Letter Thirty-Nine: The Second Letter (With gratitude to our patron, the ten-year veteran bookworm YY, for your generous support!)

The following morning.

Because they had a case, Han Bin and Li Hui arrived early and ate breakfast in the precinct cafeteria.

As Li Hui peeled a boiled egg, he asked, “Bin, what do you think about this Yu Hefeng? He looks so proper and respectable—how could he do something so dirty?”

“The world is a big place, full of all sorts,” Han Bin replied.

“Imagine his wife and daughter finding out. How could they ever look at him again?” Li Hui mused aloud, curiosity in his tone.

“You can ask him yourself during interrogation,” Han Bin said, unwilling to entertain the topic any further.

Li Hui, lost in his own thoughts, gave a foolish chuckle, stuffed half the egg into his mouth, and finished it off in two bites.

After breakfast, the two of them went to the second team’s office. Whenever there was an ongoing case, Zeng Ping would hold a morning meeting as a matter of routine, to adjust the investigative focus and assign targeted tasks.

Upon arriving, Han Bin made a pot of water, brewed a cup of green tea, and sat back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest. His work required sharp thinking; only by taking every opportunity to rest could he ensure he’d be at his best when it mattered.

Tian Li, Zhao Ming, Zeng Ping, and the others also filed into the office one after another.

Yawning, Zeng Ping poured himself a cup of tea.

“Captain Zeng, didn’t Captain Zheng say he’d add more people to our team? Why haven’t we heard anything?” Han Bin asked.

“Five people is enough for routine cases, but if we hit something big, we’re bound to be shorthanded,” Li Hui chimed in.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on it, and Captain Zheng hasn’t forgotten either. But it’s better to have no one than the wrong person—we have to find the right fit,” Zeng Ping said.

“What sort of person would you say is right for our team?” Tian Li asked.

“A complete team needs everyone in their own role, clear division of labor. Our group may be small, but it fits the structure perfectly,” Zeng Ping replied.

At that moment, Lu Wen entered: “Captain Zeng, the test results are in.”

“Lu Wen, why are you sporting panda eyes?” Zhao Ming laughed.

Lu Wen took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “It’s for your case—I worked overtime to get the tests done.”

“Thanks for your hard work. I’ll treat you to a good meal sometime, to make up for it,” Zeng Ping said with a smile.

“That’s all I need to hear.” Lu Wen took out a thick stack of documents and handed them to Zeng Ping.

“These things are a pain to read—just give us the important points,” Zeng Ping said.

“There are no videos of the victim on the phone,” Lu Wen reported.

“Could they have been deleted?” Han Bin asked.

Lu Wen shook his head. “I’ve already tried to recover them.”

“Any clues from the envelope or USB drive?” Zeng Ping asked.

“No fingerprints, no DNA, very clean,” Lu Wen replied.

“Is there any way to trace the source of the envelope and USB drive?” Tian Li asked.

“That’s your job,” Lu Wen said with a shrug, and left the office.

“Both the envelope and USB drive are common types. Tracing their source will be tough,” Zeng Ping remarked.

“If you ask me, we should interrogate Yu Hefeng. He’s the one who secretly filmed the videos, and he’s the prime suspect for blackmail,” Zhao Ming said.

“I agree with Zhao Ming,” Tian Li added.

“What if Han Bin and I handle the interrogation this time?” Li Hui suggested.

“What do you think, Han Bin?” Zeng Ping asked.

Han Bin frowned, deep in thought. The voyeurism case was solved, but the blackmail case was at a dead end.

The shrill ring of a cell phone broke the silence.

Tian Li glanced at her phone. “It’s Chen Luyan’s number.”

“Answer it.”

Tian Li answered, her face growing darker as she listened. After she hung up, Zhao Ming couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Is there a new lead?”

Tian Li sighed. “I’m afraid Han Bin was right.”

“What do you mean?” Li Hui asked.

“Chen Luyan received another blackmail letter.”

Half an hour later.

The second team from the third criminal investigation unit, along with the tech team, rushed once again to Anyang Apartments.

Han Bin and the others reached the fourth floor; the door to Room 408 was open.

Everyone put on shoe covers before entering.

There were two people inside. Chen Luyan sat on the bed, looking quite distraught. A man sat on the sofa nearby.

“Captain Zeng, I’m so glad you’re here,” Chen Luyan said, standing up as if her backbone had just arrived.

“We came as soon as we got the call,” Zeng Ping replied.

“This is my boyfriend, Xiang Shaoming,” Chen Luyan introduced.

Zeng Ping gave the young man a quick look. He was tall, thin, and had a spirited appearance.

“Where’s the blackmail letter?”

“It’s on the table. I remember you said not to touch it, so I used chopsticks to pick it up,” Chen Luyan said.

Zeng Ping went over and examined the envelope. It was identical to the previous one; inside was another USB drive.

“When did you find it?” Han Bin asked.

“I didn’t stay here last night. This morning, Shaoming came with me to pick up some fresh clothes. As soon as we opened the door, we saw the envelope at the entrance,” Chen Luyan explained.

“Looks like the same method as yesterday—slipped in through the door crack,” Li Hui observed.

“Captain Zeng, didn’t you arrest the landlord? Why is there another blackmail letter?” Chen Luyan pressed.

Zeng Ping coughed awkwardly.

“Based on the evidence we have, the voyeurism and the blackmail were committed by different people. These are two separate cases,” Han Bin explained.

“So you mean Luyan’s photos could still end up online?” Xiang Shaoming asked.

“We’ll do our best to solve the case and catch the suspect,” Han Bin assured him.

To break the tension, Zeng Ping quickly assigned tasks:

“Tian Li, plug the USB drive into the computer and see what’s on it.”

“Got it.”

“Li Hui, go check the surveillance footage for any suspicious individuals.”

“Yes, sir.”

Even if the odds of catching the suspect on camera were low, they still had to try.

“Han Bin, check the doorway for any clues,” Zeng Ping instructed.

“Yes, sir.”

Still wearing his shoe covers, Han Bin walked to the doorway and examined it carefully. The floor was tiled, and if the suspect’s shoes weren’t dirty, they’d leave no visible prints.

He circled the area but found nothing obvious.

“Captain Zeng, the contents of the USB are the same as yesterday—those same shower photos and another blackmail letter,” Tian Li called out.

“Read the letter aloud,” Zeng Ping ordered.

“Tonight at seven, prepare fifty thousand yuan. Place it in the third trash bin from the north end on the east side of People’s Square. The money is a loan—I’ll pay you back in due time. If I don’t get it tonight, or if you call the police, your photos go online.”

After hearing the letter, Chen Luyan nearly broke down. “Fifty thousand? Where am I supposed to find that kind of money?”

“Don’t worry, Luyan. We’ll figure it out together,” Xiang Shaoming said, patting his girlfriend’s shoulder.

“Miss Chen, the fact that you received another blackmail letter means the suspect doesn’t know the police are involved. As long as we set up in advance, we’re sure to catch him tonight,” Zeng Ping reassured her.