Silent Testimony - Chapter 70

Tao Ling was tormented by a nightmare. Her consciousness was chaotic and unclear, as if she had turned into a small clay figure traversing the streets of memory, which were both real and illusory. The scenes from her youth—her father’s disregard, her mother’s cautious maintenance, and her elder brother’s matter-of-fact attitude—were faintly visible.

“Why should a girl study? It’s better to start working and earning money sooner.”

“Xiao Ling, keep the money safe. Is it enough for living expenses?”

“She doesn’t need much money at school. The canteen food is cheap.”

“Tao Ling, come here.”

She struggled powerlessly, trying to break free from the current situation. A familiar voice guided her, finally tearing open a narrow fissure.

“Cough, cough.”

Tao Ling slowly opened her eyes, adapting to the light, and the surrounding environment gradually became clear. She was situated on a river shoal. Her limbs were bound by ropes to an iron pillar behind her, and the rapid river had already risen past her knees. Tao Ling’s pupils suddenly constricted, and her breathing became hurried and thin, as if every breath was an attempt to suppress the intense fear within her.

“You’re awake?” A voice, processed through a voice changer, suddenly came from the Bluetooth earpiece.

Tao Ling’s dark eyes flickered with a faint light, conveying helplessness and panic.

“I didn’t originally plan to kill you. I tracked and anti-surveilled twice, but someone said you were a key person in solving the case, capable of what is called composite sketches.”

“He wanted to murder someone using a borrowed knife, so I simply went along with the flow.”

Composite sketches. His target is Sister Wei. Tao Ling looked up and around, only to see a dark figure standing at the bow of a fishing boat in the distance, wearing a baseball cap, making their appearance impossible to distinguish.

“It’s 12:37 PM now. Based on the speed of the rising water, the police have about 3 hours for a rescue operation.”

“However, this place is 20 kilometers from Puchen.” Yan Chen’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying a pathological madness, as he let out a sneer. “Guess if they can find you?”

Tao Ling watched him walk into the cabin. As the sound of the engine started, the fishing boat gradually moved further and further away……

Li Hewei stumbled into the monitoring center of the Traffic Police Brigade, her eyes completely red. “How is it? Any news?”

Qiu Wan turned around, a hint of sorrow in her eyes, and shook her head. “No.”

“I said, go east, follow the riverbank eastward,” Li Hewei reached for the electronic laser pointer, pressed the switch, and gestured for her to look at the map. “Here, and here.”

“We’ve searched, but found nothing abnormal,” Qiu Wan said with a tone of helplessness. “All the drones from the bureau have been dispatched, covering the riverbanks in the city and the nearby suburbs. We are currently expanding the search area.”

“It’s almost two o’clock. She has been missing for 7 hours……” Only Li Hewei knew Tao Ling’s eventual outcome beforehand. This feeling of powerlessness—of being cautious, of doing everything possible to prevent it, yet still being unable to change fate—was like a bone-deep corrosion.

Just as she finished speaking, Wang Cen, who was in charge of continued case investigation, called.

“We found the owner of the black suitcase: Ma Zhiming’s editor, Yan Chen, whose ancestral home is Shujiang. He traveled with the main group but did not stay in the hotel.”

“Why didn’t he go to the book signing event?”

“His colleague said that Yan Chen suffered from altitude sickness, had a fever and diarrhea, and did not attend either the book signing or the celebration banquet.”

Qiu Wan’s expression was cold, and she ground her back teeth. “So, Chao Hui has been lying the whole time, covering for Yan Chen and providing him with an alibi!”

“Correct. He said there were 6 people in the group, so our thinking was fixated on the 5 people at the hotel, overlooking other possibilities.”

“Where is he?”

“We just found out his address and are heading over immediately.”

Li Hewei threw down the laser pointer and turned to rush out.

“Two cars, and take Hewei with you,” Qiu Wan quickly followed her steps. “Sister Wang, she is a little emotional right now. Keep an eye on her and don’t let her do anything that violates discipline.”

“Are you going?”

“No, Officer Zhao of the rescue team and I are responsible for commanding the search and rescue efforts.”

