Investigation

“What information?”
“The day before yesterday, Mrs. Xu and her husband withdrew the money together. Yesterday, her husband was the last to leave the house, and only the two of them knew about the withdrawal…” Tian Li trailed off at the end.
Zheng Kaixuan sipped his tea. “You suspect Mrs. Xu’s husband?”
“I have no proof, it’s just a personal guess,” Tian Li replied.
Zheng Kaixuan set down his cup. “What do you all think?”
“That money belongs to both of them. If her husband took it, it’s not for us to interfere,” Han Bin said, spreading his hands.
“If that’s the case, then this is all pointless,” Li Hui remarked.
“Why not ask Mrs. Xu if her husband had any motive?” Zhao Ming suggested.
Zheng Kaixuan stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. “Lu Wen, what did you find?”
“The fingerprints on the door and the bedroom cabinet belong to only two people—Mrs. Xu, and presumably her husband,” Lu Wen answered.
Zheng Kaixuan murmured, “That makes things interesting.”
“Maybe the suspect wore gloves,” Han Bin speculated.
Zhao Ming chuckled. “Or maybe the suspect didn’t need gloves at all.”
Zheng Kaixuan pointed toward the bedroom. “Tian Li, please ask Mrs. Xu to come out.”
“Yes, sir.”

A moment later, Xu Yan emerged from the bedroom, her face anxious. “Captain Zheng, is there any news? Have you caught the thief?”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Xu, we’re doing our utmost,” Zheng Kaixuan reassured her.
“How can I not worry? My father’s surgery is the day after tomorrow. If I can’t pay the hospital, I may lose him. Do you understand how I feel?” Xu Yan cried.
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t. Nobody does,” Xu Yan choked, tears in her voice.
“Mrs. Xu, please calm down,” Tian Li said. “Getting upset won’t solve anything. It’ll only delay the investigation.”
“I know, I’m sorry…”
After a while, Xu Yan regained her composure. “Captain Zheng, what did you want to ask?”
Zheng Kaixuan didn’t answer, but signaled to Tian Li.
Tian Li nodded. “I have a few questions.”
“Go ahead.”
“In your statement, you said only you and your husband knew about the money?”
“Yes.”

“Is it possible he put the money somewhere else and forgot to tell you?”
Xu Yan shook her head. “No. I asked him, and he said he hadn’t touched it.”
“You mentioned most of the money was borrowed?”
“Yes.”
“How did your husband feel about borrowing money?”
“What do you mean?” Xu Yan looked surprised.
“I just want to solve the case quickly and help you get your father’s surgery money back,” Tian Li replied.
Xu Yan rubbed her forehead out of habit. “He did have some objections to borrowing money for treatment.”
“Why? Isn’t it normal to pay for a parent’s medical care?” Tian Li pressed.
“My husband is old-fashioned and thinks caring for parents is the son’s responsibility. He wanted my brother to pay, but my brother just bought a house and is still paying off his loan—he can’t afford the surgery.” Xu Yan sighed.
“Is it possible, for this reason, your husband took the money?” Tian Li voiced her suspicion.
Xu Yan closed her eyes and was silent for a long time. “If it really was my husband, is it a crime? Would you arrest him?”
“If so, it’s a family matter and not something the police can intervene in,” Zheng Kaixuan explained.
Xu Yan’s expression was complicated. “To be honest, I don’t know if it was him or not. Please, help me find out.”
“How is your relationship?”
“It’s fine. We rarely argue.”
“Urge him to come back soon for a statement,” Zheng Kaixuan said.
Xu Yan took her phone and returned to the bedroom.

“Captain Zheng, how should we proceed?”
Zheng Kaixuan thought for a moment.
“Han Bin, Zhao Ming, check the surveillance. Look for any suspicious people.”
“Which time period?”
“I just had Xu Yan confirm—her husband left at 9 a.m. yesterday,” Tian Li said.
Zheng Kaixuan glanced at his watch. “So, check from 9 p.m. last night to 9 a.m. today.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Li Hui, Tian Li, canvass the neighbors—see if there were any witnesses.”
“Yes, sir.”
…

Han Bin and Zhao Ming took the elevator downstairs.
“Bin, do you think her husband took the money?”
“No idea.”
“There are only two cameras: one in the elevator, one at the gate. Should be easy to check,” Zhao Ming muttered.
“You’re oversimplifying. The timeframe spans 24 hours, and so many people come and go—it’s a huge workload,” Han Bin said, taking out a pack of cigarettes and offering one to Zhao Ming.
“Bin, have one of mine.” Zhao Ming produced a pack of Zhonghua.
“Well, look at you.” Han Bin took a Zhonghua, sniffing it appreciatively.
Zhao Ming lit it for him.
Han Bin inhaled, exhaled through his nose, savoring the smooth, mellow smoke. “Good cigarette.”
They had intended to go to the property management office, only to learn that the complex had no such office—management duties and fees were handled by the former village committee.
The village committee was on the first floor of Building 11. After stating their purpose, the committee head cooperated and led them to the surveillance room.
Han Bin checked the elevator footage; Zhao Ming took the gate camera.
Building 5, Unit 2 had two elevators and four apartments per floor, with 32 floors—128 households in total.
Assuming three people per household, over three hundred residents.
That was just Han Bin’s share of the workload.
The gate’s footage covered even more people.
One building, two units, ten buildings in total—over two thousand households, a population of seven to eight thousand.
Zhao Ming, less experienced, had thought with only two cameras to review, the workload would be light. But as he watched, he realized how enormous the task truly was.
“Bin, there are just too many people—constantly coming and going. My eyes are getting bleary,” Zhao Ming complained.
“Try categorizing them, to make it easier,” Han Bin suggested.
“How?”
“A theft would require tools. Plus, with two hundred thousand in cash, the person probably carried a bag or something similar,” Han Bin reasoned.
“I thought of that too. Anyone leaving the complex empty-handed can probably be ruled out,” Zhao Ming said.
“Not entirely ruled out, just less suspicious,” Han Bin analyzed. “Also, consider the timing: nighttime, especially the latter half, is the most likely for a theft.”
“You’re right, Bin. We can focus on likely suspects.” Zhao Ming nodded.
Suddenly, Han Bin seemed to recall something. “I think we’ve missed a line of inquiry.”