It was already 9 PM.
Li Hui yawned. "I'm so tired I could pass out."
"Aren't you always claiming to be a night owl? Giving up already?" Han Bin chuckled.
"You don't get it, Bin-ge. I'm a patient now. I need rest." Li Hui huffed.
"You're sick? Is it serious?" Tian Li asked with concern.
Li Hui scratched his head. "Nah, nothing big."
Creak—the door to the surveillance room opened.
Zeng Ping walked in. "Good work, everyone. Look what I brought you."
"Coffee, fries, and burgers?" Tian Li smiled wryly. "Captain Zeng, are you trying to keep us up all night?"
Zeng Ping shrugged. "We don't have much of a choice. The suspect didn't leave many clues. If we let too much time pass, he might destroy the stolen items and tools, making it hard to convict him. We've got to act fast."
Li Hui sighed. "Well, now that we've got midnight snacks, sleep's definitely off the table."
"Cut the chatter. I'm staying here to work with you. If you're not sleeping, neither am I."
"Captain Zeng, if you don't go home, your wife's gonna be upset," Li Hui teased.
"Quiet, you talk too much." Zeng Ping grinned and walked over to the monitors.
"Anything come up?"
Li Hui and Tian Li shook their heads. "Nothing yet."
"What about you, Han Bin?"
Han Bin looked thoughtful. "I think we might be missing something in our approach."
"Like what?"
"We're only checking the surveillance along the escape routes. What if the suspect didn't actually flee? What if he's still in the hospital?"
"No way. With all the cops around and the chaos earlier, why wouldn't he run?" Tian Li said, surprised.
"Yeah, he'd have to be crazy to stick around and get caught," Li Hui mumbled through a mouthful of burger.
"Sometimes the most dangerous place is the safest," Han Bin reasoned. "And we haven't checked the inside of the hospital at all."
Zeng Ping pulled out a cigarette and sniffed it. "The local officers did sweep the hospital grounds, but they didn't find anything suspicious."
Han Bin studied the hospital's floor plan. "What if the suspect came out of the stairwell and went back into the hospital building?"
"But the building is under surveillance. Entering it would leave evidence. Even if we haven't checked it yet, we'll eventually find it and connect the dots," Tian Li said.
"What if he had a legitimate reason to be inside?" Han Bin countered.
Zeng Ping nodded. "Makes sense. If the suspect went into the outpatient building with a reasonable excuse, he could just wait until things cooled off before disposing of the tools or stolen items. Even if we catch him on camera, without solid proof, we can't charge him."
"Then could it be… a doctor?" Li Hui guessed boldly.
Zeng Ping frowned. "Check the entrance surveillance for the outpatient building."
"There are three entrances: front, back, and the stairwell. Front and back have cameras. The stairwell itself doesn't, but each hallway it connects to does. We've already reviewed that footage," Li Hui explained.
"Then let's focus on the front and back entrances of the outpatient building."
They split into two teams and reviewed footage of everyone entering the outpatient building during the relevant time window.
Anyone seen carrying a backpack or suitcase was flagged. If they were seen entering directly from outside the hospital without a window of opportunity to commit the crime, they were ruled out.
Half an hour later, Tian Li stood up. "Captain Zeng, I found someone suspicious."
"Where?"
She pointed at the monitor. "This man entered the outpatient building at 4:20 PM carrying a woven sack."
Han Bin glanced over. "His build is similar to the suspect."
"Where did he come from?"
Tian Li rewound the footage. "He walked out of the building at 3:30 PM with the same sack and then disappeared from view."
"So from 3:30 to 4:20, he wasn't seen on any cameras?" Zeng Ping asked.
"That's right."
"Where is he now?" Han Bin asked.
"He took the elevator to the 8th floor and entered Room 805. Hasn't come out since."
Zeng Ping stood up. "What are we waiting for? Let's move."
….
Inside Room 805.
The sunlit room had six beds. By the window, an elderly woman lay resting, with a man and a woman seated beside her.
The elderly woman glanced at the wall clock. "Wang Jie, it's late. You should head home."
"You go on. I'll stay and keep Mom company," said the woman.
(Ad note: "Latest novel updates at 69 Book Bar first release!")
Wang Jie walked over to the window and peeked into the courtyard, exhaling in relief.
"Xiao Fang, your and Mom's dirty clothes—I'll take them home and wash them. I'll bring them back tomorrow," he said.
Xiao Fang handed him a few items from the cabinet. "Why bring such a big bag?"
"I've got some work to finish tonight."
"I'll walk you out," she offered, not thinking much of it.
"Mom, rest well. I'm heading off," Wang Jie called as he exited the room.
At the doorway, Xiao Fang stopped him. "Mom's surgery is the day after tomorrow. How much money can you come up with?"
"I'll get 100,000. That enough?" Wang Jie said confidently.
"Don't joke around. Where would you even get that kind of money? I'm serious." Xiao Fang sighed.
"Leave the money to me. Even if I have to borrow it, I'll make sure your mom gets treated."
"Thank you, Wang Jie," she said emotionally.
"Don't be silly. Your mom's like my own mom." Wang Jie reached out and gently touched her face.
"Don't stay up too late working, okay?" Xiao Fang reminded him.
"Got it. Tomorrow morning, I'll bring porridge, buns, and some tea eggs." Wang Jie smiled. "Go inside and rest. There's a fold-out bed—try to sleep a bit."
"Okay," Xiao Fang nodded.
Just as Wang Jie turned to head toward the elevator, he saw two men walking toward him, eyes fixed on him.
He glanced back—another man and woman were coming from behind, blocking his path.
Wang Jie swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Xiao Fang, go on inside."
"I'll wait till you leave."
"Go inside, alright? Be good," he urged her.
Noticing the odd look on his face, Xiao Fang asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Your mom shouldn't be alone. Go on," he insisted.
"Okay," she replied, stepping back into the room.
At that moment, Han Bin and the others had already closed in from both sides, blocking Wang Jie's escape.
(End of Chapter)