Chapter 9: They Are Police Officers

Lu Xiujuan was only a medical examiner, but she had graduated from a public security school. She knew that simply obeying these men would get her nowhere. Only by holding something over them could she keep her mother safe.

“Lu, are you threatening me?” The voice on the phone grew menacing.

“I am. You’re police officers, yet you’ve seized my mother and are helping the people behind this destroy evidence. Don’t think I don’t know who you are. If you don’t take her somewhere safe, I’ll turn the evidence in. It’s your choice.”

She deliberately hung up. Trembling all over, she couldn’t stop tears from spilling down her face. The bastards had gone after her mother.

Every last one of them was a bastard.

The man on the other end was dumbfounded. The quiet examiner who usually kept her head down had dared threaten him—and hang up on him.

“Captain, what do we do? The old lady isn’t well, and we can’t stay at the hospital too long. People might get suspicious.”

“What are you panicking for? We’re investigating a case. What’s there to be afraid of? I’ll take responsibility. Go, bring the old woman here. Let’s see if Lu Xiujuan really has the nerve.”

“Boss, maybe we should call Director Liu,” Deputy Criminal Investigation Captain Tong Tianhua suggested. “It’s him who wants what she has.”

Lü Dayong snorted and glanced at him. After a moment, he picked up the phone. Liu Yixiong was furious when he heard the news.

“Lü Dayong, are you full of shit? You let a girl bluff you like that? Can’t you just deal with her mother—”

Lü understood without him finishing. That part was easy enough. “But she says she’ll email the evidence to the city disciplinary commission if we don’t do what she wants. I’m worried…”

Lü wasn’t stupid. The commission’s attitude was crucial. He didn’t know what it was, but surely Liu knew where the higher-ups stood.

Liu was startled. He hadn’t expected Lu to be so bold. She was too dangerous to leave alive.

“Find a way to get her mother out of the hospital. Agree to her conditions first and take the woman where she says. Tell her to bring the evidence. We’ll exchange them, and once they’re both there… destroy the people and the evidence. Understand?”

Lü shuddered. “U-understood.”

“Then do it. Dayong, I hope you understand. I have no choice. What can we do with people who keep trying to get us killed? We can only fight back. You understand, right?”

“I understand, Director. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

“Good. I trust you. I’ll put in a good word for you with the secretary afterward.”

“Thank you, Director.”

After hanging up, Lü made up his mind and called again. “Lu Xiujuan, we can agree to your terms. Name a place. We’ll bring your mother and you give us what you have. Is that acceptable?”

“All right. Take her to…” Lu named an address at random. As long as she held the report, she believed they wouldn’t dare act rashly. They would have to agree.

They set a time and place, but Lu felt no relief. The man on the phone was Lü Dayong, the criminal investigation captain and a veteran detective. Would he trick her? Would he really honor the exchange? She had no idea, and she was alone.

The more she thought, the more careless she felt. She had made it too simple. If these men were connected to Chief Gao’s death and had dared kill a county chief, what would stop them doing whatever they wanted to a mere medical examiner?

Fear seized her. They were probably already planning to move against her.

Though she was only an examiner, she had read their intentions accurately.

What could she do?

She had secretly printed the report only to keep a copy for a later investigation. She had never expected to stir up a hornet’s nest.

She couldn’t manage alone. What if Lü killed her to silence her? Would they spare her mother?

Clearly not.

The thought chilled Lu from head to toe. They could kill a county chief; what else were they incapable of? Only now did she understand that her life might be in danger. Her heart raced, and panic took hold.

No. She needed help, or she and her mother were finished. She quickly dialed a number. “Hello, is this Chen Zhengyang?”

“It’s me. Xiujuan, is that you? What’s happened? People at the bureau say they’re trying to arrest you.”

“Zhengyang, do you trust me?” He was the only person she could turn to now.

“Of course. I know you wouldn’t commit a crime.” They had joined the Gaoshan County Public Security Bureau together. Chen had been pushed aside over the years and accomplished little, but that didn’t mean he would join the corrupt. He would never become a protector of criminals.

“Listen. I’m in trouble, and I need your help. Go somewhere private before we talk. Don’t let anyone hear you. Remember, no one.”

Startled, Chen looked around. Seeing no one paying attention, he left the office and went to the restroom. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“I have evidence that Chief Gao Lan didn’t kill herself. She… she was murdered.”

“What?” Chen’s head buzzed. His eyes filled with shock, and his breathing quickened. He had never imagined Lu knew Gao’s death wasn’t suicide. This was enormous.

“Listen. They’ve taken my mother and threatened to hurt her unless I hand it over.”

“What? Who are they? How dare they?”

“The man on the phone used a voice changer at first, but I recognized him. I think it was Lü Dayong, the criminal investigation captain.”

“What?” Chen’s mind went blank. It felt as if the sky were falling. How could that be?

Police officers? They were police officers?