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Finding Other Victims - Day Three - Afternoon and Evening

"Captain," Qin Jiuxiao approached the officer.  "We discovered other victims."  Ye stared.

"Who, Where?"

"Duan's assistant turned him in after discussing him with Huang and with his encouragement.  She reported that he had at least two women he harassed and had inappropriate relations with, that she knew of.  He followed the patten of sending gifts and phoning them.  She alleges when the women broke down and had sex with him, he tired of them quickly and the abuse eventually stopped.  We reinterviewed the flower shop staff and they found the names of three women he sent flowers to in the last 2 years.  The manager volunteered to go through their records for the last five years.  Also, he suggested contacting other florists in the area in case Duan bought from more than one shop.  He had one of his staff going into the competing flower shops and approaching the managers quietly.  In the meantime, I investigated the women and confirmed their information.  One worked in his building but changed jobs.  Another interviewed with him but hired on elsewhere.  The third taught at his son's school."  His senior nodded.

"Good.  We need to interview them now, today.  You, me, and Han Ying, each with a female officer.  Find out where they are right now, impress on them it's imperative we talk to them immediately.  Let's arrange it in their homes so they are more comfortable, less intimidated.  Go."

Within two hours, the three teams found themselves quizzing women afraid to disclose to authorities how they had been coerced by the powerful executive.  None of the teams mentioned the murder.  They agreed that might frighten the victims unnecessarily.

"He harassed me constantly," Yun Zai sobbed.  Her husband gripped her hands, tears of helpless anger on his face.  "At first it was flowers at my desk, candy and small trinkets.  When I refused him, he threatened me and my family.  He said he could fire me and my husband.  He claimed that he had proof I had been stealing from the company and could go to prison.  He knew where my parents live.  Where our daughter went to school.  So, I met him in a hotel.  The first time he hurt me but didn't leave any bruises.  Later he became more violent and sick.  He demanded I do vile things, but I deliberately acted so clumsy and unresponsive that he got annoyed with me.  Hs wife came and watched, urging hm on several times and getting on the bed to touch me intimately.  As soon as I found another job, I left the company and didn't tell anyone, changed professions.  And finally told my husband.  He quit too.  We sold our home and moved to a different part of the city.  We changed our daughter's school."  She leaned on his shoulder.  "I'm sorry."

"It isn't your fault," he assured her with love.  "It's my fault for not protecting you better.  How incompetent I am."

"No, no," she denied.  "With his power, we had no way to fight.  If I wasn't such a coward, I should have gone to Mr. Huang.  But I didn't think he would believe me."

"Mr. Huang already fired him and notified his business colleagues.  Duan wouldn't find work in any other company if he avoided prison," Qin informed her.

"Would you make a statement about what happened?" the policewoman asked.  "He exploited other women, too, and tomorrow morning we arrest him.  What he did is illegal and carries a long prison sentence.  But we need you and the other women to give us the evidence to convict him."  Yun Zai sniffled.

"Yes, this time I'll be brave.  I remember a lot of the dates and the name of the hotel.  He belongs in prison."  Qin sighed.  One down and two to go.

Ye and his partner explained to the second woman about the others and the impending arrest.  The victim sat stiffly in a chair, unable to look either in the face.  Emaciated and unkept, she closed her eyes and swallowed.

"His wife watched five times," she revealed.  "She stood at the end of the bed while he pulled my clothes off and raped me.  She suggested ways to touch me, to hurt me.  Every time we met, I prayed to die.  I acted dead on the bed.  Finally, he complained I was boring. That last time, he hurt me worse than before.  I've stopped seeing men, refuse blind dates.  My parents know something is wrong but are afraid to ask.  The shame would kill them.  I'm ruined.  I see a therapist twice a week and she says I'm making progress because I haven't killed myself.  The people in my office try to be kind but they avoid me.  I go in early and leave late and eat by myself to avoid the elevator.  My supervisor realized right away I had been traumatized somehow and told me to do what I have to; he won't fire me.  Will I testify against him?  Will you guarantee he, and his wife, die in prison?  That the end of their lives is a nightmare?"  Ye agreed.