Fog City Detective

Chapter 20: Pursuit (Part 1)

The man in the shirt, after exchanging glances with Old Three, made a phone call speaking in Chinese, "Goods are fine, eight o'clock! We need to catch a plane at eight, so have the money ready."

He hung up and instructed in English, "Hey you, go check the money."

Wang Shuang and the two police officers hesitated, and the man pointed at Wang Shuang with the phone, saying, "You, go."

Wang Shuang turned to look at the two police officers, and Liu Zhen, listening, seemed to find no issue, "Let him go."

Owen nodded, and Wang Shuang walked toward the rear door of the warehouse.

Liang Xi fell into contemplation. Eight o'clock? Was it their secret code? It seemed unlikely. Secret codes and signals were different; secret codes had no inherent meaning and could use arbitrary words like "tomorrow," "bonus," or "shrimp." Secret signals, on the other hand, conveyed a specific meaning. For example, the term "scouting" originally belonged to a form of ancient underworld slang because it was a common phrase; it was still widely used in modern times.

Underworld slang? Liang Xi's mind flashed back to the discussion his father and Black Uncle had once had at a drinking table regarding ancient underworld slang, and he had been listening with interest at the time. However, Liang Xi was certain he hadn't encountered the term "eight o'clock" in underworld slang, as the slang typically used units of time such as "ugly hour" or "boar hour."

Then Liang Xi thought of "eight o'clock" as "Bap Diam," which is the term used by salt smugglers to refer to customs officers. What did this mean? It meant Wang Shuang had betrayed the police. But what benefit could Wang Shuang gain from betraying the police?

In his contemplation, Wang Shuang had already walked past Old Three. Old Three, facing the two police officers, slowly backed away.

Liang Xi leaned over to Baker, pressed the walkie-talkie, and spoke in the softest voice, "Wang Shuang is the leader; he's going to run."

While Liu Zhen was still processing Liang Xi's words, Liang Xi pulled out Baker's gun, aimed it at the ceiling, and fired a shot. After this shot, Owen and the other two officers immediately dropped to the ground for cover, while Old Three and his companions drew their guns and shot at the hiding spots of the two officers.

Baker wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but the lines between friend and foe were already clear. Baker gave Liang Xi a stern look, took back his gun, and ran to the slide. Holding onto both ends of the slide, he slid down from above. At this point, Wang Shuang and his team had retreated to the rear door, reaching out to grip their guns and blindly shooting into the warehouse. Baker and the officers tactically advanced to about ten meters from the rear door, stopping when there was no cover for the next ten meters. They didn't dare to charge forward and waited for reinforcements.

Baker shouted from beneath the slide, "Liang Xi, what did the captain ask you?"

"Liang Xi gasped, 'Be careful.'" Descending the stairs, the sound of gunfire echoed, and Liang Xi involuntarily fell down. Baker, well-trained, immediately stepped on the ladder with one foot and bent his knee. Liang Xi sat on Baker's knee, experiencing excruciating pain.

Baker, holding onto Liang Xi, prevented him from falling, and asked, "What did the captain mean?"

Liang Xi, in immense pain, couldn't speak and pointed to the car at the front door. Baker, understanding Liang Xi's pain from the impact on his knee when Liang Xi fell from four meters, also understood Liang Xi's intention. With one hand gripping Liang Xi, he sprinted toward the car at the front door.

Liang Xi struggled to convey, "That's not what I meant. I meant they're escaping in a car. Hurry up and chase them."

Baker replied, "I didn't misunderstand."

Liang Xi retorted, "The mistake lies in not leaving me behind."

The bumpy ride of over ten meters left Liang Xi nearly breathless, and he couldn't speak. Baker skillfully pushed Liang Xi to the back seat, got into the driver's seat, and started the car to give chase. Activating the car, Baker tossed his walkie-talkie and earpiece to the back. Just as Liang Xi was about to catch his breath, the walkie-talkie hit him square in the face. Baker was displeased, "Hey, why didn't you catch it?"

What could Liang Xi say?

A voice came through the walkie-talkie, "Owen is shot in the leg, needs medical support."

