Chapter 43: Closing the Net!

Police?

At that moment, a flurry of images flashed through Yu Dazhang's mind, and all sorts of guesses welled up at once.

His expression turned ugly.

"Keep your eyes on him. If he leaves Zhang Yan's house, have one of you tail him." Yu Dazhang said quickly:

"I need to confirm something first. I'll call back within five minutes."

After hanging up, he immediately dialed Lu Zhongxin's mobile.

"Master, ask the detachment leader whether the higher-ups have sent someone else to meddle in this case."

"Can't be." Lu Zhongxin thought for a moment, then said with certainty:

"I met with Big Cat yesterday. He's already decided to let us keep digging."

"Besides, if someone else really were meddling, they wouldn't start the investigation over from scratch—they'd definitely come to us for a briefing, or just ask for the case file outright."

Yu Dazhang knew everything he said was right, but this was no time for inference—he had to be one hundred percent certain.

Police catching police… such a blunder was absolutely not allowed to happen to him.

"I need a definite answer." Yu Dazhang said in a hard tone:

"This is important. Get back to me within three minutes."

Without waiting for Lu Zhongxin to speak again, Yu Dazhang hung up directly.

Then he swiped quickly through the contacts on his phone, searching.

Last time he had exchanged contact info with the officer handling Zhang Yan's disappearance case, precisely to make later communication easier.

In truth, most connections are built up little by little through work.

Once the call went through, Yu Dazhang got straight to the point:

"Where are you?"

He remembered clearly that this officer was a young man in his twenties.

So there was a good chance he had gone to Zhang Yan's place again.

The result…

"I'm at the station. What's up?"

The officer on the other end was a little surprised that Yu Dazhang was asking about his whereabouts.

And asking outright, at that—the tone didn't sound very friendly, more like an interrogation.

The officer comrade even suspected Yu Dazhang on the other end was calling to pick a fight.

"At the station…" As if he didn't believe the answer, Yu Dazhang asked again:

"How can you be at the station?"

This time the question left the officer comrade completely dumbfounded.

What kind of talk was that!

I'm at the station during work hours—is that not normal?

Do I have to be out patrolling the streets?

Does the criminal-investigation unit have such a wide reach now that it's starting to meddle in the daily work of the local precinct?

Seeing no response from the other end, Yu Dazhang quickly realized his last words had been off, and he hurriedly added:

"I mean, did nobody from your station go to Zhang Yan's place today?"

"Probably not, right?" the officer replied, a little uncertain as well:

"I was the one handling the disappearance case before. Even if they switched people, someone would have notified me. Besides, now that the case is with you guys, our side definitely wouldn't send anyone to investigate."

Yu Dazhang knew his analysis was correct, entirely within the bounds of logic.

Same old saying—the principle is the principle, but he had to be one hundred percent certain.

"Please check at your station whether any other colleagues went to Zhang Yan's place to investigate, and get back to me as soon as you can."

Though the words were polite, the officer on the other end still sensed an imperative force that brooked no refusal.

It was all for work, so he couldn't really refuse.

Though he felt a little uncomfortable inside, since the man had come to him, of course he had to cooperate.

"Alright, I'll get back to you within two minutes."

This officer comrade was also a brisk, decisive sort—once he agreed, he hung up right away.

The moment he hung up, Lu Zhongxin's call came in.

"Confirmed, no one else is meddling. I just asked the detachment commander, and he was absolutely certain."

"Got it. Keep your line open."

Lu Zhongxin on the other end was stunned for a moment, then the sound of a disconnected line came through the receiver.

He caught on quickly—the last line, "Keep your line open," carried another meaning…

Closing the net today, ready to move at any moment!

Time was tight now; Yu Dazhang couldn't afford to waste it on calls. He had to confirm this matter as fast as possible.

He set his phone on the desk, tapping the tabletop lightly with one hand while staring at the screen in a daze.

Think again, think again—absolutely no oversights…

Could it be police from another department?

The technical division, for instance.

No… Yu Dazhang dismissed it outright. The scene had only just been examined; even if they examined it again, the technical division would definitely have notified the task force.

That was it—no oversights.

No police from any other department would be showing up at the door.

The screen lit up, and before the ringtone could sound, Yu Dazhang quickly grabbed the phone and answered.

"I asked around. No one from the station went to Zhang Yan's home." The officer on the other end spoke quickly.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Definitely no one."

Yu Dazhang knew this officer's work attitude well.

It was clear from the missing person case — this was also someone who handled matters meticulously.

"Sorry to trouble you." After that polite remark, Yu Dazhang hung up directly.

Please... save.... 6... 9.... book....!

"You really gave me a surprise." Holding the phone, he pulled up the call log while muttering excitedly:

"It's truly both a shock and a delight!"

Finding the phone number of the stakeout team member, Yu Dazhang dialed directly:

"Has the person come out?"

"Not yet." The team member on the other end replied:

"It's been six minutes since he went inside."

Still hasn't come out?

Then that fits — he must know Zhang Yan's parents... Yu Dazhang thought for a moment, then said:

"Don't hang up. The moment he comes out, tell me immediately. I still need to confirm one last thing."

Although the team member on the other end didn't understand what Yu Dazhang was thinking, after handling the case up to this point, they had come to fully trust this newcomer.

"Got it."

After that acknowledgment, both sides fell silent.

Time ticked by, and soon two minutes had passed.

A confident smile slowly spread across Yu Dazhang's face, and he unconsciously murmured under his breath:

"Almost time. You'd never allow your own stay to exceed ten minutes."

Sure enough, half a minute after those words, the team member's voice came through the receiver:

"He's coming out!"

Yu Dazhang was about to speak when he suddenly thought of something.

The team members over there didn't have eyesight as good as his.

"Do you have binoculars?" He was genuinely afraid the other side would give him a disappointing answer.

"We've got them." The team member answered quickly.

Good, stakeouts are what you guys do best... Yu Dazhang said loudly:

"Use the binoculars to look at his shoulder insignia!"

With that command given, he waited for the result with full concentration, as if time had become especially slow.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Every second stretched out unbearably long, and fine beads of sweat began to appear on his palms.

Finally, six seconds later, the surprised voice of the team member came through the receiver:

"Why isn't there a four-pointed police flower on the shoulder insignia?"

He guessed right!

Yu Dazhang dared not relax, and commanded again:

"Look at the badge number on his chest — read it out to me!"

Zhang Yan's home was on the fourth floor. By the timing, that person would soon reach the first floor.

If they waited until he walked out of the unit door and turned to leave, the team members across the way wouldn't be able to see his front anymore.

Fortunately, there was just enough time.

"x, 013274..." After the team member finished reading, he immediately realized:

"I get it now — that's the police uniform worn by police academy cadets."

Yu Dazhang paid no heed to his words and immediately commanded:

"You two, close in from front and back — grab him!"

"Copy!" Two firm voices came from the other end.

It seemed they had waited too long for this moment — their tones carried an excitement and agitation they could barely conceal.

After hanging up, he dialed Lu Zhongxin again:

"Master, close the net!"

(End of chapter)