I asked, "Why did you kill Cao Dazhuang? Weren't you two buddies?"

My intention was to stall for time. Xiaotao's radio had sounded a few times earlier but she didn't answer it, indicating that a police platoon was headed our way.

Zhang Qiang answered, "He deserved to die!"

I tested the waters. "You silenced him because he discovered your secret?"

Zhang Qiang roared, "That bastard blackmailed me!"

Earlier this year, Cao Dazhuang had discovered their secret. But instead of calling the police, he blackmailed Zhang Qiang for hush money. At first it was thousands, then tens of thousands. Relying on their familiarity with each other, Cao Dazhuang mistakenly assumed that Zhang Qiang wouldn’t dare hurt him.

Finally, Zhang Qiang visited Cao Dazhuang at his home to negotiate for a one-off payment so this matter could be closed. He couldn’t...