Memory Lost

This is truly a surprising yet perplexing scene!

It's the middle of the night and Chatterbox is holding a flashlight with his mouth appearing in the office with the extremely precious half fingerprint in his hand. Han Chen and Su Mian are staring at him with gloomy faces but their eyes carry a sense of calmness like everything has been settled.

Under everybody's gaze, Chatterbox retrieves the flashlight from his mouth and looks at them feeling stunned, "What are you guys doing here?"

Xiao Zhuan speaks up as well, "Yeah Leader, what exactly is going on? Chatterbox, what are you doing coming here in the middle of the night to get the fingerprint?"

Xu Nan Bai and Xu Si Bai are both quiet as they observe everybody else.

It's cold at night. Han Chen has his jacket collar standing up, making his handsome face seem more fair white and unapproachable. He says slowly, "Chatterbox, answer Xiao Zhuan's question. What are you doing with the fingerprint?"

Under the pressure of everybody's gaze, Chatterbox puts the fingerprint back onto the table immediately. He ruffles his hair, "I suddenly discovered something important, so I came to look at the fingerprint. How did I end up alerting all of you……"

"You're still pretending?" Su Mian says in a cold voice. Her eyes are actually watery but her facial expression is determined, "Chatterbox, I never thought that it was really you." She takes a look at everyone and continues, "Last month, when Han Chen and I were in the conference room discussing Shao Lun and Situ Yi's case, he was eavesdropping outside. We started suspecting him at that time." 𝗳𝔯𝙚e𝒘e𝚋𝘯𝚘ν𝙚l.𝑐o𝙢

Chatterbox is dumbstruck. He waves his hand frantically, "I wasn't eavesdropping! That day, that day……I remember now. I just happened to pass by that day!"

He tries to explain but everybody's expression changes. Xiao Zhuan still doesn't understand it fully, "Eavesdropping? Suspect? What are you suspecting Chatterbox for?" Xu Nan Bai also says in shock, "You guys……Could you guys be suspecting him as a member of the seven-member organization?" Xu Si Bai continues standing quietly.

Han Chen nods. He stuffs both hands into his pockets, walks toward Chatterbox and stops within a couple of meters away from him. His eyes reveal a faint smile, "There's something that I haven't told everyone. Before Xin Jia died, she did not say that the 'killer is in the South of the city,' but rather……she said the killer is by my side."

Everybody falls into silence. Chatterbox's jaw drops. Su Mian says in agreement, "Yes, we didn't tell everybody because we didn't want to alert the suspect. And this half fingerprint is very important, so we were afraid that someone would come steal it, but we wanted to use it as a test at the same time. We didn't think that we would have such an outcome. If you're not the killer, why did you come for the fingerprint in the middle of the night? Chatterbox, what else do you want to say? You can say that it was a coincidence the first time, but what about the second time?" she pauses and increases her seriousness in her voice, "You've really let us down. We actually have a killer in the Black Shield Team, heh……"

Xiao Zhuan, who's standing on the side, finally understands what's going on. His face changes as he points his finger at Chatterbox, "Don't, Don't……Don't tell me that it is really you!"

Xu Nan Bai and Xu Si Bai remain quiet.

Chatterbox looks to his left and then his right feeling as if there's nothing to prove his innocence. He says hurriedly, "No! It really isn't me! How could I possibly be the killer!"

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night then?!" Han Chen roars in a deep voice.

The spacious room falls into silence immediately. Chatterbox doesn't dare to speak.

Although Han Chen is usually a bit unfriendly, he seldom gets mad. His expression right now is as cold as ice. Everybody can feel his fierceness from his speech just now. Chatterbox's face turns pale as he murmurs, "I…I…suddenly recall that the fingerprint that I've been restoring today looks a bit familiar……that's why I came to have a look……"

Everybody looks at each other.

Su Mian asks, "Familiar? What do you mean?"

Chatterbox ruffles his hair and stares at Han Chen with his eyes wide as if he's hoping that he would believe his words, "It's like this. You know that I'm specialized in analyzing fingerprints, right? There are at least thousands of fingerprints in my head. I have everybody's fingerprint from the station in my mind. And I've seen many wanted suspects' fingerprints as well. When I was working on restoring the fingerprint today, I didn't think too much of it and I haven't used a computer to do any comparative analysis yet. But while I was sleeping in my dormitory tonight, my mind was filled with the image of this half fingerprint. All of a sudden, I felt like I had seen it somewhere before. Yes! It must have been someone's fingerprint that I've seen before. I got excited and couldn't sleep anymore……"

Everybody is stunned.

Xiao Zhuan is hoping that he isn't the killer nonetheless, so he speaks first, "Therefore, you're not here to steal the fingerprint? You're here to do over time?"

Chatterbox nods his head vigorously.

