3 Chief Officer Guo

"Chief Guo," Xiajun said as he knocked before barging through the door. he patted himself for knocking, what a polite man he had become.

As he entered the small office which he had seen more than once, he noticed that the officer's back was turned to him as he sat on his swivel chair. His desk was piled up with documents and binded folders stacked over each other.

When the officer heard the door opening, he swiveled his chair and turned to face Detective Li Xiajun.

"Detective," he said gruffly and motioned toward the two straw chairs across from him. "Take a seat."

In no hurry, Xiajun stepped over to the chair, turned it slightly towards himself and flopped down. He folded his legs and clenched his hands, his business pose that got him his way most of the time.

Wary, Officer Guo coughed a couple times before pulling himself towards the table and settling down.

"Yes, detective, how may I help you today?"

Xiajun wasn't the type of guy who liked to beat around the bush with small talk. He went straight to the point.

"It has come to my knowledge that it was your men that were in charge of investigating the homicide case in Baiyun 5 months ago."

Officer Guo was stricken. He never knew what this man would come to him about and this time, it certainly wasn't this.

"But detective, we put that case to sleep as a suicide 5 months ago. Why ever would you come asking about that?" Officer Guo asked carefully.

Xiajun slammed his fist on the table and leaned in to Officer Guo. "Because it was too far from being a suicide case, that's why. Now don't ask much questions. I need all of the investigation files concerning that case you have in your storage right now and along with that, I'll be needing any objects your men gathered from the crime scene. Do I make myself clear?"

Officer Guo slumped back in his seat. He had failed to understand what the Detective had.

"Look, detective," Officer Guo said as he pulled out a handkerchief from his front pocket and wiped the trickling sweat on his forehead. "I dare not call you mad, but what you're asking of me right now is certainly asking for it. Why are you so concerned about a dead case? The investigators ruled it as a suicide."

Xiajun muttered something under his breath which Officer Guo wasn't able to catch.

"Pardon?" the officer asked.

"This is ridiculous!" Xiajun bellowed. "I'm unable to understand how the investigators of such a well known establishment can be so incapable as not to even diagnose the state of an injury very well. They should've been fired on the spot."

"Calm down, detective," Officer Guo said as he raised from his seat. "I-I'll get you those files, so do not fret so. I'm sure it's not much of a problem as you are, after all, a trustable fellow."

Xiajun sat back, satisfied and checked the time on his Hublot as Chief Officer Guo hobbled over to the file cabinets. Crap, it was getting late for an appointment he had.

Well, Xiajun thought, this is my priority after all.

"Yes, here we are," Officer Guo muttered as he came back with three large binders under his arms. He presented them to Xiajun who opened them as soon as they were in his reach. Yes, this was the information he had wanted. He had now access of all the shots of the crime scene and the little bags in the binders with the knife and the victim's accessories. Oh, what do you know...there was a bag of dirt samples as well. How interesting.

"Thanks Chief," Xiajun said as he stood up. "I'll leave you alone now."

****

Cruising through Guangzhou was a treat.

Xiajun was wearing his best pairs of sunglasses while he drove over to his next appointment: a meeting with dear old friend and once fellow detective.

As Xiajun stepped through the café threshold, a tinkling of a bell announced that a visitor had come. Xiajun stepped through and stood there for a moment as he scanned the area for his friend. Ah there he was, right by the far wall, a head of black hair in the booth.

"Ay, Changming," Xiajun said loudly.

Changming turned around and his face lit up at the sight of his old friend Xiajun standing there.

"Jun!" He waved to him to come over. "Glad you could make it."

Xiajun strolled over to the table, looking over to the counter as he did and noticed the barista staring wide-eyed at him. Xiajun did her the honor of gracing her with a wink. He slipped into the bench across Changming in the booth and sighed when he had finally settled it.

"What happened?" Changming said as he sipped on his drink. Xiajun noticed that he had already ordered.

"Don't even ask," Xiajun muttered as he called over the barista to take his order. "Uncle's not letting me investigate the Baiyun case today even though he said he would. Said I shouldn't go alone. Now, what am I, three?"

"No, you're 26," Changming said, nodding. "So he wouldn't let you investigate, huh? Wait, is it the same case which you burst over when they announced it was a suicide?"

Xiajun nodded. "My insides were killing me, man."

Changming laughed but tried to control himself when the barista came over.

"I'll have a black coffee. No sugars," Xiajun ordered without even looking at the menu. Disappointed for not being able to stay long enough, the barista walked away to make his order.

"So you still like your coffee black?" Changming said as he sipped on his cold Mocha Frappe. "I thought we talked about this!"

"No!" Xiajun said. "Sugar makes me feel weird."

"But bitter coffee sucks, man. At least add creamer or I'll feel bad with my Frappe."

Xiajun shook his head.

"Detectives don't need creamer."