Chapter One At 3:30 in the afternoon, it is the half-hour break in the afternoon for the offices in the nearby skyscrapers. Those who like to play black market horse betting can go to various coffee shops to call their brokers, and those who do not play this game can have a cup of coffee. A cake or a sandwich; maybe a cup of unsweetened tea if you're afraid of fat. I don't have a weight problem, and I'm thinking of asking my secretary, Essie Bu, out for a big cup of ice cream, but I see some weird red glows through the frosted glass on the door to my private office. The croquet turns.

Someone gently kicked the door open from the outside, and I saw that the gleaming red light was some burning candles stuck on a large round cake. Bu Aiqian led the way, holding the cake in her hand.Stepping in behind her was Kebetha, the senior partner of our private detective agency, a hundred and sixty-five pounds of thick bone and meat.In some respects, it is full of efficiency. Ke Baisha was followed by an operator and a typist.The typist was also Ke Baisha's personal secretary. As soon as the door opened they started singing: Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!Happy birthday to you, Tang Nuo, happy birthday to you!

Bu Aiqian put the cake on my table.She looked at me solemnly and said: Make a wish, blow out the candle in one breath, and your wish will come true. I took a deep breath and blew it hard, but there was still one candle that was not blown out. You didn't make it.Bu Aiqian said with deep regret.As if the wish was granted by her. His grandma's, Bai Sha said: This kid can't get his wish, but it's the first time! The receptionist, a tall, romantic girl in her late thirties, giggled. The typist brought out a large pot of brewed coffee and paper cups.Ai Qian took out a knife, she said: Tang Nuo, I baked the cake myself, the kind you like.

I pulled down the candles one by one, put them all in the ashtray, and started cutting the cake. A man's voice at the door said: So everyone is here.Everyone turned their heads away. The man at the door tried his best to be pleasant.He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a light waist and a tanned face.I think he's a Texan.He has wind-blown wrinkles and crow's feet on his face. His nose is high, and the lines on both sides of his nose cover his mouth. I knew at a glance that he would be very difficult to get along with if he became surly. Excuse me, he said: Looks like I'm visiting at the wrong time, you're at tea time.

birthday party.I explained: It's my birthday.They surprised me. oh!He said. Ke Baisha would never want to see the money delivered to her door, but she would not let a big person dominate her. Once a year.She said, and added after a while: Do you have any objections? Not at all, not at all.The man said: I hope you don't mind me asking to join on my own initiative.I can help you guys with a piece of cake and maybe a little business talk. Well, we don't have enough chairs here.Bai Sha said: Anyway, it was just a standing party to celebrate.What kind of coffee do you like?Or add everything?

Add everything.He said. Bai Sha re-examined the guest, saw his flat stomach, Bai Sha grunted. Baisha is the size of a bundle of barbed wire.Many times she also thought about dieting to lose weight.What good is it in always stopping at one sentence in the end? I cut the cake. The surprise party they threw for me is getting a little weird now that outsiders are involved. I hand over the first piece of cake to this unexpected guest.He dedicates it gentlemanly to Baisha.Baisha went on with one hand, and picked up the fork from the table with the other. Before the fork arrived, the cake had already been bitten.

Elsie, where did you get the fork?Baisha asked. Brought from the restaurant downstairs. The cakes are nice.Baisha said.Turning to the foreigner again: what is your last name? Surnamed Deng.He said: Dumbony.I'm sorry, I have a cake in hand, so it's inconvenient to give you my business card.After eating the cake, I will prove it to you. I am the assistant manager in charge of investigation of the Continental Insurance Claims Company in New Mexico. why is it like this?Baisha asked. why what? Based insurance company in New Mexico? Because that place is the center of a lot of business, Dunbanney said: We don't cater to the wealth of the city.We look at the countryside.Our head office organization is very good. It occupies a large area, the land price is small, and there are many rooms. It can also be expanded in a city with a small population.You could call her a rural background.

