The cadres looked solemn and quickly jotted down the key points of the task.
"First group, investigate the casinos Shen Daqiang frequents and bring all his cronies back for questioning! Second group, investigate Shen Daqiang's creditors, especially the loan sharks. Third group, go to Shenjiabao and protect Su Jianguo. The rest of you, increase patrols and watch out for any suspicious persons..."
With Director Zhang's order.
Police cars drove out of the police station compound one after another and disappeared into the night.
Meanwhile, Su Jianguo returned to the construction site in Shenjiabao, anxiously awaiting news.
Time passed by, and at three in the morning, Su Jianguo waited at the village office in Shenjiabao for a phone call.
The phone suddenly rang.
He grabbed the receiver, and Director Zhang's deep voice came from the other end of the line.
"Comrade Jianguo, we've found a lead. Shen Daqiang was indeed involved in the kidnapping, but he wasn't the mastermind. We've caught one of his accomplices, who confessed that the mastermind was a loan shark named 'Scarface Liu.' He said that Shen Daqiang told him there was a 'fat sheep' who could earn tens of thousands, which is why he kidnapped Su Jianjun. Their current hiding place hasn't been discovered yet; they're extremely good at concealing their location, not even telling their accomplices their exact location..."
Su Jianguo's heart raced.
"Jianjun...is Jianjun alright?"
"According to the confession, the hostages are currently safe, but..."
Director Zhang's voice suddenly turned serious.
"According to the investigation, this group consists of more than ten people, and they are very likely carrying firearms."
Upon hearing that the other party was carrying a gun and that they had not yet located Su Jianjun, Su Jianguo became very worried.
"Director Zhang, what do we do now? My brother's safety..."
Director Zhang replied.
"Your brother's safety can be guaranteed for the time being; the main concern is the other party's hiding place."
Upon hearing what Director Zhang said, Su Jianguo quickly came up with an idea.
"Director Zhang, I have an idea."
Su Jianguo gripped the telephone receiver tightly.
"The kidnappers demanded I put the money in a cave so we could send people to retrieve it and trace their hideout."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone before Director Zhang's approving voice came through.
"Comrade Jianguo, we're on the same page. I've already arranged for the special police team to be on standby, just waiting for the kidnappers to show up."
Su Jianguo took a deep breath, but his chest still felt tight.
"But Jianjun is in their hands, what if..."
"Don't worry."
Director Zhang's voice was steady and powerful.
"We will assign our most elite SWAT team to protect you throughout the entire process, while also tracking the kidnappers. Captain Li Qiang will personally lead the team; he is my most capable lieutenant."
After hanging up the phone, Su Jianguo looked out the window at the gradually brightening sky, his heart filled with worry for Su Jianjun.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Su Jianguo set off with a backpack containing 20,000 yuan in cash.
As demanded by the kidnappers, he had to go alone to the cave behind Shenjiabao.
The mountain roads were particularly muddy in early spring, making every step difficult.
After leaving Sujiatun and walking for about half an hour, Su Jianguo suddenly stopped.
He looked around warily.
The mountains and forests were silent, with even the calls of birds being rare.
He frowned.
Where's the promised SWAT protection? I haven't seen a single person.
"Didn't Director Zhang say he would send someone to protect me?"
Su Jianguo thought to himself.
He deliberately slowed his pace and looked back frequently, but he never saw any movement.
Just as he turned around for the fifth time, a slight rustling sound came from the bushes by the roadside.
A special police officer dressed in camouflage and with his face painted appeared silently beside him, startling Su Jianguo so much that he almost screamed.
"Comrade Su, stay natural. I am the team leader for this operation."
The SWAT officer whispered.
Su Jianguo knew that this was Captain Li Qiang, whom Director Zhang had mentioned yesterday.
"We've been around you the whole time, but the kidnappers might also be watching you from the shadows. Acting too nervous will alert them."
Su Jianguo then noticed that Li Qiang's camouflage uniform blended almost seamlessly into the forest, making it impossible to spot without close inspection.
He nodded, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.
"I see."
"Keep moving forward, don't stop."
Li Qiang quickly confessed.
"Leave the money in a conspicuous place in the cave and leave. Don't linger. We'll handle the rest."
After saying that, Li Qiang disappeared into the mountains again like a ghost.
Su Jianguo took a deep breath, composed himself, and continued walking towards the cave.
The cave is located in a secluded depression halfway up the mountain, with its entrance partially hidden by dense bushes.
Su Jianguo pushed aside the bushes, and a wave of damp, cold air rushed out.
He turned on his flashlight, and the beam illuminated the cave.
Is anyone there?
He called out tentatively, his voice echoing through the cave, but no one answered.
Su Jianguo placed his backpack on a protruding rock, deliberately making it very conspicuous.
He looked around again, and after confirming that there were no kidnappers in sight, he turned and left as planned.
As he walked out of the cave, Su Jianguo forced himself not to look back, but after walking a dozen meters, he couldn't help but glance back.
The cave was quiet, as if no one had ever been there.
Will they really come to collect the money?
Su Jianguo pondered as he descended the mountain.
How is Jianjun doing now?
However, what he didn't know was...
Shortly after he left, two figures were closely observing everything around them from a tall pine tree beside the cave.
"Wait another hour."
One of them whispered, a hideous scar on his head, who was one of the men of the kidnapper leader "Scarface Liu".
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