Mad Detective
[Author: Kuang Hai Wang Hu]
[TL: Spades]
[PR: Blitz]
[QC: Lumi]
Chapter 27 — Crossing the Line
——————
When Zhao Yu couldn't find the piano competition records, he'd considered interviewing the three victims, who'd been in the event and might recall something.
But he quickly scrapped the idea. From the bug, he knew Qu Ping had surveillance on the victims. If he visited, word would reach her fast.
If Qu Ping caught wind of his investigative angle, the consequences would be dire.
Yet, as luck would have it, just when Zhao Yu was stumped, Li Beini announced she'd secured the competition's participant list!
Overjoyed, Zhao Yu rushed back to the bureau. For secrecy, they didn't meet in the office but at a nearby Western restaurant, like spies linking up.
"Damn, you're good!" Zhao Yu praised Li Beini, "Finding that list, that's… freakin' unreal!"
"Come on, Senior!" Li Beini pouted, "I'm from the police academy's info department. If I couldn't handle this, how'd I show my face?"
"Spill it, where'd you find it?" Zhao Yu pressed, "I turned Second High's archives upside down and got nothing!"
"I pulled the original file from the City Education Bureau. But, gotta confess something!" Li Beini wrinkled her nose, "I'm just an intern clerk, no clearance. I used Team Leader Mao's account and password to access it! You gotta cover me on this, okay?"
"Whoa!"
Zhao Yu flinched. Though rough, the other Zhao Yu was academy-trained, familiar with office protocols.
Pulling a file meant the bureau requested data sharing from relevant agencies for a case, managed by the bureau.
Since these files held sensitive, private info, the requester bore legal responsibility. Only senior officers had this authority, with higher ranks granting broader access.
Thus, using someone else's clearance was a serious breach, and overstepping to a superior's level could even lead to criminal charges!
Li Beini using Mao Wei's clearance was a big deal. Even if Mao approved after, she'd still be in hot water.
"Holy crap! How'd you get his account and password?" Zhao Yu worried.
"That careless Mao, never hides his screen when typing. I'd have to be blind not to notice!" Li Beini said calmly.
"You… how could you do that? Are you nuts? If they trace it, your career's toast!" Zhao Yu scratched his head.
"You were desperate for the case!" Li Beini shrugged, "So I helped! Senior, you better solve this, or you'll owe me forever!"
"Alright… you're a real one!" Zhao Yu slapped her shoulder, startling her, "No thanks needed, but from now on, you're my little sis! Any trouble, I'll handle it!"
"I'll deal with the clearance issue," he thumped his chest, "I'll talk to Mao, whatever it takes, I'll make him take the fall! If he can't, screw it, I'm out too! Whatever punishment you get, I'll take it with you, we're in this together!"
Li Beini's heart warmed at his bold words. Though some slang flew over her head, his loyalty, even if partly bravado, made her efforts feel worthwhile.
"Senior… uh… I exaggerated a bit!" Li Beini blushed, "I'm not dumb enough to cross that line. I used Mao's account, but I ran a shadow plugin to erase the query record. Unless they send a special team, they won't trace it to me!"
"Oh?" Zhao Yu blinked, then laughed, "You sly fox, you had me! But good, good!"
To dodge the awkwardness, Li Beini lowered her head, "Senior, I'm starving. Didn't you say you'd treat me?"
"Right, my bad, sorry, sis!" Zhao Yu boomed to the waiter, "Waiter—menu!!"
A man of the streets, Zhao Yu was stingy with foes but generous with allies. With Li Beini's huge help, he was set on treating her right!
Soon, a lavish Western spread arrived, steaks, salads, oysters, abalone, dazzling Li Beini, who kept saying, "Too much!"
Zhao Yu ordered based on the thousand yuan in his pocket. Street code, do it big or don't bother, show sincerity!
As they ate, Zhao Yu couldn't resist the case, asking, "Even with the Education Bureau's files, how'd they have such old records?"
"Of course they do!" Li Beini replied, "The competition was held at Second High, but the City Education Bureau organized it. One's the host, the other's the sponsor, so the big records are with the higher authority!"
"Oh…" Her explanation enlightened Zhao Yu.
"Here!" Li Beini, checking no one was near, showed him photos on her phone, "This is the only surviving record from the bureau on the 10th High School Piano Competition, but… it's incomplete, just a ranking of the top 10 finalists, see…"
Zhao Yu studied it, quickly spotting the three Hand-Chopping victims' names, listed consecutively,
"…
"Luo Meina, 1336 points, 4th place;
"Yuan Lili, 1058 points, 5th place;
"Gao Tian, 1020 points, 6th place;
"…"
"Well, Senior?" Li Beini grinned, "See? Your hunch was right! The Hand-Chopping Case is definitely tied to this competition!"
No doubt!
No doubt!
Zhao Yu buzzed with excitement, the list confirming his theory. The mysterious culprit was likely on it!
He scrutinized the other names, each unfamiliar.
So… which one was the culprit!?