Chapter 225: A New Disappearance

As they got into the car, Chen Shi said, “I used to have a neighbor, a troubled young man. He had a polite girlfriend who always greeted me in the hallway.”

Lin Dongxue listened quietly.

“The boy was clearly trouble. I heard him beating the girl several times. I knocked on their door, and she always said everything was fine, even though I could hear the tears in her voice. I thought they’d break up, but things got worse. The boy started bringing shady friends over, blasting music all night to cover her cries.”

Lin Dongxue covered her mouth in horror. “What did they do to her?”

“I don’t know,” Chen Shi shook his head. “I called the police. They claimed they were just having fun, and the girl backed him up. One night, she came to my door covered in blood. I called the police again. Before they arrived, he cleaned her up and burned the rags. She told the police nothing had happened, with him giving her looks the whole time. I was so angry, I punched him in front of the cops.”

“And you were taken away?”

“Yes. I can’t stand seeing bad people getting away with things. But sometimes, the law can’t reach everywhere.”

“I bet you like Batman.”

“I like the movies, but I don’t agree with vigilante justice. I believe in the law. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best system we have. Moving to extremes because of its flaws is foolish. Human systems evolve from imperfection to perfection, with detours and sacrifices.”

“How long were you detained for that?”

“Seven days and some fines.”

“I see. Is that how you got those marks on your record?”

Chen Shi waved it off. “Youthful indiscretions. Not worth mentioning.”

They arrived at Li Biao’s place. Xu Xiaodong and local police were there. Standing at the door, the officer said, “Breaking in might be considered trespassing. Are you sure?”

“We have no choice. If something happens, I’ll take the responsibility,” Lin Dongxue said.

“Alright then.”

The officer used a lock pick, and with a loud crack, the lock broke, and the door swung open.

Li Biao’s file showed he was divorced and lived alone. His house was filled with expensive rosewood furniture and various antiques. Chen Shi instructed, “Wear shoe covers and gloves. Don’t contaminate the scene.”

They slipped on shoe covers and spread out to investigate. Chen Shi checked the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, confirming no one else had been there.

“Look at this!” Xu Xiaodong found a photo labeled “Taoxing Town Rongchang Hand Tractor Factory Group Photo,” dated 1997. Chen Shi scanned the faces, “These missing people, including Liu Hong and Li Biao, used to be colleagues.”

“How did we miss this link?” Lin Dongxue was frustrated.

“Maybe it was an unregistered private factory,” Chen Shi suggested.

In a drawer, they found stacks of cash, protected with mothballs. Chen Shi flipped through it, pulling out a bill. “This is from last year. Li Biao must have received this money recently. All unnumbered bills, the sender was careful.”

“Could Li Biao have been blackmailing Liu Hong with something he knew?” Lin Dongxue speculated.

“Is Li Biao really missing?” Xu Xiaodong wondered.

“Find him! We have to find Li Biao!” Chen Shi ordered.

They returned to the bathhouse and reviewed all nearby surveillance footage. By ten p.m., they finally saw Li Biao getting into an SUV at a street corner.

The SUV’s plate number was partially visible. They called the DMV, checked all possible numbers, and Liu Hong’s name came up.

“The car belongs to Liu Hong! Li Biao’s in danger!” Chen Shi exclaimed.

“Is he stupid? Why get into Liu Hong’s car with police watching?” Xu Xiaodong asked.

“Wait, the surveillance time shows Liu Hong was at home then,” Lin Dongxue pointed out.

They had no choice but to continue tracking the car. They stayed late at the traffic control center, finally spotting the SUV at 8:10 p.m. It vanished down a side road off the ring road and didn’t reappear.

Xu Xiaodong yawned continuously, and Lin Dongxue was also tired. Chen Shi stared at the screen, deep in thought. Lin Dongxue said, “Let’s continue tomorrow. I’ll ask Lin Qiu to officially open a case.”

“I worry it’s too late.” Chen Shi sighed, “Let’s go home and rest.”

Chen Shi barely slept that night. The next day, Lin Dongxue had to convince Lin Qiu to open a missing persons case. With more police involved, the investigation progressed more smoothly.

They confirmed that Li Biao owned assets far beyond his income, indicating a secret source of funds.

Li Biao had a mistress who claimed he once drunkenly bragged about helping a friend dispose of bodies. The police suspected he might have been involved in Liu Hong’s disappearances years ago.

The traffic control center kept watching. That evening, they called Lin Dongxue, “We found the car on Rongcheng Road!”

“Is it parked or moving?”

“Moving south, likely heading to Liuyang Road.”

Lin Dongxue gathered everyone, including Chen Shi and Xu Xiaodong, to pursue the SUV.

On Liuyang Road, they finally spotted it. Lin Dongxue was excitedly searching, “Where’s the siren?”

“I don’t have one in my car!” Chen Shi replied.

Lin Dongxue instructed the others to attach police lights. Four police cars chased the SUV, which was an impressive sight.

Chen Shi skillfully overtook several cars, pulling alongside the SUV. Lin Dongxue rolled down the window and shouted, “Stop! Police!”

Liu Hong rolled down his window and grinned, “Nice to see you again, beautiful!”

“Pull over!”

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you!” Liu Hong pretended to be deaf and spat at them. Lin Dongxue quickly rolled up the window, but the spit hit the glass.

Chen Shi was furious. “He’s too arrogant. I’ll force him off the road!”

“Don’t! It’s too dangerous at this speed.”

Liu Hong’s car accelerated, forcing the police to increase their speed. Chen Shi kept an eye on the GPS and suddenly realized, “Oh no! He’s going to…”

Before he finished speaking, there was a loud splash as the SUV drove straight into the river, creating a massive splash.