Chapter 46: The Suspect
Staring at the man in the surveillance footage, Chen Ge connected all his unusual behaviors, his fingers slowly clenching into a fist. Without a word, he stood in the comprehensive management office, pulled out his phone, and dialed Officer Li of the West City Police Station.
"Uncle Sanbao, I need to report a crime!"
"First, the emergency number is 110, calling me won't help; second, call me Director Li." The phone rang twice before being picked up, and Officer Li's hoarse voice came through.
"I found the last person who escaped from Ping'an Apartments! He came to New Century Amusement Park!"
"Are you sure?" At that, Officer Li's tone shifted.
"It's definitely him. Don't drive a police car over—avoid alerting him and making him suspicious."
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes!"
The call ended. Chen Ge held his phone, his eyes still fixed on the surveillance screen. Nearby staff noticed something was wrong and quickly fetched Uncle Xu.
"What's going on?" Before long, Uncle Xu walked in with a water bottle. "Can't even let us eat in peace. Xiao Chen, why aren't you at your haunted house, hanging around here?"
He also approached the monitors. Seeing Chen Ge with his phone, he asked tentatively, "Who were you just talking to?"
"The police."
Chen Ge didn't turn around, his gaze shifting between the various surveillance screens. "They should be here within fifteen minutes."
"The police?! Why didn't you discuss something this big with me first!" Uncle Xu's voice shot up. "The park has comprehensive plans for handling natural disasters and serious incidents..."
"Uncle Xu." Chen Ge turned and cut him off, his eyes calm but with an unsettling glint in his pupils. "Someone's trying to kill me!"
The moment he said that, the comprehensive control room fell silent. Every employee looked in his direction.
"Chen Ge, have you been cooped up in the haunted house so long that you've lost it?" Uncle Xu dropped the familiar "Xiao Chen" and used his full name. "What nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight!"
"I helped the police solve the Ping'an Apartment massacre from five years ago, but one of the killers involved is still on the run."
At this point, Uncle Xu caught on. "You're saying that guy sneaked into the park? Planning to get back at you?"
"I thought he'd flee to another province, but who knew he'd be this bold." Chen Ge pointed at the man on the screen. "This visitor is acting strangely—wearing long sleeves and a cap, covering his face completely. It's not cold out, but both his hands are shoved in his pockets. Even when smoking or drinking, he only uses his right hand; his left never comes out."
"What does that prove? Maybe it's just a personal habit." Uncle Xu set down his water bottle and closed the door to the control room.
"The fugitive on the run is named Zhang Peng. His height and build match the man in the footage almost perfectly. The key detail is that Zhang Peng has a peony tattooed on the back of his left hand."
"A peony?"
"Peonies bloom, bringing wealth. That guy's a desperate gambler who's lost everything."
"You mean he's afraid of exposing the tattoo, so he keeps his left hand in his pocket?" Uncle Xu grew tense too. "Could he just have a skin condition?"
"I have more evidence." Chen Ge switched the surveillance feed. "After entering the park, he only rode the Ferris wheel—and he rode it three times in a row. Do you know what that means?"
"What does it mean?" Uncle Xu struggled to keep up with Chen Ge's reasoning.
"The Ferris wheel is the highest vantage point in the park. He was scoping it out, planning his escape route." Chen Ge slowed down the footage. "When Xu Wan and I left the haunted house to go to the cafeteria, I noticed him lurking near it. He spent the whole morning hanging around the haunted house but didn't approach until the guard left. That's not something a normal visitor would do."
"True." Uncle Xu nodded, finding Chen Ge's logic sound. "So why would he approach the haunted house when no one was around?"
Chen Ge tapped his fingers on the desk. "Put yourself in his shoes. If I wanted to kill a haunted house owner in the safest way, I'd hide inside the haunted house beforehand. When it closes for maintenance, I'd strike by surprise and deliver a fatal blow. The haunted house's complex environment makes it easy to hide and dispose of a body. As long as the bloodstains are cleaned up, the body wouldn't be found until the next day."
Uncle Xu felt a chill down his spine, a vivid scene forming in his mind. "That's pretty terrifying."
"Not just terrifying—it almost happened!" Chen Ge withdrew his gaze, his clenched fist slowly relaxing. "Luckily, he was too impatient, and luckily, I've been through so many strange things lately that my nerves are on edge, so I spotted him."
"Where is he now? Should I evacuate the visitors?" Uncle Xu realized the gravity of the situation.
"He left the park after I noticed him. I hadn't checked the surveillance yet and couldn't confirm my suspicions, so I didn't stop him."
"You did well. If that suspect went berserk in the park, it would cause a huge mess." Uncle Xu took a sip of water and said to the staff nearby, "The police will be here soon. Everyone cooperate."
Fifteen minutes later, the door to the control room opened, and three men in plain clothes entered. The one in front, carrying a laptop, was Li Sanbao. "Where's Chen Ge? Let me see your surveillance footage."
With the staff's help, Officer Li compared the man in the footage with the photo in the public security database and confirmed they were the same person!
"You've made another contribution." Officer Li patted Chen Ge on the shoulder, then called the city branch to report the situation. After coordination, they decided to split into two groups: one to investigate discreetly, the other to set up surveillance around New Century Amusement Park.
"Zhang Peng is very dangerous. If he's targeting you, you need to be careful. There's a high chance he'll come back. I suggest you don't stay in the haunted house for now."
After Officer Li spoke, the entire control room staff grew uneasy. But Chen Ge, the one directly involved, remained calm. "If I'm not there, Xiao Wan can't keep the haunted house running alone. Once it closes, Zhang Peng will notice something's off. He's too cunning to take the bait."
"So you mean you'll act as bait in the haunted house yourself?" Officer Li frowned, thinking it was risky.
"Don't worry. If he dares to step into my haunted house, I'll make sure he never leaves."