Chapter 41 - The Maze

"These news reporters are worse. What the rubbish are they publishing?" The eagle team woke up while listening to Bing Wen's loud rants as he read the morning news that popped on his computer screen. He just came to report for work but he got bombarded by the news reporters who stood at the police HQ. Since there wasn't any information about the culprit, several media outlets have blatantly criticized the police department for its inefficiency. As soon as he somehow managed to get past the reporters, Bing Wen couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger and disappointment because of their blood boiling remarks about his team and police department. 

Watching the young man's temper, Lao Yating gently patted on his shoulder and tried to calm him down. 

"Don't pay any attention to the news." Being a newbie, it was quite difficult for Bing Wen to adapt to the risks and troubles of working on a criminal case that received huge attention from the public as well as the media. 

"It is barely two days, and why can't these people understand that we are trying our best to find out the culprit behind the murder." He complained while pointing at the news portal.

"This is common in our line of work, Xiao Bing. Let the media houses write whatever they want. Anyway, at the end of the day, they will have to write whatever truth which we find out. " Fei Yan tried to pacify their youngest team member who started to sulk from the morning itself. After somehow handling the situation, he glanced at the unlocked door of Wan Yi Jun's office in doubt.

"Did captain sleep here, last night too? You didn't drop him at home, Sir Lao?" Fei Yan inquired in a shocked voice. Last night, all of them have gone home since it was a long day for everyone.

"Captain said that he might oversleep if he goes home, so he asked me to drive him here." Lao Yating replied in a disappointed voice as he felt that he could have persuaded his captain a little more.

"No matter what happens, we should send Captain home today. Officer Fei, you should persuade him. He will only listen to you." Bing Wen almost pleaded to Fei Yan as he felt that it was too pitiful for their team leader to spent day and night at the office while everyone else goes home and rest properly. 

As soon as the words left Bing Wen's mouth, a condescending scoff was heard from the lonely corner of the office room, forcing everyone to shift their attention to the silent Shen Junru who was going through the case files.

"Oh, you still care about Captain. I thought you have changed sides." He pointed out without lifting his eyes from the files as a reply to Bing Wen's concern.

"Changed sides? What are saying, senior Shen?" Bing Wen who failed to realize the sarcastic tone in his senior's reply, asked again to clarify.

"Last night, I saw that you got quite mesmerized by officer Han that you almost ditched your Captain cool." Shen Junru random comment made the rest of the team members recall Bing Wen's enthusiastic approach towards Han Ze Min who happened to be last night's show stealer.

"Well, how can someone not get mesmerized by him? He popped out of nowhere, like a saviour at the right time." Bing Wen almost clapped his hands in amusement as he tried to speak about the enthralling moment he witnessed last night and turned to face Lao Yating, "He got excellent marksmanship. Is he a trained sniper, Sir Lao?"

"Hmm, yes. Captain Han used to be the national shooting champion, and even today, his record remains unbreakable." Lao Yating shared his bundle of knowledge about their new member, only to excite Bing Wen more and more.

"No wonder he looked so freaking cool while handling the rifle." Bing Wen commented like an overjoyed fangirl. Even though he has seen his fellow officers using guns, it was his first time watching someone using a heavy rifle with so much finesse and expertise.

"Yes. He is considered as a child prodigy in shooting." Fei Yan added his share of information while recalling the news he heard earlier days of his police life. "I heard that he was the youngest shooter who got the chance to participate in Olympics. How due to some personal issues, he didn't participate. His skills have definitely helped in police academy as well as his service life."

"His entire career must have been something else if he had won a medal, right?" Bing Wen doubtingly asked. Most of the sports persons continue their careers in their respective fields until they are no longer fit for the game or until their interest dies. No matter, how much Bing Wen tried he couldn't find a possible reason that would answer the bubbling questions in his mind regarding Han Ze Min who abruptly changed his career.

"Maybe. But luckily his career change didn't create many controversies since he decided to join the police force instead of bringing medals for the nation."Fei Yan concluded and abruptly turned towards the door when he heard footsteps in the corridor. For a moment he feared that it must have been either Wan Yi Jun or Han Ze Min, luckily it was a woman.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm Feng Tian Wei." The woman introduced herself as soon as Fei Yan asked her to come inside.

"You are Shu Li Li's roommate, right?" Lao Yating who was quick to recognize the woman asked her to take a seat and volunteered to inform their captain.

"He is not here yet?" A voice so deep and profound doused in sarcasm rang in the room, gathering everyone towards the man who appeared at the doorstep,

As everyone expected, it was Han Ze Min, that too holding a coffee carrier in his hand. It was a bit odd to see a person like him, bringing coffee for everyone like an errand boy. Though he was a new addition to the eagle team, by his rank and service history, he was superior to any of them in the room.

"No, captain Wan is in the resting room. I will get him." Lao Yating quickly replied and almost rushed in the direction of the resting area for the police officers. 

"Take this with you and tell him to take as much time he wants to take to get ready. I will manage it." Han Ze Min handed over a cup of coffee to Lao Yating who didn't expect such a warm response from someone who meant to hold a rivalry with his captain.

"Okay, captain." Lao Yating nodded in agreement and hurriedly stepped out of the office while the other one walked towards the table where the woman sat.

"Miss Feng, thanks for coming here."  Han Ze Min smilingly said and handed over one coffee cup to the girl and the rest of his teammates.

"How long have you known Shu-Li Li?" He took a seat opposite to her and asked without wasting any time.

"More than three years, sir. I met her when I came to the university. Even though we belonged to different departments, we ended up becoming best friends through the collaborative projects we had to do. I'm a photography major, and she was a fashion designing student. Most of the time, we used to help each other."  Feng Tian Wei replied in a crystal clear voice.

"I assume that both of you are from the same place."

"Not exactly, the same place. We belong to the same province but different villages. It was also one reason why we became close to each other in the first place."

" I see. Since you are best friends, you must have known if Shu Li Li had any conflicts with someone else..like friends or people from her work or anything like that." Han Ze Min cut the chase and dwelled right away into the past relationships of the murder victim.

"Li Li is not a person who would pick up a fight with others, sir. She is really nice. Actually, you know how competitive is the fashion industry in our country. People literally go to any extent to secure an opportunity to get a gig. But she was someone who has never got into a fight, even if someone stoles her job, she never complains." Feng Tian Wei explained and took a deep breath as if she was trying to hold her tears. "I don't know how someone could harm a girl like her. Please sir, please find out the culprit."

"Well, I agree that your friend had a great personality, but don't you think it is weird that a girl with no haters gets stabbed in the middle of a dancefloor? There must be someone sketchy enough to hurt her?"

"No, sir. I don't think so." The girl refuted without any second thoughts.

"It doesn't have to be a huge fight...It can be some arguments or something even trivial that intimidated or agitated Shu Li Li in your knowledge over the period you have known her." Han Ze Min probed more,

After thinking for a long minute, Feng Tian Wei opened her mouth as if she remembered something from the past.

"There was one incident. It happened in our second year. I saw Shu Li Li arguing with a garbage collecting man who came to our building." She paused for a minute and looked at the police officer who was all ears to her.

"She slapped that man.. It was weird since she was never been a person who raises hands at someone, especially someone who got a lower living status than her."