They both look toward Han Chen. Su Mian turns her head to look at him too.

Han Chen remains quiet for a moment and then directs his gaze at the flashlight in Chatterbox's hand, "Why did you not turn on the lights then? Why were you being so secretive?" It's hard to make out whether he's mad or not from his voice, but he points out a key detail.

Chatterbox feels wronged very much, "It's because I was afraid of waking you guys up. If I turned on the lights in the middle of the night, you guys will think that something big is happening, therefore, I brought a flashlight with me……"

Xiao Zhuan is obviously on his side. After he hears Chatterbox's explanation, his expression is a lot more relieved, but he shouts back, "You idiot! Why did you have to be so sneaky about it?"

Han Chen keeps quiet. Su Mian's expression simply shows that she doesn't know what to say. She clearly still doesn't believe in Chatterbox fully but also doesn't believe that he is a killer sentimentally.

Xu Nan Bai looks at Chatterbox and says calmly, "I've got the gist of what's going on now. Chatterbox, have you verified whose fingerprint it is then? If you have the answer, wouldn't that prove your innocence?"

Chatterbox shakes his head, "Not yet. I've seen so many fingerprints and hold so many of them in my mind, I can't pinpoint who it is yet." He jerks his head up and looks at Han Chen, "Please give me a bit more time. Two days! One day! I can finish the comparative analysis in a day and confirm who this fingerprint belongs to!"

Everybody looks at each other and remains quiet.

Xu Si Bai, who's been quiet the whole time, says suddenly, "What he says is possible." Everybody looks toward him and then sees him say calmly, "I have many images of dead bodies in my mind too. When I see the same method used and wounds, I would feel a sense of familiarity with them. It does indeed require a bit of time to complete the comparison."

Chatterbox nods his head hard, "Forensic Investigator Xu! You're too nice. You understand me! We're not in the same profession, but they are similar! So similar!"

Han Chen turns around to look at Xu Si Bai, and then Chatterbox. His handsome face is hard to read.

"Jin Xi, take Chatterbox to the station's interrogation room," he says, "and clarify the whole situation. Where's Cold Face?"

The entire group looks around and can't find Cold Face. Xiao Zhuan lets out an "Oh," and answers, "Didn't you ask him to help out with looking up the non-local individuals with the other criminal investigators? He's out right now and hasn't returned. He must be still investigating them."

Han Chen nods, "Tell him to come find me immediately when he comes back. Xiao Zhuan, you stay and guard here tonight to keep the fingerprint safe." He turns his head to look at Xu Si Bai and Xu Nan Bai, "Professor, Forensic Investigator Xu, we still need to do some thorough investigation on tonight's event. My apologies for keeping you two from knowing the secret. Whether or not Chatterbox is the killer, we will definitely investigate to find out. Before we know the truth, please keep this information undisclosed."

Xu Si Bai nods slightly. He turns around and leaves. Xu Nan Bai nods as well, "Let me know if you need any help." He pats Su Mian's shoulder and leaves.

Han Chen and Su Mian turn to look at Chatterbox, "Let's go to the interrogation room." Xiao Zhuan stretches his neck to make sure that everybody has left before giving them an "ok" hand gesture. He sits in the fingerprint area, leans against the chair and focuses on guarding the area. f𝔯ee𝘸𝘦𝚋𝒏oѵ𝐞l.c𝒐𝓂

_____

2 am in the morning, the main building is completely dark without a single person in sight. Han Chen's and Su Mian's faces are stern as they escort Chatterbox to the interrogation room. They turn on the lights and are ready to have a long questioning session.

The moment Chatterbox sits down, he can't hold it in himself any longer. He stares at the two of them anxiously and excitedly, "How was it? How was it? How was my acting just now? Oh man, I almost turned into Dou E! (a tragic character from a play who had injustice done to him) I even bluffed about having tens of thousands of fingerprints in my head. I'm not a computer, and old fellow here never thinks about fingerprints after getting off work. But speaking of which, that Xu Si Bai fellow sure is quick to react, saying how our professions are similar. I wanted to laugh listening to him!"

He blabbers on while Han Chen and Su Mian are sitting across from him; they both reveal a smile. Su Mian looks at Han Chen with a proud expression as well, "What about me? How was my acting?"

Han Chen rests his arm over the back of her chair, glances at her and responds, "Mm, it was quite well done. Just like you are usually….bold and feisty."

Su Mian pushes him right away, "bastard!" Chatterbox chuckles and adds his support, "Yeah, yeah. I almost couldn't answer when you asked me questions."

The three of them turn their heads at the same time to look out of the window; staring at that Black Shield Team office building.

"We've done what we can. Will the fish take the bait?" Chatterbox murmurs.

"Yes."

"Yes."

Han Chen and Su Mian answer together.

A psychological battle is simply just letting things take its course. And the time is just right.