Chapter 134: Sister Ji, you haven’t told Guan Xia about that case yet…
Although the four people have made many reasonable speculations based on the existing findings, they cannot be confirmed for the time being due to the lack of actual evidence.
Pushing the sketchbook in front of her a little further away, Guan Xia took her milk tea and sipped it while asking thoughtfully, "I think we've discussed this enough. So, the next question is, should we investigate? If so, how should we investigate? Or, to avoid alerting the enemy, should we report all new clues we discover, as before?"
Guan Xia asked a few questions, then offered her own opinion. "I think we need to report this. Compared to that criminal organization, anything we do is like an ant trying to shake a tree. I'm a little worried that Meng Lan's briefing with us might attract their attention."
Ji An thought for a moment and said, "Just in case, I think you should call Meng Lan. Based on our speculation, that organization is very likely still observing Meng Lan. If it's really that middle-aged woman, she must have some understanding of Meng Lan. Meng Lan's sudden change in condition is likely to alert them."
Guan Xia glanced at the time and found that it was already past four in the afternoon. Meng Lan had already gotten off the plane by then and might have already arrived home.
"Okay," Guan Xia nodded and said, "I'll call her in a minute. As we can see from the last natural gas leak incident, Meng Lan is very talented in acting. As long as she is mentally prepared, I believe it will not be difficult for her to deceive that middle-aged woman."
Guan Xia paused and said, "I just don't know the identity of that middle-aged woman. A day has passed, and I don't know if Xu Nian and the others have found anything."
After a few brief discussions, the four of them spoke freely and expressed all their doubts and speculations. Then Guan Xia walked aside to call Meng Lan.
As expected, Meng Lan had already arrived home, and when she had nothing to do on the plane, she reviewed and carefully thought about what had happened in the past two days. She completely agreed with Guan Xia and the others' opinions, and said that she would definitely disguise her condition well and would never let the people sent by the organization to observe her find any flaws.
After giving Meng Lan some careful instructions, Guan Xia hung up the phone only to find that she had a missed call from Xu Nian.
Just as she was about to call, Xu Nian called back. As soon as Guan Xia answered, she heard Xu Nian say, "Guan Xia, are you guys done? We've run the database based on your sketch and found some matching identities, but the number is a bit large. We're investigating. Also, the network security team tried to open that URL today, but the link is broken. I think the domain name has changed. They're still trying to crack it and see if they can find the new domain name and then try to recover the previous data."
Guan Xia listened carefully and briefly talked about the results of their discussion today.
Guan Xia said, "We've made some new discoveries. Do you remember the sketch I sent you earlier? It was about the young woman we met at the airport in Yongquan City after we finished investigating the case in Fu'an City. She's suspected to be part of the same criminal organization as Lu Manqing."
Xu Nian's voice came two seconds later, obviously recalling something, "I remember. What happened? Is it related to Meng Lan's case?"
Guan Xia smiled silently. As expected of Xu Nian, his reaction was very sharp. He nodded and said, "Yes, she and the middle-aged woman I drew last night appeared in the residential complex where Meng Lan lives at the same time. The time was the day when the natural gas leak occurred."
Although it was just three short sentences, it contained a lot of information. Xu Nian digested it for a while before saying, "It seems that things are more complicated than we imagined. Do you have anything else to do next? If not, why not come to our police station and we can discuss it face to face."
Guan Xia glanced at Pang Le and the other three inquiringly, and after receiving a positive answer, she said, "Okay, let's pack up and go over now."
After putting away the sketchbook and the torn sketches, Zhong Xiaoyu picked up the snacks, Pang Le locked the door, and the four of them went to take the elevator together.
On the way to the elevator, I didn't know who Ji An was chatting with. The message alert sound kept ringing. As Ji An quickly replied to the messages, his expression became more and more ugly.
Zhong Xiaoyu couldn't help but ask, "Sister Ji, whose news is this? Brother Lu? What has he discovered?"
Ji An first said "no", then replied to the message in his hand. He glanced around and saw that there were no people around. Then he whispered, "My former colleague in the criminal police team told me that Nanxi District in Shangshuang City recently took over a new case. According to the local police, a female corpse was excavated. The body died 5 to 6 years ago, and the age of the woman is estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old."
