Matthew Brooks had Third Young Master retrace the route he took to pick up Howard Clark, calculating the time in the car. According to Leonard Hale's arrangements that morning, Third Young Master should have encountered at least three groups of police. But none of the three groups paid any attention to him.

As for what happened with the other two groups, Matthew Brooks wasn't sure. But when Third Young Master ran into him, Shawn Benson happened to be present. He and Caleb Bennett were being scolded by Shawn Benson, with their backs to the street, making it impossible to spot Howard Clark.

What was strange was that not long after Third Young Master took Howard Clark away, Shawn Benson left. Thinking back now, Shawn Benson was clearly paving the way for Howard Clark.

"You wait here for me." Matthew Brooks took out a flashlight and carefully examined the ground. The rain had stopped by now, and he walked along the road toward Heilicun.

Very soon, Matthew Brooks discovered the prints of pointed leather shoes! Although it had rained all day, the difference between pointed leather shoes and straw sandals was too obvious. Even if only a faint print remained, it couldn't escape his sharp eyes.

The further he went, the more shoe prints there were, and the clearer they became. Some prints even showed the sole pattern distinctly. In a place like this, such shoe prints could only belong to Howard Clark.

Matthew Brooks followed the prints all the way to Heilicun. Once inside the village, the prints faded, making further tracking difficult. Besides, Matthew Brooks couldn't possibly check every household.

Moreover, he couldn't enter the village. As soon as he reached the entrance, the dogs inside started barking furiously. Matthew Brooks didn't go in, but circled around Heilicun, paying special attention to every intersection.

"Tomorrow, you and Watson Harris should walk around this area more. If you spot Howard Clark, don't alert him—let me know immediately," Matthew Brooks said. Luckily, the rain had eased since noon; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to see the pointed leather shoe prints of Howard Clark at all.

Matthew Brooks looked at Heilicun not far ahead. Except for a few households with lights on, the rest was shrouded in darkness. The situation in Heilicun was complicated. It was close to Gujiang, and many families owned fishing boats. It was said that quite a few had connections with the guerrillas across the river.

If Howard Clark was in Heilicun, it was very likely he would cross the river tonight. During the day, there were patrol boats on the river, so the underground party had no chance to cross.

"Brother Yun, but Shopkeeper Zhao is fighting against the Japanese..." Third Young Master said hesitantly.

In the past, when he helped Matthew Brooks gather information, it was always for solving cases or helping people find lost pets. His whole family had been killed by the Japanese, so he had a heartfelt admiration for those resisting Japan.

"Why don't you go and join Howard Clark's group then?" Matthew Brooks showed a hint of displeasure. Third Young Master was just a rickshaw puller; there were many things he couldn't be told. If he did, it would endanger both of them.

"I'll just stick around this area tomorrow," Third Young Master said, shrinking his neck. Although he was reluctant, he wouldn't go against Matthew Brooks's wishes. His life had been saved by Matthew Brooks; no matter what Matthew Brooks asked him to do, he would never refuse.

"Go to the school," Matthew Brooks said.

After arriving at the school, Matthew Brooks told Third Young Master to head back first. But after Third Young Master left, Matthew Brooks didn't enter the school. Instead, he walked north.

Chapter 6: Wounded but Not Dead

After walking less than three hundred meters north, he arrived in front of a three-story building. This was the dormitory of the Guxing Telephone Bureau, with the bureau itself just to the west on Gusha Street. He went to the easternmost room on the second floor and knocked gently on the door.

"Who is it?" came a sweet, clear female voice from inside.

"It's me, Matthew Brooks."

"Oh, coming to see me so late—are you inviting me to dance or to watch a movie?" The door quickly opened, and out stepped a young, fashionable woman in a cheongsam with permed hair. She was Matthew Brooks's classmate from the Japanese language school, Susan Rowe.

"There's class tonight. I was worried about your safety on the way, so I came to be your escort," Matthew Brooks said with a smile.

"At least you still have a conscience," Susan Rowe said with a charming smile, tidying her hair.

"Shuangyan..." Matthew Brooks rubbed his hands together, a little embarrassed.

"I know, this is for you." Susan Rowe took out a slip of paper from her bag. She worked as a telephone operator at the bureau, and Matthew Brooks had long asked her to help—whenever there was a call within his jurisdiction, she would record it for him.

"Thank you." Matthew Brooks took the slip and glanced at it under the light. He was familiar with dozens of numbers in his district, but there were only about ten on the slip. He scanned them quickly and soon found 4268—the number for Wenhua Bookstore. There had indeed been a call at 8:45 in the morning.

Matthew Brooks remembered that he had left the bureau at 8:40 that morning, and at 8:45 Howard Clark received a call. He was certain that it was this call that prompted Howard Clark to flee immediately. With this call, everything made sense.

"I really don't know why a patrolman like you needs all this," Susan Rowe said with a snort, seeing how Matthew Brooks treasured the slip of paper.

"It's precisely because I'm just a lowly patrolman that I need these things. There was a call to 4286 at 8:45 this morning—do you remember it?" Matthew Brooks patted his pocket and smiled.