Inside a hospital ward.
Zhang Xin lay pale on the hospital bed, her head wrapped in bandages and a drip attached to her right hand.
Knock knock.
Detective Tian Li entered the room, scanning the space before focusing on the patient.
"I'm Tian Li from the Criminal Police Unit. I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Okay, go ahead."
Tian Li turned on her body camera, took out a pen and notebook, and started the record:
"Name?"
"Zhang Xin."
"Your job at the hospital?"
"Accounting in the Finance Department."
"Do you know the robber?"
"No."
"Can you describe what happened?"
Zhang Xin nodded, biting her lip as if recalling the events.
"Around 3 PM, I went to the first-floor billing office. I came back to the Finance Department on the fourth floor around 4 PM. The elevator was crowded, so I decided to take the stairs. When I reached the corner on the third floor, I saw a man in a white coat smoking with his back to me. I didn't think much of it. But as soon as I passed him, he covered my mouth and pressed a knife to my back."
She looked visibly shaken. "He forced me to take him to the Finance room. Told me not to scream or he'd stab me. I was so scared, really."
"I believe you. You were brave. Your information can help us catch the suspect sooner," Tian Li reassured her.
"He stayed close behind me as we entered the Finance room. Then he forced me to open the safe… and knocked me out."
"What did he use to knock you out?" Tian Li asked.
"I don't know."
"Did you see his face?"
"I didn't dare look."
"His voice?"
"It was a man's voice, but the accent sounded deliberately altered."
"Was he wearing gloves?"
"No."
"Any other clues?"
Zhang Xin shook her head. "I can't remember. My mind was a mess. I just wanted to survive."
….
In the hospital break room.
An hour later, Team Leader Zeng Ping gathered everyone.
"Let's summarize what we have."
Han Bin spoke first, "Captain Zeng, the suspect has anti-investigation skills. The crime scene was wiped clean. Forensics found no useful evidence."
"I took the victim's statement. Let me recap it," said Tian Li. She recounted the entire testimony, helping everyone understand the suspect's actions in detail.
"According to her, the man was smoking at the stairwell corner. We should take her back to identify the exact spot. There might be cigarette butts or other traces," Zeng Ping suggested.
"I don't think the odds are good," said Li Hui. "I came in through the stairs too and saw people smoking at that corner. There's a bin full of cigarette butts and ash."
"Li Hui, what about the surveillance footage?"
"I found video of the victim being taken into the Finance room."
"Play it."
Li Hui took out a tablet and played the video. The timestamp was 4:05 PM. First, Zhang Xin peeked out from the stairwell, checked the corridor, and then walked out, followed by a man in a white coat.
The video was blurry, but the man's build indicated he was likely male. Unfortunately, his back faced the camera, so his face wasn't visible.
"There's another clip of him leaving after the robbery."
He played a second clip, timestamped 4:15 PM. A man in a white coat exited the Finance room, head down, wearing a face mask and sunglasses, carrying a bag.
Zhao Ming shook his head. "No way to identify him from that."
"Any other suspects captured on camera?" Han Bin asked.
"None so far."
"What about the stairwells? How many exits, and any cameras?" asked Zeng Ping.
"Above the fifth floor is the inpatient ward—it's sealed off. Only the elevator goes there. The stairwell only exits on the first floor, into the courtyard. No cameras there."
"What about hallway surveillance on each floor?"
"Each floor has cameras. During the time of the robbery, no footage shows anyone with a bag entering from the stairs."
"So most likely, the suspect left through the first-floor stairwell. If he left the hospital, he must've gone out the front or back door. Check those entrance cameras—maybe we'll get something," said Zeng Ping.
"It won't be easy. Many patients leave with luggage," Li Hui noted.
"I might have a lead," said Zhao Ming.
"What is it?"
"I asked the nurses at the 4th-floor reception if they saw anything odd. One named Feng Ran said a man had been acting suspicious—lurking around the 4th floor a lot."
"What's his job?"
"He's a hospital orderly. Name's Duan Jiliang."
"Our investigation will now focus on reviewing surveillance and checking out Duan Jiliang," Zeng Ping decided. "Han Bin, Zhao Ming—you two go talk to him. See if he's suspicious. Li Hui, Tian Li—keep checking the surveillance."
"Yes, sir."
….
Han Bin and Zhao Ming found Nurse Feng Ran.
She was petite, around 1.6 meters tall, cute-looking.
Zhao Ming got straight to the point, "Nurse Feng, your info was very helpful. We'd like you to help us identify Duan Jiliang."
She hesitated. "Is he the robber?"
"We're still investigating. Which floor does he usually work on?" Han Bin asked.
"Third floor."
"Then it makes sense if he was on the fourth—maybe scoping it out," Zhao Ming speculated.
"Did you see him today?"
"Yes, this morning."
"We want to bring him in for questioning. Can you point him out to us?" Zhao Ming asked.
"I… What if he retaliates?" she asked, nervous.
Zhao Ming patted his chest, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
Despite his words, Zhao Ming was short and skinny—not very reassuring.
Feng Ran glanced at Han Bin beside him—tall, sturdy, with a firm gaze. He seemed far more reliable.
"…Okay."
Feng Ran led them to the third floor and pointed to a man filling a water bottle in the hallway. "That's Duan Jiliang."
She immediately stepped aside—she didn't want trouble.
Han Bin and Zhao Ming exchanged a look and approached him.
"Duan Jiliang," Zhao Ming called out.
"Yes?" Duan instinctively answered, then froze as he saw them, suddenly realizing what was happening.
He hurled his cup of hot water at Zhao Ming and took off running.
"Damn it!" Zhao Ming cried, scalded by the splash.
Han Bin was ready for it. He leaped forward and delivered a flying kick to Duan Jiliang's lower back, taking him down.
(End of Chapter)