Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-One

"I'm sorry, dear Jin," Wu Yinuo said apologetically on the phone, "I didn't find anything worth noting about Hai Qibao's financial situation." "It's okay, Eno," I said. "You tried, thank you very much." "The agents I checked were with him four or five years ago. They had a great reputation at the time. They trusted him. So they said there was no reason to investigate." "That's right," I said, "thank you very much. I can't do it without you." "What can't be helped?" He asked sharply, "Ah Jin, you seem to have found something."

"Really?" I said, wondering if Qi'an's marriage proposal gave me confidence. "I haven't confirmed the result yet, but I guess it's not far from the goal." "Will you get back the ancient coins?" "I hope so." "I hope so too. Will you let me know the result?" "Of course, dear. Thanks for calling." He didn't tell me what I wanted to know, but there's more than one way to skin a cat. It was Thursday morning, and I was full of energy, planning to finish Bai Ah Jin's victory in one day.But the result was not satisfactory.

I pulled an old shopping bag out of the closet—a brown paper bag with two handles.I packed it with catalogs, books, a folding umbrella, a raincoat, a box of stomach medicine, and my company coffee mugs.I went to Gurd's company and bought a bottle of "Irish Mist" at the hotel for Zhu Hebai. He was happy to see me, and even more so to see me stocking books and clutter on shelves and tables. "We're together again!" he shouted. We each had a cup of black coffee and a sip of wine to celebrate my return. "I'm going to call Lisa," I told her. "Listen, He Bai, I think this is the first time I've lied out of spite."

"Welcome back to the real world," he said with a smile. I pressed Dulisa's intercom and waited for her secretary to connect her. "Jin, dear!" she called. "It's good to hear your voice. Any good news?" "I think so," I said, "I'm downstairs in the office and would like to see you and Mr. Ge if possible." "Oh dear," she said. "I'm afraid it won't work, Stan isn't here. Today is a day for playing ball and sauna." I can't stand the thought of God stripping naked to a sauna.Shiny penguins! "Progress report, Jin?"

"Almost." I said. "Then there's no reason you can't tell me. I'll tell Stan as soon as possible." "I want to speak in front of him," I said firmly, "and I don't object if the lawyer is there. What's the doorman?" "Hallgate." "Yes, I hope he's there. Can you arrange that?" "Hmm..." She was obviously not very happy. "I'll try. How long have you been here?" "fifteen minutes." "I'll tell you before you go," she said, "or I'll call your house. Is it important?"

"Very important," I said and hung up, proud of my bravery. "What's going on?" He Bai asked curiously. "I need some news from them," I explained, "and they wouldn't talk to me if I told them. So I pretended to report on the progress of the investigation. They were anxious to delay Hai Qibao's complaint." he laughed. "Ah Jin, you have become scheming." "I just learned it," I said, "have another sip of fairy dew, He Bai." "Okay," he said pouring the wine into a coffee mug. "It's like before again, Ah Jin."

We toasted each other with our feet on the table. "He Bai," I said, "do me another favor, one last time." "Finally?" he said. "The case finally solved?" "I think so. Cross your fingers and wish me luck." "Okay. What's the matter?" "Your opinion. When you investigated Van Olsen's career, did you know that he—how shall I put it?—has engaged in group sex?" "You mean the Uncovered Conference?" He Bai smiled and said, "Oh, yes. Ah Jin, as far as I know, this man is a monster. He can even find a bitch. He is really crazy."

"Thank you, He Bai," I said gratefully, "If I want to write this case into a novel, I will be the first to thank you." "Can I change my name to Ronnie?" he thought, "I've always liked the name Ronnie." We laughed and chatted for a while, and I stood up to leave when Du Lisa called.She said she had arranged a meeting with Gerstein, Walliman--and herself, of course--tomorrow Friday at one o'clock in the afternoon.Is it possible? "Okay." I said. "Goodbye, dear," I said, hugging He Bai, "I'll put on my armor when I get back."

He glanced at me. "Good luck, Jin." "I think He Bai is a good name." I said. I took a taxi back, very nervous because I knew what to do next.I rushed into the apartment, closed the blinds and drew the curtains -- like an idiot -- and took Dorian Lee's bag off the shelf. I flipped it over and cut the tape with scissors.After the outer layer of paper is pulled away, there is a shoe box inside, with "No. 4 Red" printed on it. I opened it very carefully, and prayed in my heart; God, may I guess right. Inside are layers of purple toilet paper, I slowly peeled off layer by layer, and then held it.secret.I don't know whether to cry with joy or cry with sorrow.

