The Constable Booked the Assassin Every Night novel · Chapter 21 of 24
Chapter 21: Ten Names
Nobody moved to obey him.
For one long breath the whole courtyard stood still in the lantern light.
The guards looked at the Prefect and then at the grey chair.
"Sit down, Ding Wenbo," said the Inspector.
He had not raised his voice.
He had only turned his head.
Six men in plain grey coats came out of the crowd and stood around the dais with their hands on their swords.
"This court has heard a confession," said the Inspector. "It has not yet heard a case. Call the first witness."
She was a thin woman in a mended brown gown, and she came out of the crowd on a neighbor's arm.
She carried a drawer in both hands, stuffed with ledgers.
"My husband was the Prefect's clerk," she said.
"Twice the Prefect's men searched my house for this drawer, and twice I told them it burned."
"I'll swear to every page of it."
"You old crow!" Ding screamed.
The Inspector opened the drawer and began to read.
He read for a long while.
No one coughed.
Two junior constables of the Six Doors stood up next, red to the ears, with their caps crushed in their fists.
"We followed the captain's men to the Eastern Ferry the night the steward died," said the older.
"We saw them go in with a knife and a bundle of hemp, Inspector."
"And come out without."
"We didn't tell the Chief."
"We didn't dare."
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–6 of The Constable Booked the Assassin Every Night are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
← Chapter 20 · All chapters · Chapter 22 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend