Red Light

Pictures

Jiang Cheng turned to his sergeant. "Liu Tingyu, I want the photographer in here. Oh and get a ladder. There should be one in the garden shed."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?" She replied.

He thought a few more moments. "I want detailed pictures taken from above as well as just standing around the desk. No one else in the room because none of this appears to be glued down. A good gust of air and the evidence is lost. Wait, get the rookie and put her on the door. No-one in without my permission. Right now that is you and the photographer."

He looked at her. "Understood?"

"Of course, Inspector." Liu Tingyu was watching Jiang Cheng. He was white as a sheet.

'It is not an easy thing discovering your mother is insane.' she thought.

She spoke softly into her radio alerting the photographer and the rookie they were needed as well as the location.

Jiang Cheng couldn't tear his eyes off the 'project'. He'd have to tell ShiJie about it. A'Ying wasn't up to it yet but in time he would have to be told as well. It would surely appear at the trial and be plastered all over the news. He couldn't let them find out that way.

His stomach tight and threatening to revolt, he pulled his phone out and held it up to start taking pictures. 

He almost jumped out of his skin at the touch of a hand on his arm.

"Don't do it, sir. We'll arrange for a set of prints but don't contaminate your phone with this filth." Liu Tingyu's eyes were concerned. Kind.

'I wish my mother had been half as kind as Liu Tingyu.' he thought wistfully.

Afraid he'd fall apart if he tried to speak around the ache in his throat, he just nodded and slipped his phone back in his pocket.

"I'll arrange for an overhead shot and a small selection of detail shots to be ready for you by this evening, sir." She paused and cleared her throat. "I know you need to tell your sister and brother. How are they holding up?"

"As well as can be expected" His voice was just above a whisper.

Liu Tingyu went with her instincts and did something she never thought she'd do in a million years.

She hugged Jiang Cheng with all the affection grandmother's carry in their hearts.

For once, he accepted the support.

They just stood for a moment. Her arms around his waist. His around her shoulders.

She patted his back and backed away.

Liu Tingyu grinned. "You know this means I will count you as one of my sons now so you have to eat when I bring you dinner!"

Jiang Cheng found himself unexpectedly laughing. "Yes, ma'am!"

Placing a hand on her shoulder, he gave her a small smile. "Thank you."

She nodded and smiled in return. "I'll go get some people to find the ladder and I'll see where the photographer is. Probably taking pictures of butterflies again." A serious look. "Don't stay in here with that. Go out, observe your team. Get some fresh air. Okay, sir?"

"Okay. After you, sergeant."

He felt lighter and could breathe easier as they left the room and its project behind.
-----

Meng Yao sat at his new desk in his new office and grinned. It was his first day.

He had been a little disappointed when he had recieved the early morning text from his brother saying he couldn't be there but he understood. Apparently, there had been some medical emergency in his wife's family.