But my guess was right. I didn't want to think too much about it and started making phone calls. When I got through to John Ma, he said: "Is it about Ming Luoda's withdrawal? Ah Jin, forget it, he took cash and can't find out what it is for. Horse racing, women, who knows?" "It doesn't matter anymore." I said impatiently.I tell him my needs. "Why me?" he grumbled. "How many things to do in my office." "It's got to be with you," I said. "It's three o'clock." "Okay," he said helplessly, "three o'clock."

Joachim is easier. "What's the matter, Jin?" he said. "Interesting thing," I said, "could help you get promoted." "Oh?" he said, "well, I want to hear. Give me the address, and I'll be right on time." We met at John Ma's place after three o'clock, and I took Li Daolin's small bag. Both of them stared at me like I was a big idiot. "Ah Jin, what is this?" Qi An asked. I didn't answer him.I said, "John, you said you had a VCR, didn't you?" He looked at me puzzled. "yes." "Pick this up and put it away." I opened the small bag and handed Li Dolin's small bag to him. He looked at it and said, "What's this? A videotape of the zoo?" "Stop talking, let's go." I said. He turned on the machine to feed the tape in, and we sat down.The video starts, the colors are vibrant and the picture is clear.After five seconds, Gian shouted, "God!" and we watched in silence. As I guessed; the protagonists of the group sex are Ming Luoda, Rose, Wan Osen and Li Daolin.Not beautiful but special.The two murdered performers uttered an unreal groan.But it's an X-rated movie.Stupidity beats excitement. After it was over, John rewound the tape and took it out and handed it to Qi An. "Gian, I think you want this," he said.Then we sat in silence and mourning.At last…… "Where did you get it, Ah Jin?" Qi'an asked calmly. I said that before Li Daolin was killed, she came to my house and handed over the package to me for safekeeping. "She asked me to promise that if she didn't come back and take it, I would destroy it," I said, "and when she died, I didn't know what to do. Then I sorted out a little bit and decided to look inside What exactly is it?" "What clue?" Qi An asked. "The cost of living in Orson is very high, much higher than his salary as Hatch's secretary. Where did he get the money? He has always had a reputation as a crazy sex freak. Even Li Daolin admits that he does some crazy things." "Okay," Qi'an said, "I'll go on. Orson and Doreen went to the Ming family's unmasked meeting, and videotaped the exercising together." "Extortion," John Ma said, "after Orson obtained the belt, he began to blackmail the Ming family. So Ming Luoda often withdraws money." "Mr. Hai and his wife are preparing to deal with the property," I added, "to amend the will. Think about it, what will happen if Wan Aosen gives the belt to Hai Qibao and Maping? If there is no inheritance, Ming Luoda and Rose Will be on the streets. So they pay Orson to keep his mouth shut. What can they do? Van Orson has the tape." Qiao Qian stood up and kept pacing back and forth, with his hands in his trouser pockets. "That's right," he said. "I quite agree. A scoundrel like Van Ossen won't give up easily. He puts up the pressure, and finally Minroda can't take it anymore, so he manages to get it all done." "Could it be like this?" John interjected, "Wan Osen raised the price, and Ming Luoda agreed. He went to Orson's apartment, and Wan Osen let him in to collect the money. But he got two bullets in the head, Eliminated Van Ossen. Then he was looking for videotapes in the apartment." "But I can't find it," I said, "because Van Ossen gave it to his girlfriend for safekeeping." "You think Ming Luoda thought of this too?" Qi'an asked me. "Maybe," I said, "Doreen said she got a threatening phone call, maybe she decided to blackmail herself, how would she pay the rent and clothes, three-point style and figure after Orson's death? Killed her, but couldn't find the tape because it was in my kitchen cupboard." Qi An nodded with satisfaction. "It's getting better and better," he said, "I can turn things in, thank you, Jin. You gotta tell under oath how you got the tape. Okay?" "When." I said. "Okay, I have to go now." "Arrest?" John asked. Qi'an thought about it. "It's not necessary, the Ming family's withdrawal account and this—" He picked up the video tape, "We can consider this case, but it's up to the lawyers in the bureau to decide, and I will tell you the result." He stopped at the door, " John, can you do me a favor?" "what?" "Pick up some popcorn next time you watch a movie." After he was gone, John pulled out the wine from the fridge and each poured a glass.We looked at each other and sipped. "You're amazing," he finally said. "Saved him today—you know? He's going nowhere with the robbery, but better with the murder. How did you do it?" "I got the tape." "Of course, but you don't know what it is, and besides, I know as much as Qi'an. Only you can put it all together. You are amazing." "Thank you." "How about saving me?" he said. "What does a murder have to do with a