I Received Messages From Future Self!

Chapter 49: Chapter 49 20:40 Candlelight

Criminal Investigation Headquarters!

“Team leader, Han Xue’s mental health assessment is out,”

Xiaoli, holding a paper report, rushed into the office and said to Wang Qiang.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiang looked at Xiaoli and said gravely, “Just give me the result!”

“She meets the criteria for mandatory treatment…”

Xiaoli hesitated for a moment before speaking.

The expression on Wang Qiang’s face instantly darkened.

“Damn it, she got away with it again!”

Wang Qiang cursed furiously.

“Team leader, what should we do?”

Xiaoli asked weakly.

“Follow the procedure, transfer her to the psychiatric hospital!”

Wang Qiang said through clenched teeth.

“Yes, I’ll handle it now,”

Xiaoli nodded and replied.

Xiaoli felt uneasy as well.

Knowing that Han Xue was guilty, yet bound by regulations, they could only watch as she evaded prison and was sent for mandatory treatment.

Although the outcome was nearly the same, its nature was completely different.

After Xiaoli left, Wang Qiang lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, watching the flickering cigarette. His gaze began to grow more intense.

“I hope you don’t play any tricks,”

Wang Qiang murmured to himself.

…

Suburbs!

The sun was setting, the twilight deepening.

Song Lin looked at his watch, 6:38 PM.

“Time flies so fast…” @@novelbin@@

Song Lin sighed.

He looked through the car window towards the house.

An elderly woman was already busy in the kitchen.

“Lucky you, you still get to eat something warm.”

“I only have bread and mineral water to eat,”

Through the car window, looking at Axi who was already seated at the table, Song Lin sighed.

As the investigation deepened, Axi’s suspicion had grown, and Song Lin had become convinced that this child before him was the cruel perpetrator.

The only thing missing now was evidence.

Staking out was the best way to gather evidence against a suspect.

Every fox shows its tail sooner or later.

Song Lin couldn’t believe that Axi would keep hiding.

If he had killed his foster parents, it was either out in the open, or about to be.

For Axi, this place was no longer safe.

He surely would plan to flee soon.

Song Lin was waiting for that moment when Axi would run.

If he ran, he would definitely try to deal with the elderly couple first.

Song Lin was waiting to catch him in the act.

Arresting him on the spot would allow them to proceed with the interrogation.

That way, gathering evidence could be done more leisurely.

There would be no need to worry constantly about him escaping.

While eating, Axi’s gaze occasionally darted towards the window.

Not far away, a car was parked.

Song Lin’s car!

…

Criminal Investigation Headquarters!

“Xiaoli, where did the master go?”

As the workday neared its end, Wang Qiang stretched and asked.

“Xintiandi Restaurant, room 402. There’s a new development in the family annihilation case. Squad leader Song suspects that the perpetrator might strike again to kill the victim’s parents, so he went to stake out,”

Xiaoli, packing up her things, replied.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiang was startled.

He glanced around the office and saw that his team members were all present.

The people from the neighboring teams also didn’t seem fewer than usual.

Wang Qiang asked in confusion, “Who accompanied him?”

“Squad leader Song went alone!”

Xiaoli answered.

“Isn’t that reckless?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiang shouted.

“How can we let him go alone with such a dangerous criminal?”

“He hasn’t even fully recovered from his injuries yet!”

“Also, this is not in compliance with the investigation procedure!”

Wang Qiang said anxiously.

Upon hearing Wang Qiang’s shout, the entire Criminal Investigation and logistics team, who hadn’t left the office yet, were all startled.

The bureau had two Criminal Investigation Teams, and Song Lin was the captain of one of them.

Under the Criminal Investigation Team, there were several investigative groups, and Wang Qiang was the leader of one of those groups.

During the six months Song Lin had an accident, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team had never been replaced. Instead, the deputy director had taken on the role, and Wang Qiang was mainly responsible for the team’s affairs.

Having been led by the hot-tempered Wang Qiang for half a year, even though Song Lin had returned to the team, Wang Qiang’s authority still lingered.

Upon suddenly hearing Wang Qiang’s shout, one couldn’t help but recall the days under Wang Qiang’s dominance.

“Well…”

“Because there’s no substantial evidence…”

“Song said that the team’s police force must be ready to deal with emergency situations at any time. We shouldn’t waste manpower because of his speculation,” the young female officer stammered.

“Where?”

Wang Qiang took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice.

“Suburbs…”

Hearing the young female officer’s answer, Wang Qiang grabbed the car keys and left.

Upon reaching the office door, Wang Qiang paused, turned around to glance at the office and said, “Shi Guang, work overtime and come with me.”

“Yes, team leader!”

The detective named Shi Guang stood up and responded.

…

Suburbs!

As time passed, night fell.

A few lazy stars twinkled in the sky.

“Ah~”

In the car, Song Lin yawned.

He looked at his watch, 20:35.

“Is it this late already?”

Song Lin murmured to himself and looked through the car window at a nearby house.

In the house, besides the lights of two bedrooms that were still on, all other places were pitch black.

Elderly people go to bed early; the elderly couple evidently had already retired to their bedroom.

Song Lin adjusted to a comfortable position and took out a can of coffee, opening it and taking a sip.

“Coffee wakes up the mind and keeps one alert~”

Song Lin murmured to himself.

“Clang, clang…”

Outside the car, strange noises were heard.

Song Lin was startled and immediately became alert.

He looked outside, not knowing when, but all the lights had gone off.

Song Lin furrowed his brow, instinctively sensing something was wrong.

He glanced at his watch again, 20:40.

“It’s only been five minutes and they’re all asleep?”

Song Lin squinted his eyes and murmured with confusion.

After a moment of silence, Song Lin opened the car door and got out.

He pulled out his service pistol, chambered a round, and then tucked it back in his waistband.

Song Lin took a deep breath and stealthily approached the elderly couple’s house.

Upon reaching the front gate, he noticed it was left open.

Seeing this, Song Lin was taken aback.

The “clang” noise from earlier had been the wind blowing the gate.

Song Lin frowned deeply, peered through the open door crack and looked inside the yard.

It was pitch black, like the mouth of a beast.

“Falling into one’s own trap!”

An idea flashed through Song Lin’s mind.

He looked up at the house.

The light in the second-floor bedroom, which had been off, was somehow now on again.

A small figure was standing by the window, looking down at the yard from the second floor…

Perhaps, there was also him!

The house inhabited by the elderly couple was self-built.

A small two-story building!

The first floor had a living room, a kitchen!

The second floor had three bedrooms!

Song Lin looked up and locked eyes with the small figure at the window.

Apparently, the small figure was smiling at him.

Under Song Lin’s gaze, the small figure raised a kitchen knife, waving it at the window.

The next second, the small figure disappeared from the window.

A candlelight lit up…

The candlelight drifted out from Axi’s bedroom, heading towards the elderly couple’s bedroom.

“Not good!”

Seeing this, Song Lin exclaimed.

Without a second thought, he pushed open the half-closed gate and rushed into the yard.

The door of the small building was locked from the inside.

Song Lin looked up just in time to see the candlelight drifting into the elderly couple’s bedroom.

In the flickering candlelight, a small figure’s reflection slowly rose up on the curtain fabric, brandishing a kitchen knife.