Taking a gulp of the cold coffee left in the cup, Chen thought he knew what he was going to do.

Like in The Thirty-Six Stratagems: to sail across the ocean undetected by the eyes in the sky.

After sending a response to Huang about his coming to Wuxi the next morning, he decided to compose a text message to Zhao. It did not have to be long or specific, which was one good thing about text messaging.

‘Some possible new development. Going to Wuxi tomorrow – possibly for a day or two there.’

It appeared to be a plausible move, making sense for him to go to Wuxi, as it was from Wuxi that Shanshan came to Shanghai. No one would have to guarantee any breakthrough from the trip.

In the meantime, he might be able to do something else. For an investigation in secret like that, any ‘new development’ could reasonably justify his maneuvering around.

After pacing about in the room for several minutes, he worked out another short message to Zhao.

‘Started to check around. Prepared to close in. For the moment, what I’ve learned so far seems to point to the petroleum industry – some office there in Beijing.’

The petroleum industry was commonly known to have a lot to do with the air pollution. For Shanshan’s project, it might have been a matter of course for her to check into it. Anyway, it would probably not be a shot too wide of the mark. At this stage, he did not have to finger-point to anyone in specific.

But it demonstrated that he was carrying out Zhao’s order in earnest.

DAY TWO

TUESDAY

EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, Chen sat dozing against the window of the high-speed Shanghai–Wuxi train, having slept only about three hours last night.

The train was already slowing down, with the LCD panel in the upper front of the car declaring: ‘We are reaching Wuxi, the destination of the journey, in three minutes.’

It took less than an hour for the high-speed train to make the trip. China had indeed been changing so fast, as Zhao had put it. The last time he had traveled to Wuxi it took more than three hours.

He stepped down onto the platform where he saw Detective Huang running over waving his hand. Huang looked overjoyed at the sight of him.

‘Chief Inspector Chen—’

‘Call me Chen,’ he said, raising a finger to his lips.

‘I’ve arranged for a perfect stay at a fancy hotel with the lake view for “Master Chen” in Wuxi, Master Chen—’

‘Just Chen, no Master. And I’m sorry to tell you that there’s an unexpected change in the plan. I can spend only a couple of hours in Wuxi.’

‘But I have already booked the hotel, Chen. A five-star one by the lake, and a gourmet reception dinner too. The chef will serve all the lake specials.’

‘Thanks, Huang. I really appreciate it. Let’s go to the hotel then. I’ll check in under my name, but then you can stay there. For a couple of days more if you like. I’ll give my credit card to the front desk. You don’t have to worry about the expense, which is covered by the Party Central Discipline Committee. Afterward, you just need to mail the receipt to me.’