Chapter 6: Responding to the Call

"I... I want to report a crime!" Lin Xiaoyan swallowed hard. Her throat felt parched, and she was tense to the point of breaking.

"I... I was just on the road... and I saw a food delivery worker. He was on the phone, and he said... he said he was going to kill someone..."

"Hmm? What? Miss, please tell me the details," Mao Hong said, her instincts sharpening at the mention of murder. She immediately pulled out a pen to take notes.

Lin Xiaoyan’s face twisted. She knew this excuse sounded incredibly fake, but she had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue the lie.

"I... I was just on my way home when I heard a delivery man on the phone, cursing. He was saying something like, 'Ordering food in this miserable weather? Why don't you just die?' Then he mentioned an address—Jinshan Residential Complex, Unit 2, 1302. He said he was going to buy a knife and stab this woman... I don't know what the person on the other end said, but then he replied... 'Killing someone is no big deal; I'm mentally ill anyway, I'm not afraid of getting caught...'"

After finishing, Lin Xiaoyan bit her tongue, her heart pounding with anxiety. She wondered if the police officer on the other end would believe her.

Mao Hong frowned. "So, this is just something you overheard, and it hasn't actually happened yet?"

"Yes, but... I saw that delivery man hang up the phone and actually go into a hardware store to buy a knife..."

Hearing this, Mao Hong became alert again. "Did you see what he looked like?"

Lin Xiaoyan shook her head. "No. He was wearing a yellow delivery uniform, a helmet, and a face mask. I couldn't see his face. And I was so scared that when I saw him come out with the knife, I just ran home..."

In her mind, she truly hadn't seen what the man looked like.

Mao Hong felt a mix of disappointment and regret. "I'm sorry, miss, but since nothing has happened, perhaps that delivery worker was just venting to a friend and doesn't actually have any motive to kill..."

Lin Xiaoyan’s heart sank. As she expected, the police didn't believe her. What could she do?

"But what if he really kills someone tonight? Please, I beg you, can you just go and take a look? It's at Jinshan Residential Complex, Unit 2, 1302. Please, officer, I’m begging you..."

The image of Ai Lin lying in a pool of blood flashed through Lin Xiaoyan’s mind, and she couldn't help but plead with the officer.

Listening to the young woman’s choked voice, Mao Hong’s heart softened. She hadn't expected to encounter such a kind-hearted girl in this day and age, where people wouldn't even help an elderly person who had fallen on the street.

"Alright, we'll dispatch a unit, just for peace of mind. As you said, if that delivery worker really intends to kill, and we know about it beforehand, it is our duty to protect the citizens."

Mao Hong finally relented. At worst, she’d just buy some late-night snacks for her colleagues after the shift!

"Miss, please repeat the address you heard so I can write it down."

Lin Xiaoyan said excitedly, "Jinshan Residential Complex, Unit 2, 1302. Thank you for believing me, officer. Please, hurry. Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. Goodbye."

"Goodbye..."

It was nearly eleven o'clock. Lin Xiaoyan was in a panic, sitting on the sofa, checking the time again and again.

After hanging up, Mao Hong got up and walked toward the office.

"We've got a call. Time to move!" Mao Hong knocked on the door.

The officers on night duty looked up instantly and jumped into action, gathering their gear.

Zhang Ming looked at Mao Hong. "Sister Hong, what’s going on? Where to?"

"A young girl reported it. She overheard a delivery worker saying he was going to kill someone and that he’d already bought a weapon. The address is Jinshan Residential Complex, Unit 2, 1302," Mao Hong told them.

"What? A homicide?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Ming immediately began checking his ammunition.

He Qie’an, standing to the side, sensed something off. He looked at Mao Hong. "Repeat that."

Mao Hong looked at their captain, He Qie’an, feeling a jolt of nerves. She bit the bullet and repeated what she had just said.

He Qie’an’s sharp gaze fixed on Mao Hong. "Where did the girl hear this? Is it reliable?"

"Uh..." Mao Hong fidgeted with her fingers. "It... it should be, right?"

"Should be?" He Qie’an stared at her.

Unable to withstand his gaze, Mao Hong told them everything that had happened during the call.

After listening, He Qie’an looked at Mao Hong. "Don't you think that girl’s story is full of holes?"

"Zhang Ming, you tell me," He Qie’an said, suddenly pointing to the officer beside him.

Startled, Zhang Ming grew nervous, trying to recall what Sister Mao had just said.

"Uh... why would that girl happen to overhear the delivery guy on the phone? And if he wanted to kill someone, why would he tell someone else? And... and..." Zhang Ming scratched his head, at a loss for words.

He Qie’an looked at Li He behind him. "You."

Li He stood up straight immediately. "Why would the delivery worker mention such a specific address?"

"Exactly!" Zhang Ming clapped his hands. "That’s the biggest question."

Mao Hong frowned. "But the girl was begging me to send officers. Her voice didn't sound like she was lying."

He Qie’an walked over. "Play the recording for us."

"Right, right away!" Mao Hong turned to her desk, pulled up the recording, and played it back...

After listening to the recording, the officers’ expressions were mixed.

Zhang Ming glanced up, looking from his captain to Li He. "C-captain, should we go?"

He Qie’an looked at the clock on the wall. It was 11:05 PM—thirty-two minutes before the time the girl had suggested. It would take twenty minutes to get to the Jinshan complex from the station...

"Let's go!" He Qie’an said coldly.

"Huh?" Zhang Ming blinked, scratching his head in confusion. "Wait, Captain, didn't you just say this call sounded suspicious? Are we really going?"

Li He pulled on Zhang Ming’s arm. "Hurry up, just listen to the Captain!"

When Mao Hong heard He Qie’an say "Let's go," she let out a sigh of relief.

As He Qie’an reached the door, he stopped and turned to look at Mao Hong.

Mao Hong felt nervous under his gaze. "Captain He, is something wrong?"

He Qie’an looked at her seriously. "Trace the location and information of the girl who just called. If it’s a false report, have her come to the station tomorrow to turn herself in and face the consequences!"

"Oh, understood!" Mao Hong nodded and immediately sat down to begin the investigation.

"Pack your gear, let's move!"

He Qie’an withdrew his gaze, spoke in a deep voice, and strode out.

Zhang Ming was still puzzled. "Boss, if you think it's a false report, why are we even going?"

Li He looked at Zhang Ming and chuckled. "I think you should spend your spare time tomorrow reading the 'People's Police Law of the Republic' thoroughly!"