"I suppose so," said Mr. Yin. "Though we often leave deliveries with neighbours."
"Even so…"
"You have to understand, Inspector Zhang. We handle dozens of deliveries every day, from single boxes to full containers. This was a relatively small job for us, the paperwork was all in order and they were a regular customer who also paid promptly. We had no reason to suspect that something untoward was going on."
"I understand that," said Inspector Zhang.
"Obviously if we had known…" Mr. Yin shrugged and left the sentence unfinished.
"I am sure," said Inspector Zhang. He looked at his wristwatch. "I wonder if I might ask you for just a little more co-operation, Mr. Yin."
"Of course. Anything."
"Would you mind coming back to the apartment so that we can run through what happened?"
"I don't understand." Mr. Yin looked over at Inspector Zhang. "I thought you just needed my help to deliver the boxes."
"It will not take very long," said Inspector Zhang. "We can drive you there. We have a Lexus."
"If it's absolutely necessary, I suppose I could spare the time," said Mr. Yin, reluctantly. "But I am very busy. This is our busy time of the year."
"We will not take too much of your time, Mr. Yin," said Inspector Zhang. He stood up and waved at the door. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll be finished."
They went outside and this time Inspector Zhang got into the back of the car with Sergeant Lee while Mr. Yin climbed into the front with Inspector Kwok. They drove back to Geylang in silence. Inspector Kwok parked the car and they walked together into the apartment block.
"This is the way you came on that day?" asked Inspector Zhang.
Mr. Yin nodded. "Yes. We had trolleys. One trolley each."
"And on each trolley there were five boxes?"
"Yes."
Inspector Kwok opened the door and they went through to reception and up to the eighth floor.
"So you and your assistant arrived here and pushed the trolleys to the apartment?"
Mr. Yin nodded. "I went through all this with Inspector Kwok."
They walked to the door of the apartment. "Do you have the key, Inspector?" asked Inspector Zhang. Inspector Kwok produced the brass key and Inspector Zhang nodded at the mat. "If you would be so good as to put it where it was that day."
Inspector Kwok put the key under the mat and then stood up.
"Now, proceed exactly as you did on that day, Mr. Yin."
"But I don't have the trolley so it cannot be the same."
"Please do as best you can," said Inspector Zhang. He stood back and folded his arms.
Mr. Yin sighed, then bent down and retrieved the key. He inserted it into the lock and turned it twice antic-clockwise to open the door. He took out the key, pushed open the door and walked into the apartment.
The three detectives followed him.
"And then you closed the door?"
"Yes. I did."
"So please do that now."
Mr. Yin closed the door.
"And where did you leave the boxes?"
Mr. Yin pointed at the side of the sofa. "There," he said.
"And then you left the apartment?"
"Yes," said Mr. Yin. "Is that all you need from me?"
"Just bear with me a little while longer, Mr. Yin," said Inspector Zhang. He walked around the sitting room, deep in thought.
"Inspector Zhang, I really think we have imposed on Mr. Yin's public spiritedness quite enough," said Inspector Kwok. "He has a business to run."
"Soon," said Inspector Zhang. "We are almost there."
He walked into the bedroom and Sergeant Lee followed him. "Inspector Zhang, what are you looking for? We know that the drugs are not in the apartment."
Inspector Zhang smiled. "I am not looking for the heroin, Sergeant Lee. I am looking for the boxes, and that is quite a different matter."
"The boxes?"
"Yes, the boxes. They are key to this." He smiled. "If you will forgive the pun."
"Pun? What pun?" Sergeant Lee frowned in confusion.
Inspector Zhang sighed as he looked around the bedroom. "The bed was examined, of course. That only leaves the wardrobe."
"The wardrobe is empty, Inspector Zhang," said Sergeant Lee. She opened the doors to show him. "Coat hangers and dust, nothing else."
"Mr. Yin, come in here please," called Inspector Zhang.
Mr. Yin walked into the bedroom. He looked annoyed. "I really must protest," he said. "I have a business to run."
"Would you be so kind as to help me move the wardrobe," said Inspector Zhang.
"You want me to do what?"