Logan Bennett sized up Ryan Sullivan for a moment. “Which county are you from?”

　　Emily Carter mentioned an underground county name. Logan Bennett grunted and said, “Your county town really does produce outstanding people.”

　　Emily Carter felt uneasy, not understanding what he meant, and just watched as Logan Bennett got up and walked over.

　　“You saw the deceased wandering in the back alley?” The police officer asked while taking notes, “How did you see him, what was the deceased doing at the time? Hey, Deputy Captain Bennett!”

　　The officer was about to get up to give up his seat, but Logan Bennett pressed him back down by the shoulder, took the half-finished statement, and, cigarette in hand, ordered without looking up, “Keep going.”

　　Ryan Sullivan’s gaze swept over Logan Bennett and calmly returned.

　　“…At the time, he seemed to be waiting for someone.”

　　Officer: “Oh?”

　　“We didn’t talk, just glanced at each other. He was wearing a blue pullover, black backpack, kind of like a schoolbag. I only caught a glimpse from afar, and he immediately walked away, looked pretty wary.”

　　A detective from the sub-bureau came over holding an evidence bag. “Deputy Captain Bennett! We found this by the trash can in the back alley, Captain Grant asked us to show you first!”

　　Logan Bennett took a look. Inside the evidence bag was a blue linen pullover. “No wallet, phone, or keys?”

　　The detective shook his head repeatedly.

　　“Did you find a black backpack?”

　　The detective said with difficulty, “We searched several times, but only found this sweater.”

　　“All right.” Logan Bennett picked up the evidence bag and handed it to Ryan Sullivan, “Take a look, is this the one?”

　　Ryan Sullivan didn’t take it, just glanced at it in Logan Bennett’s hand and nodded.

　　Logan Bennett handed the evidence bag back to the detective. “Give it to forensics, and tell the print examiner not to forget to lift the fingerprints from the inside of the freezer door and compare them with the deceased’s. If they match, the deceased climbed into the freezer himself; if not, someone else closed the door on him, and that changes the nature of the case.”

　　The detective hurried off. Logan Bennett turned back, but said nothing, looking down at Ryan Sullivan from above.

　　The officer taking notes was a bit stunned, and Ryan Sullivan didn’t speak either. The space around them suddenly became especially quiet. After a while, Logan Bennett tapped the wheelchair with his cigarette butt. “What happened?”

　　“Car accident,” Ryan Sullivan answered calmly. “Crashed into a truck while speeding.”

　　“Can you stand up again?”

　　“The doctor said I need more rehabilitation.”

　　Logan Bennett nodded, squinting thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, “Have I seen you somewhere before?”

　　Ryan Sullivan met his probing gaze and put on a perfectly confused expression.

　　“What’s your name?”

　　“Henry Turner, it’s written on the statement.”

　　Logan Bennett repeated, “Lu, Cheng, Jiang.”

　　The atmosphere suddenly became very strange. Logan Bennett’s face was hidden behind the cigarette, and no one knew what this laid-back criminal investigation captain was thinking. Even the sub-bureau detectives blinked, at a loss.

　　Not far behind them, Emily Carter finished her statement and walked over nervously.

　　“Clouds hang low, rain drizzles on; darkness everywhere, the flat land becomes a river.” Logan Bennett rubbed his chin and suddenly said, “Good name.”

　　Emily Carter abruptly stopped in her tracks.

　　Ryan Sullivan answered steadily, “Thank you, officer.”

　　“All right, tell your old Grant to get ready to wrap up.” Logan Bennett slapped the statement back to the officer and turned to leave. “Send the body back to the sub-bureau for autopsy. Anyone involved in the case must be available for questioning at any time. Little Reed!”

　　His subordinate, Mason Reed, was talking to the forensics team and ran over at once. “Hey! Brother Bennett!”

　　“Drive, let’s go home.”

　　“—Hey, officer?” Emily Carter was very surprised and instinctively reached out to stop him. “You’re going home already?”

　　Logan Bennett replied coldly, “Yeah, right, I haven’t paid you yet. Bring the POS machine, give me an invoice. Mason Reed, remind me to call the 315 Consumer Association tomorrow…”

　　“Don’t, handsome!” Emily Carter, who loved money dearly, immediately caved. “It’s already so embarrassing to trouble you to come out in the middle of the night, how could I take your money! No, no, no, take it back, take it back! No! Take—it—back—!”

　　Emily Carter shoved the card back to Logan Bennett with the determination of a disaster victim forcing a hard-boiled egg on a PLA soldier, her face full of warm smiles. “Oh, look at you being so formal… I just wanted to ask, when will the investigation results be out? How soon will there be an answer?”

　　Logan Bennett tossed a few bills onto the bar. “Ask the sub-bureau.”

　　“You’re not handling it?”

　　“No guns, no drugs, and with less than three deaths, it won’t go up to the city bureau.” Logan Bennett waved his hand and walked straight to the door, not looking back. “Of course, if there were guns or drugs, your shady business would be finished—Mason Reed, let’s go!”

　　·

　　Emily Carter stayed where she was, watching the police carry away the body and seal off the scene. Only after everyone had left did she look like she was about to cry. “What is all this? Brother Sullivan, Brother Sullivan?”

　　Ryan Sullivan interlaced his fingers, saying nothing. In the fading light and shadow of the now-empty den of gold, the sharp line of his jaw traced down his neck, winding and disappearing into his shirt collar.

　　After a while, he said hoarsely, “I’ve seen him before.”

　　Emily Carter didn’t react. “What?”