“Okay, don’t worry,” Wang Cen sighed. “Xiao Tao is a treasure to the technical team, and she’s a treasure to all of us. She definitely won’t be harmed.”

“Mmm.”

Before Li Hewei got into the car, Qiu Wan repeatedly reminded her, “Don’t do anything foolish, understand?” Li Hewei paid no attention, turning her head to stare blankly at the void outside the window.

Wang Cen patted Qiu Wan’s shoulder. “Hurry up. Officer Zhao is waiting for you to discuss the further rescue scope. Also, your elbow is in a cast. You’re injured, so don’t move around too much.”

“Okay, I’ll leave her to you.”

Wang Cen nodded, bent down, and got into the car cabin.

20 minutes later, the serious crime unit police officers secured all entrances and exits of Building 3 in Anhe Community. Wang Cen led 3 people to take the elevator up to the 8th floor. Turning left out of the elevator, at the door of Room 803, Xiao Zhou knocked while the remaining team members were on high alert.

“Who is it?” someone asked from inside the room.

“Police.”

“What’s the matter?”

“We’re looking for Yan Chen.”

“Oh.” The man opened the door and shouted toward the bedroom, “Chenzai, the police are looking for you.”

“What do they want with me?” Yan Chen walked out slowly, his expression calm and composed.

His aquiline nose and deep-set eyes matched the characteristics described by the eyewitness on the night of the crime perfectly. Li Hewei clenched her fists, and boiling blood surged through her body. She desperately suppressed the emotions about to burst forth, waiting for Wang Cen to question him.

Wang Cen turned on the recording pen and, as a matter of routine, asked, “Are you Yan Chen, the editor for Ma Zhiming at Zhongyun Publishing House?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you aware that Ma Zhiming was murdered at his home in the early morning of October 7th?”

“I am.”

“As his editor, why did you not inquire or show concern?”

Yan Chen drooped his eyelids, feigning weakness. “Officer, I have a fever and was sleeping soundly. But I did contact Ah Hui, and he can testify.”

“Chao Hui is drowning and unconscious. How can he testify for you?” Xiao Zhou mocked him. “Two people colluding, providing false testimony for each other—who would believe that?”

Yan Chen feigned innocence, his eyes instantly widening. “Officer, what nonsense are you talking about? Ah Hui drowned? How is that possible?”

Wang Cen stated seriously, “He is suspected of kidnapping and has fled in fear of the crime.”

Yan Chen let out a low sigh. “Why would that be? Who did he kidnap? He’s very timid.”

Xiao Zhou couldn’t help but yell in anger, “He kidnapped our colleague! Someone chased him to Weining Town, and he accidentally fell into a fish pond while fleeing.”

“Do you have evidence? Did you find the colleague Ah Hui kidnapped?”

Xiao Zhou was speechless. “You!”

“Ah Hui likes to drink. He probably saw the police chasing him and habitually tried to escape legal action,” Yan Chen and Chao Hui had planned to drink half a bottle of liquor if things went badly, claiming they were driving under the influence to evade the police.

Cunning……

Li Hewei’s face was colored with anger. Unable to tolerate it any longer, she spat out a few words with difficulty: “Where is she?”

“Who? Officer, who are you talking about?” Yan Chen curved his lips and looked at her, showing a mocking smile.

“Are you going to talk or not!” Li Hewei grabbed his clothes and raised her fist.

“A police officer hitting someone? Isn’t that breaking the law? Hey, aren’t you going to stop her?” Yan Chen looked directly into Li Hewei’s bloodshot eyes, challenging her with a smile. “Come on, hit me, hit me in the head!”

Li Hewei’s face turned crimson, the veins on her forehead and the back of her hands bulged. Just as her fist was about to strike, Wang Cen pounced and restrained her by holding both her arms. “Xiao Li, calm down.”

“I can’t calm down! I just want to know where Tao Ling is!”

Tao Ling. Did he kidnap the wrong person? A hint of shock flashed in Yan Chen’s eyes, disappearing instantly. He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Officer, I advise you to go look for her first. Any later, I’m afraid you’ll only be able to collect the body.”

“You!” Li Hewei’s shoulders trembled uncontrollably. Knowing Yan Chen’s temperament, he would not confess Tao Ling’s whereabouts. She released her strength. “Sister Wang, let me go.”

