Chapter 11

Gao Zhikai had been in high spirits these past few days.

Li Weijun had already been transferred to the procuratorate, and the case had entered the stage of review and prosecution. According to common sense, the case was already considered closed, and it was just a matter of time before the dust settled and the rewards were distributed.

As the head of the "June 15 Serial Murder and Dismemberment Case Task Force" and the direct person in charge of solving the case, Gao Zhikai knew that this experience would have a long-lasting impact on him, leaving a significant mark in his police career.

He hadn't seen Lu Zheng these past few days. He heard that Lu Zheng had even gone to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles a few days ago, which was truly incomprehensible.

Gao Zhikai had been in a good mood recently and didn't want to take him seriously, but he was also somewhat annoyed. If Lu Zheng continued to use excuses to investigate the case and annoy him, he would show him what he was made of. The task force had already been disbanded; what was he still up to? This Lu Zheng was truly a troublemaker, intentionally making people uncomfortable.

When he heard from his confidant that Hou Jianjun had applied for a search warrant from Director Zhang early that morning, Gao Zhikai felt something was off. Hou Jianjun was close to Lu Zheng; could it be that Lu Zheng was up to something again?

So, Gao Zhikai quickly went to Director Zhang's office.

It was almost six o'clock, and Director Zhang was just about to leave for the day when Gao Zhikai walked in.

Director Zhang was in his early forties, energetic and capable. It was rumored that he had connections in the provincial department and had a bright future. As one of the younger cadres in the county, he particularly enjoyed promoting young cadres and working with them. Therefore, it wasn't surprising to see young deputies like Gao Zhikai and Lu Zheng in the county bureau, as their appointments would certainly be subject to his approval.

Director Zhang appreciated Gao Zhikai.

The old colleagues in the bureau, like Ma Yuewu, were very dissatisfied with Director Zhang. However, since Gao Zhikai came along, these old colleagues' arrogance was suppressed, and now they were in a standoff with Gao Zhikai. Director Zhang had become a mediator, maintaining a balance.

Therefore, even though it was time to leave, Director Zhang didn't show any displeasure when he saw Gao Zhikai come in. He smiled and invited Gao Zhikai to sit down, asking, "Is there something you need?"

Gao Zhikai had already thought about what to say before coming. He didn't want Director Zhang to think he was making a fuss over nothing, as issuing a few search warrants wasn't a big deal.

"Director Zhang, I see that Lu Zheng is still not giving up. He keeps pleading for Li Weijun's innocence. I heard he's working with Hou Jianjun, using the task force's name to run around everywhere... What do you think?"

Director Zhang frowned slightly. Lu Zheng was indeed a thorn in his side. When Lu Zheng joined the bureau a year ago, he was a war hero, bringing glory to the bureau. However, gradually, he brought his military habits into the bureau, with a rough and simple work style and almost zero professional skills. Many people in the bureau complained about him, and even the cafeteria chef came to cry, saying that Lu Zheng had gotten into a fight with him. It was all very absurd, and he certainly didn't act like a bureau leader.

Moreover, it was said that Lu Zheng was cold and unfeeling, never visiting his adoptive parents since returning to Guangning. He was a real scoundrel.

In Director Zhang's mind, Lu Zheng had long transformed from a war hero into a rogue, and a rogue who didn't understand filial piety.

Seeing Director Zhang's expression, Gao Zhikai added softly, "I think the case has already been transferred to the procuratorate, and the task force has been disbanded. Is it appropriate for him to still be investigating everywhere?"

Director Zhang nodded slightly. Gao Zhikai was right. Lu Zheng's actions were clearly a challenge to him, the bureau chief, especially since he had approved the transfer of the case to the procuratorate.

Gao Zhikai cautiously said, "It seems that Hou Jianjun applied for a search warrant early this morning?"

Director Zhang understood Gao Zhikai's meaning. He nodded and said, "I'll ask about it." He got up, went to his desk, and picked up the phone. The townships still used rotary phones, but the county government offices had started installing digital dial phones since the beginning of the year.

A moment later, there was a gentle knock on the door, and the bureau's office director, Wang Yuguo, walked in.

In the bureau, as long as the chief didn't leave, no one would move, especially the chief's office director, even after working hours.

"Yuguo, did Hou Jianjun apply for a search warrant this morning?"

Hearing Director Zhang's question, Wang Yuguo admitted it frankly, "Yes."

Director Zhang always believed that the police had the right to search suspects without a warrant, and he never held up search warrants. He usually signed a stack of blank warrants and left them with Wang Yuguo, so anyone from the bureau or the police stations could apply through him.

Wang Yuguo, knowing Director Zhang's attitude, spoke frankly.

Director Zhang nodded and asked, "Tell me what happened. Who did they search?"

Wang Yuguo hesitated. He couldn't remember the details, and he didn't even recall the name he had filled in. He had a good relationship with Hou Jianjun and didn't ask many questions.

Director Zhang frowned and said, "Notify Hou Jianjun to come to my office tomorrow morning."