Liang Xi picked up the walkie-talkie, "Captain Liu, Wang Shuang is the leader of the traffickers. Don't ask why; I'll explain in about ten minutes." At this point, being able to force out a sentence was already commendable for Liang Xi.

Liu Zhen responded, "I saw it. He won't get away."

Baker explained, "With just one call, patrol cars in the vicinity will immediately block their escape route."

...

There were two vehicles for the criminals; Wang Shuang and his two accomplices got into the car at the rear door and fled south. Before understanding what was happening, the criminals, stopped thirty meters away in the second car, first encountered the police, and a firefight ensued. Liu Zhen, positioned on the south side, saw Wang Shuang's car passing from a nearby road and was already in her own car pursuing them.

It was only after getting into the car that Liu Zhen questioned Liang Xi about what he meant.

Liu Zhen called the command center, coordinating with the patrol cars in the surrounding area, and began setting up roadblocks. There were only two roads, one straight ahead, leading to the sports arena, and the other turning right, heading to the city center.

Upon hearing Liang Xi say that Wang Shuang was the leader, Liu Zhen immediately instructed the driver to step on the gas. As they approached the intersection, they finally caught up with the taillights of Wang Shuang's car.

Liu Zhen reported, "Suspect vehicle made a right turn, heading towards the city center."

Baker sighed in relief; he knew that this road had many patrol cars. As long as they laid down road spikes, the suspects would have a hard time escaping. Baker laughed, "Hey, how's your brother doing?"

Liang Xi, still holding onto his knee, shook his head, "Not too good."

Baker said, "You haven't thanked me for saving you."

Liang Xi replied, "Thank you for timely knee-saving."

Baker chuckled, "Haha! I know a gender-change doctor, do you need the phone number?"

Liang Xi, uninterested in conversation, gave him the middle finger, hoping he could see it clearly in the rearview mirror. Baker did see it clearly but responded with hearty laughter.

At this moment, Baker's car reached the intersection. Liang Xi, looking at the illuminated area from the headlights, suddenly said, "Stop the car."

Well-trained, Baker instantly slammed on the brakes, causing Liang Xi to fly from the back seat to the center console. Swearing, Liang Xi exclaimed, "Damn it."

Baker asked, "Is 'damn it' a thank you in Chinese?"

Liang Xi retorted, "I really don't like your sense of humor right now."

As Baker laughed, he saw clearly in the rearview mirror. At this point, Baker's car reached the crossroads. Liang Xi, observing the intersection, suddenly said, "Go straight."

Baker, with precise training, instantly pressed the brake pedal, causing Liang Xi to fly from the back seat to the center console. Cursing, Liang Xi exclaimed, "Damn it."

Baker asked, "Is 'damn it' a thank you in Chinese?"

Liang Xi retorted, "I really don't like your sense of humor right now."

With Baker's assistance, Liang Xi settled into the front passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt while surveying the intersection. He said, "Go straight."

Baker didn't move. "Why?"

Liang Xi replied, "Because I'm a detective."

Baker countered, "Aren't you a translator?"

Liang Xi said, "I'm a part-time detective."

Baker started the car. "Kid, play detective games at home. We're dealing with a few bad kids now, avenging your brother."

Liang Xi said, "Baker, if Wang Shuang is still in the car, he definitely won't get away. If Wang Shuang is smart, he should know that abandoning the car is his only chance to escape. He is indeed smart; after getting into the car, he didn't head north to meet up with his accomplices but went south to avoid the main force of the drug enforcement team. Since no one is considering the possibility of Wang Shuang abandoning the car at the intersection, we can. Go straight, heading south."

Baker stopped the car, looked at Liang Xi for a moment, then turned the car toward the direction of the sports arena.

Liang Xi said, "Slow down."

Baker slowed down and looked outside. The moon tonight was adequate in brightness, but the sides of the road were still not visible. Baker said, "If you're wrong, I'm a deserter."

Liang Xi said, "Just say the walkie-talkie is broken."

Baker asked, "How did it break?"

Liang Xi replied, "I smashed it with my face."

Baker burst into laughter again. "Haha, I like that excuse."