Fog City Detective

Chapter 8: The Passenger

Liang Xi descended the stairs from the main residence and informed the security guard at the entrance. The guard, using a walkie-talkie, called for a car, which arrived shortly after. The security guard kindly suggested that it was already quite late, and Liang Xi could stay overnight and leave in the morning. Liang Xi declined the well-intentioned advice. After the security guard watched Liang Xi's car leave, he immediately contacted the butler. He had reasons to suspect that Liang Xi's departure in the early morning might be for unpleasant reasons.

The butler, surprised to hear about Liang Xi leaving, instructed the security guard not to make a fuss and asked him to add Liang Xi's name to the VIP list. What did this mean? The next time Liang Xi visited Davies Manor, he could enter without an appointment, just by stating his identity. The butler would personally receive him, and his accommodation would be upgraded from Building B to Building A.

The butler had only one purpose: if Liang Xi had a chance to come to the Earl's Manor again, do not neglect him based on Liang Xi's appearance, age, status, or class.

Liang Xi didn't think so much about it. After leaving the Earl's gate, he began to calculate whether the fuel was enough for him to drive back to London. Should he add five pounds' worth of gas on the way?

No kidding, since becoming John's assistant, Liang Xi had been living a frugal life. Tuition, rent, utilities, and even the expenses for three international study trips every year were covered by John. In addition, Liang Xi's monthly food, daily expenses, and pocket money amounted to only four hundred pounds. With Liang Xi's skills, stealing something would be as easy as pie. However, over the years, Liang Xi had never stolen anything valuable from others.

So, the main issue currently on Liang Xi's mind, a recent graduate, was whether or not to add five pounds' worth of gas.

The night was dark, and it was rare to see a car on the highway. Liang Xi reflected on the process of being manipulated by John today. He found that Mary's expression still had flaws. As for John, his performance was too real, and no flaws could be seen. But why did John send him on this trip? After all, it was the Earl's will, and John also knew that Liang Xi did not like dealing with nobility.

Liang Xi thought about John's unusual behavior in recent months. He hardly went to the detective agency, and the frequency of his interactions with an old friend suddenly increased significantly. From the one-sided information, it seemed that John was investigating something, but it was unclear what case it was. However, Liang Xi knew that the detective profession was like a second life to John, and there must be something fishy if he stayed at home for a long time.

Lost in thought, a black-haired woman suddenly appeared not far in front of the car. Under the car's headlights, her face was covered in bloodstains, her hair disheveled, her left arm's clothes torn, and her right hand raised, forcefully signaling the car to stop.

Damn it! Liang Xi immediately slammed on the brakes. A rule flashed through his mind: do not turn the steering wheel randomly during high-speed driving. But with a person in front of the car, it is impossible to completely control one's instincts. Liang Xi turned the steering wheel one way and immediately turned it back. The car swerved around the woman and slid several meters before coming to a stop. This is because the Beetle has a low center of gravity; try doing this in an SUV, and it will flip on you in minutes.

Liang Xi opened the car door and got out. In the darkness, a woman in a black tight-fitting bodysuit suddenly appeared. She scared Liang Xi when she propped her hands on the car's back door. The woman's left arm was bleeding profusely, and she grabbed the door handle, saying, "Open the door."

Liang Xi reached over and opened the car door in the driver's seat. The woman pulled the door and got in, sitting in the back seat. After closing the door, she lowered her head, gasping for air for a while. When Liang Xi got in the car, she said, "Drive."

Liang Xi fastened his seatbelt and asked, "Miss, do you need to call the police?"

The woman replied, "Just drive."

Liang Xi asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

The woman raised her voice, "Just drive, that's all."

Liang Xi wondered, "Where do you want to go?" Should I decide whether to add five pounds of gas or not?

After taking a deep breath, the woman softened her tone, "Please, just drive."

Liang Xi could only drive and handed the passenger's phone from the front seat, "Miss, do you need to make a call?"

The woman covered the bleeding wound on her left arm with a piece of cloth, closed her eyes, and leaned back to rest, saying, "No need."

Liang Xi asked, "Do you need a first aid kit?"

The woman replied, "No need."

After driving for a while, Liang Xi asked again, "Are you sure you don't want to call the police?"

Damn! The woman grabbed the driver's seat and paused for a while, trying to sound calm, "No need. I don't need anything. Just drive, and I'll let you know when to stop. Can I rest for a while?"

Liang Xi said, "Okay."

After a few quiet minutes, the woman removed the cloth from the wound, glanced at it, and pressed the cloth back onto the wound. Liang Xi could see clearly from the rearview mirror: it looked like a gunshot wound. The woman had defensive injuries on both hands, indicating she had fought someone, but the winner was unclear. She was shot in the left arm. Overall, it seemed like she lost.

Liang Xi knew there was a gas station ahead. He felt that he shouldn't be too stingy and decided to add five pounds of gas. After throwing John's car at the gas station, he would find a safe corner to hide and then call the police.

Suddenly, Liang Xi heard the sound of a firearm. The woman pulled out the pistol's magazine, glanced at it, and pushed it back. Holding the gun in her left hand, it hung down, while her right hand continued to press on the wound on her left arm. When the woman saw Liang Xi looking at her through the rearview mirror, her eyes widened. Liang Xi, realizing he was caught, immediately turned his gaze forward. At the same time, he slowly increased the car's speed from 80 to 110.

At this speed, the chances of the woman attacking him were significantly reduced. Liang Xi gave up entering the gas station, as he believed that if he could reach the city center of London, his chances of survival would greatly increase.

The woman suddenly spoke, as if talking to someone. Liang Xi didn't see a Bluetooth earpiece or a phone in her hand but heard her repeat a few affirmatives, "Hmm! Okay! Hmm!"

Fifteen kilometers away from London, the gas gauge was struggling. Liang Xi now knew he couldn't make it to the city center of London. The woman seemed unaware of the fuel situation. Perhaps finding it too quiet, she asked, "What's your name?"

Liang Xi answered, "Wang Peng." Damn, think about whose car you're sitting in; why do you have such a bad attitude?

The woman asked, "Why are you going to London in the early morning?"

Liang Xi looked melancholy, "I received a call from my mother. My father just passed away in his sleep."

The woman remained silent for a while, then looked at Liang Xi, who was driving attentively, through the rearview mirror. "Do you work in Reading?"

Liang Xi replied, "Yes."

The woman asked, "What do you do?"

Liang Xi answered, "I'm a gardener."

The woman asked, "What kind of gardener?"

Liang Xi replied, "Davies Manor's gardener."

The woman showed a bit of surprise, "The Earl's Manor?"

Liang Xi nodded, "Yes."

The woman asked, "Is Earl Davies in good health?"

Liang Xi replied, "He passed away the day before yesterday."

The woman nodded. She knew about the death of Earl Davies and thought that what Liang Xi said was likely true. She then said, "You have never seen me. Understand?"

Liang Xi said, "Understood."

The woman said, "I'm heading near d**k's Golf Club."

Liang Xi said, "That might be a bit difficult."

The woman asked, "Why?" The tone was like a clenched fist ready to strike.

Liang Xi replied, "Because we're out of gas."