Bai Sha looked at him again, is that so? Bu Aiqian was quite disappointed, not only because the wish I made would not be fulfilled, but also because it was weird that a stranger broke into the office party. Baisha stood firmly on the ground, and everyone knew that she was ready to discuss business. Baisha took a bite of the cake with a fork, put it into her mouth and chewed it seriously, swallowed it with coffee, and looked at Mr. Deng again with her small diamond-like eyes, she said: What's your business? Talk about a deal.Dunbanney said. This was supposed to be the place to do business.Baisha told him.

Dunbanney smiled at her. This time is quite special.Today is Tang Nuo's birthday.Bai Sha said: Here the lady said that she would celebrate him.Grandma's, no one ever thought about when my birthday was. The office suddenly fell silent.After a while, Bu Aiqian said: Mrs. Ke, no one knows when your birthday is! Of course you don't know.Baisha said. Deng Boney said: I think you are Ms. Ke Baisha, a senior partner of this company.This is of course the junior partner Lai Tangnuo. correct.Baisha said. I have been paying attention to your company for a long time.He said. Bai Sha didn't answer, just grunted.

If you don't mind, the two of you are a perfect match, said Dunbarney: and you both have a surprising odds of success on almost impossible cases. Ke Baisha wanted to say a few words, but changed her mind and put another big mouthful of cake into her mouth. I have a very important job and a very skillful job.And it's a very strange job.Dunbanney said. Uh-huh, Bai Sha took a bite of the cake and answered vaguely.All our jobs are as you describe. I want to talk about the content of this job, and also want to talk about the compensation. Baisha washed down the cake in her mouth with coffee.

