When A Snail Loves

Chapter 68

Early in the morning the next day, Ji Bai said: "You need to give someone a call."

Xu Xu nodded.

When the call went through, Xu Xu felt her knees go soft.

While Yao Meng was the sole surviving victim in the "Angel Killer" case, she was unfortunately also the killer"s wife.

If, during that year in Hong Kong, there had truly been another killer in the "Angel Killer" case who werecommitting his misdeeds at the same time as Lin QIngyan, then there was the possibility of some kind of involvement with Yao Meng. In order to be prepared for any eventuality, it was necessary to appraise Yao Meng of the situation.

However, Yao Meng"s reaction was totally unexpected.

She was silent, silent for an exceedingly long, seemingly endless period of time. Her breathing became laboured, and she attempted to speak several times, but her voice was choked with sobs. Something was clearly wrong. Xu Xu"s tone became more chilly: "Yao Meng, what"s happened?"

At this moment, Yao Meng was standing in front of the bedroom window, looking at the hazy morning light. She said softly, "Xu Xu, I think there"s something fishy about Feng Ye. I don"t have any evidence, but my gut instinct tells me there"s something not quite right about him. Moreover, you"ve just told me about a second psychopathic killer who extracts his victims" teeth as mementos. Feng Ye"s home, his home . . . there were several dolls that are very odd . . ."

After hearing Yao Meng"s trembling words, Xu Xu was dumbfounded.

Countless clues flashed across her mind, the weight of them tumbling like rocks in her head. If Feng Ye was the second killer, if it were really him . . .

Everything that had been inexplicable, now was clear/makes sense/resolved!

That morning, the city criminal investigation team held an emergency meeting.

When Ji Bai signalled to Xu Xu with a nod, she strode to the front of the platform, faced those gathered, and spoke clearly and formally: "Regarding the case involving Tan Liang and Lin QIngyan, we have had some doubts all this while that we could not a.n.a.lyse and explain. These have to do with how Tan Liang managed to get his hands on the pota.s.sium cyanide. With his job and his environment, it would have been very difficult for him to obtain the drug without being noticed by the police.

According to Lin QIngyan"s testimony, Tan Liang alone was responsible for the third case. It was only after that murder, that Lin Qingyan sought him out. In this case, Tan Liang accurately imitated the "Angel Killer" case, which was greatly at odds with his own careless, crude and rash personality.

In short, for Tan Liang to have accomplished this crime by himself, is really somewhat farfetched. However, we have all along, been unable to come up with a more reasonable explanation.

In addition, we now know that there was another killer committing crimes at the same time that the "Angel Killer" was active, and who was never caught. What if this killer-at-large has escaped from Hong Kong to return home, and has involved himself in the "Tan Liang, Lin Qingyan" case?

At that time, apart from Tan Liang, only Feng Ye was lying low on the mountain for an extended period of time. Besides, an eyewitness discovered in Feng Ye"s home, dolls which may possibly contain the victims" teeth. When you put these two pieces of information together, Feng Ye becomes our most likely suspect."

When Xu Xu finished speaking, everyone was in utter amazement.

After a moment of deep silence, Da Hu was the first to speak: "Xu Xu, what you"re saying is very reasonable. Moreover, when the connections are made between all these events, the entire case makes sense, and there can really only be this explanation. However, what you"ve suggested is only conjecture, there is no evidence. How do we investigate?"

Lao Wu said, "This case is too big. We can apply for a search warrant, but, if the teeth of those dolls are not human teeth, we would have alerted the enemy with our rash act (打草惊蛇 – beat the gra.s.s and startle the snake), and it will be even harder to obtain evidence."

Ji Bai nodded: "We cannot act rashly. Zhen Han, contact the Hong Kong police, see if you can dig up more information on Feng Ye. Da Hu, take men with you to keep a 24-hour watch on Feng Ye from today onwards. If he commits another crime, then we"ve got him. As for those dolls, let"s see if we can come up with some other solution."

Everyone nodded, while Xu Xu remained silent. At this point, Ji Bai"s handphone rang. When he saw the caller"s number, his expression became slightly tense: "h.e.l.lo, Yao Meng."

Everyone fell silent.

After a while, Ji Bai hung up and looked around the room: "Yao Meng says that she"ll think of a way to get hold of the dolls."

When the meeting was over, Xu Xu immediately called Yao Meng: "This is too risky."

Compared to her panic-stricken tone in the morning, Yao Meng sounded much more calm: "I"ve thought about it, and I know that you guys have no way to search his home at this time, and you also don"t want to raise his suspicions." She continued, haltingly, "If I go, we"ll have the best chance of success. Moreover, I know you all will definitely protect me. You won"t let me run into danger, and neither will you let him escape (插翅难逃 – unable to escape even if given wings)."

Xu Xu: "Yao Meng, this should not be your burden to bear, it"s our responsibility as the police force."