robbery?" "No," I said, "no direct connection between the two crimes." "Van Osson stole Demarie?" "No." "Who is it?" I thought about it for a while. "I'll tell you tomorrow," I said. He stared at me, "You're kidding." "No, I've got a little less to piece it together." "what time tomorrow?" "Oh... How about three o'clock, at Haijia Apartment." "I'll be there." "It may be a waste of time, John. If I can get it together, I will tell you everything." "Okay, how about dinner tonight?" "No thanks. I have to go home and do something, next time." He agreed, and I admire him for that: He accepts rejection and failure with as much poise as he accepts victory and success, and maybe he doesn't care. I looked at the spacious attic, so airy that even a Russian dancer could dance Swan Lake here. "Like it?" He guessed what I was thinking. "Of course." I said. "Why don't you move in?" "I like it," I said, "but until you move out." "No!" he said, "I want you to move in with me, it's big, I can buy a twin bed." He looked at me solemnly, I didn't know how to deal with it, slap him?Stride out?Eat and laugh? "John, are you kidding me?" "It's not a joke. I like you, Ah Jin, and I want to be with you. If you feel the same, why don't you stay together?" "how long?" He shrugged. "As long as you can, who knows what will happen in the future? Maybe you will move out in two days, give it a try." "What's the reason?" "Why should there be a reason? You haven't acted impulsively and recklessly? I—always have. Ordinary is good, I pay for everything, food and drink are shared equally, and you can still keep your apartment, that way It's safer, you just live here." "Until you get tired of it," I said. "Or you're bored. It's a two-way thing. If you want to go, or if I want you to go, there's no need for any reason, no excuses, no complaints. We're going to be fine—and for a long time, I Don't think there's going to be a scene, do you?" "Yes," I whispered. "I said I like you, it's true, I think you like me too, don't you, Jin?" I just nodded. "That makes sense," he said. "It's not a big deal. I'm tired of running guerrillas. You might like someone to come home. How about it, Jin?" He forced me to nod again, he understood. "Okay," he said, "why not try it out? What have we got to lose? You keep the apartment and the job, and I didn't say cohabitation would be sweet as honey, but it would be pretty good." "Not married?" He looked away, "It's too early to talk about it, people call it 'trial marriage'. That's exactly what I mean, what do you think?" "You want an answer now?" "Oh no," he said, "take your time, think about it, I admire you, you are a very smart woman, and we cooperate well in bed." I nodded again, if this continues, the head will be nodded. "Think about it," he added, "you can still live your own life, and so can I, and we each have jobs, and we have each other, and it's fun talking and laughing, isn't it?" He was a good salesman, a beautiful salesman, a lovely salesman. "I'll think about it," I said.I thought in my heart that over the years, there were actually two marriage proposals a day (one legal, one illegal). "Okay," he said, "you know I'm loose, and if you're okay with that, we can go up to the clouds." "For now," I said. He shrugged again, he always liked to shrug. "There's nothing permanent, is there?" he said. "Catch reality; that's my philosophy. Isn't it, Jin?" I looked at my watch and stood up, "I should go." "Send you back?" "No, thank you, I'll call a taxi. I can still charge Hai Qibao." "Would you consider it? Move to my place?" "I promise to consider it," I said. "Fine," he said, kissing me goodbye, wearing arami perfume. It was a strange evening, when I wanted to think about the new de Marie burglary, but personal problems intruded so suddenly that I gave up and concentrated on what decision I should make; accept Gian or John, or reject both, I have to make a decision rationally. I knew these two men quite well, and they were completely different: Qi An was heavy, serious, reliable, and he would work hard and do his duty.John is lightweight, urbane, and has a sarcastic approach to life. Gian needs a wife, John needs nothing.Gian was the good father, John the social man.Chian drives a classic car, John a shiny sports car.Gian wants our relationship to be legal and John just wants a bed partner.Qi An said he loves me, John said he likes me, both of them can cook. My mind was very confused, what I ate that night, but I couldn't remember what it was, I just remembered walking back and forth indoors for a long time, thinking about what kind of life I wanted to live, this question is difficult to answer. I went to bed early, but after a night of tossing and turning, unable to sleep, I got up again, put on my dressing-gown, and went back to the living room to pick up my sewing, which could not calm me down this time.I'm so distraught, I wish someone - mother, father, Wu Yinuo, anyone - would tell me what to do. I look up, the apartment is so empty, I've never felt so alone, I think I've made up my mind. Then I fell asleep.