s go get some dinner. You’re Shen Xin, right? Liu Zhi told me about you. I’m quite curious, I’d like to have a good chat."

Shen Xin readily agreed with a nod, though he felt even more perplexed.

’What’s going on with Ding Junbao? Why is he being so friendly?’

However, that evening, when he saw who else was attending the dinner, Shen Xin instantly understood.

Their dinner companion was the captain of the Songling Branch’s Economic Crimes Division.

Ding Junbao’s so-called "thank you," then, must be related to the contents of Jiang Qi’s safe.