Chapter 15: Into the Tiger's Den Again (Part 2)
Detective Sullivan started driving. "It's not investing. I'm planning to have a goldsmith melt it down and forge a longevity lock. My best friend is about to become a father, and his kid will definitely make me the godfather. I was so excited thinking about becoming a godfather—every meal tasted better, every sleep was sweeter. Then you came along and gave me a daily headache."
I sighed. "That must have cost you a pretty penny."
"Half a year's savings."
"That's generous."
He gripped the wheel and suddenly smiled. "One life, one brotherhood."
I leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur past.
I couldn't resist asking, "Will you catch Victor Li?"
"Hard to say. Even if he's planning to flee the country, we don't know which route he'll take..." He rubbed his temples. "We'll have to start with Howard Li. There should be some trail."
"What if Howard Li won't talk?"
"If he won't talk, we'll find another way. But time is running out."
I asked suddenly, "So how many years will I get?"
Sullivan went silent. He thought for a moment, then said, "I don't know. That's for the judge to decide."
"Can you give me a rough estimate?"
"What you need to do is stay calm and cooperate fully."
I murmured, "Theft of especially large amounts carries a sentence of ten years or more. With voluntary surrender, return of goods, and major meritorious service... maybe I'll still serve five or six years?"
"Let the judge decide. Don't overthink it. I'll advocate for you. And if you behave well in prison, you can get out early."
I said, "There's something else I need to report. There was a casino membership card in Tai Sun's drawer. At the time, I didn't know what it meant, but now I realize Victor Li either opened it under Tai Sun's name or had Tai Sun open it. Would that help the case?"
"Yes. That's money laundering." Sullivan said, "Many casinos are transnational enterprises. You can launder money through casinos by withdrawing chips in different countries. It seems Victor Li had more than one way to move his assets—not just gold. He was running multiple routes in case one failed, so he wouldn't end up broke overseas. You've earned another merit. I'll have someone look into it right away."
I said, "I thought Tai Sun had fallen back into gambling. I didn't dare tell his parents—who knew a casino card could count as a breakthrough? It's a shame about Tai Sun. He turned his life around, only for his parents to bury him... I'm not endorsing his crimes, by the way."
"You've accumulated plenty of credits. And Tai Sun's story is genuinely tragic."
I asked, "Officer Sullivan, if I earn more major credits—even help the police find Victor Li—can I reduce my sentence further?"
Sullivan slammed on the brakes. "What are you trying to say?"
"We don't know which route Victor Li will use to flee, but Monkey Drake does. He won't meet with the police, but he might meet with me."
"I can't let you take that risk again. The fact that you're still alive is practically a miracle."
"Please, let me take one more risk..." I pleaded. "This time I won't be acting alone. The police can come with me. Just give me a chance. Officer Sullivan, I have someone I love deeply. I want to come out early and be with her. I want to live an honest life... And you don't want Victor Li to slip away overseas, do you?"
Sullivan thought for a long moment, then said, "I'll personally lead the team to protect you. If things go south, you run immediately. Don't get yourself into more trouble. Understood?"
"Give me that Land Rover. I'll take you to Monkey Drake."
"All right. But first, put this on."
He pulled a black vest from the back seat and handed it to me. I looked closely—it was a bulletproof vest.
Sullivan said, "This is a stab- and bulletproof vest. Let me help you put it on."
I was touched and surprised. I couldn't help saying, "I'm just an ordinary guy. Never thought I'd wear a bulletproof vest someday."
He adjusted the vest until it fit perfectly, then covered it with my own clothes.
The Land Rover was brought around. Sullivan confirmed the location with me, then leaned in at the window and said sternly, "We already have units en route. If Monkey Drake is really at that abandoned factory, he won't be able to escape. Remember—do not get yourself into trouble. If he won't cooperate, you pull back immediately. Got it?"
"Officer Sullivan, I understand. Have your people monitor my phone. I'll contact Monkey Drake."
He stared at me and murmured, "I really don't want to let you go."
