Chapter 257: Hideou (2/2)
With that said, Bingxin reluctantly put on a play with Dali. Through Dali's cell phone, we heard their conversation with the boss who explained that a young man had indeed rented a room here two months ago. And his description matched Wang Yizhou.
It turned out that this guy had already settled the rent, making sure he covered all the bases. What a wily fox!
”He may have another hideout,” I prompted.
As soon as the words left my lips, Dali suddenly said, ”A bowl of beef noodles, no scallions or coriander. Bingxin-meimei, what would you like?”
His words left us like a cat on hot bricks, unsure if that was an affirmation of the secret signal we had agreed upon. While the others held their breath in nervousness, I lowered my voice and asked, ”Do you see him?”
”No, I’m just hungry,” muttered Dali. “Would you like me to bring you a couple of steamed buns?”
Xiaotao pressed her palm on her forehead and raged, ”This idiot has no sense of discipline at all! If he were to go undercover, he would’ve died seven or eight times already.”
After that, we were forced to listen to Dali loud slurps and chewing. I urged him to hurry up with his meal and get a move on it.
A bowl of beef noodles later, the two left the motel and took a leisurely stroll around the area. Dali spoke into the phone, ”I think you can all come over. There’s hardly anyone around here.”
Xiaotao’s gaze flickered up to meet mine in a meaningful glance before she ordered several plainclothes officers to head down to where Dali was while the others remained on standby in our original location. We arrived at a small two-storey house rented by Wang Yizhou. At the door, I fiddled the lock with a wire but an old lady came out and started poking around.
”What the fuck are you looking at?” I yelled. “This guy owes us a lot of money. Do you know where the hell he is?”
”I don't know anything!” the old lady hastily replied, then turned to leave without a moment’s delay.
When I asked Xiaotao what she thought about my acting skills, she laughed, ”Your expression is still a little stiff and slightly exaggerated!”
Right then, the lock opened with a muted click and we fumbled our way in. I held back Dali’s impulsive hand and cried, ”Don't turn on the light yet!”
Using our cell phones for lighting, we observed some mechanical parts and wires piled up in the room. There was no doubt that this was Wang Yizhou's hideout. I found a trapdoor under the bed and asked a few officers to push the bed aside so I could open it. Underneath the trapdoor was a basement where the distinct odor of lime emanated.
”This is probably where Pork Rong died,” I said. “I'll go down and have a look.”
At the bottom of the steps, the basement looked exactly the same as the room we saw in the video. Lime had been sprinkled all over the floor to prevent it from stinking. I made extra care not to leave any footprints.
I went back upstairs and said, ”Let's go!”
Xiaotao grumbled despondently, ”Does this guy have the ability to predict the future? Why do we always seem a step too late?”
”He has fewer resources to deal with us now,” I snickered. “I believe we’ll catch him soon.”
Xiaotao left two plainclothes officers to monitor the situation here while the rest of us drove back to the station. On the way there, I mentioned I would visit the old man in prison again when I had the time.
”Why do you want to see him?” asked Xiaotao.
During this busy period of time, it had completely slipped my mind to share what I discovered after my last conversation with the old man. I gave a brief narration of how Qi Sheng had actually answered for Wang Yizhou’s crime.
”Are you sure?” Xiaotao exclaimed.
”Whether I’m sure or not isn’t going to do anything,” I sighed. “Only by catching Wang Yizhou can the truth be revealed and the old man be cleared of the conviction.”
At one of the intersections, Xiaotao turned away from the station. ”Where are we going?” I asked.
”You’ve all been working day and night but we’re finally making progress with the case!” giggled Xiaotao. “I think this is the perfect time for a meal! My treat!” she winked.
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