Chapter 248: Chapter 245: Acting Rashly
North City Public Security Bureau.
Meeting Room.
Wu Xing sat at the head of the conference table, his face serious, as he spoke to the people seated on either side: "We’ve just received news from the South City police, an anonymous witness claims that in the abandoned building behind the Red Mansion Hotel on Youming Street, Ningyang Road, North City, there appears to be someone resembling Savanna Windsor, who has been missing for years."
Following this, information appeared on the projector. Savanna Windsor disappeared three years ago, and it was considered a cold case. Her possible reappearance now is quite thrilling.
"According to the anonymous witness, a woman resembling Savanna Windsor was seen opening the curtains, her expression showed no panic, rather she seemed calm, then someone dragged Savanna Windsor away, and the curtains were drawn back. It’s obvious they didn’t want to be seen."
"It is speculated that the victim might have been imprisoned."
Bao Wei questioned, "Team Leader Wu, how does the witness know that person is Savanna Windsor? Are there any photos? Or does the witness know the missing person?"
Facing the doubts, Wu Xing shook his head, saying, "The South City police didn’t specify, they even don’t know who the witness is. We don’t know the source of this information either."
At this, everyone looked at each other, unsure if the situation was true or not.
In fact, Galen Collins also doesn’t know who the witness is. Luna provided this information to Bella, but when Galen asked, Bella directly denied it.
Although Galen still trusts Elliana Lyle, as a policeman, he can only rely on facts. Bella said it’s not true, and they have no evidence to prove Bella knows anything.
Even Elliana Lyle forgot to record anything, making this situation really hard to handle.
At this moment, a young man with a buzz cut couldn’t suppress the excitement in his heart and stood up, a mole on his brow very distinctive.
Even his name has a Buddhist touch, Li Xiaofu, nicknamed "Big Buddha" by his teammates.
He said, "Leader Wu, let me take a team to check it out. Even though we don’t know if it’s true, if it is, and we are late, we might miss everything."
Wu Xing didn’t agree to this, as Galen Collins had instructed them to wait for more information before acting.
Although Galen Collins is not a police officer in the North City, it was he who brought up the matter, so cooperating would yield better results.
He said, "For now, we shouldn’t act rashly and alert the enemy. The victim might be under the captive of criminals, acting hastily might ruin everything, wait for South City police’s..."
Before Wu Xing finished his words, Li Xiaofu interrupted, "Leader Wu, it was clearly a cry for help when the victim opened the curtains. It has already alarmed the criminals, acting now would be best. This case doesn’t belong to South City, if we delay, we might find nothing."
Seeing Li Xiaofu’s excitement, Wu Xing understood why. This case was first assigned to Li Xiaofu years ago.
"Leader Wu, I agree with Li Xiaofu’s proposal, this matter in North City should be handled by us."
"Leader Wu, I agree as well."
Facing these impetuous young men, Wu Xing shook his head and said, "No way! We cannot take action without permission, we still need to wait."
It was clear that Li Xiaofu was still unwilling to give up, his face showed reluctance, and he continued, "Leader Wu, why don’t I scout first? It’s better than waiting like this."
To be honest, Wu Xing didn’t want to just wait, despite Galen Collins’s repeated instructions.
Weighing the pros and cons, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to scout, so he consented, "Alright, Li Xiaofu, you take Bao Wei along, be cautious."
Li Xiaofu’s personality is not considered steady, and often acts impulsively and recklessly.
On the contrary, Bao Wei is careful and meticulous, never missing any details, and is an expert in case analysis in the police team.
Bao Wei looked at the abandoned building projected on the screen, its main entrance co-aligned with the Red Mansion Hotel.
If there’s someone in the abandoned building, aside from climbing in through a window, they could possibly enter via the Red Mansion Hotel.
The Red Mansion Hotel is a high-end club, gathering many wealthy individuals. Having received reports, the bureau had raided it twice a few years ago, finding nothing illegal.
Luo Xiaofu was the one leading those raids, so he should be familiar with the interior structure of the Red Mansion.
After exiting the conference room, he asked Luo Xiaofu, "Big Buddha, didn’t you lead two raids on the Red Mansion before? Is there any passage there leading to the abandoned building?"
On hearing that, Luo Xiaofu was momentarily stunned, even pausing his steps as if recollecting.
Then he shook his head and said, "There’s no other passage; the main entrance of the abandoned building is blocked by the Red Mansion’s wall, right at the corner of the Red Mansion’s hallway."
"Oh?" Bao Wei grabbed onto Luo Xiaofu’s last sentence.
How was Luo Xiaofu able to know the main entrance of the abandoned building so precisely? Logically, given his personality, he wouldn’t pay attention to such details.
He didn’t plan to ask further but kept it as a question, little did he know Luo Xiaofu continued, "Back then, Cheng Hu, who was with me, suspected that someone might be hiding in the abandoned building behind. After searching around and finding no entrance, he checked for a long time inside the Red Mansion and only then confirmed the abandoned building’s door was sealed."
That explanation made sense; Cheng Hu was a meticulous person, but he was transferred last month, becoming their superior.
"Big Buddha, when shall we go?" he asked.
Luo Xiaofu, after a brief consideration, responded, "Right now, I’ll head to the restroom first, you wait for me outside."
Two minutes later, the two headed towards Ningyang Road, North City.
First going through a narrow alley, the abandoned building appeared before them.
Bao Wei glanced around and then looked at the windows of the entire abandoned building.
Across from the windows of the building was the famous ancient house, inhabited by an old lady, known by nearly everyone in North City.
After all, it was covered in the news and became a viral spot years ago, attracting many admirers, annoying the old lady to the point of brandishing a broom.
Although she hadn’t hurt anyone, no more tourists dared to stir up at the old house, only taking photos from a distance.
Thus, the two held cameras, reasonably.
This area had an open space, but the only place with a view of the building’s windows was the second floor of the ancient house. Could the anonymous witness be the old lady from the ancient house?
While Bao Wei was pondering, Luo Xiaofu made a discovery and said, "Come over here and see."
A glass window at the last windowpane was shattered, with most glass fragments inside, suggesting it was broken from the outside.
Luo Xiaofu frowned and looked in, then said, "I’ll go in first and check it out!"
"Big Buddha, don’t be reckless!" As soon as Bao Wei spoke, Luo Xiaofu flipped inside.
Walking on the dusty floor, Luo Xiaofu’s footprints were exceptionally clear, he said, "It’s unlikely anyone came in here; they’d leave footprints as big as mine if they did."
"Bao Wei, wait outside for me while I look further in," Luo Xiaofu said before proceeding further inside.
However, how could Bao Wei be at ease letting him go alone? So without hesitation, he followed in.
The door, worn from age, could be kicked open with a foot, revealing a long corridor behind it, very dark, forcing the two to turn on their flashlights.
The floor was still dusty, thicker than inside, each step left a footprint. If someone came here, there should have been some traces left behind.