The night was heavy with silence. So far, the case had not gone anywhere in the direction of a suspect they could arrest. In addition to that, Liwu was still trying to figure out what the reporter was hiding.

Sleazy Han had pretended to get an urgent phone call when she pushed about what he was hiding. At the moment, she was trying to figure out what he was hiding, while reading The Crimson Harbor. Usually, when she read crime novels, she had a smile or focused look in her eyes.

Today, her eyes were narrowed. She was not reading for enjoyment, but searching for clues.

A thick folder was suddenly dropped in her lap. "Every businessman registered in the city," Weijun said, voice clipped. "Do you mind explaining to me why the bureau needs a list of businessmen and not women. Are you guys running some kind of matchmaking service over there?"

She managed a smile. Actually, the bureau did have such a service, but it was reserved for members and their families. Special slots were also reserved for those from elite families. It was another way for the bureau to make money. But, this was not the case here.

Liwu kept her feet raised on the arm rest of the chair, keeping her position even when Weijun moved them and placed them in his lap. She explained the case which was a puzzle. "We are looking for businessmen with ties to smuggling. I need the list in order for my bad luck to point me in the right direction."

Weijun’s pout was immediate, almost comical. "A case about businessmen? That is right up my alley. Why do you get all the fun cases during the time when I am busy with city affairs. We have a marathon in the city next week, so I am all tied up."

"Fun?" She smirked. "You call murder fun?"

He sighed dramatically. "You know what I mean. Business intrigue, secret systems, smuggling, a killer in the shadows. It’s all movie stuff. The kind that I like. I hope the target is not someone I like." His voice dropped, suddenly serious. "Liwu...all the men in my family are businessmen. My dad, brothers, cousins, uncles. They are successful, but some have mediocre businesses. The kind that don’t stand out but bring in at least twenty million yearly. If you are right, any one of them could be the next victim."

Liwu softened, tapping the folder that he had brought. "And that is why I want to narrow down a suspect as soon as possible. It is also why I need your help. If any of the people on this list is smuggling contraband, your people know who it is. This is your city. I need you to point me to likely targets."

He narrowed his eyes.

She poked his belly with her big toe. "Don’t overthink things. I am not looking to arrest anyone randomly, I just want to prevent the next murder."

He pinched her toe, twisting it gently from side to side. "I will have Mo Xia email you..."

"No." She shouted suddenly, "I need a physical list. Reporter Han is paranoid about this case. I think he is scared. Maybe someone hacked one of his devices or he discovered that he was being watched. Either way, he was paranoid enough not to store any information on an electronic device. Mo Xia should provide a physical list."

He nodded. "I will give you all the help that you need. If this killer touches my family, I won’t sit back. I need to be kept up to date on this investigation, whether the bureau wants to keep it small or not.

She chuckled. "You already meddle in half of my cases ever since you came into my life. What’s one more anyway?" Her eyes dug into his for a moment. "You smell like medicine. Are you hurt?"

He stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed. "No. No. Not me."

"Then who?" She pulled her feet off his body, and brought her body close to his. They were in uneven positions, him slightly above on the armrest and her below. She was looking up into his eyes and he was looking down into hers.

He touched her chin and caressed it with his thumb. "Just someone at work. It was Mo Xia, she cut herself with a scissor."

Liwu winced. "What was she doing to cut herself like that?"

Weijun grabbed her right hand, and suddenly brought her fingers to his lips. He kissed each of the fingers, slowly, one by one. And when she could not take the shock anymore, he drew a fingertip into his mouth, sucking hard against it.

She pulled her hand back, gasping softly. Her wide eyes perused the open living room, noting butler Chen’s retreating back and a maid going upstairs with a basket of laundry.

"You have no shame," she whispered with a hiss. "We...we are out here. Anyone can walk in on us and see you doing...." She closed her eyes for a moment. "That."

He laughed. "Doing what? All I did was take an up close look at my wife’s fingers."

"With your mouth!" She blurted in dismay.

Weijun laughed again. "Weren’t you the same woman teasing me boldly before? Where is the Liwu that called me Sweet Rose in a tender voice?"

She threw her novel at him. "She is reserved for the bedroom and when we are in private. Not out here, where everyone can see us. Now butler Chen is going to call Elder Zhang and tell him all about this. He will mention it to my mother and urge her to remind me on how to behave appropriately in public. The news will get to Old Tai and he will begin buying little girl dresses and sparkling hair bands. Or designing a winter jewelry line for baby girls. Do not be surprised if we find a lucky rabbit’s foot under our bed tomorrow."

Weijun snapped out of his teasing mood. There were few things in the world he dreaded, and that foot was somewhere at the top of the list.

He scrambled upstairs in a hurry, bellowing, "I am checking right now. If I find one, I am setting it on fire along with every rabbit in the vicinity of this house."