At that moment, there were footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the door. It was Lu Zheng's voice, "Director Zhang, are you there?"

Director Zhang immediately felt a headache. Lu Zheng was too blunt, and sometimes Director Zhang really didn't want to face him, especially with subordinates around. Lu Zheng might say something outrageous and make him lose face. Lu Zheng was stubborn and loved to argue, and many colleagues called him "the stick-in-the-mud" behind his back.

Sure enough, Lu Zheng didn't wait for a response and pushed the door open, as it wasn't locked.

"Director Gao, Director Wang, you're both here?" Lu Zheng smiled and nodded at Gao Zhikai and Wang Yuguo, then said to Gao Zhikai, "Director Gao, I was looking for you earlier, but you weren't there. Since the chief is here, I'll report the latest developments of the June 15 case to both of you."

Gao Zhikai snorted, thinking that Lu Zheng was just looking for trouble. Director Zhang was already dissatisfied with him, and he was making things worse.

Director Zhang's expression worsened. He looked at his watch and said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow." Lu Zheng was a deputy, and it wasn't appropriate to criticize him in front of others. Moreover, with Lu Zheng's personality, a few words might lead to an argument, making everyone lose face.

However, Lu Zheng placed a stack of documents on Director Zhang's desk and said, "Director Zhang, this is the confession of the principal of No. 1 High School, Zhang Guoliang. He has admitted that his eldest son, Zhang Mingshan, murdered the three victims, Zhang Weihong, Cheng Kun, and Duan Hongmei, and he also participated in the disposal of the bodies..."

Before Lu Zheng could finish, Gao Zhikai stood up abruptly, "Lu Zheng, what do you mean by this?! You're being outrageous. Li Weijun has already confessed. What are you doing here, causing trouble? Tell me, does this make any sense? A father reporting his son and helping to dispose of the bodies? Do you think this is a puppet show?"

Gao Zhikai was so angry that his face turned red, and his eyes seemed to want to eat Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng ignored him, gently tapped the documents on the desk, and said to Director Zhang, "Director Zhang, the details of the case are clearly recorded in the statement. Please take a look. Also, Zhang Guoliang has been brought back and is in the interrogation room downstairs."

Director Zhang frowned and remained silent. Although Lu Zheng was a troublemaker, he wouldn't frame a respected scholar just to argue with Gao Zhikai. However, if Lu Zheng could solve the case, he didn't believe it. There must have been some misunderstanding, and he needed to investigate further.

Gao Zhikai was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot. He was a reserved person, but Lu Zheng, a rough man, had questioned his handling of the case and claimed to have caught the real culprit, which was a blow to his pride. He said in a low voice, "Lu Zheng, calm down. I don't want to argue with you about the past, but solving a case isn't a game. Don't meddle in things you don't understand."

Lu Zheng smiled faintly and said, "Precisely because it's not a game, we must be cautious. We can't let a criminal go free, but we also can't wrong an innocent person. As the deputy head of the task force, I reserved my opinion at the case closure meeting. I never agreed that Li Weijun was the culprit." Lu Zheng hadn't been notified to attend the case closure meeting, and now he was using this to justify his actions.

Gao Zhikai, with a stern face, said, "Director Zhang has already decided. What different opinion do you have?"

Lu Zheng frowned and said, "That's not right. Director Zhang agreed to close the case based on your conclusions and reports. Did you show him my different opinion? It's important to hear all sides. By creating a one-sided environment for Director Zhang, you are harming him!"

Gao Zhikai was so angry that he was fuming. When did this rogue become so articulate? Just as he was about to say more, Director Zhang slapped the table and shouted, "Stop arguing! Do you think this is a market? What kind of behavior is this?!"

Director Zhang glanced at Lu Zheng in surprise. When did this troublemaker become so eloquent? Even Gao Zhikai couldn't match him.

Every word Lu Zheng said was to exonerate himself, even if the case was wrong, he had removed his responsibility. Gao Zhikai, on the other hand, had pulled Director Zhang into the conflict.

This made the difference clear.

Perhaps because Lu Zheng was well-prepared and Gao Zhikai was caught off guard, Gao Zhikai lost his composure.

Director Zhang pondered, looking at the thick stack of documents on the desk, feeling a bit strange.

Then he heard Lu Zheng say, "Director Zhang, the case has just been transferred to the procuratorate. We can still correct our mistakes. The county and city bureau leaders will see it as our commitment to justice, which is good for our bureau. But if..." Lu Zheng stopped, leaving the rest unsaid.

Director Zhang patted the documents and said, "I'll take a look." He gestured to stop Gao Zhikai from speaking and added, "Zhikai, you personally lead the team to interrogate Zhang Guoliang and see what he says."

Seeing that the situation was settled, Gao Zhikai reluctantly left. Lu Zheng said, "I'll go too," and followed, not entirely trusting Gao Zhikai.

Watching Lu Zheng's back, Director Zhang's eyes showed a deep thought.