“You’ve learned fast,” she said, with an approving smile. “Your Internet search skills have really improved.”
“I’ve learned it all from you.”
“What have you done so far to find Liang?”
“Well, I tried to get his bank account records, but I was refused by the higher-ups. I tried to get a copy of his phone records, but again, no. As I mentioned, anything concerning a Party official is turned over to the Party Discipline Committee to handle. Any files or records that might prove Liang had corrupt dealings have been denied to my squad. We’ve been given only the missing person part of the case to handle.”
“Perhaps he’s in shuanggui,” Peiqin said with a sigh. “You know how a disgraced Party official is frequently placed in secret interrogation, so the dirty details won’t become known to the public. It’s all done for the Party’s interest, which is above and beyond the regular legal system.”
“I made a list of what Liang did right before his disappearance-as much as I could find out, anyway. Considering the Internet storm he was facing, there didn’t seem to be anything unusual. According to his colleagues, the day he disappeared, he received a phone call right before leaving the office in a hurry. The call came in about eleven thirty that morning. After he left the office, he wasn’t seen by anyone. However, even though his colleagues were certain that he got a call at work, there was no record of any such call-according to the official in charge of office phone records-coming in at that time.
“After interviewing his colleagues, I went to Liang’s home and interviewed his wife.”
“Hold on. She’s still there?”
“I had the same question. She’s much younger that Liang, an attractive woman in her late twenties or early thirties. Her name is Wei. She apparently had a role in Liang’s private company, and she’s well connected in her way. But other than being married to Liang, there was nothing really suspicious about her.”
“Tell me about your interview.”
Yu sat up, propped against a pillow, and launched into a detailed account of his interview of Liang’s wife, Wei.
“Officials who flee the country commonly move their families out first. That’s what the term ‘naked official’ is about, isn’t it?” Peiqin said, after Yu finished his account. “Is she an ernai-made-into-wife?”
“No. She’s Liang’s first wife, and she works in his office. She’s in charge of PR,” Yu said. “Of course, she claims that she doesn’t know anything about his disappearance, but I caught a suggestion of genuine fear in her voice. She does seems to really care for him.”
“What gave you that impression?”
“It wasn’t anything she said, but it was apparent that she’s worried sick about him. At first, I thought she might be just making a show of it, but at one point, she said something surprising. ‘People might have said all sorts of things about our marriage. But I’ll tell you what. I’m nothing without Liang.’”
“Was there anything else that caught your attention?”
“Yes. In answer to my question about whether Liang had any unique or identifiable physical characteristics, she shivered and said something even more surprising. ‘If you must know, there’s one thing. He has a tattoo on his lower belly, just above the hairline. It’s a tattoo of a blue dragon interwoven with my name.’”
“Oh, that’s really strange,” Peiqin said. “Perhaps it was his way of saying he wouldn’t have another woman-”
Suddenly, the room was filled with a shrill sound almost like crickets. Both were reminded of their younger years in Yunnan, when the sounds of crickets filled the night. Tonight, however, it was Yu’s cell phone. Yu must have accidentally touched a key on the phone, changing the ring tone.
Peiqin went over to get the phone, which was plugged into a charger in the corner. She still had a fit figure-her bare legs firm, her ankles shapely-but Yu noticed the pajama top she had on was worn, threadbare.
Peiqin handed the phone over to Yu. It was a text message. It was a list of properties registered under the name of Liang’s wife, Wei, a list Yu had managed to obtain through connections. The properties consisted of a villa, a condo, and three high-end apartments.
“I’m so sorry, Peiqin,” Yu said.
“Why?”
“After all these years, we still don’t have a decent apartment. Only these one and a half rooms. Compared to Wei’s properties, I don’t know what to say to you.”
“You don’t have to feel bad. I’m more than content,” she said in a soft voice. “I have you. Whatever she may have can be taken away tomorrow.”
“I doubt it. Nothing has been done about Liang’s private company yet. For them, it’s still business as usual.”
“So what are you going to do next?”
“A Wenhui journalist is going to interview me tomorrow. He might want to speak to me because of my partnership with Chief Inspector Chen. But I think I’ll focus on the Liang case. The number of high-end properties Wei has in her own name might prove to be an irresistible revelation to the newspaper.”
“By the way, how did Party Secretary Li behave toward you today?”
“Surprisingly nice. It was quite a turnaround. Beats me what’s going on with him.”
“Your friendship with Chen is no secret to Li. I don’t think he’ll ever trust you,” she said. “The business at our restaurant is picking up. Perhaps it’s time for you to think about leaving the bureau and joining me.”
The suggestion came out of the blue; he hadn’t anticipated it at all. He was momentarily tongue-tied.
“Qinqin is in college,” she went on. “We don’t need too much for ourselves. There were a lot of years wasted in the Cultural Revolution and other political campaigns; I hope we can spend the rest of our lives without worrying about such things. Perhaps you can start a new career for yourself.”
“But what other job can I really do? Nowadays, many young people are trying hard to get jobs in the police bureau because of the job security and the benefits. The Party needs the police to maintain stability, so the pay isn’t too shabby.” Yu resumed after a pause, “Let’s discuss this after Chen gets out of woods. Then maybe I could look into early retirement, maybe try to come and help you at the restaurant. But with so many restaurants opening and closing in Shanghai, almost every day, there’s no guarantee your restaurant would be able to provide for both of us.”
“There’s nothing you can take for granted in today’s China. Not even Inspector Chen, in spite of his connections and abilities. There’s no certainty at all.”
Perhaps Peiqin was right.
He got out of bed and walked over to the window to smoke a cigarette. She walked over to him, barefoot, leaning against his shoulder. Outside the window, they could hear another shikumen block being pulled down. It was not too far away, the noise rising and falling, like the turbid ebb and flow of ignorant armies clashing by night.
“Come back to bed, husband,” she said. “I want you to hold me.”
THIRTEEN
ON THE TRAIN BACK to Shanghai, Chen took out his regular cell phone and called Manager Hong at the office of the cemetery in Suzhou.
“I slept late this morning, Manager Hong. I’m going to have a bite at Cai’s Noodles and then I’ll come over in the afternoon.”
“No problem. Enjoy yourself. You’ve heard about the old, ideal Suzhou way of life, haven’t you? In the morning, warm noodle soup in your stomach, and then a bathtub filled with warm water as an aid for digestion and relaxation.”
“The Suzhou way of life indeed.”
“Don’t worry about the renovation. I’ll keep an eye on it for you, Director Chen.”
Their phone conversation was tapped. No doubt about it. Let others believe that he was in Suzhou, enjoying himself like an incorrigible gourmet, and supervising the reconstruction of his father’s grave like a filial son.