"I'm better at getting information than the police..." I grinned. "Let me tell you, my wife is gorgeous. I really don't want to spend five or six years in prison. I could look at her face forever and never get tired."
"I get it. My girlfriend is gorgeous too."
"Right, right. I'm heading out."
I started the Land Rover and drove toward the abandoned factory, then picked up my phone and called Monkey Drake.
After a long pause, the line connected. Monkey Drake's wary voice came through: "Hello?"
"It's me—Marcus Zhang, the man you couldn't kill." I spoke calmly. "Monkey Drake, you must really hate hearing my voice right now."
"Go to hell!"
"Don't rush to insult me. I want to propose a deal."
"I've got nothing to discuss with you."
"What if it's a deal that saves your life?"
He went silent.
I said flatly, "Ten minutes, same abandoned factory. That's it."
I hung up and pressed the accelerator.
When I arrived at the abandoned factory, my nerves drew tight.
One step toward life, one step toward death.
I couldn't say exactly why I was risking so much. Maybe it was the longing for Elena, or Sullivan's single compliment.
My whole life had been a failure... but finally, I had value.
I took a deep breath and walked into the abandoned factory.
Monkey Drake was still there, sitting on a wooden crate with his thugs flanking him. He said coldly, "You dare come back?"
"Of course I dare."
"What kind of deal do you want to make?"
I walked up to him, pulled up another crate, and sat down. I looked him dead in the eye. "Monkey Drake, I'll be honest with you first. Your wife and kid are safe. I've handed all your account books and records over to the police. You're finished."
"You don't know the first thing about negotiating!"
Monkey Drake was furious. He pulled a gun and aimed it at me.
I looked down the dark barrel and said steadily, "Do you want to hear me out?"
"Fine. Talk."
"We weren't wrong—that big client really was Victor Li."
"What? You're still trying to play me?"
I laid out the entire truth about Victor Li. Monkey Drake listened in shock, then murmured, "So only the finger was really Victor Li's. The dead man is Tai Sun?"
"Exactly. We were all played by Victor Li."
"Son of a bitch!"
"Now you're truly finished. The police are after you on one side, and on the other, the big client and his middlemen won't let you live. Monkey Drake, you have no way out—but there's still one path to survival."
"What path?"
I said, "Victor Li committed murder and is trying to transfer his assets and flee the country. The police are searching for him, but he could be on his way out at any moment—even now. We don't know his route or his contacts, but you do."
Monkey Drake's temper flared. He grabbed me by the hair and slammed me to the ground, pressing the gun to my head. "You bastard, you want me to be a snitch?"
"Victor Li committed coldblooded murder. He's looking at the death penalty! Didn't you want the big client dead? If you help the police catch him, he'll really die. Why would the middlemen take revenge for a dead man?"
"I..."
"Going to prison is actually the safest option for you. Confess everything and earn a reduced sentence. You said it yourself—you'd rather betray the world than let the world betray you. So tell me, with the police hunting you and killers closing in from the shadows—do you have a hundred percent guarantee of survival?"
Monkey Drake was silent for a long moment, then said, "No."
I lifted my head and stared at him. "Turning yourself in and confessing everything is your best chance at survival. Your case runs deep—there are plenty of people to sell out. Isn't that enough for a death sentence with reprieve?"
His thugs looked at him nervously.
Monkey Drake took a deep breath, then laughed bitterly. "I've always been careful my whole life. Never took a risk without a hundred percent certainty. And now look where I am. Fate is a trickster. Fine—today I'll stop being careful. I'll be reckless for once."
"How so?"
He pulled out a coin and said quietly, "A coin flip. If it's heads, I'll do it your way. If it's tails, I'll kill you first, then kill myself. That way my son will be safe. Being a snitch isn't easy. At this point, whether I'm afraid of dying or not doesn't really matter anymore. I might as well trade my life for my son's safety."
He flipped the coin into the air and didn't reach for it.
It clattered to the ground, bounced a few times, and slowly came to rest.
I stared at the coin, eyes wide.
It was tails.
Monkey Drake sighed. "So it goes. Rest in peace."