"What did she say?"
"I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me. I'm safe right now. I want to divorce your brother-in-law, and I'm going to stay somewhere else for a few days," He Ru read aloud.
Zheng Kaixuan decided instantly: "Call your sister."
"Okay." He Ru dialed He Yan's number.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off."
"She's turned her phone off."
"Get the tech team here. Have them track the location where that text was sent," Zheng Kaixuan ordered.
"Yes, sir." Zhao Ming answered and left the office.
Han Bin glanced at the phone. "Does this text look like something your sister would write?"
"I'm not sure."
"Has your sister ever run away from home before?"
He Ru thought for a moment. "I remember many years ago she did once."
"When exactly?"
"A few years ago, I think… before she got married."
"How's her relationship with her husband?"
"Pretty good, I guess. I've never heard her say anything about divorce."
"How old is her child?" Han Bin asked.
"Five."
"Send her another text. Tell her to call and let you know she's safe once she gets it."
"Alright." He Ru started typing on her phone.
Just then Zhao Ming and Lu Wen walked into the office.
"Captain Zheng, you were looking for me?"
Zheng Kaixuan motioned for Lu Wen to sit. "A missing person's family just got a text from her, but now her phone's off. We need your tech team to find out where that message came from."
"Captain Zheng, this isn't a kidnapping case. We can only check that if the criminal investigation unit files a request," Lu Wen said with an awkward smile.
"The request process takes half a day. By then the trail will be cold. Just check it first — I'll get you the paperwork afterward," Zheng Kaixuan said.
"This…" Lu Wen looked uneasy.
"Stop fussing and be a man."
"What's the number?" Lu Wen sighed in resignation.
"That's better." Zheng Kaixuan smiled and gave him He Yan's number.
"Phew…" Lu Wen exhaled, then warned, "Don't forget to file that request."
"Don't worry, I'll write it right now."
…
"Any reply to the text?" Han Bin asked.
"No," He Ru shook her head.
"Did your sister take extra clothes when she left?"
"I don't know."
"Who does she live with?"
"My brother-in-law, their child, and his mother," He Ru replied.
Han Bin frowned. "Why didn't your brother-in-law come to the station?"
"He went looking for her — said he'd check places she often goes. He told me to come file the report."
Han Bin thought for a moment. "Send her another text. Tell her you're really worried. If she doesn't call you back, you'll go to the police."
Tian Li frowned. "Isn't that risky? If she's been kidnapped, it could be dangerous."
"Send it," Zheng Kaixuan said. "We need to figure out what kind of case this is. Otherwise, she might be in more danger."
If He Yan herself sent the earlier text, then it was likely just a domestic dispute and she left home on her own — as an adult, that's her right, and the police can't intervene.
If someone else sent it while controlling her, then it could be a kidnapping — and that's a very different matter.
He Ru sent another text as Han Bin instructed.
They waited. Still no reply.
"Captain Zheng, Captain Zeng — we can't just sit around," Han Bin suggested. "I recommend we go to her home. Her husband and mother-in-law should know more about her situation."
"You and Li Hui go," Zeng Ping said. "Take statements from both the husband and the mother-in-law."
"Understood."
…
He Yan lived in an urban village on the outskirts.
Inside an SUV —
Li Hui drove, He Ru gave directions, and Han Bin sat in the back.
"Officer Li, turn right up ahead and we'll be there," He Ru said.
"Miss He, is your sister's place rented or owned?"
"Rented. Her in-laws are from out of town too."
"Are you married?" Li Hui asked.
"Yes."
"Oh, you married pretty young."
"For women, the older you get, the harder it is," He Ru replied.
"Forgive me for asking, but when you got married, did your husband already own a place here?" Li Hui glanced sideways.
"No. We still rent. We live nearby," He Ru shrugged.
"Renting's fine. I rent too," Li Hui chuckled.
A little later, they arrived at He Yan's home.
Han Bin got out and surveyed the surroundings — a small two-story building with a tiny yard of barely over ten square meters. The toilet was outside, and the house looked old.
"The landlord lives on the first floor. My sister's family is upstairs," He Ru explained.
The staircase was outside, made of concrete with a rusted iron handrail.
Upstairs were three rooms: two bedrooms and a storage room.
In the east room, a woman of about sixty held a little girl and played with her. The furnishings were simple.
"He Ru, did you find your sister?" the old woman asked.
"Auntie, these are Officer Han and Officer Li. They're here to help find her," He Ru said.
"Oh, police officers! Please, sit down," the old woman said, standing up.
"Auntie!" The little girl ran over and hugged He Ru's leg.
"Be good, Yuanyuan," He Ru said, picking her up.
"Officers, when will my daughter-in-law be found?" the woman asked.
"Ma'am, we're here to help find her. But we don't know all the details yet, so we'll need your cooperation. Any information you can give could help," Han Bin said, switching on his body cam.
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"Auntie, he just means we'll ask you some questions about her so we can find her faster," Li Hui explained.
"Oh, alright."
Han Bin: "What's your name and age?"
"I'm Wang Zhaodi, 61," she replied, puzzled. "Aren't you asking about my daughter-in-law?"
"Routine questions," Han Bin noted in his pad and went on. "Has He Yan done anything unusual lately?"
"No."
"How's her relationship with your son?"
"Why? What's that got to do with him?" she asked defensively.
"My sister just sent a text saying she doesn't want to be with my brother-in-law anymore and wants a divorce," He Ru interjected.
"That's impossible," Wang Zhaodi said in surprise.
"Miss He, while I'm taking a statement, please don't interrupt," Han Bin reminded.
"Got it."
"Mrs. Wang, how's their marriage?" Han Bin pressed.
"They've always been fine," she said, blinking rapidly.
Everyone has different tells when lying. An unusually high blink rate can be a sign of emotional instability — a common giveaway.
Han Bin marked this in his notes and continued.
"How's your own relationship with He Yan?"
"Good," she said, blinking again. "Just like with my own daughter."
(End of Chapter)