Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
This was an expected event, yet it was a fact that was hard to accept. From the very beginning of the case, no one had intended to kill those six children; it was merely a bored prank by a middle-aged man who had drunk too much.
No one committed the crime, yet those children were dead or had run away from home. If this was the retribution for bullying Xiao Xuanmiao, then it seemed all sins had been repaid. As for the children still alive, they would eventually understand the consequences of school bullying.
When the police brought someone out, reporters rushed forward, their cameras flashing so brightly that it was almost blinding.
Old Shao had no idea what these reporters would ultimately write in their newspapers or how the audience would respond. At sixty years old, he suddenly felt an indescribable sadness welling up in his heart, and in that moment, he sensed the strangeness of this world.
But if Wang Gui wasn’t the murderer, then someone else must have taken Xiao Xuanmiao away.
Wang Gui, wrapped in his own clothing, was oblivious to what was happening outside. He simply said, “Just take my phone; it's the only valuable thing I have left. Don’t lose it again. I know this routine of detention for fifteen days; just don’t lose my phone. If you can fix that door, do it; if not, forget it…”
Yuan Jun shoved Wang Gui. “Let’s go; stop talking.”
Wang Gui’s gambling friends could testify that he had been playing cards with them until noon when they finally left to eat lunch. After the game broke up, Wang Gui went to a nearby deli to buy half a pound of pig head meat. The roadside surveillance confirmed this; one person couldn’t be in two places at once.
Wang Gui’s case was handed over to other officers at the police station for follow-up, while the special investigation team continued to look into who had taken Xiao Xuanmiao.
At the same time, this corroborated Jiang He’s earlier speculation: the murderer hadn’t gone far; he must be near the hospital.
“I need a map,” Jiang He said as he looked at Guan Deng.
Without hesitation, Guan Deng pulled up a map of the area around the hospital. It was indeed a very detailed map, but even such precision didn’t mark narrow alleys.
Jiang He stared intently at the map while his mind visualized how this map corresponded to real-life building locations. A three-dimensional image formed in his mind, matching each detail perfectly.
That narrow alley could not escape Jiang He’s thoughts.
“Here,” Jiang He pointed to a spot on the map.
“There are cameras at the eastern end of this alley. The western exit has no cameras, but several bustling streets ahead have plenty of surveillance. However, after coming out from the western end of the alley, we didn’t see them on any of those cameras. With so many cameras around, there’s no way he could avoid detection—especially since he was with a girl.”
Jiang He closed his eyes and gently tapped his forehead with three fingers. "After coming out of that narrow alley, they didn't continue west along the street. To go west, one has to cross a road with many surveillance cameras, but we haven't seen them on any of the cameras."
"If I walk south along this side of the road, there is a large square. In the morning, there aren't many young people in the square; it's mostly elderly folks out for their morning exercises. If I go there, I would stand out! So, I can only head north?"
"That doesn't make sense. Running out of the hospital only to return? That seems unlikely," Jiang He opened his eyes and noticed that everyone's attention was not on him but on a police officer who had just walked in. The officer was holding a phone in both hands, and all eyes were on the device.
"What’s going on?" Jiang He peered through the gap to see the phone but couldn't make out what was displayed.
Xu Yiman turned her head and said, "Your reasoning is correct. After leaving the hospital, he brought Xiao Xuanmiao back to the hospital..."
With that, Xu Yiman made space for Jiang He so he could see the screen clearly.
The background of the screen showed a tall building with a large red cross; it was an inpatient building. On the rooftop stood two figures—a man and a woman. Due to the distance, only their silhouettes were visible. However, everyone immediately recognized the incongruous black clothing; it was the killer and Xiao Xuanmiao.
At that moment, the killer stood inside the rooftop railing while pushing Xiao Xuanmiao over to the outside. From twenty stories up, at over sixty meters high, if she fell, even divine intervention wouldn't save her. This left the task force members stunned; they never expected that after leading her around in circles, he would take her to the top of the inpatient building.
"That’s a clever use of distraction," Old Shao said with some frustration. "Dressed like that, he only looks normal in a hospital; people with hidden ailments often don't want others to notice them. The hospital is indeed the perfect place for him. He's smart, but what does he intend to do?"
With a sigh, Old Shao waved his hand dismissively. "No matter what he plans to do, we must get to the scene immediately."