You go out to the outside room.She said: You turn to the right, there is a door with Ke Shi.Private office, you just walk in and sit down by yourself.I'll be there in a minute, and we'll negotiate the price there. Can't we talk here and now?asked Dumbony. God, absolutely not.Bai Sha said: Anyone who wants to talk to me about banknotes, I will sit in my own office, in my own chair. I know it's up to you when it comes to money in this company, right? True, there is a Don Nuo sometimes, but he is not necessary.Bai Sha said: Like today, since Tang Nuo is celebrating his birthday, we can just talk.In fact, this is more suitable for me. Betha scraped into her mouth the last bits of cream and cake crumbs left on her plate.Putting the plate on my desk, she said: Elsie, the cake is not bad, turned around, and said to Dun Bonny: Come on, you can also take the coffee cake and leave. Baisha led the way out of my office, like a battleship launching into the sea. Dun Boney hesitated for a moment, put the plate with a small half of the cake on the desk, and followed behind Baisha. Elsie said to me: Thank goodness they're gone!Tang Nuo, what wish did you just make? I shook my head, not humane. She said: Maybe you can still get your wish. The female operator said: I have to go back to my switchboard.She stopped at the door.He opened the door and said, "Miss He, let's go." The typist said: I'm thinking of another piece! never mind.The operator said: The second piece will never taste better than the first one.Still left the door open for her. The two ladies left the room, Bu Aiqian said: Tang Nuo, I want to bless you. Bless what? Your birthday, fool! I smiled at her, thank you for the cake.I said. She approached me, looked into my eyes, and she said: I am happy.She kisses me and you can make another wish.she says. Good idea.I said.Elsie stood beside me, she said: Before cutting the cake just now, I should have asked Baisha to let me close the office door. I smile. I knew it, she said: when Betha sees the money, she forgets about everything else. She was still standing beside me, looking at me, bringing her lips to mine, and the phone rang loudly. Elsie had to pick up the phone when it rang a second time and said: Hello.The operator's voice was so loud that I could hear it a few feet away.She said: Baisha asked Tang Nuo to go over immediately. oh!Tang Nuo.Elsie said.Take a tissue and wipe it on my lips.She said: "That Dunbanney is a real nuisance. I wrapped my hands around her slender waist and pulled her closer.I pressed my cheek to hers for more than ten seconds, patted her on the shoulder, and walked away from her to Baisha's office, leaving her alone to deal with the aftermath and take the fork back to the restaurant downstairs. Bai Sha said: Tang Nuo, sit down.Mr. Deng said that his question is quite complicated, and I think there is no reason for him to say it again and again.Come and listen now, and when he finishes speaking, we'll decide if we can help him. She turned to Dumbony, and she said: It all started with a classified ad in a newspaper, didn't it? In fact, Dunbanney said, it was a little bit earlier than that.The same thing happened to us in Portland, Oregon. What are you guys doing in Portland, Oregon?Write an insurance policy? He smiled and said: You misunderstood, Mrs. Ke, the insurance procedures were completed in New Mexico, but the insured ran to Oregon and had a car accident. This new case happened in a Cadillac that was insured by us.That car was involved in an accident and was mentioned in the ad. Baisha said: I understand.But I don't see her understanding anything. I don't understand.I said. Dumbony took out a newspaper clipping from his pocket, handed it to me and said: You read it to Mrs. Ke.The paragraph outlined in red pen. I read this ad: A reward of 300 yuan is offered: whoever provides information leading to witnesses who can claim that at about 10:00 p.m. on April 15, a Ford Uranus rammed a gray Cadillac in Jidong Street, Kelun Street, ignoring the stop lights. By.Please contact mailbox 685. Three hundred yuan, I said: a lot of money! Can't they use a less expensive method?Baisha asked. But no such witnesses were found.I said. What do you mean?Baisha asked. You pay attention to his wording.I said: The three hundred dollars are only paid to anyone who can testify under oath that the Ford Uranus ran into that Caddy in spite of the stop lights. If that was the case then, what was wrong?Baisha asked. In case that wasn't the case then.I said: In case it was the exact opposite.If Ford Uranus is the green light, Caddy should stop and crash into Uranus.Besides, this advertisement was posted in the personnel column. Baisha clapped her eyes and flapped her hands.She said: His grandma's! Dunbanney said: Exactly.So do we.Suspected, like looking for a witness who is willing to perjure.Something like this happened to us in Portland as well. So, I say: You represent the man who drove the Ford.He is insured by your company.Of course, you don't expect him to be No, he interrupted me: Oddly enough, our insurance is a gray Cadillac. But you don't know who posted the ad? have no idea. In case there are three witnesses, I said: This man has to come up with nine hundred yuan.The two witnesses also had to pay six hundred dollars.Even with just one witness, the sums are substantial. That's right.Dunbanney briefly backed my claim. If he can't get his money back from the insurance company, I said: How is this guy who advertised going to get his money back? Dunbanney shrugged. What about the case in Portland? solved. Did the ad bring any results? we do not know. Is the advertisement also published in your favor?I asked. No, that ad was calling for witnesses in favor of the opposing side. We got copies of some of the testimony.Our investigators interviewed some witnesses.We decided to settle it.It was after the fact that someone happened to see that ad, sent it to us, and asked if we were interested, but at that time it was irrelevant. Otherwise, the reconciliation will be somewhat affected by the consequences of that advertisement, right? correct.said Dunbanney. How