Chapter 114: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole

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Upon arriving at the interrogation room, Chen Liang signaled to his junior colleague to unlock their handcuffs. “Speak up, both of you! How did you lose your keys and passwords?”

“Officer Chen, I swear, I didn’t steal the money, I—”

“I know that, but all the evidence points to you two. Don’t tell me you have no idea? Think carefully!”

Then Chen Liang added, “This was clearly premeditated. Have you ever gotten drunk with anyone else from the finance department?”

“Ah, Officer Chen, are you saying the thief is someone from our finance department?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Neither the iron gate nor the safe was broken into; they were opened with a key. That clearly means someone familiar with your finance department did it. But think about it—who would know the finance office better than someone inside it?”

Chen Liang’s demeanor had completely changed from his earlier brashness in the meeting room. Now, he gently guided them with his words.

“Besides, one of you has the key, and the other knows the password. Only an insider could have gotten both from you.”

Chen Liang’s words were like a beacon of light, awakening the two finance directors. “I remember now! About a month ago, I went drinking with Xiao Zhang. I got really drunk, and he was the one who helped me get home.”

At this, the deputy director who held the safe’s key jumped up excitedly.

“Right, when Old Xie mentioned that, I also recalled that every time I opened the safe, Xiao Zhang would linger around, always the last one to leave.”

“Who is Xiao Zhang?” Chen Liang perked up. The thief could be this foolish? Didn’t they find someone to cover for them?

“Officer Chen, Xiao Zhang is our factory’s cashier, Zhang Zhiming. That kid never acts properly when he’s not working—always causing trouble.”

“Good. I’ll investigate immediately. But I have to trouble you two a bit more. I’ll have someone spread a rumor that you’ve confessed to stealing the money!”

“This... this money really isn’t ours, Officer Chen. You can’t wrong me! I still have a son who hasn’t married yet!”

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“Don’t worry. This is just to calm the workers and lower Zhang Zhiming’s guard temporarily. Once the money is recovered, I’ll have the broadcast station announce your integrity and cooperation! The department will even award you a certificate. Who knows, you might become a model of positive behavior!”

In this era, personal reputation was everything. People with a stain on their record had no chance of marrying well in the city.

Yet Chen Liang was shrewd—just mentioning the broadcast and setting an example dispelled their worries. They nodded in agreement and even acted as if they couldn’t bear to be wronged.

After speaking with them, Chen Liang stepped out of the interrogation room and sent someone to call Cao Kui. The north gate wasn’t far from the security office, so soon Cao Dawu came running over.

“Brother Liang, you called for me?” The news of Chen Liang storming the meeting room to make arrests had spread throughout the factory by morning. Being summoned now surely meant there was a task at hand.

Sure enough, Cao Dawu arrived and hadn’t even taken a sip of hot tea before Chen Liang said, “Dawu, help me check who was on duty at the north gate last night.”

“Got it, Brother Liang. We have a duty roster book. I’ll find out right away!” Cao Dawu eagerly dashed back to the north gate. After running under the rain and sweating heavily, he returned with the duty roster. Chen Liang then signaled for him to step aside and have some tea and a smoke.

Carefully reviewing the roster, Chen Liang then said, “Dawu, I need you to do me one more favor. Go and bring Xiao Liu here. I have some questions for him.”

“No problem, Brother Liang. It’s no trouble at all.” Cao Dawu finished his tea, lit a cigarette, put on his raincoat, and rode off into the storm.

After Cao Dawu left, Chen Liang sat quietly in his office, silently pondering over the record book.

More than half an hour later, drenched to the bone, Cao Dawu returned with the equally soaked Xiao Liu.

Given the distance from home, neither had wasted a moment.

Chen Liang poured two cups of hot tea and asked Xiao Liu, “Liu, were you on the night shift last night?”

Taking a sip to warm himself, Xiao Liu quickly replied, “Yes, Brother Liang.”

“Liu, think carefully. Did anything unusual happen last night? Big or small, tell me everything.”

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Xiao Liu knew well that Chen Liang was not only their childhood leader but also their greatest support in the security department now, so he treated his words with utmost seriousness.

After thinking for a long time, he finally said uncertainly, “Brother Liang, nothing much happened last night. If I have to say something, it’s that Lei San was acting strange. Usually lazy, but last night he even covered someone else’s shift. Brother Liang, does that count?”

“That counts. Liu, are you close with Lei San?” Chen Liang nodded firmly and asked again.

“Well... just so-so. We’re all colleagues who see each other every day. We just greet each other.”

“Do you know what kind of relationship Lei San has with Zhang Zhiming from finance?”

Hearing this, Xiao Liu thought carefully and then said with certainty, “They get along well. They often hang out after work instead of going home. They whisper and joke together all the time, putting their arms around each other like they wear the same pair of pants.”

There was no escaping it now. Chen Liang immediately called them over. “Dawu, take Xiao Liu and help me with something.”

“You two go find Lei San. Get him somewhere private and tell him this: we know what he did. If he doesn’t share the loot, beat him up. Got it?”

“Ah? Brother Liang, what’s this trick?” Cao Dawu was puzzled.

“Fool! This is called luring the snake out of its hole. I had to make you guys run around and offend people early in the morning. If I weren’t tied up here, I’d go give him a good thrashing myself!”

“Heh, don’t worry, Brother Liang. We’re professionals when it comes to this. Just wait and watch,” Chen Liang said, giving Cao Dawu a reassuring chuckle.

But Xiao Liu was a bit uneasy. “Brother Liang, Lei San’s uncle is no ordinary man—he’s the head of the Public Security Section at the West City Branch. Won’t what we’re doing cause trouble for you?”