The Shadow of the Coppering

The rain poured down in sheets, a relentless drumming on the city's rooftops. Detective Chen Yi stood at the edge of the rooftop, the wind carrying the scent of copper from the factory below. The city was a sea of red, the copper refineries casting a fiery glow against the darkening sky. This was the coppering district, a place of industry and secrets, where the past and present intertwined like the threads of a tapestry.

Chen Yi's eyes were fixed on the old copper factory, its once gleaming facade now a faded reminder of its former glory. The factory had been the scene of a murder, a case that had gone cold years ago. But Chen Yi couldn't let it go. The murder of the factory's owner, a man known as The Coppering, had left too many questions unanswered. The case had consumed him, become an obsession that haunted his nights and filled his days.

He had seen the factory change, had watched it fall into disrepair, but the memory of The Coppering's death remained vivid. It was a cold case, but to Chen Yi, it was a personal one. He had been the one to find The Coppering's body, had seen the look of terror on his face. It was a sight that had never left him.

The detective's phone buzzed, pulling him from his reverie. It was a call from his partner, Li Wei. "Chen, we've got a lead," Li's voice was urgent. "A witness came forward. They say they saw something that night."

Chen Yi's heart raced. "Where are they?"

"Headquarters. Meet us there."

Chen Yi made his way down the fire escape, the rain soaking his clothes. He arrived at headquarters to find Li Wei waiting in the dimly lit hallway. The detective's partner was a man of few words, but his eyes were alight with excitement.

"Who is the witness?" Chen Yi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"A man named Zhang. He worked at the factory. Says he saw something that night, but he didn't know what it was until now," Li Wei replied.

Chen Yi nodded, following Li Wei into the interrogation room. Zhang was a middle-aged man with a weathered face, his eyes darting around the room as if expecting danger at any moment.

"Zhang, you said you saw something that night," Chen Yi began, his voice steady.

Zhang nodded, his voice trembling. "Yes, Detective. I was on the roof, trying to fix a leak. I heard a noise, like a door closing. I looked over the edge and saw a shadowy figure running away."

Chen Yi's mind raced. "What did the figure look like?"

Zhang hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't know. It was dark, and I was scared. I didn't get a good look."

Chen Yi's eyes narrowed. "But you remember the door closing?"

Zhang nodded. "Yes, it was the main door. The one that leads to the office."

Chen Yi's mind was racing. The main door had been locked that night. The only person who could have opened it was The Coppering himself. But why would he lock himself in his office? And why would someone be running away from it?

"Did you see anyone with you?" Chen Yi asked.

Zhang shook his head. "No, I was alone."

Chen Yi stood up, his mind already working through the possibilities. "Thank you, Zhang. We'll be in touch."

As Chen Yi left the room, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He turned, but saw no one. The coppering district was a place of secrets, and Chen Yi knew that he was walking into a web of lies and deceit.

He met Li Wei outside the building, the rain still pouring down.

"Did you notice that?" Chen Yi asked, his voice low.

Li Wei nodded. "Yes. It feels like we're being followed."

Chen Yi's eyes narrowed. "Then we need to be careful. This case is deeper than we thought."

The detective and his partner made their way to their car, the rain lashing against the windows. As they drove away from the coppering district, Chen Yi couldn't shake the feeling that they were only scratching the surface of a much larger mystery. The case of The Coppering's murder was about to take a dangerous turn, and Chen Yi was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

The detective's obsession with the case had led him to the edge of a dangerous cliff, but he was not about to turn back. The coppering district was a place of secrets, and Chen Yi was ready to face whatever lay ahead.