Chapter 43: Closing the Net!

A police officer?

At that moment, numerous scenes flashed through Yu Dachang’s mind, and all kinds of guesses surged into his heart simultaneously.

His expression turned ugly.

"Keep a close eye on him. If he leaves Zhang Yan's apartment, have one of you follow him," Yu Dachang said quickly. "I need to verify something first. I'll call back in five minutes."

After ending the call, he immediately dialed Lu Zhongxin’s cell phone.

"Master, ask the detachment leadership if someone from higher up has been sent to intervene in this case."

"No way," Lu Zhongxin thought for a moment, then said with certainty: "Big Cat and I met yesterday, and he already decided to let us continue the investigation."

"Besides, if someone else really had intervened, they wouldn't start the investigation over from scratch; they would definitely contact us to get the details or take the case files directly."

Yu Dachang knew everything he said was right, but this was not the time for deduction—he had to be one hundred percent sure.

Police officers arresting police officers... such a blunder was something he could not allow to happen to himself.

"I need a definite answer," Yu Dachang said in a firm tone. "This is crucial. Get back to me within three minutes."

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

Then he quickly scrolled through his contacts.

The last time he and the police officer investigating Zhang Yan's disappearance had exchanged contact information was precisely to facilitate future communication.

In reality, most professional networks were built bit by bit through daily work.

Once the call went through, Yu Dachang cut straight to the point:

"Where are you?"

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

Therefore, there was a high possibility that he had gone to Zhang Yan's place again.

As a result...

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

The police officer on the other end was somewhat surprised that Yu Dachang would ask about his whereabouts.

Moreover, he asked directly, and his tone sounded unfriendly, almost as if he were interrogating him.

The officer even suspected that Yu Dachang was calling him out for a street fight.

"At the station..." Seeming not to believe this answer, Yu Dachang asked once more:

"How can you be at the station?"

This time, the officer was completely dumbfounded.

What kind of talk was this!

Isn't it normal for me to be at the station during working hours?

Do I have to be out patrolling the streets all the time?

Does the criminal investigation team have so much time on their hands now that they're starting to meddle in the daily operations of the local precinct?

Seeing that the other side didn't speak, Yu Dachang quickly realized there was something wrong with what he had just said, and he hurriedly added:

"I mean, did anyone from your station go to Zhang Yan's house today?"

"Probably not," the officer replied somewhat uncertainly. "I was in charge of the previous missing persons case. Even if they reassigned it, someone would have notified me, especially now that the case has been transferred to you guys. There's even less reason for anyone here to go investigate."

Yu Dachang knew his analysis was correct and entirely logical.

To reiterate, logic was logic, but he had to be one hundred percent certain.

"Could you please check around the station and ask if any other colleagues went to Zhang Yan's home to investigate? Get back to me as soon as possible."

Although the words were phrased politely, the officer on the other end still sensed an undeniable assertiveness.

It was all for the sake of work, so it was hard for him to refuse.

Though he felt a slight discomfort inside, since someone had reached out to him, of course he had to cooperate.

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

This police officer had a decisive and efficient style. As soon as he agreed, he immediately hung up the phone.

Just as he hung up, Lu Zhongxin's call came through.

"Confirmed. No one else is intervening. I just asked the detachment captain, and he's completely certain."

"I understand. Keep your phone line open."

Lu Zhongxin on the other end was stunned for a moment, and then a dial tone came through the earpiece.

He quickly realized that the final instruction to "keep the phone line open" carried another layer of meaning...

The net is closing today, be ready to take action at any moment!

Time was tight; Yu Dachang could not afford to waste it on conversation. He had to nail this down as quickly as possible.

Placing his phone on the desk, he tapped his fingers lightly against the surface while staring blankly at the screen.

Think again, think again. Make sure nothing is missed...

Could it be police officers from another department?

For instance, the forensics division.

No... Yu Dachang directly ruled it out.

The crime scene had just been processed. Even if a re-investigation were necessary, the forensics division would definitely notify the special investigation team beforehand.

Nothing else. Nothing was missed.

There wouldn't be any other department's police officers showing up.

The screen lit up. Before the ringtone could even sound, Yu Dachang quickly picked up the phone and pressed answer.

"I asked around. No one from the station went to Zhang Yan's place," the officer on the other end said at a rapid pace.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, definitely not."

Yu Dachang knew this officer's work ethic.

As could be seen from the missing persons case, he was someone who did things with meticulous care.

"Sorry to bother you," Yu Dachang offered a polite remark and promptly hung up.

"You really gave me a surprise," he said, holding his phone, pulling up his call log, and speaking excitedly to himself: "A truly shocking surprise!"

Finding the phone number of the team members staking out the location, Yu Dachang dialed directly:

"Has the person come out yet?"

"Not yet," the team member replied on the other end. "It's been six minutes since he went inside."

Not out yet?

That settled it. He must know Zhang Yan's parents... Yu Dachang thought for a moment and said:

"Don't hang up. Tell me the moment he comes out. I still need to confirm one last thing."

Although the team member on the other end didn't understand what Yu Dachang was thinking, after working on the case up to this point, they had complete faith in this newcomer.

"Understood."

After that acknowledgment, both sides fell silent.

Time ticked away, and two minutes passed quickly.

A confident smile slowly appeared on Yu Dachang's face, and he muttered quietly to himself:

"Just about time. You would never allow your stay to exceed ten minutes."

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

"He's coming out!"

Yu Dachang was about to speak when he suddenly remembered something.

The team members over there did not have eyesight as sharp as his.

"Do you have binoculars with you?" He truly feared the other side would give him a disappointing answer.

"We brought them," the team member answered quickly.

Good, you guys are professionals at stakeouts... Yu Dachang said loudly:

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

With that command, he waited with undivided attention for the result, and time seemed to stretch out extraordinarily.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Every single second felt exceptionally long, and fine beads of sweat began to form on his palms.

Finally, after six seconds, the astonished voice of the team member came through the earpiece:

"Why are there no four-cornered police stars on his shoulder insignia?"

He guessed right!

Daring not to relax, Yu Dachang gave the next command:

"Look at the police badge on his chest, read it out to me!"

Zhang Yan's apartment was on the fourth floor. Calculating the time, that person would reach the ground floor very soon.

If he waited until the person walked out of the building entrance and turned away, the team members would no longer be able to see his front.

Fortunately, there was just enough time.

"X, 013274..." After reading it out, the team member immediately realized: "I know, those are the uniforms worn by police academy cadets."

Ignoring his words, Yu Dachang immediately ordered:

"Move in from the front and back, apprehend him!"

"Copy that!" Two resolute voices came from the other end.

It seemed they had waited too long for this moment; their tones carried an unconcealed excitement and thrill.

After ending the call, he dialed Lu Zhongxin once more:

"Master, close the net!"