Chapter 857: Who Has a Wound on Their Head?

The next morning.

Spring night is short, the sun rose high; sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, falling on Lin Dongfan's lazy cheek. Lin Dongfan rubbed his sleepy eyes open, turned his head and glanced at the woman sleeping beside him.

Zhao Linlin lay on her side like a baby, breathing evenly.

The bruise on her back became ever clearer in the morning light, yet the corner of her mouth held a faint smile, as if she were having a pleasant dream.

Lin Dongfan didn't disturb her, rose gently, and lit a cigarette by the window.

Last night's matter……

Forget it, I won't think about it. Who among hot-blooded pure guys hasn't had a moment of losing control? I'm not some eunuch pinching orchid fingers.

The most pressing thing right now is to drag that masked person out.

Mmm……

A lazy hum came from behind.

Lin Dongfan turned around and saw Zhao Linlin already awake, eyes open and looking at him. Her gaze held shyness, satisfaction, and a hint of being at a loss.

Awake?

Mmm…… Zhao Linlin pulled the blanket up, covering half her face, only her eyes showing: "You…… why are you up so early……"

Cut the nonsense. Since you're awake, get up—I'll take you to the City Bureau.

To file a report?

Nonsense, I suspect the masked man who attacked you might be someone from within the police force. Today we must ferret out that bad apple.

……

9 a. m., Municipal Public Security Bureau.

In the office of Bureau Chief Luo Zhiwei, the atmosphere was a bit delicate.

Lin Dongfan sat on the sofa, Zhao Linlin sat beside him, her hand still wrapped in gauze, her face showing just the right amount of grievance and fear.

Luo Zhiwei listened to Zhao Linlin's account, his face darkening as if rain were coming.

"Mayor Lin, I know about this." Luo Zhiwei turned his gaze to Zhao Linlin: "Miss Zhao, rest assured, we will investigate thoroughly."

Lin Dongfan didn't take up that thread, but asked: "What about Gao Yicheng?"

Luo Zhiwei blinked: "Deputy Captain Gao? He should be on the team……"

"Have him come over." Lin Dongfan said: "I want to ask him about some things in person."

A few minutes later, Gao Yicheng pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing Lin Dongfan and Zhao Linlin, Gao Yicheng's heart gave a thump, but his face showed nothing: "Mayor Lin, Chief Luo, you called for me?"

Luo Zhiwei stared at him: "Yicheng, last night bandits raided Miss Zhao's home, she was beaten, the surveillance main unit was stolen—do you know about this?"

Gao Yicheng looked bewildered: "What? Last night? I don't know……"

You don't know?

Luo Zhiwei's voice sank: "The Su Qingyu case is under your charge; haven't you recently ordered Old Li to pull the surveillance? Now the surveillance hasn't been retrieved, yet something happened to the person first! And all you say is 'I don't know'?"

"!!!"

Gao Yicheng broke out in a cold sweat, unable to explain.

He had indeed told Old Li to check the surveillance, but Old Li hadn't had a chance to go yet. Yesterday he had arranged with Zhao Linlin to go last night; when evening came, Zhao Linlin's phone went unanswered.

"Chief Luo, I……"

Recalling the recording Su Qingyu made before his death, he had repeatedly mentioned "the surnamed Zhou."

Luo Zhiwei clenched his teeth in silence, decided to lay his cards on the table: "Indeed, I pushed for the surveillance review, but I haven't had a chance to retrieve it yet; now I have an important situation to report."

"Speak."

Luo Zhiwei fixed his gaze on Gao Yicheng.

Gao Yicheng glanced at Lin Dongfan, then at Zhao Linlin: "Mayor Lin, Chief Luo, I don't know whether I should say this or not."

"Say it."

Lin Dongfan leaned against the sofa, his tone calm.

Gao Yicheng took a deep breath: "After Su Qingyu's body was found, our technical division recovered the data from his phone. Inside was his recording, in which he mentioned someone threatening him."

"Who threatened him?"

Luo Zhiwei furrowed his brows.

Gao Yicheng didn't answer directly, but said: "The recording only mentions 'the surnamed Zhou'; who exactly that is, we're still investigating."

The office fell silent for a second.

"The surnamed Zhou!"

This was the answer Lin Dongfan had anticipated; however, for Luo Zhiwei, it was indeed a heart‑wrenching answer.

Luo Zhiwei asked heavily: "Have you turned up any leads?"

"Not yet." Gao Yicheng gritted his teeth and went all out: "Mayor Lin, Chief Luo, I'll say something I shouldn't—I suspect there is someone involved in the case inside our police force!"

As soon as he said that, the air in the office grew much heavier.

Luo Zhiwei tapped the table, half‑smiling as he stared at Gao Yicheng: "Do you know what you're saying?!" His tone wasn't loud, but the warning was unmistakable.

"I know."

Gao Yicheng looked at Mayor Lin's attitude.

Seeing Mayor Lin nod in indication,

Gao Yicheng's confidence rose as well:

"Last night, the masked man got ahead of us, sneaked into Miss Zhao's house and smashed the surveillance main unit! What does that show? It shows that someone knows our task force's investigative direction and progress, moved in early, and got a head start! Apart from our own police, who else could have grasped our investigative direction? Fortunately Miss Zhao kept her composure in danger and escaped harm. If Miss Zhao had unfortunately been killed last night, this would have become a cold case."

Luo Zhiwei was left speechless, choked.

Lin Dongfan spoke, his tone still calm: "Captain Gao, do you have a suspect in mind?"

Gao Yicheng was silent for two seconds; considering the lack of evidence, he replied cautiously: "No, but paper can't wrap fire; I don't believe this mole can stay hidden forever."

Lin Dongfan nodded and said to Luo Zhiwei: "Chief Luo, I actually have an idea."

"Mayor Lin, please speak."

Luo Zhiwei's mood had hit rock bottom; the police force had a mole, and he, Luo Zhiwei, bore the primary responsibility! This is no different from being slapped in the face publicly.

Lin Dongfan said: "That masked person was hit on the head by Zhao Linlin with an ashtray last night. I suggest we gather all members of the Criminal Investigation Brigade and examine their injuries on the spot."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiwei helplessly nodded: "Then let's do that."

Half an hour later, the Criminal Investigation Brigade meeting room.

Dozens of people stood in three rows, some in uniform, some in plain clothes, each looking at one another, unaware of what exactly had happened.

Luo Zhiwei stood at the front, his expression solemn: "Is everyone here?"

Deputy Brigade Commander Gao Yicheng scanned the crowd and reported truthfully: "Reporting to Chief Luo, the Criminal Investigation Team should have twenty-seven people, but only twenty-six are present."

"Who is missing?"

Luo Zhiwei, not tall, tiptoed to look into the crowd.

Gao Yicheng put on an embarrassed look: "Team Zhou hasn't come." As soon as he said that name, Lin Dongfan beside him frowned slightly.

Luo Zhiwei pressed: "Where is Zhou Zheng? Call him immediately and tell him to get over here!"

"Yes."

Gao Yicheng took out his phone, preparing to call Zhou Zheng.

Political Commissar Old Zheng suddenly walked over, belly protruding: "Don't call; Team Zhou is lying in the hospital and can't come."