Half an hour later, Yang Heng returned to the conference room with the approved documents.
"Report. The search - and - rescue team is fully assembled and ready to set off at any time."
Jiang Cong took a deep breath. There was a glimmer of excitement in his deep, black eyes.
That was the latent determination and certainty of a qualified hunter on the verge of capturing his prey.
Once he made a move, it would be deadly.
"Yang Heng, come with me. The rest of you stay here. If any unexpected situation occurs, provide immediate support." Jiang Cong took the lead and soon disappeared into the dim light.
Seeing this, Yang Heng straightened his police cap and chased after the receding figure of Jiang Cong with high spirits.
Qin An pressed his constantly twitching right eyelid. A bad premonition was welling up in his heart.
He hoped everything would go smoothly tonight.
In the courtyard of the police station, in front of the parked police cars, stood well - trained special police officers and search - and - rescue team members.
What they carried on their shoulders was not only the well - being of the people but also the professional dedication of risking their lives.
Jiang Cong really liked a saying - "Peace is won by the generals, but they are not allowed to enjoy it."
To others, this saying was cruel and helpless.
But Jiang Cong thought it was a natural process of giving and taking.
In fact, Jiang Cong had once wanted to be a people's police officer. However, due to his parents' strong opposition, he settled for his interested major in criminal psychology.
Although his parents were still dissatisfied with this less - than - perfect result, they finally did not interfere further.
The police profession was noble and selfless.
But in this world, which parents didn't love their children?
They didn't want Jiang Cong to be on the front line, fearing that one day they might have to bear the pain of losing their child.
Facing his parents' tears and pleas, Jiang Cong finally made a concession.
Although he lost his initial dream, it was still a way to the same goal. He used his professional knowledge to help the police station analyze case clues and sort out the context.
Behind the seemingly peaceful and harmonious life, there were countless self - sacrificing groups on various posts.
The archenemies of the extremely vicious criminals were the police officers in uniforms with the most tenacious characters.
Behind these police officers were their own small families.
Perhaps when they received a task and had to carry it out, their parents, wives, children were all holding their breath.
In the police profession, sacrifice was inevitable.
Every day, around the world, no one knew how many serious criminal cases occurred, nor how many police officers would heroically sacrifice their lives, with their last seconds of life forever frozen in the fight against criminals.
No one's life was completely smooth. Everyone would encounter various setbacks more or less.
The sacrificed police officers lost their lives but brought about the punishment of the criminals.
Who could really tell clearly about such giving and taking?
When everyone was waiting for Jiang Cong's order, Jiang Cong suddenly raised his right arm and saluted the search - and - rescue team members and special police officers in the courtyard.
"I don't know what will happen today. Whether the murderer has any more tricks up his sleeve. But no matter what, we can only move forward bravely." Jiang Cong's words fell resoundingly, hitting the hearts of everyone present.
"Yes! We will absolutely obey the order!"
The vast and far - reaching voices lingered in the night for a long time.
The police cars left the courtyard one after another and sped towards the alley.
"Turn right up ahead," Yang Heng instructed the special police officer driving the car.
The car stopped. Jiang Cong was still the first one to open the door and get out.
The special police officers quickly surrounded the entrance of the alley.
The strong floodlights illuminated the inside of the alley as brightly as day, making everything clearly visible.
Since it was late at night, there were few pedestrians on the street. Everyone stood silently in their positions.
Jiang Cong walked very lightly. Occasionally, the sound of accidentally stepping on a branch would ring out, standing out in the silence.
The search - and - rescue team members carefully inspected every corner of the alley, but the life - detection device showed no signs either.
"Report, Professor Jiang. We haven't found the hostage. It doesn't seem like there's anyone here," Gao Fan, the captain of the search - and - rescue team, reported the current situation to Jiang Cong reluctantly after the third repeated inspection without finding any clues.
Jiang Cong nodded and then walked to a search - and - rescue team member who was squatting down, patiently looking for clues. His mind was working rapidly.
According to the transcript Qin An gave him, Zhang Lu should have been about to walk out of this sparsely - populated and remote alley, or was close to the alley entrance when he was kidnapped from behind.
In this process, how did the murderer manage to avoid being detected by Zhang Lu, making him lose the chance to call for help and succeed?
The search - and - rescue team member felt Jiang Cong squatting beside him and instantly slowed down his movements, becoming even more cautious.
Yang Heng whispered, "Professor Jiang, have you... found something?"
Jiang Cong stood up, and his sharp eyes shot straight at Yang Heng, leaving him nowhere to hide.
"Come here," Jiang Cong motioned for Yang Heng to come behind him while he stood still in place.
Yang Heng was confused but obediently did as he was told. Looking at the tall and resolute figure in front of him, he was filled with admiration.
Jiang Cong absently stroked his chin with his fingertips, simulating in his mind the direction Zhang Lu took when leaving the alley.
If he left from here, the murderer hiding at that corner would have enough time to carry out the kidnapping while Zhang Lu was distracted.
Jiang Cong's eyes sharpened. Pointing in the southeast direction of the alley, he said firmly, "Zhang Lu left from here."
Yang Heng was secretly shocked and pricked up his ears, afraid of missing a single word from Jiang Cong.
"Squat over there," Jiang Cong motioned for Yang Heng to squat at the corner of the alley entrance to recreate the scene when Zhang Lu was attacked.
Because of his anxiety, Zhang Lu walked in a hurry and didn't notice the approaching danger at all.
The murderer had been listening attentively to Zhang Lu's movements. The moment Zhang Lu came into his sight, he struck and knocked Zhang Lu unconscious.
Zhang Lu should have disappeared in the afternoon of the day when the murderer killed Sheng Qingqiu.
It was daytime then, and the alley was too narrow for cars to drive in.
If the murderer wanted to drag Zhang Lu out, even with few passers - by, there was a high risk of being exposed.
The murderer also knew that the most dangerous place was the safest place.
So Zhang Lu was hidden in one of the houses in the alley.
This way, the logic made sense.
Jiang Cong walked casually to a house at the exit of the large alley a few steps away. He suspected there was something wrong with this very house.