Chapter 37 — Who Kills Whom?
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
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"All you can do is curse at women — is that supposed to pass for ability?" Wei Zhao curled his lip and looked at the bald man. "Listen, baldy, robbing a bank isn't really your aim, is it? The bank job is just a cover. Your real target — you're after Gu Mengyao, aren't you?"
"Hmph, so what if you figured it out? You're still my prisoner, aren't you?" By now the bald man saw no need to deny anything. To his mind, Wei Zhao, this posturing fool, was nothing but meat on his chopping block — to be handled however he pleased. He had no fear of the man learning his purpose; what did it matter if he told him outright?
"You won't get far. The police will follow you, and then they'll wipe you out," Wei Zhao said, regarding the bald man with something close to pity.
"Impossible. I mapped out my escape long ago," the bald man said smugly. "Right now the cops should be running in circles after what I did. Heh heh — there's more than one van like that one, you know."
"Is that so?" Wei Zhao felt a flicker of admiration for the bald man; the fellow did have some brains, wasn't a total fool. But it was all for nothing. His worst move had been letting Wei Zhao get into the van, and that alone doomed this operation to failure.
Meanwhile, Qiu Lingshan clutched the walkie-talkie tensely, keeping in constant contact with every squad.
"Captain Song, this is Liu Wangli of the First Squadron. We've spotted the Hyundai van, plate Song A74110. Awaiting orders." Liu Wangli's voice came over the radio.
"Follow them. Be careful and stay cautious — don't let them notice you," Qiu Lingshan ordered.
"Yes, sir." With that, Liu Wangli ordered the driver to start the car.
Qiu Lingshan let out a breath of relief. Hmph. Think you're clever, but you never counted on me posting trackers at every intersection, did you? Let's see where you run now. She was gloating when another report crackled over the radio.
"Captain Song, this is Zhang Xiaohang, commander of the Second Squadron. We've spotted the Hyundai van, plate Song A74110. Awaiting orders." This time it was Zhang Xiaohang.
"What?" Qiu Lingshan froze, then said, "Where did you see it?"
"On Zhonghuan Road. Awaiting orders," Zhang Xiaohang said.
"Zhonghuan Road? That can't be right. Liu Wangli of the First Squadron spotted it on Weimin Road just before." Qiu Lingshan was baffled. How was the kidnapper driving? Had he looped around and come back? Still, she gave the order: "Follow them. Whatever you do, don't let them spot you."
"Yes, sir." Zhang Xiaohang carried out Qiu Lingshan's order.
"Captain Song? This is Sun Jiaxia of the Third Squadron. We've spotted the Hyundai van, plate Song A74110. Please advise." Sun Jiaxia's voice came over the radio.
"You've seen it too?" Qiu Lingshan's head began to throb. In that instant she sharply realized she had been fooled — the other side must have sent out more than one vehicle bearing the plate 74110. They had played right into their hands. Qiu Lingshan was ready to die of rage.
To be strung along by a pack of kidnappers like this — Qiu Lingshan seethed. If only Captain Yang were here; he would have seen through their scheme at a glance. And she, she had actually fallen for it. How humiliating.
The voice of the Fourth Squadron's commander came over the radio again, and before he could finish, Qiu Lingshan asked, "Did you spot the Hyundai van, plate Song A74110?"
"Yes, Captain Song. You're incredible — we've got eyes on the Hyundai van, plate Song A74110. What do we do now?" asked the Fourth Squadron commander.
"Follow it." Qiu Lingshan felt on the verge of collapse. She could now be fairly certain that the kidnappers had slipped away along those two roads right after her people had taken up the tail on the first and second 74110s. By now they must be long gone...
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