The next morning, Bai Cheng arrived early at Bjorn Cathedral. It was the city’s oldest and largest church, though as a non-believer, Bai Cheng had only visited once as a tourist.
As she stepped inside, the church was already filled with people. Bai Cheng quickly spotted Miss Wu seated in the last row. She sat down beside her, but before she could speak, Miss Wu quietly said, “Miss Bai, don’t say anything, the hymn is about to start.”
Swallowing her words, Bai Cheng glanced up at the choir. Around twenty people stood on stage, holding sheets of paper and singing hymns. Bai Cheng didn’t understand much of it, nor was she particularly interested, but for the sake of finding clues about Lu Heng, she forced herself to listen.
After the hymn, the priest gave a brief welcoming speech to those attending the service, then began reading from the Bible. He was a middle-aged man with bright, amber-like eyes, full of energy. He spoke about Exodus, telling the story of the Israelites’ suffering under the Egyptian Pharaoh, and how God gave Moses the mission to lead them back to the promised land of Canaan. When Moses and the Israelites reached the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s army pursued them…
At first, Bai Cheng listened intently, but as the story progressed, drowsiness overtook her, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep. She was startled awake by the sound of everyone singing together.
Rubbing her stiff neck, Bai Cheng pulled the necklace from her pocket and turned to Miss Wu. “Miss Wu, this is your necklace. I’m returning it. Can you tell me now why you gave it to me at the funeral without saying a word?”
Miss Wu didn’t take the necklace. Instead, she asked, “Miss Bai, did you fall asleep just now?”
Bai Cheng nodded.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
Bai Cheng froze. She was shocked to realize that the nap she had just taken was the only time in the past month she hadn’t been tormented by nightmares. For the first time, she had slept peacefully, as if floating on a cloud.
Miss Wu read the answer in Bai Cheng’s expression and smiled faintly. “Miss Bai, I know you came here today hoping I had clues about the case. I’m sorry, but I don’t have any. At the funeral, I was just one of the many family members who came to mourn Dr. Lu. When I saw you grieving so deeply, holding onto the coffin and refusing to let go, it reminded me of when I clung to my daughter’s urn. Miss Bai, I understand your pain. I was standing close to you that day, and as I helped lift you up, I wrapped my necklace around your wrist. The priest gave me that necklace when I prayed for my daughter. I simply hoped that the Lord could protect you from nightmares and bring you peace, just as He brought me peace.”
Bai Cheng looked at the necklace in her hand, feeling a sense of disappointment. But she didn’t say anything, only managed a quiet, “Thank you.”
“Miss Bai, if you ever feel the need to talk, you can always reach out to me. We’re all saddened by Dr. Lu’s passing.”
At the mention of Lu Heng, Bai Cheng’s eyes welled up with silent tears. She couldn’t say anything, only nodded repeatedly.
Miss Wu added, “If you don’t mind, you can keep the necklace. May the Lord bless you.”
Not wanting to refuse any further, Bai Cheng gently clasped the necklace in her hand.
After the service ended, many people stayed for further lessons in the catechism class, but the church was soon empty. Bai Cheng prepared to leave but noticed a familiar figure in the front row. She looked more carefully, and the scruffy beard and relaxed demeanor confirmed her suspicion. It was Luo Tian. He wasn’t in uniform today, wearing a simple black T-shirt and black jeans, which made his neck and legs look long and lean. He was talking to the priest.
Bai Cheng approached and stood a few steps away, waiting for Luo Tian to finish his conversation with the priest. Luo Tian noticed her, exchanged a glance with the priest, and then walked over.
His eyes fell on the cross necklace hanging from Bai Cheng’s hand. “What a coincidence, Miss Bai. Are you here for the service too? It’s the first time I’ve seen you here.”
“Captain Luo, is there any news about Lu Heng’s killer?”
“I understand how you feel, Miss Bai. We’re still searching for the criminal, and we’ll notify you the moment we have any updates.”
Bai Cheng didn’t respond, though she wanted to. She wanted to beg the police to try harder or ask if there was anything she could do to help. But she knew deep down that the police were already doing everything they could, and there was nothing more she could offer. She stood there, frozen, tears welling up in her eyes.
Luo Tian, seeing her distress, said, “Miss Bai, please don’t cry. How about this, where do you live? I’ll drive you home.” Bai Cheng turned and walked out, and Luo Tian waved goodbye to the priest before following her.
He quickly caught up and walked beside her.
“Miss Bai, let me give you a ride home.”
Bai Cheng shook her head. “I can get home on my own.”
“No way, Miss Bai. You look like you’re in no state to walk home. As a police officer, I’d be worried. Let me drive you.”
Bai Cheng didn’t refuse any further and followed Luo Tian to his car. He wasn’t driving a police car today. Instead, he had a dark gray Citroën. Bai Cheng got into the passenger seat. As Luo Tian started the engine, he asked, “Miss Bai, where do you live?”
Bai Cheng gave him the address, and Luo Tian entered it into the GPS before driving off.
There was a heavy silence in the car.
Feeling like she should say something to break the awkwardness, Bai Cheng blurted out, “I didn’t know you were a Christian, Captain Luo.”
Luo Tian laughed heartily. “I wouldn’t call myself a Christian. I just volunteer at the church on Sundays—it’s become a habit.”
“Why do you volunteer?”
Luo Tian scratched his nose and shrugged casually. “No particular reason. I guess I just wanted to accumulate some good karma. You know, being a police officer, always in dangerous situations, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little divine protection. It became a habit over time. What about you, Miss Bai? It’s the first time I’ve seen you here.”
“I’m not a Christian. I came to meet someone. I thought she had information about Lu Heng’s case, but it turned out to be a dead end.”
Luo Tian was silent for a moment before saying, “Miss Bai, we’ll do our best.”
Bai Cheng nodded in response.
The car fell into silence again, and Bai Cheng turned to look out the window.
When she arrived home, Bai Cheng hung the necklace on a hook by her desk. She felt utterly exhausted and crawled back into bed.
She drifted in and out of sleep, feeling half-awake and half-asleep. In her dreams, she once again saw the surgical scalpel plunging into Lu Heng’s artery. The blade reflected the blinding summer sunlight, causing her eyes to sting. She also saw Lu Heng lying in a pool of blood, the crimson liquid flowing continuously through his fingers as he struggled to breathe. His mouth moved as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Bai Cheng woke up with a jolt, her eyes snapping open in the darkness of her bed.