"Xu Xu!" Yao Meng interrupted her abruptly. She said, shakily, "If Feng Ye is a second Lin Qingyan . . . I will personally send him to prison before I let him harm another person!"

A few days later.

Feng Ye sat at his rectangular dining table, long fingers lightly drumming the table surface as he looked at Yao Meng, sitting opposite him in a red cheongsam.

"Why did you suddenly think of coming to my place for a meal?" he asked with a light laugh, "and you want me to cook it personally, as well? Aren"t you worried that it won"t be edible?"

Yao Meng glanced at him, used her chopsticks to help herself to some food, and nibbled a mouthful before replying, "Since I thought about coming, I just did it. You don"t want to welcome me?"

Feng Ye stood up, walked behind her, placed his hands on the back of the chair, and slowly lowered his head. Yao Meng"s body quivered slightly, and her face held the faint trace of a blush. She shrank back.

"Three days ago, you rejected me," Feng Ye said. "Can it be that women"s intentions may change so quickly? Little Meng, you were my only girlfriend. I still cannot understand what goes on in your mind."

Yao Meng"s face tightened, and she looked at him with heavily lidded eyes. She kept silent for a while before answering: "Yesterday, Xu Xu inadvertently reminded me of something."

"Hmm?"

"She said, the year that you were in Hong Kong, you always kept my photograph in your wallet." She continued softly, "Even though you"ve been in exile these past few years, you"ve still kept it. At first, I was certain I would never return to the past. For me to accept you now, would be too fast. I need time. However, if there is such a man, who has kept me in his heart for all these years . . ."

Feng Ye did not wait for her to finish speaking, and bent his head to kiss her deeply. Yao Meng remained motionless, enduring his kiss. Only her hands, firmly gripping the armrests, trembled slightly.

After their meal, the two of them entered the living room. Feng Ye sat on the sofa watching television, and wanted to continue kissing Yao Meng, but she objected, saying, "Give me time."

Feng Ye: "My entire lifetime is yours."

Yao Meng"s movements were leisurely as she sent a brilliant smile his way. She stood up and strolled around the living room for a while, picking up some of the display items, and keeping up a stream of trivial chatter. Then, she walked casually into the showroom where he displayed his most treasured items.

Feng Ye continued sitting on the sofa in the living room, and did not accompany her.

After a brief moment, Yao Meng came out with two of the dolls, and danced them in front of his face: "I really like these two dolls, where did you buy them from? I"d like to buy some."

Feng Ye"s eyes sparked with laughter: "Outsiders have no way to buy them."

She pouted: "Then, you buy two for me. I want to put them in my bedroom."

Feng Ye laughed as he gazed at her, not saying a word.

Yao Meng"s palms started to sweat, but she kept the smile on her face.

It was precisely at this moment that they were interrupted by a breaking news report on the television. The female television anchor spoke with a deep and dignified voice: " . . . news from Hong Kong. A few days ago, the coast guard dredged up a ma.s.s grave of skeletons from the high seas, shocking the whole of Hong Kong. It is said that DNA testing has confirmed that these skeletons belong to the victims who had disappeared in the "Angel Killer" case. The killer had even extracted the victims" teeth. Expert psychologists say that this is common behaviour often seen in serial killers – to remove organs or ornaments from victims" bodies in order to serve as mementos . . ."

While the news report was in progress, the only thing Yao Meng could grasp was that her entire body had broken out into cold sweat. Yet, Feng Ye calmly listened to the entire report, before an expression of righteous indignation and compa.s.sion appeared on his face: "Xiao Meng, don"t feel bad. Lin Qingyan was worse than a beast, but he"s already dead. You must try forget about him entirely."

Yao Meng: "I don"t want to talk about him."

The two of them were silent for a brief moment, then both looked at the dolls in hand. Feng Ye took in her pale face, and smiled warmly: "Do you promise to put them in your bedroom?"

"Of course."

He grasped her hand firmly: "All right, then I will part reluctantly with what I treasure. With them in your bedroom, helping me to accompany you, you won"t have any more nightmares in future."

After Feng Ye had sent her home, Yao Meng, with the two dolls in hand, was close to collapse. She threw the dolls onto the sofa like lightning, and immediately called Xu Xu: "I"ve gotten them without any problem. In fact, it was so smooth that it is almost unbelievable."

However, the tests carried out that night, led to a great sense of disappointment for everyone, and confirmed Yao Meng"s premonition. Since it was so smooth, there must be something fishy about it.

Those were definitely not human teeth, only made from the same material as false teeth.

Da Hu asked Xu Xu doubtfully, "Do you think this rascal Feng Ye has cottoned on to our, and Yao Meng"s, intention? Although these are not human teeth, I feel that he is becoming more and more suspicious."

Ji Bai lowered his head and said, "However, right now, we don"t have any evidence. Continue to keep a close watch on him."

Translated by – Shl

Edits by – Librismuse