Zhong Xiaoyu's eyes widened when she heard this. "Doesn't that mean it's very likely related to the case you've been investigating?"
Ji An nodded gravely. "I had a hunch about that, too. I was planning to take the last flight back tonight, but my colleague told me that the Nanxi District Criminal Investigation Team in charge of this case had made a new discovery and that they might be able to confirm the deceased's identity in the next few days. So, they told me to wait a while. If it's true, they'll let me go back so I don't make a wasted trip."
Zhong Xiaoyu patted Ji An's back soothingly and said, "I think what your colleague said makes sense. You've been investigating this case for almost four years. You don't mind a day or two. Just wait a little longer. If this is really the case you're investigating, I'll go back with you. I guess Brother Lu will come to help too."
Guan Xia subconsciously exchanged glances with Pang Le after hearing this, and almost simultaneously said, "Let's go too."
Ji An turned around and looked over. Guan Xia said hurriedly, "Sister Ji, forget about other cases, but this is your case. We are friends, so how can I not go?"
"And me," Pang Le continued, "I'm a good fighter, I'm sure I'll be useful."
Ji An forced a smile and said, "Thank you so much for troubling you..."
Before Ji An could finish her words, Pang Le interrupted her. She frowned unhappily and said, "Sister Ji, what are you talking about? We are family now. It's not a big deal. You helped us so much before. It's only right that we help you."
Although Pang Le said this, Ji An still thanked him sincerely.
After getting in the car, Guan Xia carefully glanced at Ji An's face before tentatively asking, "Sister Ji, is it time to tell us about your case?"
After Guan Xia finished speaking, Zhong Xiaoyu looked back in surprise and said, "Sister Ji, you haven't told Guan Xia and the others about that case yet?"
From Zhong Xiaoyu's tone, Guan Xia knew that even if she didn't fully understand the case Ji An was investigating, she knew most of it.
Ji An said, "The case I'm investigating is a bit complicated, but now that I have a new lead, it's time to tell them."
Pang Le was about to start the car, but when he heard this, he paused and looked over eagerly.
Zhong Xiaoyu couldn't help but laugh when she saw this. "Well, I'll drive. You two listen carefully. Maybe in two days we'll fly to Sister Ji's hometown."
So the two of them swapped seats. After Pang Le sat down in the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt, Ji An said, "The case I'm investigating happened in 2019. At that time, I had just graduated from the police academy and had been working for more than three years. The case is a bit complicated because the bodies of the two missing people have not been found so far, and the identity of one of the missing persons has not been found."
Guan Xia listened with her ears pricked up almost, afraid of missing a word.
Ji Andao said, "The missing persons are two women, one 36 years old at the time of her disappearance, and the other a child, only 4 years old at the time. I initially thought it was human trafficking, but after investigating for over a year, I still found nothing. Then, surveillance footage showed wanted drug dealers near the residential complex where the missing persons lived. I eventually suspected this might be a revenge crime."
Guan Xia's eyes widened when she heard this, and all her attention was focused on the four words "drug dealer" and "revenge".
Pang Le was also a little surprised and said: "Drug dealers? Then who are the relatives of these two missing persons..."
Pang Le hesitated and didn't finish his words, but Guan Xia understood and couldn't help but feel nervous.
Ji An said, "The facts are a little different from what you suspected. The husband of this adult woman is a high school teacher. They had been divorced several years before she disappeared. The girl is not her biological child, but adopted. However, the adult woman's sister and brother-in-law are drug enforcement officers, as are the missing girl's parents. Three of the four of them were my classmates in the police academy."
Guan Xia was a little confused by Ji An's string of information. It took her a while to process it and she asked tentatively, "Sister Ji, what you mean is... the girl was first adopted by the missing adult woman's sister and brother-in-law, and the two of them..."
Guan Xia paused, mumbling the two words, and continued, "Then he was adopted by the missing adult woman. That's why you initially speculated and investigated that he was abducted, and later discovered that it was suspected to be revenge by drug dealers."
