Love Me If You Dare

Chapter 9

The police car is still traveling on the national highway.

Jian Yao is lost for words. She cannot believe this.

The policeman that is driving the car asks Bo Jinyan: "Professor Bo, you mean ...... those kids are dead?"

Bo Jinyan says slowly: "I am afraid so."

The scenery outside the window changes rapidly. Jian Yao asks: "Even if there's only one person that is committing the crime, he may still be a trafficker. Why are you so sure that it's a serial killer?"

Bo Jinyan's pale handsome face has no expression. Looking outside the window, his eyes seem to be staring into a different world.

Bo Jinyan: "Because I understand them."

-

Jian Yao calls Li.

Even though she has her doubts, she calls Li Xunran to tell him what Bo Jinyan just told her.

Li Xunran stands in the office with his speakerphone function on. The whole police station is in uproars after hearing Bo Jinyan's words: "Why? How did he reach such a conclusion?"

Jian Yao: "Wait." she puts down the phone and looks at Bo Jinyan: "They want to know the reasons behind your conclusion."

Bo Jinyan leans his body back and closes his eyes: "I'll do the briefing later. Ask them to find the bodies first."

"Bodies?" The police can't believe what they heard. Neither are they familiar with the concept of briefing. They still have their doubts about whether they should change their direction of investigation. "Jian Yao, this is too big a decision to make without understanding the facts fully. Chief is with me. He asks if Professor Bo can explain his findings to us first?"

Jian Yao ponders. She looks at Bo Jinyan again: "Can't you just give them a briefing over the phone?'"

Bo Jinyan opens his eyes: "The last time I did a briefing, it was in the central hall in the University of Maryland. Now you want me to...." He glances outside the window: "...... in front of the tolling booth of the 18th Forrest section of the National Highway?"

Jian Yao wants to laugh: "So, will you be less convincing just because you are briefing outside the tolling booth?"

Bo Jinyan pulls out his sleep mask from his coat pocket and turns his head away from Jian Yao. His response is clear. Stop bothering me.

Jian Yao looks at the time. It's only another hour till they will arrive the police station. She can't possibly tell them directly that he is reluctant to do it over the phone. So she says: " Professor Bo is preparing the content for the briefing right now. We also need to return to the villa to collect some information that we will use at the briefing. We are almost back in town. We will come over to the police station as soon as possible to present to you all our findings."

Jian Yao puts down the phone and gives a sigh. Bo Jinyan removes his googles and says in a deep voice: "Liar!"

Jian Yao : "Just shut up!"

-

By the time they arrive the police station, it's almost evening.

Li Xunran and a few other officers are waiting outside the station. Jian Yao's eyes are drawn to the 3rd floor,where the conference room is located. That is where the briefing will be held. The last time Jian Yao was there, she was six years old.

Memories starts to trickle like water drops into her mind.

A voice besides her: "Lips pressed together, the upper eyelid drooping ...... Why did I just see a typical expression of pain, hiding within your calm appearance?"