! I just did a profile interview with you lastmonth!” SeCai explained as he combed his clothes for his media badge.
Heknew he wasn’t at his most presentable after climbing up 33 floors and crawlingthrough an old air duct. Dust kept falling from his body as he continued thesearch for his badge.
However,despite his ungainly appearance, no one ridiculed him, instead they stared athim like he was some kind of monster.
Theyknew this young man had to be the reason why w.a.n.g Da Fa’s bomb didn’t explode…So how did he do it?
Evenwith deputy director Wong’s 10 years’ experience in law enforcement, he couldn’tfigure out an answer.
“I’mhere because I was told to report on this news but your colleague down at theentrance wouldn’t let me up. So I had no choice but to use the fire escape toget up here. To my utter disbelief, I found w.a.n.g Da Fa’s bomb underneath theair duct that I crawled through so I figured I should dismantle it for everyone’ssafety…”
“Youdismantled it?”
DeputyDirector Wong was obviously unconvinced.
Hewas still trying to figure out how to take care of the bomb because the county wastoo peaceful and small to have a resident bomb expert. The police was restrictedby protocol from engaging the bomb because they didn’t have sufficient trainingin this expertise and they didn’t have any anti-blast equipment. There wasalready precedence of his men dying on case because they refused to abide bythe protocol.
DeputyDirector Wong didn’t want to put his men through such risks again, and wascombing his brain for an idea when to his awe and suspicions, an untrained reporterhad dismantled the bomb for him!
“Thebomb he used was a traditional model that thankfully I’ve seen at the provincemuseum before. My memory told me the bomb would be nullified after I detach thebattery. So I did exactly that.”
SeCai explained, pointing at a paper bag by the air duct.
Thepaper bag was dirty and wrinkled. It melted perfectly into the decrepitconditions of the rooftop. If not for Se Cai’s mind-reading skill, he wouldhave missed it as well.
Afterhearing Se Cai’s explanation, Deputy Director Wong finally relaxed his questioninggaze. Se Cai’s story was unlikely but not impossible. There were after allweirder coincidences.
Hescolded Se Cai sternly, “It’s still too dangerous, what if your memory servesyou wrongly? Plus, you’re trespa.s.sing into a crime scene…”
SeCai lowered his head to feign contrition.
Thewhole story about the museum was of course a big fat lie. Se Cai had not seen abomb before in his life.
Itwas thanks to his mind-reading skill that he managed to pull out information onthe bomb’s location and dismantling methods from w.a.n.g Da Fa’s mind.
Thankfullyfor that too because Se Cai was closest to the bomb!
“Nicelydone, I would have done the same in such a situation.”
CommissionerXie sauntered over with a big smile on his face and patted Se Cai encouraginglyon his shoulders.
Thedust on Se Cai’s clothes transferred to the commissioner’s white apparel but hedidn’t seem to mind. He laughed, “Deputy Wong, this young man here has doneextremely well. He has a good head on his shoulder and works well underpressure. We should be honoring himself as a stand-up citizen, so why are youscolding him?”
XieWu was gushing appreciatively at Se Cai. The young reporter had not only savedhis life but also his career. The irony that he just told Se Cai he wasunneeded hours ago didn’t even cross his mind.
“You’rethinking too highly of me, Commissioner Xie. It’s because of Commissioner Xie’sbrilliant commanding of the situation that everyone is safe. I was just lucky…”
Aftersome more small talks with the commissioner, Se Cai excused himself to retrievehis camera. He sighed in relief when he found out the camera he propped upagainst the air duct wall was still rolling. It had recorded everything!
LuckilySe Cai had the presence of mind to set the camera to film before he barged out intothe open.
Withhis a.s.signment complete, Se Cai turned to leave but Deputy Director Wongstopped him. He wanted Se Cai to remain to complete some necessary testimonial.Se Cai had no choice but to stay.
Anoffice in the building had been sequestered as a temporary command central andSe Cai walked in to come across the reporter pair from Province X Tv Station.
“SuperintendentLee… Sister Wei, please forgive me. My hands are tied in that situation, thetwo of you were so far away from the rest of us…”
Thecameraman hugged his camera as a form of protection and pleaded helplessly.
“JiangShao, the fact is you’re not there when I needed your help the most. If not fora kind stranger, you would be taking my dead body back to the station… Makesure you cut my part out of the final news!”
LeeWei sat on a couch, her white suit all smothered with dust.
Hergaze at the cameraman though was as sharp as knives. She looked ready to tearhim alive.
Themuscular teen stood obediently like a child, afraid to move even a muscle.
“Youleft your microphone up there. Here, I took it down for you.”
SeCai set down the microphone and coughed.
LeeWei left the scene in a distraught state so she must have forgotten to retrieveher microphone. Se Cai noticed it and thought to bring it back to her.
“Wait…You’re the policeman that saved me, isn’t it? Thank you so much…”
LeeWei took in Se Cai and quickly stood up to offer her grat.i.tude.
“Oh, you’re mistaken, I’m not a police. I’malso a reporter, from County S Tv Station. Nice to meet you.”
SeCai patted the camera on his back and smiled.