I picked up Xiaotao’s bag, looked at it, and shouted, “You can come out now! I know you’re behind the bushes!”

A bush nearby rustled, and out came Xiaotao wiping her butt with her hands.

“Geez!” she exclaimed with a playful grin. “How did you figure it out? I was sure you’d fall for it.”

“Well,” I began to explain, “first of all, you carry your handbag by slinging it across your body, but the strap is very thin, so it definitely won’t still be intact if it had been forcefully pulled down. Besides, you’re a police officer. With your instinct and strength, there’s no way you’d get kidnapped without putting up a fight. And lastly, the most important clue is your…”

I paused, realizing what I was about to say.

“Um… your fragrance from behind the bushes.”

“Fragrance?” Xiaotao sniffed her own body. “But I never used any perfume. What fragrance are you talking about?”

“Your scent! I meant...