Chapter 49: Case Analysis

Meanwhile, Old Gu Six led a team to seal off the small building where Sherkin lived, and brought the White Russian maid, Feya, back to the police station. Both were detained for the time being. Before deciding how to interrogate them, Zhou Sen would not order their questioning. However, he could observe the operations of the Special Agents Division. With Akiyama's imperial mandate, Bai Shoutian had no way to stop him.

To serve the Japanese and seek promotion and greater benefits, one had to achieve merit—crushing the people, arresting spies, and catching anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese elements. Whether underground party members, those from Chongqing, or spontaneous anti-Japanese groups and bandits, capturing any of them counted as merit. As for framing the loyal, killing civilians for false credit—such evil deeds were the specialty of the Special Agents Division, notorious for their ruthlessness.

The case Bai Shoutian was handling involved inciting anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese sentiments—a group of young students secretly printing news from the interior, posting and spreading it in Ice City to inform the citizens and prevent them from being deceived by the Japanese invaders and the puppet Manchukuo regime. This naturally violated the authorities’ aims to obscure the truth and fool the people; their arrest was inevitable.

These young people had only been in custody a few days, yet they were already battered and bruised from torture. Zhou Sen could hardly bear to witness it, but Bai Shoutian’s subordinates felt no shame; in fact, they took pride in their brutality, discussing new ways to torment their victims as they watched. Truly, traitors were the most detestable—capable of such cruelty toward their own kin, what wouldn’t they do?

Previously, Zhou Sen had only seen such scenes in film or read brief descriptions; never had he faced such bloody reality. He was an ordinary man—seeing this, his legs went weak, his face turned ashen. The screams, the fire in their eyes, the contempt for their tormentors—these shook him to his core.

If he were in the victim’s place, could he withstand it? He didn’t know; without experiencing it himself, he couldn’t answer.

A young girl, in the dead of winter, stripped by these fake policemen—those wild, cruel laughs pierced Zhou Sen’s nerves.

Did he really want to associate with such people? Was he to become a beast devoid of humanity? The question echoed in his mind, as bloody as the suffering of those young students...

...

“He was badly frightened, that much is clear. Perhaps that's why Mr. Anthony didn’t reveal his identity and secrets to him.” Jin Suying, dressed in her police uniform, knelt before Akiyama, cradling the teacup with her left hand, her thumb and forefinger gently supporting it as she offered it.

“Jin Suying, you must change your attitude toward him. His identity is needed by the Empire of Japan now. Do not make such mistakes again.” Akiyama took the cup and spoke calmly.

“Yes.” Jin Suying bowed her head.

Akiyama set the cup down. “You originally had no right to know these secrets. But given your relationship with Zhou Sen, I suggested you be brought in. Otherwise, your personal feelings would eventually cause trouble. From now on, your task is to observe him and keep a close watch.”

“Do you mean I should stay with him?”

“If you can manage that, all the better.” Akiyama raised his head slightly.

“I will do my best.”

“You may go now. Monitor his interrogation of Susanna, and report every detail to me.” Akiyama ordered.

“Yes.”

...

Li Shaotang arrived, bringing an assistant Zhou Sen had never met, named Xiao Jiang, apparently his apprentice. Zhou Sen quickly composed himself and went out to greet them.

“Xiao Sen, what happened…” Seeing Zhou Sen’s pale face, Li Shaotang was puzzled.

“Uncle Li, it’s just…”

“Director Li, Officer Zhou was in the interrogation room for a while—he came out like this,” Jin Suying said, stepping out with a slight smile and bowing to Li Shaotang.

“Miss Jin, you’re here as well.”

“Mr. Akiyama heard you were coming, Director Li, and sent me to invite you upstairs for a talk.” Jin Suying glanced at Zhou Sen, half-smiling.

Zhou Sen’s expression soured. Li Shaotang was his guest, and though Jin Suying was following orders, intercepting him so openly was a slight Zhou Sen couldn’t ignore.

“Uncle Li, since Mr. Akiyama invites you, please go ahead. I’ll wait in the interrogation room.” Zhou Sen hurried to say.

“Very well, I’ll be back soon.” Li Shaotang nodded. Akiyama was Japanese—he didn’t fear him, but preferred not to offend.

...

Zhou Sen noticed Jin Suying hadn’t followed Li Shaotang upstairs, so his face fell. “Miss Jin, I have business to attend to—I won’t keep you company.”

“Officer Zhou, Mr. Akiyama instructed that I accompany you throughout the interrogation of Susanna and Feya, and report everything back to him,” Jin Suying said, stepping up to follow.

“As you wish.”