Ji An shook his head. "Yes and no. The specific adoption process is a bit complicated. Let me first talk about what happened after the discovery. It was because of this discovery that I resigned. The biological mother of the missing girl was my roommate in the police academy. We also interned at the same police station. Later, I returned to my hometown to be a criminal police officer, and she resolutely returned to her hometown to be a drug enforcement officer. Her boyfriend and she were childhood sweethearts. They both aspired to be drug enforcement officers since they were young. I attended their wedding. Who would have thought that within two years, when the child was less than a year old, they would..."
Even though several years had passed since the incident, Ji An still found it difficult to remain calm. He took a few deep breaths before continuing.
Ji An said, "After the two of them passed away, I originally wanted to adopt the child, but another classmate of mine adopted the child before me. She considered that I was busy with work and not married, so I wouldn't be able to take good care of the child. Her sister had been born with an underdeveloped uterus and had always wanted children but couldn't. After hearing about this child, she strongly urged her to adopt the child, saying she would definitely treat the child as her own. She even flew directly to the city where my classmate lived just for this purpose. However, I was busy with work at the time, and after several in-depth discussions with my classmate, I gave up the idea of adopting the child."
Pang Le couldn't help but say, "Actually, after careful analysis, your classmate's decision was indeed the best solution given the situation at the time. I just didn't expect the drug dealer to be so ruthless, chasing a child of only a few years old all the way."
"What happened next?" Guan Xia pressed, "Did the drug dealer we found find anything based on this clue?"
Ji An said, "At the time, the Shangshuang City Public Security Bureau set up a special task force. After extensive investigations and tracking, not only was the drug dealer apprehended, but several smaller drug trafficking gangs were also uncovered. However, no matter how hard we interrogated him, the drug dealer insisted he had never seen the two missing persons, nor had he committed any kidnapping crimes. Subsequent investigations have not found any trace of them."
"So you resigned afterwards," Pang Le said, "and devoted yourself to finding clues about them."
Ji An nodded. "It's a pity that it's been almost five years now, and we still haven't found him alive or dead. In fact, when I heard the news today, I was very nervous. I was excited and scared at the same time."
Guan Xia gently stroked Ji An's back. Through this series of words, they all understood Ji An very well. She was excited about the emergence of new clues, but also afraid that the body was really the missing person she was looking for.
Two people, one big and one small, disappeared together. The only ability of the big one to resist died, so what would have been the fate of the small one?
Guan Xia felt nervous just thinking about it, and was very reluctant to continue to speculate.
As he spoke, Zhong Xiaoyu drove the car to the Pingjiang District Branch where Xu Nian and the others were according to the navigation.
Except for Zhong Xiaoyu who was visiting for the first time, Guan Xia and the other three were all very familiar with the place. Pang Le could even chat with the security guard at the door.
After parking the car, the three of them took Zhong Xiaoyu and found Xu Nian's office as if they were familiar with the place.
When I pushed the door open, I saw several people in the office busy as hell. Everyone had a lot of photos on their desks, and they were frowning and struggling to compare them.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, everyone turned their heads. After seeing who was coming, Qi Bai was the first to jump up and said excitedly, "You are finally here, my Guan Xia expert, come and save me. I have been looking at the photos for several hours and I am almost face-blind."
Qi Bai ran to Guan Xia and diligently helped pour water and pull out a stool.
Xu Nian stood up with a helpless expression. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed Guan Xia's expression. He glanced at Pang Le and the others calmly before asking, "What's wrong? What happened? Do you need my help?"
Qi Bai was actively transferring the photos on his desk, but upon hearing this, he stopped and walked over with a serious expression.
Wang Yu and the others also attracted their attention and stood up and gathered around.
Qi Bai said: "What's our relationship? We're all friends who have risked our lives together. Please don't be shy to ask. If there's anything we can help you with, just ask."
Wang Yu also said, "Is it about the case? Our squadron is currently solving the case based on your findings, so you don't have to worry about it."
Although Jiang Yingyao didn't say anything, he nodded in agreement.
Guan Xia just hadn't fully digested the series of news that Ji An said, and her expression hadn't had time to regain calm. Seeing this, she felt a little amused and helpless.
After glancing at Ji An twice with a subtle glance, Guan Xia noticed that Ji An shook her head ever so slightly, and knew that she was planning to wait for the results before speaking. She then said, "I do have some findings, but they're not confirmed yet. I'll definitely tell you once they're confirmed."
Everyone's expressions relaxed.
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