Hearing the confident tone on the phone, Zuo Mu rarely relaxed a bit.
His index finger and middle finger tapped rhythmically on the table. His mind was filled with recent clues, and he felt extremely worried.
If, if the police investigation results were really as he thought, then what they were up against was not just a petty criminal. It was a criminal organization that had been operating both in the country and abroad for years, always managing to escape after committing extremely serious crimes.
1123...
Zuo Mu stared at the photo on the wall sent by Xiao Chen and fell into deep thought.
The wall was not very clean. He didn't know whether the person who scribbled these numbers had good or bad intentions towards Tang Tang. To carve someone's birthday on a cold concrete wall, it must be either out of deep love or deep hatred.
He had an intuition that these numbers were probably not scribbled by Wang Lin.
The autopsy results showed that although many of Wang Lin's organs were missing, her limbs were intact, without any skin lesions or bruises, indicating that Wang Lin was probably killed while in a coma or under anesthesia, without suffering.
This realization had once made Tang Tang feel a bit better.
After all, it would be a terrifying thing to watch oneself being killed while still conscious.
"Ring, ring, ring..."
A phone call interrupted Zuo Mu's train of thought.
He saw the caller ID and was surprised to find it was Xiao Chen.
He knew very well that Xiao Chen was currently handling a case in another place. Contacting him during this special period must mean there was something important.
Zuo Mu answered the phone almost immediately.
"Brother Zuo Mu?"
"It's me. What's up?"
"Nothing much. The results of the similar case you asked us to investigate have come out."
"So soon?" Hearing Xiao Chen's news, Zuo Mu, who had been leaning back on his chair, suddenly sat up straight. Due to his excitement, he even dragged the chair forward a big step.
The chair legs scraped against the floor, making a harsh sound.
Xiao Chen probably heard it too. Knowing that Zuo Mu was very concerned about this case, he first comforted him, saying, "Don't be too anxious. We're getting closer to the truth. Have faith in the police."
Zuo Mu didn't say a word. It was unclear whether he agreed with this statement.
"What do you think? It's obvious that this has something to do with that little girl in your family."
"She knows nothing." When it came to Tang Tang, Zuo Mu's tone immediately became harsh and uncompromising.
"You'd better not involve her in this case. I'll protect her well."
Zuo Mu had a cold and stern face. When he was silent, his aura was still very strong. Usually, he was gentle to others and rarely showed this side of himself. But after wearing the mask for so long, people might have forgotten that deep down, he was actually a cold - hearted person.
Xiao Chen had known Zuo Mu for many years and naturally understood him. If it weren't for Tang Tang, Zuo Mu probably wouldn't have cared so much about this case.
"Got it, got it. I'll do my best here. But Zuo Mu, I'm telling you in advance. If it comes to the point where we have to step in, the consequences will be serious."
Out of professional habit and his friendship with Zuo Mu, Xiao Chen still advised him earnestly.
Zuo Mu tightened his lips. Tang Tang's innocent and lovely smiling face suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. If this smile were to be tarnished by those disgusting criminal gangs, he would really want to kill someone.
"I won't let this happen." He said firmly.
Only Xiao Chen seemed to detect a hint of uncertain vulnerability in his tone.
"Forget it, forget it. Do whatever you want. What can I do? If the captain and the others really find out about you, I won't be able to do anything either."
After hearing this, Zuo Mu on the other end fell into silence again.
After a while, Xiao Chen got worried and was about to ask what was wrong.
Zuo Mu suddenly spoke up, "What? Didn't they tell you?"
Xiao Chen: ???
Tell me what? Who's going to tell me?
Xiao Chen was completely confused. When he realized it, he found that he had unconsciously spoken out.
"Oh, it's nothing. You'll know later. They have their reasons for not telling you." Zuo Mu was being naughty, piquing Xiao Chen's curiosity. He also thought to himself that their team leader had already come to him, and with ill intentions.
Just thinking about the last meeting, Zuo Mu was annoyed at being led around by others.
Chen Tianzhen immediately got angry.
"Zuo Mu!"
Zuo Mu had set a trap for Xiao Chen. Without listening to the roar on the phone, he immediately hung up.
He left Chen Tianzhen, poor Xiao Chen, shouting in anger.
"Zuo Mu, you're something. See if I'll pass on information to you in the future!" Xiao Chen angrily threw the phone down, which made his colleagues in Buhai City look at him.
It also attracted Li Qiang's concerned greeting, "What's wrong, Xiao Chen? Why are you so angry?"
Xiao Chen had a hard time explaining. If he told them about Zuo Mu, wouldn't he expose himself for passing on information?
With difficulty, a forced smile appeared on his round face as he said, "It's okay. Thank you for your concern, senior."
"Why are you being so polite?" Lao Li shook his head helplessly and continued to investigate the clues at hand.
Despite what was said, the case still had to be investigated.
Xiao Chen could tell the difference.
Zuo Mu was just being naughty. Xiao Chen got over his anger after a while.
He didn't even call his colleagues to tell them to avoid Zuo Mu in the future.
By now, this incident had become more than just a regional issue.
After work, Zuo Mu hid in his study again without making a sound. Tang Tang was busy outside, doing some washing and brushing her phone, having a great time. Knowing that Zuo Mu was busy with important matters, she obediently did her own things and didn't go to bother him.
As for Zuo Mu, he frowned at the series of clues on the whiteboard, trying to find the connections among them.
City S, female high - school student, missing organs, Buhai...
Several keywords were connected on the whiteboard.
What was it?
There must be a missing link here. It was this crucial link that prevented these clues from being connected.
...
Zuo Mu thought until his eyes were bloodshot but still couldn't find that link.
Tang Tang stayed up late with him outside. Seeing that Zuo Mu had been in the room for so long, she was a bit worried and knocked on the door from outside.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Without thinking, Zuo Mu went to open the door himself.
He also deliberately blocked all the clues in the room tightly.
He didn't want Tang Tang to be exposed to these things.
Tang Tang understood Zuo Mu's thoughts and didn't try to peek. She just handed the steaming coffee in her hand to Zuo Mu, looking worried, "Brother, you've been staying up so late. Your body won't be able to take it. Drink some coffee."
Zuo Mu's muddled mind really needed some caffeine stimulation. Seeing this, he wasn't polite and took it. Then he said gently, "It's so late. You should go to bed early."
The antique clock on the table had already pointed to two o'clock.
"It's okay," Tang Tang said indifferently. "We used to work night shifts at the convenience store together and stay up all night too."