"You." Old Shao pointed at the newly arrived officer and instructed, "Contact Special Police immediately; if necessary, we will need forceful measures."
"Understood," the officer nodded.
The reporter covering this incident was named Leng. After receiving news of Xiao Xuanmiao's disappearance, she rushed to the hospital like all other reporters. However, due to traffic congestion, by the time she arrived at the scene, all reporters had followed the police to apprehend suspects.
She couldn't follow up immediately and had to wait for police to rescue Xiao Xuanmiao. But as she waited and waited, none of those reporters returned, nor was Xiao Xuanmiao rescued. Just as she was feeling anxious, she inadvertently looked up and discovered a secret on that rooftop. Everyone was rushing outside but no one looked up.
When the cameraman set up his camera, they finally saw through it that this person was none other than Xiao Xuanmiao—the kidnapped victim—this was truly breaking news for her.
After consulting with his superiors, the live broadcast began, revealing the scene witnessed by the project team members.
When the project team members hurried to the hospital, they found the area packed with people, both inside the building across the street and outside. Some leaned on crutches, others held IV drips, and some were in wheelchairs. There were even individuals wrapped in bandages who insisted on being brought out to see what was happening.
"Everyone, put on your earpieces and listen to my commands," Old Shao instructed a few members of the project team. "Xu Yiman, Guan Deng, you two head to the rooftop of the building across the street immediately and set up the camera. I want a clear view of what's happening up there. After that, transmit the footage directly to our phones."
Xu Yiman and Guan Deng nodded in agreement.
"Jiang He, get in touch with the SWAT team right away. If necessary, we may need to launch an attack to rescue Xiao Xuanmiao," Old Shao added.
Jiang He nodded.
"Yuan Jun, you'll come with me shortly," Old Shao said to Yuan Jun. "I might need to negotiate up there. When I signal for action, you don't need to worry about me; just go up and rescue the hostage. Keep your weapon ready. If the kidnapper remains obstinate, I authorize you to take her down."
Yuan Jun patted his side where a handgun was holstered.
Old Shao thought for a moment and added, "Only fire if absolutely necessary."
"Understood," Yuan Jun replied.
At that moment, the head of security rushed over.
"What’s going on?" Old Shao asked.
The security chief was about to point towards the stage when Old Shao interjected, "The police's actions will make the kidnapper anxious. Without fully understanding what’s happening, any slight movement could provoke her into harming the hostage. From what we can see, this is more than just a simple ransom; taking someone to a high place effectively cuts off their escape route."
The security chief quickly lowered his arm and said, "From this distance, he probably can't see us. However, when we first spotted them, we didn't know their intentions; we thought it might be a suicide attempt. So I immediately sent someone upstairs to check. That officer reported back that the door to the rooftop has been locked from the inside; we can't get in at all. We could only look through the glass of the door and called out a few times, but there was no response."
Old Shao glanced at the walkie-talkie clipped to the security chief's waist and said, "Immediately pull your men back; do not provoke the kidnapper. Have your team maintain order at the scene and prevent unauthorized individuals from entering that building. Once everything is arranged, come find us upstairs..."
"Alright, I'll arrange it right away." The security captain spoke into the intercom, "All team members, listen to my command..."
Without delay, Old Shao couldn't spare a word for the reporters rushing over; the scene was chaotic with so many people gathered.
Old Shao took Yuan Jun and headed up the elevator, reaching the twentieth floor.
The twentieth floor didn't have any patient rooms; it was used for storing medical supplies. They walked down a long corridor, and at the end was a long staircase. Climbing up the stairs, they reached a platform where a door blocked their way. Behind that door was the rooftop platform of the hospital building.
Through the foggy glass covered in debris, Old Shao and Yuan Jun saw a man and a woman on the platform.
Even from behind, Old Shao could recognize him; it was Xiao Xuanmiao.
Xiao Xuanmiao's hands and feet were bound with ropes, one end of which was attached to the railing of the platform. His entire body was leaning dangerously over the edge, where there was no space to stand.
The man stood with his back to Old Shao and Yuan Jun. They could clearly see that what he held in his hand was not a dagger but a pair of sharp scissors glinting ominously.
With just a light snip, Xiao Xuanmiao would fall from sixty meters high, likely to be shattered beyond recognition.
Comment 0 Comment Count