CHAPTER 1159: CHAPTER 1158: THE THIEF

At around seven in the evening, after Ye Weidong and Ye Xue finished their driving practice, Chen Fang was in the kitchen making dinner.

Ye Qiu planned to head to the construction site in the suburbs after dinner.

"Ruxue, are you still there?"

"I’ve returned to the City Police Bureau and plan to check it out again tonight."

"I’ll head over after I finish dinner."

After Chen Fang and Ye Xue finished preparing dinner, Ye Qiu ate and did not plan anything with his parents and sister, since honestly, if spoken, it would really scare the three of them.

Ye Qiu drove toward the City Police Bureau, and upon reaching its entrance, called Zhao Ruxue. She, in her police uniform, came out of the bureau and got into Ye Qiu’s car.

"Have you eaten?"

"I had a work meal at the police canteen, but I don’t have much appetite now, considering over twenty people have gone missing—it’s definitely a big case."

"Have you found anything in your investigation?"

"I didn’t find much about those missing petty criminals as there’s no information about them. However, after questioning their former friends, I learned they haven’t seen them in a long time either. As for the recently missing people, the last situation was the same: they seemed to have seen something, chased after it, and then vanished along with it."

"You mean they probably saw those they knew before?"

"Exactly, just like what was said in the walkie-talkie with that security guard."

Ye Qiu drove away from the City Police Bureau towards the suburban construction site.

At that moment, a dozen police officers were stationed there investigating the case.

During the daytime, under the sunlight, they didn’t feel anything. However, at nightfall, without the sun, they felt a chilling cold and an eerie atmosphere.

But they were armed and much braver than ordinary people.

The dozen officers ate the work meals brought by their colleagues and stayed directly in the security room.

Although the workers and other construction team members have all withdrawn, the water and electricity here are still functional.

With lights on, they weren’t afraid of anything.

Ye Qiu parked near the construction site’s prefab houses. As he opened the car door and Zhao Ruxue just got out, she felt the same as when she first came here with Ye Qiu.

There were gusts of cold wind everywhere, and an inexplicable chill made goosebumps rise.

However, Zhao Ruxue, accustomed to handling all sorts of things on cases, was unfazed now.

Ye Qiu parked the car, put those Yellow Papers and cinnabar on himself, and then left with Zhao Ruxue towards the security room.

At the security room, the officers were sitting inside, as they had searched all day without finding anything suspicious.

Upon seeing Zhao Ruxue, the officers stood up quickly to greet: "Captain Zhao, you’re here."

Zhao Ruxue, now promoted to Battalion Commander of the Criminal Police, was not relocated back to Jiangbei Division but stayed at the City Police Bureau.

Moreover, Zhao Ruxue’s family background was far from simple.

With her personal ability, these male subordinates dared not underestimate Captain Zhao.

"Stay vigilant; different things might appear at night."

Zhao Ruxue stated.

"We will, Captain Zhao."

The officers patrolled individually, each equipped with a walkie-talkie, ready to notify immediately in case of any discoveries, and not act alone.

Ye Qiu and Zhao Ruxue sat in the security room watching the surveillance footage.

The surveillance was still on, a 24-hour operation monitoring everything happening in and around the site.

Past events could be reviewed and replayed through these tapes.

While Ye Qiu and Zhao Ruxue were watching, another officer was preparing water for tea.

As he reached the tap for water, he initially saw clear water, but then it turned into blood water, scaring him to drop the kettle.

Upon looking again, it was certainly clear water, not blood.

What was happening just now?

How could he have been mistaken?

Hearing this through surveillance, Zhao Ruxue quickly stepped out asking, "What happened?"

"Captain, it’s nothing, I might have just seen it wrong."

The officer picked up the discarded kettle, filled it again, and returned to the office to boil water for tea.

Ye Qiu observed the officer’s expression, quickly noticing something off. With a disturbed state of mind, a person easily sees unsettling things; the officer must have just been mistaken.

Ye Qiu paid no attention and continued sitting there as the officers with flashlights patrolled outside. The entire area was equipped with lights, leaving hardly any dark spots.

However, some areas had dim lights, creating some darkness.

As time ticked by, it reached the early morning hours. Zhao Ruxue yawned, feeling a bit tired.

Zhao Ruxue wanted to have tea earlier, but Ye Qiu didn’t let her as the water supply here wasn’t clean.

Without tea, Zhao Ruxue couldn’t help but yawn.

Moreover, staring at surveillance feeds for so long tired her eyes.

"Do you want to get some shut-eye? I’ll let you know if we find anything."

Ye Qiu suggested.

"I’m fine; I’m used to night shifts."

Although now the Criminal Police Battalion Commander, Zhao Ruxue occasionally did night shifts. It could be the reason her sister in the Norwegian Forest made it a routine to rest late.

Ye Qiu and Zhao Ruxue continued to watch the surveillance, noticing three patrolling officers suddenly running quickly outside.

Zhao Ruxue picked up the walkie-talkie: "89, 37, 56, what did you three discover?"

The officer numbers Zhao Ruxue called out made it clear who she was addressing.

Earlier, the three, while patrolling, saw what seemed like movement and pursued it immediately. When asked by Zhao Ruxue: "Captain Zhao, we might have seen someone."

"Who?"

"Not sure, looked like a thief."

Zhao Ruxue thought it unlikely to be a thief.

After all, which thief would be bold enough to come here in this ghostly place?

As Zhao Ruxue quickly put on a jacket and headed outside with Ye Qiu.

Once outside, it was indeed gusty and frosty.

Already in winter, the exterior was freezing, made worse by the atmosphere here.

Ye Qiu and Zhao Ruxue pursued the direction of the three officers, arriving to find them and a few men dressed as workers squatting there.