“We’ll reconsider our approach back at the station. Let him finish his statement first.”

Li Hewei responded with a hum. Her vision was darkening. With only her remaining consciousness, she walked towards the elevator.

Wang Cen’s clear and methodical voice came from behind. “State where you have been and whom you have met in the past two days.”

“At my uncle’s house, going out to buy medicine and daily necessities.”

“Tell the truth; we will check the surveillance footage.” However, Wang Cen knew that the left-side freight elevator (No. 3) in this unit had no surveillance, so they could only retrieve other outdoor surveillance videos in the community.

“I am absolutely a good citizen and don’t lie. Oh, this morning, at about 6:30 AM, I went out for breakfast with my uncle.”

Yan Chen’s uncle chimed in, “Yes, Chenzai felt better, so I took him to East Street for noodles.”

“And then?”

“I went to my workplace. Chenzai said he had an appointment with a friend to discuss work.”

“Yes, I was meeting Ah Hui on Hao Street, but I waited for him until 10:30 AM, and he never came.” Pinning it on Chao Hui, a flawless statement. Li Hewei stepped into the elevator, pressed the down button, took two steps back, and stood rigidly against the iron wall, feeling as though someone was choking her neck, her brain roaring with a lack of oxygen.

Outside the community gate, Li Hewei lightly tapped the car window. “Get out.”

The driver poked his head out. “Captain Li?”

Li Hewei was expressionless. “Work requirement.”

“Oh.”

The driver got out of the car and handed the key to Li Hewei. Just as he was about to offer a warning, the engine roared, and the police car sped away.

The sky gradually darkened, shrouded in twilight. Li Hewei drove out of the city, speeding aimlessly along the riverside road sections. Each time she passed a ferry crossing, she pulled the car over to the side and contacted Qiu Wan to search with the drone.

“Is there anything?” Li Hewei tightly gripped her phone, her fingertips completely drained of color.

“We searched. Nothing. The drone has already continued forward and is about 3 kilometers away from you.”

“Mmm.” She hung up the phone, released the handbrake, and stepped on the gas pedal. She stared ahead, countless horrifying possibilities swirling in her mind, her thoughts a confused mess.

Tao Ling had been missing for 8 hours and 13 minutes. Qiu Wan called. Li Hewei answered, her whole body tense, listening to the other party’s heavy voice: “Listen carefully. Erlong Ferry Crossing. I’ve called someone to meet you. Take the speedboat to pick up Xiao Tao.”

Li Hewei’s throat was dry, and her breathing was heavy. “She……”

“Not very well. The river water has reached her neck. She might have been hypothermic for too long……” The drone was equipped with a loudspeaker. The accompanying police officers called out repeatedly, but Tao Ling did not respond.

Li Hewei leaned against the seat, her whole body shaking violently. She clenched her hands into fists, her knuckles cracking. She seemed unable to shed tears or make a sound. Finally, she bit her lip hard, pushed open the door, and ran towards the opposite ferry crossing.

Her damp long hair had dried. She removed the hair tie from her wrist and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Looking in the direction of the Liu Min River, she murmured silently, “Wait for me……”

The police officer operating the drone saw her and hurried over. “Captain Li.”

“Tell me.”

“The river is rising rapidly. I’m worried that the huge waves stirred up by the speedboat will be counterproductive. We’ll switch to a rescue inflatable boat and paddle over. It’s not far.”

“Okay.” Li Hewei closely followed the officer’s steps, taking the paddle and a life jacket.

“The river water is already against her chin. We must hurry.”

Li Hewei tried her best to maintain her remaining composure and arranged, “Prepare a thermal blanket and a simple stretcher.”

“Yes, we have everything, and an AED as well.”

Li Hewei nodded in thanks, lifted her leg, and stepped into the rescue boat.

“Captain Li, see her? She’s over there! That’s the high-water marker pole left over from previous shipping operations.”

Li Hewei followed the direction of the officer’s pointing finger and saw that only the upper half of Tao Ling’s head was above the water.

“Hurry up!” Her vision instantly blurred. She hunched over, desperately paddling the oar.