"According to eyewitnesses, the woman was wearing formal clothes. From her height and body shape analysis, she was very similar to Cheng Mingxiang whom I had met before. Therefore, I guess that Cheng Mingxiang had returned home after leaving 'Fangxian Hotel' , but this assumption has hit a wall. Because you have just given clear testimony that at that time, you and Cheng Mingxiang drank together in the guest room of Fangxian Hotel for more than two hours... Is that right? "
"Yes."
"It takes at least an hour by taxi to get from Fangxian Hotel to her home, and it will take at least twenty or thirty minutes to walk around in the house. However, as you mentioned just now, Cheng Mingxiang only has She left her seat when she went to the bathroom, and otherwise stayed with you to drink, so it is unlikely that Cheng Mingxiang was involved in the case. The problem is that the woman seen by the witness looked too much like Cheng Mingxiang, and I always felt that something was fishy. .”
"Could it be that I saw it wrong?"
"It's very possible." The detective did not refute, "Especially because your testimony is very critical and it is really difficult to overturn it."
"Yeah?"
"Because you are a person of high social status, even if the taxi driver identifies Cheng Mingxiang as the suspicious woman, the judge will consider your testimony worthy of admission."
"The more I talk about it, the weirder it gets." Xiao Long scratched his chin, "Having said that, I can't change my testimony. The facts cannot be distorted."
"You're right, that's why I'm so troubled by this."
"Troubled? Do you suspect that the woman named Cheng Mingxiang may be involved in the case?"
"It's not certain yet. How about it, Mr. Xiao Long, can you tell me her whereabouts?"
"Are you Detective Hao Dong?" Xiao Long confirmed his identity to the detective without changing his gentle expression, "What you said is strange. From your tone, it sounds like I know where the woman named Cheng Mingxiang has gone. It seems that no matter how much I prefer her, the most I can do is go to Fangxian Hotel to have a drink with her. Your strange extended explanation troubles me."
"Please don't be offended." The detective narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"In our line of work, we pay attention to cause and effect. When we encounter evidence of kunai, we will cling to any clues."
"I think you don't have to do this. Wouldn't it be better to go directly to the person involved and ask for clarification? However, this is my personal opinion. Depending on your expertise, you may be able to collect circumstantial evidence from other channels."
Detective Hao Dong leaned forward slightly, "In fact, the person involved has quit his job at Fangxian Hotel and is missing."
"Oh?" The general manager opened his eyes wide, "When?"
"Last night, when I went to find her, she had already resigned. Her colleagues didn't know her whereabouts. I indirectly learned that you often come to keep her company and may know her whereabouts, so I came to visit you today."
"Oh, you should have said it earlier." Xiao Long smiled and said, "Don't be so polite. Because you suddenly asked me if I knew her whereabouts, and I didn't know how to answer... Well, she has resigned!"
"I heard that her whereabouts were unknown as soon as she resigned."
Hao Dong put the cigarette on the table back into his pocket, then stubbed out the cigarette in his hand in the ashtray. Xiao Long kept staring at his series of actions.
"Officer Hao, please forgive me for asking. Are cases like this recently investigated by criminal police alone?"
"..." Hao Dong was secretly surprised, but still maintained a smile on his face, "It depends on the case. Cases like this can also be investigated individually."
"Really? Our hospital occasionally encounters theft cases. Every time I see the criminal policemen who come to investigate, they always work in teams of two. I thought that teams of two may be the basic configuration of the police force."
"Yes." Hao Dong was a little hesitant at first, but then answered directly, "Usually it is indeed a group of two, but occasionally there are exceptions."
"I understand what you mean."
Xiao Long put the lighter on the table into his pocket. This action meant that he was expelling the criminal policeman in front of him.
"I've bothered you for too long."
Xiao Long opened the door and watched the detective leave the room, casting mocking eyes at the other man's strong back.
Cheng Mingxiang was taken out of the New Century Hotel by Mr. Xiao and got into a car next to him. This is not a private car, but a chartered car. Xiao Long stood behind and watched them leave.
"take care."
Xiao Long showed a gentle smile, the sun shining on his face.
