Detective L Episode 13 Recap
> Detective L Recap
A sentinel at the lookout tower spotted a fire on Pike Road, which resulted in three deaths and five injuries, and immediately sounded the alarm. This marked the third fire that month. Superintendent Savoy and the head of the fire department held a press conference, attributing the cause of the latest blaze to a resident’s careless smoking.
However, reporters pointed out the striking coincidence that all three fires occurred around 10 PM on Sunday evenings, pressing Superintendent Savoy for an explanation beyond mere chance. Just then, Luo Fei interrupted the conference, systematically dismantling the official explanations. He highlighted that Zheng Yuan, the resident of No. 18 where the latest fire started, had publicly spoken against smoking just days before, claiming he quit a decade ago.
Luo Fei also noted that a previous fire attributed to a chimney downdraft occurred on a windless day, and an earlier fire blamed on an electrical short-circuit took place during a blackout. His sharp critique publicly embarrassed Superintendent Savoy, who then abruptly ended the press conference. Back at the office, Superintendent Savoy confronted Luo Fei, chastising him for undermining the police department's image.
Luo Fei, undeterred, pressed to investigate the case, suggesting that failure to acknowledge a serial arsonist would only lead to further public distrust if another fire occurred. Under pressure and with less than three days until the next Sunday, Superintendent Savoy reluctantly granted Luo Fei authorization to investigate under the police department's name, providing him with victim information, witness testimonies, and scene reports. Luo Fei also requested additional manpower, and Superintendent Savoy assigned Qin Xiaoman to assist him.
Qin Xiaoman initially bristled at being "borrowed" like an object but became enthusiastic upon learning it was a new case. At the Pike Road fire scene, Luo Fei immediately identified the likely location of a body, noting the relatively less burned floor where body moisture had hindered the flames. He detected the distinct aroma of human fat, specifically aromatic compounds from the heat breaking down body fat, which had seeped into the floor.
He also found remnants of melted vodka bottles scattered throughout the room. Qin Xiaoman speculated that the victim, a drunkard, had accidentally started the fire while drinking and smoking. Luo Fei quickly dismissed this, pointing out the widespread distribution of broken bottles throughout the room. He noted the presence of various other liquors in the wine cabinet, such as red wine, whiskey, and Three-Star Brandy, yet only high-alcohol-content vodka had been used.
Luo Fei then drew Qin Xiaoman's attention to a window, explaining that it was positioned to create an air current with the door, intensifying the fire. He observed that the window was covered in ash and its latch was rusted, indicating it hadn't been opened in a long time, suggesting it was deliberately opened by the arsonist.
Luo Fei concluded that the culprit was highly intelligent, having avoided conventional accelerants like gasoline or kerosene to obscure the deliberate nature of the fire. He described the arsonist as cunning and inconspicuous, like a "cold-blooded chameleon," capable of blending into crowds while setting fires in different locations for three consecutive weeks without detection. Luo Fei expressed excitement at finally facing such a formidable adversary.
In an effort to gather more leads, Luo Fei placed a small advertisement in the newspaper, offering a reward for information on the serial arsonist. This led to a flood of reports, including one from Wang Ji Fu's wife. She reported that her husband had become increasingly anxious since the first arson case was published three weeks prior. He had been plagued by nightmares of fire, fearing a major incident.
He started piling sand, setting up a large water tank in their yard for fire prevention, digging and refilling pits, and constantly muttering "Mr. Jin, spare me" in his sleep. Luo Fei, after sifting through the numerous calls, identified ten potentially valuable leads and assigned Qin Xiaoman to investigate them, including Wang Ji Fu's household.
Upon arriving at Wang Ji Fu's house, Qin Xiaoman noted the unsettling atmosphere, with numerous talismans hanging and a strange shrine, all meant for protection against fire and evil spirits. Wang Ji Fu's wife explained that her husband, a quiet newspaper editor with no known enemies or debts, was now terrified of a "Mr. Jin" from his dreams. She also mentioned he was now afraid to sleep at night or turn off the lights, only resting during the day.
