Jumping out of the taxi, Xiao Yi quickened his pace and tightly pursued the van ahead. The road had narrowed and there were fewer vehicles around. If he continued to follow by taxi, he would have been too obvious, and the target would definitely have noticed. Without hesitation, he made a snap decision to follow on foot.
Moreover, he had a strong feeling that the suspects would not go much further from here. One of their hideouts had to be nearby.
Indeed, after slowly moving forward, turning a corner, and passing two streets, the van gradually ca to a stop in front of a village house. A man jumped out from the driver’s seat, glanced around, then knocked on the house’s door.
Soon, the big door of the village house opened, and a man stuck his head out, chatting and laughing with the man who had knocked. After their brief exchange, the man who had knocked got back into the vehicle and drove the van into the village house.
Hidden in a nearby corner, Xiao Yi watched this scene with a hint of surprise in his eyes. The man who ca out to open the door was actually one of the thugs that he and Fatty Tang had fought with last ti!
This village house was undoubtedly one of their strongholds. Staring as the van drove inside, Xiao Yi’s face showed a hint of hesitation. He wondered whether he should call the police to handle the situation or go in by himself, take them down, and rescue the person inside.
In the end, Xiao Yi still felt that so tasks were better handled by the police—it was easy to save the person, but dealing with the aftermath would be complicated.
He pulled out his phone, dialed the number Zeng Xiaoi had given him to use in ergencies if Li Ziming caused him trouble.
Although he didn’t have a good impression of Zeng Xiaoi and disagreed with so of her thods, and while he didn’t particularly want to deal with her, after considering all the officers he had t, he still felt she was relatively reliable.
"Hello, Zeng Xiaoi!"
The phone was quickly answered, and Zeng Xiaoi’s voice ca through, tinged with fatigue, but her tone remained concise and forceful as ever.
"Hello, is this Captain Zeng? I have a tip. I’ve spotted people from a gang suspected of child trafficking."
Xiao Yi’s voice grew hoarse.
"What did you say? Where are you?"
Upon hearing this, Zeng Xiaoi’s spirits imdiately soared, and she bolted up from her office chair. This case had been driving her crazy lately; for several days, she hadn’t slept well. Not just her, but her entire criminal investigation team had been fully invested, checking every possible lead for days, yet the criminals’ thods were sophisticated, leaving no clues behind.
Even more infuriating was that they seed to completely disregard the majesty of their criminal police squad, or rather, it was as if they were directly challenging them!
After they had initiated an official investigation and published statents on television and in major newspapers, the criminals dared to continue committing cris all over the city!
Just monts ago, less than ten minutes earlier, they had just received an ergency call. Near Z University’s old street, another child who was on the way to school with a parent had been kidnapped. The parent only queued up at a breakfast stall for a cup of soy milk, and in the blink of an eye, the child was gone.
The pressure from above was mounting each day. If it weren’t for her background, her position as head of the criminal investigation team might have already been removed.
Even with her connections, her boss—who never used to raise his voice at her—even slamd his cup on the table in a eting the previous evening, glaring with furrowed brows and severe tone, sothing unprecedented.
But she knew, the pressure on her boss was even greater than on her.
This case had attracted imnse attention.
Of course, her eagerness to solve the case wasn’t about holding onto her position or avoiding punishnt. As a detective, the situation made her feel terrible.
Especially when she saw the photos sent by parents, those adorable children with sunny, charming, or mischievous smiles, it felt like a stab to her heart.
Several tis when she dozed off and dread, she even heard the cries of the children calling for their parents, startling her awake.
Each ti she woke up, she wished she could imdiately bring those bastards to justice and have them shot.
Now that she heard soone had provided a lead, how could she not be thrilled, not be moved?
"I saw them enter a house. The address of the house is..."
Xiao Yi glanced at the house number while describing the location in detail over the phone.
"That’s the place."
After providing the address, Xiao Yi quickly hung up the phone.
"Hello? Hello?"
Zeng Xiaoi, now composed again, was about to ask for more detailed information and the caller’s contact details, but she was t with a dial tone from the other end.
Who was the person that called just now?
How did he know that place? Was it really a coincidence that he saw the suspects enter? But even if he did witness them enter, how could he be sure it was related to child trafficking?
Could this person be trusted? Or was it a ploy to mock them?
Putting down the phone, a series of questions flashed through Zeng Xiaoi’s mind. Her expression changed and after a mont of contemplation, she slamd her hand down on the desk and stord out of the office. Clapping her hands loudly to draw the attention of her fatigued subordinates, she shouted, "Get ready imdiately, we’re moving out."
"Captain Zeng, do we have a lead?"
At the sound of Zeng Xiaoi’s words, the eyes of the weary detectives brightened.
"Yes, quickly, hurry up!"
Zeng Xiaoi nodded vigorously, having made up her mind. It was better to err on the side of belief. Even if they were led astray, it would just be a wasted trip. But if the tip was accurate and she didn’t act, and this delayed the rescue of the children, she would feel guilty and regretful for the rest of her life!
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(In the new year, throw a few votes my way...I beg you all!)(To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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