“ OK , fine . Meet me in the back in five minutes ." “ Thank you , Officer Zhang ."
As Officer Zhang walked away Lee turned to the front door with Wei following , lecturing . “ If Zhang says this is too big , then it ' s too big . This may be very dangerous ."
“ Danger is my middle name ." “ No , it ' s not . You don ’ t even have a middle name ."
Wei and Lee walked around the concrete building to find Zhang looking around and fidgeting with a file . Lee and Wei had never seen him nervous like this before .
“ Let ’ s just get this over with ,” Zhang said as he handed the file to Lee . Lee opened with curiosity and excitement .
“ Wang Qiang doesn ’ t have a file but he is a part of one , the Trident File . It started a year ago a very wealthy man named Li Xiu Ying died on June 6th from a heart attack . He had a trident symbol carved into his back . Fourteen days later on June 20th another rich man named Liu Min also died of a heart attack , with a trident carved in his back . Then the deaths stopped …” Zhang was explaining when Lee interrupted .
“ The deaths stopped until they started again . June sixth , Wang Qiang , a wealthy man , dies of heart attack , with , a no let me guess , a trident carved into his back ." Lee looked up from the file frightened turned to Wei then to Zhang . He took a step back and said , “ We are dealing with a serial killer ."
Wei held his head in his hands breathing heavily . He was truly scared . Lee looked to Zhang and saw his fearful eyes that never rested on a single point .
“ Zhang , can I keep this ?” Lee asked calmly . “ Yeah it ' s a copy ; now get out of here ,” Zhang ordered . Lee hid the file in his coat and grabbed Wei by his collar , urging him to get going . Lee eventually dragged Wei into another rickshaw and headed back to the office . “ Wei , I think you should stay out of this one ,” Lee urged . “ Why ?” Wei asked . “ The significance that the dates June sixth and twentieth hold . I believe it may compromise your judgment ."
“ The only thing that could compromise my judgment is the fear that …,” Wei said then continued in a whisper , “… fear that there ' s a serial killer in Old Shanghai ."
“ You used to be a street rat in your teens . After what you have seen that would not scare you , especially because you do not fit the pattern of a wealthy businessman . However the date June sixth , the day a major accident took place where you used to work and injured your wife , and fourteen days later , on June twentieth , she died . Such events will be important to the investigation but may hurt you in the process ,” Lee explained .
“ I promise I ’ ll be fine , let ’ s just catch this guy ."
For fourteen days , Wei and Lee reviewed all the clues they had , each day drawing closer to the next inevitable death . Wei and Lee sat and paced around the office , staring at a wall filled with pictures and clippings , some connected by lengths of string .
“ Listen Lee I have to go out for a bit . My wife …,” Wei ’ s explanation was finished by Lee .
“ Your wife died on this day three years ago ; yes I understand go and pay your respects and please do come back , I need your help ."
“ Do not worry friend I will be back ,” Wei assured him as he walked out the door . Lee let out a deep sigh and set back to his work . Hours later Wei arrived back at the office to find Lee slumped on the floor lying on top of his files asleep .