While Wang Ji Fu's wife went to fetch water, Qin Xiaoman explored the house and discovered an altar. Suddenly, Wang Ji Fu emerged from an inner room, brandishing a Peach Wood Sword of Exorcism and attacking Qin Xiaoman while repeatedly shouting "Don't kill me!" Qin Xiaoman quickly subdued him. His wife rushed in, explaining that the attacker was her husband. As Qin Xiaoman left, she advised Wang Ji Fu's wife to seek psychological help for him.
Outside the house, Qin Xiaoman was intercepted by Luo Fei, who was disguised as a fortune teller. He revealed he had already investigated the house, explaining that his disguise allowed him to approach a superstitious person more effectively than a detective. Qin Xiaoman recounted her observations, labeling Wang Ji Fu as superstitious, violent, and a "pervert" due to an "erotic painting" she saw.
Luo Fei corrected her, explaining that the talismans were "talismans of fire avoidance," the altar's dragon-head statue was Chi Wen, a "fire avoidance beast," and the wooden sword was for exorcism. He further clarified that the "erotic painting" on the beam was, in fact, a "fire avoidance painting," based on a legend that the female fire god would be embarrassed by it and flee.
Luo Fei added that Wang Ji Fu, though anxious, showed clear reasoning, indicating he wasn't mentally ill but genuinely believed a "ghost" was targeting him. He deduced that the "traps" Qin Xiaoman saw—floor nails and a net in the patio, along with filled-in pits—were originally designed to capture a human arsonist, not a ghost. Luo Fei believed Wang Ji Fu was concealing a connection to the serial arsons, and his prediction of an attack that night was credible.
Later, as Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman staked out Wang Ji Fu's house, they overheard a heated argument between Wang Ji Fu and his wife, during which she called him crazy and left him, taking her luggage. Luo Fei speculated that Wang Ji Fu might have deliberately driven her away to protect her.
Soon after, all the lights in the house went out, an unusual occurrence given Wang Ji Fu's fear of the dark and habit of not turning them off. Sensing imminent danger, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman rushed to the house, kicking down the door. They found a black-clad assailant attempting to kill Wang Ji Fu. Qin Xiaoman immediately gave chase, pursuing the figure through the streets and into a crowded theater, where he ultimately escaped.
However, during the struggle, the assailant dropped a small medicine bottle. Luo Fei brought the broken bottle to Benjamin, who identified its contents as TSD, a new and potent sedative known to induce hallucinations and diminish self-preservation, earning it the nickname "honest potion." Benjamin explained that the drug was expensive, produced by Edwards Pharmaceuticals (a German company with a local branch in Shanghai), and only supplied to high-end private clinics due to Shanghai's lax drug regulations.
The bottle's batch number, E608, allowed them to trace its origin. They discovered that Dr. Huo's clinic was the sole buyer of that specific batch of TSD. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman immediately went to question Dr. Huo. Dr. Huo confirmed the bottle contained TSD and acknowledged his clinic had purchased that batch.
When questioned about his whereabouts the previous Sunday night, Dr. Huo provided an alibi, stating he was treating Mr. Ma Tian Li of the Municipality for severe insomnia at his clinic between 9 PM and 10 PM, offering Mr. Ma's testimony and his registration records as proof. Despite the alibi, Luo Fei pressed Dr. Huo for a list of patients who had been prescribed TSD.
Dr. Huo refused, citing patient confidentiality, stating that revealing Mr. Ma's identity was already a breach. Luo Fei threatened to obtain a search warrant to access his patient records, but Dr. Huo remained firm, instructing them to proceed if they wished. Luo Fei later presented a map, marking the previous three fire locations, Wang Ji Fu's house as the fourth, and then pointed to a new, unsettling location. He exclaimed that a major disaster was imminent, predicting a fire at a cinema.
