The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang by Stephen Leather Page B

the plane, Inspector Zhang.”
    â€œYes, sir, there is a body.”
    â€œIndeed there is. And from what the captain has said, it is a case of murder.”
    â€œI can’t confirm that, sir, as I have not done anything in the way of an investigation. But the pilot tells me that the man is dead and that there is a lot of blood. Sir, we are on Thai soil and as such any investigation should properly be carried out by the Thai police.”
    The Commissioner sighed. “I wish that life was as simple as that,” he said. “There are a number of issues that require resolving before the case is passed over to the Thais, not the least the fact that we need to know exactly where the plane was when the murder was committed. If it was in international air space then it will be a case for us to handle in Singapore. We also need to take into account the nationality of the victim, and the perpetrator.”
    â€œThe perpetrator?” repeated Inspector Zhang. “Are you suggesting that I solve the crime before allowing the Thai police on board?”
    â€œI am told that you do have a talent for solving mysteries, Inspector Zhang. And from what I have heard, it is a mystery that confronts us.”
    â€œBut we have no forensic team. I am not even sure of the cause of death.”
    â€œIf a murder has been committed, the one thing we can be sure of is that the murderer is still on the plane. So long as the doors remained closed, the murderer has nowhere to go.”
    â€œSo I am to conduct an investigation before anyone can leave the plane?”
    â€œExactly,” said the Commissioner.
    â€œBut this is a Boeing 777-200, sir. There must be more than two hundred people on board.”
    â€œAll the more reason to get started, Inspector Zhang. I have already spoken to my opposite number in the Royal Thai Police Force and he is happy for us to proceed. To be honest, Inspector Zhang, they would be content for you to solve the case and for us to fly the killer home to stand trial in Singapore.”
    â€œBut if we don’t solve the crime then the plane remains a crime scene and will have to stay in Bangkok for the foreseeable future?”
    â€œExactly,” said the Commissioner. “And nobody wants that. The last thing we want is for the world to believe that our national airline was somehow tainted by what has happened. Inspector Zhang, I am assured that you are the man who can handle this smoothly and efficiently.”
    â€œI shall do my best, Commissioner,” said Inspector Zhang.
    â€œI am sure you will,” said the Commissioner, and he ended the call.
    Inspector Zhang put away his mobile and stared at his reflection as he drew back his shoulders and took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly, then took out a plastic comb and carefully arranged his hair, then removed his spectacles and polished them with his handkerchief. He was fifty-four years old and had served the Singapore Police Force for almost thirty of those years, but he could count on the fingers of one hand the true murder investigations that he had been involved with. Most murders, especially in Singapore, were committed by relatives or co-workers and generally investigations required little in the way of detecting skills. But what he now faced was a true mystery, a mystery that he had to solve. He put his spectacles back on and tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket. He took another deep breath, then let himself out of the toilet.
    â€œSo what is happening?” asked Captain Kumar. “Can we let the passengers off?”
    â€œI am afraid not,” said Inspector Zhang. “I have been authorised to carry out an investigation. Until then, the doors remain closed.”
    â€œWhat assistance can I offer you?” asked the pilot.
    â€œI will first examine the body, then I need to speak to the chief purser and to whoever discovered the body.” He nodded at Sergeant Lee, who was already taking out