In the Security Division office, Zhou Sen sat at his desk, brewed some tea, and picked up a newspaper.

“Officer Zhou isn’t studying the case, just reading the paper?” Jin Suying frowned at his idle posture and questioned him.

“The case is all in my head. Besides, do I need to report to you about what I do?” Zhou Sen turned away, ignoring her.

“Fine, I’d like to see what you can uncover in the interrogation later!” Jin Suying huffed and sat across from him.

...

Time passed slowly, but fortunately Zhou Sen didn’t have to wait long. Li Shaotang and Xiao Jiang soon returned. Zhou Sen borrowed a small meeting room in the police station, and gathered Old Gu Six, Li Shaotang, the clerk assigned from the Judicial Division, and Jin Suying for a closed-door briefing.

“Based on my investigation and analysis, the Sherkin murder very likely was a case of killing for money. I have five reasons: First, the crime scene was sealed—no signs of forced entry on doors or windows. Initially, we thought the killer entered through the bedroom fireplace chimney, since we found climbing traces. But after careful inspection, these marks are likely faked; they appear only at the chimney’s entrance and exit, not in the middle. Second, the scene was thoroughly cleaned—even the fingerprints on Sherkin’s wine glass were wiped. If the killer didn’t touch the glass, there was no need to do this. If it wasn’t the killer, someone did it deliberately—perhaps out of habit. We know maids often wipe cups and dishes while cleaning. Third, our investigation showed Sherkin’s fortune was deposited in Susanna’s account at the bank—a sum large enough to tempt crime. Fourth, Feya has a son who spends recklessly and is addicted to opium; she needs money to support him, making her a likely accomplice. Fifth, on the night of the murder, Susanna claimed to be with her friend, Miss Grisha, a cashier at Dalbank Bank. But my covert inquiry revealed Susanna had orchestrated this—she called in sick at the bank, moved into Grisha’s apartment, all to create an alibi. These five points are why I suspect Susanna and Feya conspired to kill Sherkin. But the key evidence—the murder weapon—hasn’t been found. We confiscated all knives from Sherkin’s home for comparison, but none matched the wounds.”

Zhou Sen’s stumbling analysis drew astonished looks, but seeing the prepared notes in his hand, everyone relaxed—it was written in advance. If it were extemporaneous, it would be impressive. Zhou Sen was articulate, methodical, with solid arguments—just a bit nervous.

Having said all this, he wished he could slap himself, but he had no choice; these words had to come from him, exposing more of his abilities than he’d like. The harder he tried to hide, the more difficult it became, especially with so many eyes watching. At least such analysis and reasoning was expected from a competent police officer.

“Director Li, Special Assistant Jin, both Susanna and Feya are in custody. So far, our deductions are based on suspicions—no direct evidence of their conspiracy,” Old Gu Six added.

“Then our breakthrough must come from one of them. Usually, the less experienced, the easier to crack. If Susanna is the main culprit, for a young woman to commit such a murder, she must be psychologically resilient—especially since she sought Officer Zhou for protection, which is not typical for a girl barely in her twenties. If our theory holds, Susanna will be difficult to deal with. I suggest we start with Feya, the maid—her flaws and weaknesses are many. For example, her son is likely her greatest vulnerability!” Li Shaotang, an interrogation expert, pointed out incisively.

Zhou Sen realized, “Thankfully Uncle Li reminded us—if we interrogated Susanna right away, we might get nothing.”

“It’s your first time, you lack experience. Next time, you’ll know better,” Li Shaotang smiled with pride.

“Since you’re here, Uncle Li, would you care to guide us personally?” Zhou Sen seized the opportunity—getting Li Shaotang to help was rare, and he wanted to get something out of it.

...

“Li Shaotang—Zhou Sen actually managed to bring him to our station?” Bai Shoutian was shocked by his subordinate’s report.

Li Shaotang was infamous in the police bureau for his interrogation skills; any stubborn suspect eventually talked under him, though he wasn’t undefeated—two years ago, a female Communist anti-Manchu activist fell into his hands, but despite all his methods, she said nothing.

Since then, whenever a Communist was caught, Li Shaotang was first to interrogate. Over the last few years, anti-Manchu, anti-Japanese underground activists who ended up with him suffered torture—many died under his hands.

He was a figure feared even within the police bureau.

For Zhou Sen to bring such a man in—when did this kid get such powerful connections? If he transferred to the Special Agents Division, Bai Shoutian’s days would be numbered…

Bai Shoutian furrowed his brow. He couldn’t let Zhou Sen join the Special Agents Division; if he had to go, let it be the Police Bureau’s division—not stay at Nangang Police Station.