The Poisoned Pen: A Guardian Story

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Emotional Toll

Zhao Yunlan watched as the crime lab van carrying Gao Han's body grew smaller and smaller as it disappeared up the driveway.  The paramedics had already left, taking Butler Lao with them.  The man had regained consciousness and seemed to be doing okay, but he was advancing in years and so it was thought best to admit him to hospital for a day or two.  Still, before he had been loaded into the ambulance, he had managed to tell his story.

Gao Han had telephoned him earlier that day, explaining that he was coming to visit Shen Wei and asking if they could meet in his cottage beforehand, as Shen Ling wanted him to pass over some information about the stalker.

Obviously, the old butler had agreed to the meeting, not having any reason to doubt the boyfriend of the young lady of the Shen family.  He had let Gao Han in at the pre-arranged time and on turning around to lead him into the kitchen, been immediately struck on the head.  Of course, having been facing the wrong direction, he could not say for sure that it was the journalist who hit him, but given that no one else was there, it was safe to assume it.

As for the rest of the story, once Shen Wei woke up he had told the entire tale of their cat and mouse journey around the house, including everything the killer had said to him.  It had made Zhao Yunlan's blood boil, but he had forced himself to stay calm, reminding his surging emotions that the man was gone, and could no longer hurt them.

Turning around, he saw the writer standing in the open doorway, a small, tight smile on his face.  He knew what was running through the man's mind.  His sister was on her way, and the conversation that followed was sure to be a difficult one.  After all, the man that she was in love with was now dead, having tried to murder her brother, and the odds were that she was being played by him all along.  Just being used as a means to get closer to his prey.  No doubt she would be devastated.

Walking over to the author, he reached for the man's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Do you want me to sit in?" he asked.

"No, it's fine.  This is something that needs to be between the two of us."

"I understand.  I won't be far away, though.  Call me if you need me."

With that, the detective went back into the house to talk to Chu Shuzhi, who was upstairs in the master bedroom.  He did not waste any time on pleasantries.

"Do you need me to come down to the station?"

"I don't think so.  At least, not immediately.  My men are backing your story up for the most part, and we have Shen Wei's statement about what happened in this room.  As for why all of this happened, and how, we'll know more when we search Gao Han's place and start going back over his movements in the last few weeks and months."  Suddenly, he changed the subject.  "How is Mr Shen?"

Zhao Yunlan shrugged.

"As good as can be expected.  His injuries aren't serious.  I'm more worried about the emotional toll this will take on the entire family."

"Hmm.  They're stronger than they look, I suspect.  But what about you?  Your client is safe.  The job is over.  What will you do next, after all the dust settles?"

The private detective thought for a moment.

"I think I'll take a long break," he said.  "After all, there is more to life than just working.  I think it's time I focussed on my own happiness for a while.  Da Qing can handle things at the agency."

"I understand you," his friend said, and Yunlan was confident that he truly did.

"Listen," he said, "Ms Shen is arriving soon to talk to her brother.  I doubt she'll be in any state to drive home afterwards, but I can't imagine she will want to stay here where..." he tailed off, and Chu Shuzhi immediately grasped the situation.