Beneath the cable tower

That morning, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. Zhao Kai and Li Mei, detectives from the Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Unit, were in the office sorting out case files. Just then, Deputy Director Liu Hong walked in and told Zhao Kai, “We just received a report—there’s a body found outside an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. Go take a look.”

Zhao Kai and Li Mei quickly drove to the scene. The factory had long been deserted, its walls crumbling, and only a few rusted steel beams and battered walls remained standing. Beside the factory was a massive cable tower, overgrown with vines, bearing the marks of long neglect.

The person who reported the case was an elderly scavenger. He said he had come early to collect scrap and discovered a black plastic bag under the cable tower. Opening it, he was horrified to find a corpse inside.

The police swiftly cordoned off the area, and the forensic examiner conducted a preliminary inspection. The victim was a man, around forty years old, about 1.75 meters tall, with a slim build. He wore an old jacket, jeans, and sneakers. Judging by the state of the body, death had occurred between ten and twelve the previous night, the cause being severe cranial trauma.

Near the body, Zhao Kai found a broken liquor bottle stained with blood. Surveying the surroundings, he noticed a makeshift shelter built from planks beneath the cable tower, filled with debris and empty bottles. Zhao Kai surmised the victim had likely been drinking there the previous night before meeting his untimely end.

“Li Mei, check the victim’s identity,” Zhao Kai instructed.

Li Mei nodded, photographed the body, and contacted the technical department to run a comparison and identify the victim.

Zhao Kai continued combing the scene. He noticed dirt and rocks scattered beneath the tower, likely disturbed during the crime. There were also messy footprints nearby—probably left by the perpetrator during his escape.

Taking out a ruler, Zhao Kai measured the prints and made notes. He planned to have the technical team compare them back at the station in hopes of matching them to a suspect.

Just then, Li Mei returned. “I’ve contacted the tech department—they’ll analyze the photo as soon as possible. Also, I found a mobile phone near the scene. Take a look.”

Zhao Kai took the phone, which was powered off. He removed the SIM card and handed it to Li Mei, instructing her to contact the mobile carrier to check the owner’s information.

Li Mei quickly got through to the carrier and identified the phone’s owner: Wang Qiang, an unemployed drifter who survived on odd jobs, with no fixed address, often wandering through abandoned factories and unfinished buildings in the suburbs.

“This Wang Qiang is most likely our victim,” Zhao Kai said. “He usually roams around here and probably came to drink last night, only to meet with misfortune.”

Li Mei agreed. “Let’s check the places Wang Qiang frequented and see if we can find any leads.”

They searched nearby and soon found an unfinished building where Wang Qiang often stayed. The place was filled with construction debris and discarded items. Searching thoroughly, they found a worn backpack in a corner.

Zhao Kai opened it to find some spare clothes, a wallet, and various odds and ends. Inside the wallet were Wang Qiang’s ID and several bank cards.

“That settles it—Wang Qiang is our victim,” Zhao Kai confirmed.

Li Mei nodded. “Let’s head back and report to Deputy Director Liu.”

Back at the station, they briefed Liu Hong on their findings. After a moment’s thought, Liu instructed, “This case looks complicated. Start by investigating Wang Qiang’s social circle. See if he had any enemies or people he’d crossed.”

Zhao Kai and Li Mei set out to investigate Wang Qiang’s relationships. They soon discovered he was idle and often mixed with unsavory characters, frequently getting into drunken brawls and offending many.

“Wang Qiang certainly didn’t have many friends,” Zhao Kai remarked. “We’ll need to thoroughly check who he might have angered.”

Li Mei agreed, and they began narrowing down suspects. They soon identified three: Zhao Dali, a former coworker with whom Wang Qiang had physically fought over work-related issues; Old Liu, an elderly scavenger who had quarreled with Wang Qiang after he snatched his scrap; and Sun Ergou, a petty thief who had brawled with Wang Qiang over territory.

“All three have motives,” Zhao Kai observed. “Let’s investigate each one.”

They first found Zhao Dali, who had been working overtime at a construction site on the night of the murder, with several coworkers confirming his alibi.

“Zhao Dali didn’t have the opportunity,” said Zhao Kai. “Let’s check on Old Liu and Sun Ergou.”

Old Liu claimed he had been home asleep, and neighbors corroborated his account.

“He’s clear too,” Li Mei noted. “That leaves Sun Ergou.”