much was the settlement successful?I asked. Twenty-two thousand five hundred yuan. Grandma's!Bai Sha said in a low voice. Deng Bonny said: We pay attention to this advertisement, which is naturally a normal reaction.We want to know the reason behind it.We want to know who is presiding, and we want to know whether this is really for evidence, or for another purpose, whether it is to induce people to voluntarily give false testimony. Bai Sha said: Tang Nuo is an expert in these matters.He has a way of knowing the answer. What about the cost?Bonnie said, and immediately added another sentence: fifty yuan a day plus necessary reimbursement, is it enough? This, Baisha said: it is the daily branch of the general practice. Guaranteed at least a few days, plus a deposit.I said. Bonnie looked at me with a smile and said: I heard that the company's expenses are all decided by Baisha. Nothing wrong, I said: the decision is hers, and I have the right to make suggestions. Basic expenses of 1,000 yuan.Baisha said briefly. It's a little higher.Bonnie Road. Not so much for this type of work.If the other party was a hooligan or organized villain, Tang Nuo would take too much risk. Dumbney looked up and down at me again. Don't be fooled by his diminutive appearance.Bai Sha said quickly: Naturally, his muscles cannot be compared with Superman.But this kid has a top-notch brain. Bonnie said: We have studied the data of your private detective agency, and our conclusion is that you are a perfect match for efficiency.In order not to call me unfair, let me remind you that this mission is physically dangerous. Anyway, Tang Nuo could get in and out of the gap.Baisha said. This seam may not be too wide.Bonnie warned. What are you doing?Baisha asked: Want to ask me to increase the price? I think the price has been negotiated. One thousand yuan deposit, non-refundable, fifty yuan a day, plus expenses?Baisha asked. Can.Bonnie said. Bai Sha said: One thousand yuan must be paid first.Pay first if you don't work. Dumbony pulled out a checkbook, smiled and said: You mean to pay before I leave here, don't you? He slowly counted out ten hundred-yuan bills, and said to Baisha: Please issue the invoice to the Mainland Insurance Claims Company. Ke Baisha took the cash with both hands, with a greedy look in her eyes, took out an invoice book, and began to issue invoices. I said: Expenses will be listed, but they will be considerable. Why? If there is fraud in it, you must think that there is fraud in it, otherwise you don’t need to spend money to find us to handle it. You are afraid that these people will become suspicious and alert when you go to contact.So when I go to contact, I have to use a completely different identity, a new social background, a new address, and a new car. Everything will cost money. He said: Yes, yes, the less money you spend, the better.Go get a used van, you can sell it afterward, and we won't have much to spend on the car. What do you mean we?Will it be the kind of us I imagined? What are you imagining? Several insurance companies are in line on the matter.Choose your company to contact, because you are a small company, can you ask for a lower price? He said solemnly: When I said we, I just meant that you and I are now working together on this matter.You only need to worry about whether you can do this well, and you don't have to study what's going on in my head. Dumbony took the receipt from Baisha without even looking at it, folded it in half, and put it in his purse. What I want is immediate action.This matter should be started immediately.He said. I nod. Dun Boney smiled at Baisha, bowed slightly, and walked towards the door. How to send my report to you?I asked. Just tell Mrs. Ke.I will be in touch with her.Bonnie walked out the door without looking back. Bai Sha lightly pressed her fingers on her closed lips until she heard the sound of the door of the outer office being closed. Suddenly, a smile appeared on her face. Tang Nuo, she said: This type of business is the ideal pursued by a serious detective agency.You can't ask for it, once you get it, reputation and money will come in a steady stream. I don't say anything. Baisha continued: You have taken over too many cases, and as a result, you turned out a dead body and turned it into a low-level murder case.This case may set us on the right track. Mr. Deng is a decent, decent, and respectable person. I pretended to be surprised, just took a look, you know? The smile disappeared from Baisha's face, at least he exuded respectability all over his body. Which department of the insurance company is he in?I asked: Claims?Legal? , Interrogation? He didn't talk. Isn't it on his card?Bai Sha opened the drawer, and took out a business card from the drawer, the blue print was very eye-catching. Only the name of the insurance company, with Dunbarney's name printed in the lower left corner.I said. Betha, Jachita, New Mexico: Sounds good. Sounds good. Bai Sha said: I can imagine that a large company is independent on a large piece of land, the employees have their own homes, everyone has fresh air, parking is easy, and everyone has a big office.Much of their business must have been by correspondence. That is inevitable.I said. What's the meaning? Have you ever been to New Mexico? Of course, many times. Been to Harchita? No, where the hell are you going to do it?But I know where it is. Where? Somewhere under Lowesburg. I've been there.I went to the ledge, took down our Book of Earth, and opened it to find Hatchita. I smiled at Baisha: New Mexico, the town of Hachita, with a population of one hundred and forty-two people. When Baisha quarreled with others, she must let herself say the last sentence.She poked her bulldog jaw out.It was an old map.she says. That's right, I said: the population will grow, count him one hundred and forty-three. She turned black. Even if the population doubles.I said: only two hundred and eighty-four. So what?She said: This card costs a lot of money to print! That's right.I said. What do you mean?she asked. It can be seen that the card was not printed in Hatchita.I said, go out the door.