We crossed the police line. A detective informed us that the crime scene was on the fourth floor of the hotel. The elevator was out of order, so we had to take the stairs.
Upon reaching the banquet hall on the fourth floor, we heard a commotion inside.
With explanations from a nearby detective, we learned that a romantic wedding was in progress. Suddenly, someone stood up, grabbed the bride, and pointed a gun at her temple. Chaos erupted. Eventually, people outside called the police.
I glanced into the banquet hall and saw many overturned tables and chairs, with glass shards littering the floor, presumably from the perpetrator. Colorful lights still flickered inside. The bride, in her white wedding gown, was being held hostage on the stage by a man exuding murderous intent. A screen displayed photos of the couple from their past to their present love. On the floor lay a man in a groom's suit, covered in blood.
The man seemed extremely agitated and enraged. If we stormed in, he would surely kill the bride. This situation called for negotiation.
Our country lacks dedicated negotiators; that's a trope from Hong Kong dramas. Usually, experienced senior detectives or captains handle negotiations with criminals.
This time, however, I volunteered. My uncle had intended to go himself but I refused.
"Uncle, you stay here. I'll resolve this!"
"Put on a bulletproof vest!"
"It's too hot for that. I won't get shot."
Liu Yuning handed me a radio, "Be careful!"
I actually expected her to try and dissuade me. She was quite straightforward this time.
After donning the radio, I tapped on the banquet hall door. The perpetrator's attention immediately shifted. "Don't come any closer! Everyone outside, get out!"
"Sir, please calm down. I'm Officer He, here to help. May I come in?"
"Get lost! All of you, get lost! You police can't handle this. This is between me and them!"
"Sir, you can tell me anything you want to vent. I can be your punching bag anytime, but I need to come in first!"
"Can you know what I'm thinking? Why I'm doing this?"
"Of course. I'll need to communicate with you in detail!"
"Fine, you can come in!"
Only then did I officially step into the banquet hall, my feet landing on the red carpet. On both sides, under the tables and chairs, were the families of the bride and groom. An elderly couple was weeping; they were likely the groom's parents. I approached the groom and checked his pulse, finding him lifeless.
He had a gunshot wound on his forehead, with traces of residue suggesting fire. The bullet had likely passed through his head from front to back, killing the groom instantly.
Seeing me examine the body, the man said triumphantly, "Officer, this bastard deserved to die. You don't need to bother with him!"
"Sir, may I ask your name?"
"My surname is Chen. I didn't plan on leaving here alive today. I just wanted revenge on these liars, this adulterous couple, and then I'd kill myself!"
"So, this is why you came here?"
"What else? Actually, I didn't want you to come in, but you're a police officer, aren't you? You believe in justice, right? I want you to judge this."
"Oh? It seems something unfair happened behind you!"
"More than unfair, it's an outrage. These two scumbags colluded to cheat me out of my company, and then… then they got together! Now I have no money, no one. I'm like this entirely because of them!" As he spoke, the man grew more enraged, tightening his grip on the bride's neck, threatening to strangle her.
At that moment, my uncle's anxious voice came through the radio: "He Sheng, don't provoke the suspect. You need to set conditions! Set conditions!"
I ignored my uncle's suggestion and said, "Mr. Chen, don't be impulsive! I know you're in pain from being abandoned, but there are many ways to vent your anger without hurting others!"
"I've already killed someone. I can't turn back, can I? This bastard here, he's the owner of this place. This hotel was mine. Otherwise, do you think I'd be here today!"
I finally understood the whole story. His career ruined, his lover betrayed – such pain must be unbearable. Perhaps I would have been enraged too, but I wouldn't have been so irrational. I said, "I understand. I have a way for you to vent your anger, which is better than you holding the bride hostage!"
"What do you intend to do?"
"Let's pull up the curtains first!" I suggested.
"Haha, what do you mean by that?" the man asked, puzzled.
I gestured to the surrounding windows. "Buddy, don't you know that at this height, with the windows open, it's too easy for snipers to be hidden in the vicinity? It's for your safety!"
"Really? You police are quite interesting, but why should I listen to you?"
"No, listen to me. Your plan can only be completed if you do. You want to kill the bride, right?"
As soon as I said that, my uncle's scolding voice came through the radio: "He Sheng! Are you crazy? Do you know what you're saying? How can you help a criminal!"
I still ignored my uncle's advice and continued, "Pull up the curtains?"
The man nodded and gestured with his right hand. I noticed he could have used his left hand at that angle, but he used his right. He was also holding the gun in his right hand.
I moved to a button and pressed it. The curtains automatically drew shut.
High-class hotel curtains are usually automated.
The situation outside became completely invisible. My uncle said anxiously, "He Sheng, do you even understand negotiation? I shouldn't have let you go in!"
I found my uncle too annoying. If they let me handle this, they should trust me. I took off the radio and continued, "Let's let the innocent people out first. They have nothing to do with this, do they?"
The man hesitated, looking at the people huddled fearfully around him. He finally nodded. "Fine, I'm not unreasonable. We'll do as you say!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present felt as if they had been granted a great reprieve. They moved cautiously, still afraid to stand up. Many gradually left. However, the groom's parents insisted on staying put, and no amount of persuasion could move them.