Cold Case

After listening to the woman's words, Han Fei and Xu Mo exchanged glances.

As police officers, they were well-versed in the relevant regulations. The reason the local police had been hesitant to convict the perpetrator was not because they were unwilling, but because they had to follow the rules.

With the mastermind still at large, the case simply couldn't be closed.

So, the root of the problem wasn’t the local police’s inaction—it was their inability to act.

The rules were clear, and no matter how much they wanted to help, their hands were tied. It was likely that the local police were also deeply frustrated by this case.

They weren’t unwilling to help; they just couldn’t. Without capturing the mastermind, the case had to remain unresolved.

The jurisdiction where the case occurred was outside Han Fei and Xu Mo’s precinct, so technically, it wasn’t their responsibility.

But now that someone had filed a report, they had the right to intervene.

Cross-district reporting was rare but legitimate. In situations where individuals felt that local authorities were failing to act, they could file a report in another jurisdiction, seeking assistance from officers there.

Of course, whether officers from other districts would take on such cases depended on luck. Not everyone was so eager to help, especially when they knew it would be a hassle.

The woman was fortunate. Han Fei and Xu Mo were exactly the kind of people who would go out of their way to help others seek justice.

Moreover, their precinct wasn’t particularly busy at the moment, so they had the capacity to assist.

Han Fei immediately reported the matter to the chief, who then contacted the police department in the jurisdiction where the case had occurred.

When the local police learned that Han Fei and Xu Mo were willing to help with the long-unsolved case, they weren’t upset. On the contrary, they felt relieved. The case had been a thorn in their side for quite some time.

Han Fei and Xu Mo’s reputations had already spread through the police internal system. Everyone knew their capabilities, and their willingness to help was seen as a blessing. The local police were secretly delighted, as having these two experts on board might finally crack the cold case.

After coordinating with the local authorities, Han Fei and Xu Mo, along with a few officers and the woman, set off for the police station in the jurisdiction where the case had occurred.

On the way, the officers at their own precinct began discussing the matter.

“Did you hear? That woman who’s been causing a scene at the station filed a cross-district report. She’s brought Xu Mo and Han Fei into this.”

“Xu Mo and Han Fei? Those two are something else, especially Xu Mo. Since joining the system, he’s had a 100% solve rate, cracking major cases left and right. No case lasts more than a day in his hands.”

“If they’re helping out, I think there’s a real chance this case could be solved.”

“No way. It’s been seven years. The mastermind vanished long ago. Who knows if they’re even alive? How are they supposed to solve it?”

“I’m skeptical too. Cold cases are tough. If this one were easy, it wouldn’t have been left hanging for seven years.”

“…”

Opinions among the officers were divided. Some believed the case could be solved, while others doubted it.

Around ten o’clock, Han Fei and Xu Mo arrived at their destination.

The local officers had been informed in advance and were already waiting for them.

“Captain Han, Captain Xu, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Captain Li, the head of the criminal investigation team here,” said the local precinct’s captain as he greeted them upon their arrival.

“Captain Li,” the two nodded in acknowledgment.

They had never met before. Captain Li had only heard of Han Fei and Xu Mo through police circles, while they had no prior knowledge of him.

With little familiarity between them, there wasn’t much small talk. The only topic of conversation was the case.

“Xiao Wang,” Captain Li called out, “Bring the case file for Captains Han and Xu to review.”

The woman who had accompanied them looked at them pleadingly. “Can I stay with you?”

The group immediately shook their heads.

“No, that’s against protocol.”

Xu Mo added, “Go home and wait. We’ll do everything we can to help you. We’ll notify you as soon as there’s any news.”

Seeing Xu Mo’s assurance, the woman reluctantly nodded and stopped pestering the police.

After she left, Han Fei and Xu Mo began studying the seven-year-old case file.

As they read, Captain Li spoke up.

“I was at the precinct when this case was first investigated seven years ago. I handled it myself, so I’m very familiar with it. Take your time reviewing the file, and let me know if you have any questions.”

The two nodded and continued reading intently.

Soon, they finished the file.

Han Fei looked up at Captain Li and spoke first.

“Is it possible that the so-called mastermind in this case was fabricated by the perpetrator, Wang Yi? Could he have made it up to escape legal consequences?”

The perpetrator’s methods in this case were exceptionally brutal. If the case went to trial, he would undoubtedly face the death penalty. Han Fei suspected that Wang Yi had invented a mastermind to save his own life.

Captain Li shook his head.

“We considered that possibility early on and investigated it. What we found was that Wang Yi does have an older brother, Wang Bo. Coincidentally, Wang Bo disappeared mysteriously right after the crime… So it’s possible that Wang Yi’s story is true, and he’s just an accomplice.”

After a pause, Captain Li continued.

“We also considered another scenario: Wang Bo is indeed the mastermind, and Wang Yi is just an accomplice. Wang Yi might know where Wang Bo is but refuses to reveal his location because as long as Wang Bo remains at large, Wang Yi can avoid the death penalty. He’s keeping quiet to stay alive.”

This was the kind of situation that frustrated the police the most—a perpetrator who clearly knew something but refused to talk. Such a stubborn individual was nearly impossible to crack.

At that moment, Xu Mo, inspired, spoke up.

“Can you take me to see Wang Yi? If he knows Wang Bo’s whereabouts but is deliberately hiding them, I have a way to make him talk.”

Hearing this, Captain Li looked at Xu Mo in surprise.

This young man was far too confident. Did he really think he could get Wang Yi to reveal Wang Bo’s location? That was a tall order.

After all, if Wang Bo were caught, Wang Yi would be finished—he’d surely be sentenced to death. In such a situation, Wang Yi would never willingly reveal Wang Bo’s location unless he had a death wish.

But was that even possible? How many people would willingly shorten their own lives?

Despite his doubts, Captain Li didn’t show it and simply nodded. “No problem. I’ll take you to see Wang Yi.”