The Poisoned Pen: A Guardian Story

Chapter Nine: The Alarming Escalation

Zhao Yunlan closed the door to his room and leaned his head forward until it was touching the cool, smooth wood.

A few minutes ago, he had almost forgotten himself and done something that would have complicated matters hugely.  It had taken every ounce of willpower to pull himself back from the brink.

He looked down at his hand.  He could still feel the touch of Shen Wei's lips against his skin.  He raised his fingers to his own mouth, and pressed gently.  It wasn't much, but it would just have to be enough.

He walked across to the window and took a long look outside.  Nothing. But it was still dark.  Only the morning would tell what mischief had been done during the night.

***

Despite the disturbance to his sleep, Zhao Yunlan rose early, but it was not early enough.  When he reached the kitchen, Chef Yu informed him that Shen Wei had already been downstairs and gone out into the gardens for a morning walk.

Swearing under his breath, the private detective quickly made his way out of the house and towards the area where the lights had been spotted the night before.  It did not take long for him to find Shen Wei.  The writer was standing completely still, staring down at one of the estate's many flower beds.

As he drew closer, it became immediately apparent to Zhao Yunlan what had captured his employer's attention.  The heads of every single flower had been removed.  It had not been done by any roaming animal.  They had clearly been sliced from the stems by a sharp implement, and the beautiful roses that had previously occupied the rich soil were now ruined.  After scanning the ground for footprints – there were none - he looked up at the pale young man standing to his right.

"Shen Wei, are you alright?" he asked.

It took a long time to receive an answer.

"I think so.  I just don't understand.  Why would someone do this?"

Zhao Yunlan stood in front of his employer and took him by both shoulders.

"He's playing mind games.  Trying to scare you.  You mustn't let him win."

For the first time since his assistant's arrival on the scene, Shen Wei looked him directly in the eyes.

"I have to fix this."

"What?"  Zhao Yunlan's tone was confused, and the man in his grasp took the opportunity to pull away and start running back towards the house.

The private detective followed him to a shed, not far from the main building's side entrance.  By the time he arrived, Shen Wei had entered the structure and emerged with a rake and several other gardening implements.

"The rest of the staff.  They can't see it," he insisted.  "Particularly Butler Lao.  He has heart problems.  I found out a few weeks ago.  I don't know what the shock of something like this would do to him."

Zhao Yunlan nodded grimly.

"I understand," he said, "but we need to record the damage first.  Let me take a few pictures, then I will help you clear it up."  He reached for his cellphone as he and Shen Wei started walking back down towards the scene of the destruction.

Two hours later, both men were locked away in Shen Wei's office, staring down at a blood-red envelope on the table in front of them.  It had been placed carefully in the centre of the flowerbed, but had only become visible after the remains of the flowers had been raked away.

The author reached for the missive, but when Zhao Yunlan noticed the man's hand trembling slightly, he reacted quickly and snatched it up instead.

"I'll do it," he said, before reaching for a letter opener and slicing carefully across the top.  He pulled out a single sheet, and as he read it, his blood turned cold.