They tracked down Sun Ergou, who initially denied everything. But when confronted with the shoeprints found at the scene, which matched his shoes, Sun Ergou panicked.

“All right, I admit it. I did it,” he confessed. “But I had no choice.”

It turned out Sun Ergou and Wang Qiang were long-time rivals, frequently fighting over territory. The previous night, they met in an alley and fought yet again. During the scuffle, Sun Ergou smashed a bottle over Wang Qiang’s head, knocking him to the ground. Thinking he had killed him, Sun Ergou panicked and fled.

“Why did you go under the cable tower?” Zhao Kai asked.

“I… I was drunk and wandered there without thinking. I saw the shelter and went in to sleep. When I woke up, I found Wang Qiang dead there.”

“Why didn’t you call the police?” Li Mei pressed.

“I was afraid of getting caught, so I ran.”

“And why confess now?” Zhao Kai asked.

“You already have the evidence. I knew I couldn’t get away,” Sun Ergou admitted.

Zhao Kai and Li Mei brought Sun Ergou back to the station and reported to Deputy Director Liu, who praised their swift resolution of the case but instructed them to continue investigating in case Sun Ergou had accomplices or had committed other crimes.

Following up, Zhao Kai and Li Mei discovered that Sun Ergou did indeed have accomplices, a group of drifters who frequently committed thefts in the area. They followed the trail and apprehended the entire gang.

With that, the case was finally closed, and both detectives breathed a sigh of relief. They knew that, despite its apparent simplicity, the case reflected deeper social issues. They hoped their efforts would help make society safer and better.

After the case was wrapped up, Zhao Kai and Li Mei revisited the cable tower, gazing at the now quiet place where tragedy had struck. Only the towering structure remained, as if silently bearing witness to what had occurred.

“No more trouble should happen here,” Zhao Kai said.

“Indeed. We’ll need to step up patrols and keep this area safe,” Li Mei replied.

They exchanged a smile and drove away, knowing their work was far from over. More cases awaited, more criminals had yet to be brought to justice. But they believed that as long as they persevered, they could safeguard the peace and stability of their city.

Back at the station, Zhao Kai and Li Mei began organizing the case files, preparing to hand the case over to the prosecutor’s office. They were keenly aware that the successful resolution had depended on teamwork and shared dedication. They were determined to carry that spirit forward, contributing even more to the harmony and stability of society.

Thus, the mystery beneath the cable tower ended under Zhao Kai and Li Mei’s diligent investigation. Yet their story was far from over—they would continue to serve as detectives, guarding the peace and order of their community.

As time went on, Zhao Kai and Li Mei’s work in the Criminal Investigation Unit grew ever more challenging. The cases became increasingly complex, but no matter the difficulty, they held fast to their sense of purpose and passion, solving one mystery after another, bringing criminals to justice.

After the cable tower case, Zhao Kai and Li Mei’s partnership grew even closer. They were not only excellent colleagues but also good friends. They often worked late into the night together, discussed cases, shared the joy of success and the lessons of failure.

One day, while sorting through files, Zhao Kai happened upon the case documents from the cable tower investigation. Seeing the familiar photos and evidence, a surge of emotion swept over him. He recalled the effort and sweat he and Li Mei had poured into that case, the difficult yet fulfilling days they had shared.

“Li Mei, look at this case—time really flies, doesn’t it?” Zhao Kai said to Li Mei, who was busy nearby.

Li Mei glanced up, smiled at the file in Zhao Kai’s hands, and replied, “Yes, time goes by so quickly. But we’ve always been striving, always improving. I believe that in the days ahead, we’ll solve even more mysteries and make greater contributions to society’s harmony and stability.”

Zhao Kai nodded, filled with confidence and resolve. He knew that he and Li Mei were among the best in the unit, united by common ideals and pursuits. They believed that as long as they kept working hard, they could realize their dreams and become guardians of their community.

Through countless storms and laughter, Zhao Kai and Li Mei continued their journey in the Criminal Investigation Unit. They understood that, though their job was fraught with challenges and danger, it was rich in meaning and value. They were willing to devote their youth and passion to the cause of a safer and more harmonious society.

And so, the story beneath the cable tower concluded, but Zhao Kai and Li Mei’s journey as detectives pressed on, as they stood steadfast in their mission to protect the peace and stability of their world.