"Ah!" Mr. Xiao seemed very happy. He raised his hand gently, and Xiao Long's capable figure gradually receded behind him. Cheng Mingxiang feels that Xiao Long's behavior always reveals a certain temperament. Although due to professional needs, he has developed an elegant figure and demeanor through long-term contact with outsiders, he still occasionally reveals a bit of romance inadvertently.
"Sir, where are we going?" Cheng Mingxiang asked Mr. Xiao after the car ran about two hundred meters.
"Well, it's better not to say anything." Mr. Xiao curled his lips and smiled, with deep wrinkles on his face.
"However, I would like to know roughly where it will be taken."
"Do you have to say it?"
"I'm worried. Are you going to a restaurant?"
"no."
"Or another hotel?"
"no."
"Or a secret club or something?"
"No." Mr. Xiao denied one by one. "When you arrive, you will naturally know that it is a private residence."
"Private residence? Could it be your home, sir?"
"You'll know when you get there." Mr. Xiao said with a smile.
The car sped towards the west, towards Xicheng.
"Leave everything to me. You will naturally understand in the future. How about it? Don't ask any more questions from now on and just obey my instructions, okay?"
Hearing what Mr. Xiao said, Cheng Mingxiang could only reply obediently: "When it comes to this point, there is no other way."
Mr. Xiao remained quiet in the car and did not take the opportunity to be rude to Cheng Mingxiang. At this point, Cheng Mingxiang gradually understood that Mr. Xiao did not have any evil intentions towards her. The reason why she is so sure may be due to the accumulated experience of seeing all kinds of male guests while working at "Fangxian Hotel", or it can be said to be due to female intuition. No matter how flattering a man is, she can tell whether he is hiding sexual intentions in private. According to her intuition, Mr. Xiao is not that kind of man.
In addition, Cheng Mingxiang felt that the tone he spoke to her was also very polite. Before, Xiao Long, whom Cheng Mingxiang met in a bar, seemed quite arrogant, and Mr. Xiao was not very polite to Xiao Long. Cheng Mingxiang has only met Xiao Lao twice. His attitude towards her should be more arrogant than towards Xiao Long. Now he is very polite when talking to Cheng Mingxiang, which makes Cheng Mingxiang have other associations.
"What are you thinking about?" Mr. Xiao asked with a smile.
"I'm worried."
Mr. Xiao seemed to see through Cheng Mingxiang's heart, which surprised Cheng Mingxiang, but he still answered calmly.
"Don't worry, leave it all to me." Mr. Xiao said, quietly blowing out smoke.
Cheng Mingxiang felt that this journey was extremely long, and she didn't know where she would be taken.
Mr. Xiao beside him finally said: "We're almost there."
She raised her eyes and looked out the window again. The car had driven into a residential area filled with magnificent mansions and green courtyards. Even she knows that this is a high-end residential area, and many people of high status live here.
At this time, the car suddenly turned left and drove into a certain gate. The road in the courtyard was paved with fine stones. The car made a slight sound when it ran over it, and then stopped suddenly.
"Thank you for your hard work." As Mr. Xiao spoke, someone outside had already opened the car door.
"Please come in." A woman in her early forties, slightly plump and with fair skin stood to greet her.
The woman took Cheng Mingxiang, who was getting out of the car, and walked to a place that looked like an atrium. The garden occupies a large area and is filled with leafy woods. There are many stones underneath and are arranged along the pond. There are lawns on both sides of where Cheng Mingxiang stands, and there is a small pavilion at the end of the winding path. There are three blue pottery chairs in the pavilion.
"Please wait a moment." After saying this, the housekeeper disappeared.
Whose house does this mansion belong to? Cheng Mingxiang looked back and saw that the main house was a bungalow, but it was very long. Since the courtyard and the main house are separated by tall walls and woods, the structure inside cannot be clearly seen, but it should be a Chinese-style building, and the building itself is quite historical. The closest place to Cheng Mingxiang Station is the corner of the main house. You can see the eaves, which may be the teahouse. However, the middle is blocked by bamboo fences and plants, so you can’t get a glimpse of the interior. Only the white door and the tops of the pillars can be seen.
