"They've all disappeared, and we can't reach them by phone now. They were taken from your establishment. If you had surveillance, our chances of finding them would be much greater."
My tone was extremely stern. The person in charge nodded fearfully, "I'll have it installed immediately."
What kind of motel is this? It lacks such basic security awareness. I've never been here before, and I can hardly imagine such a remote place still exists in this world.
This experience has certainly broadened my horizons.
Without any surveillance, we had no choice but to search for clues near the motel. Everyone was using sophisticated equipment to scan the ground and walls. Near a door downstairs at the motel, our people had refrained from damaging the scene in order to investigate. The remoteness of this place also had its advantages; at least not too many people had been here.
We found several clear footprints in front of the door downstairs at the motel. I didn't bother comparing them to anyone specific. Instead, I followed the direction of the footprints into an alley near the motel. It was extremely narrow and seemed rarely used, but it was a blind spot for anyone passing by the motel, making it difficult to be noticed. Under these circumstances, I doubt there would have been any witnesses when the film crew was collectively abducted.
But with so many of them, how could just a few people manage to abduct them all? That, it seemed, was the key.
If someone within the film crew had betrayed them, deliberately luring others to a certain location where the perpetrators could then round them all up, that possibility existed and would have been the most effective approach.
Of course, without any supporting evidence, my speculation was just that—speculation.
I instructed everyone to search the vicinity of the alley in a fan formation. I led Gao Mingqiang and others to the end of the alley. I suddenly noticed a set of footprints on the ground that had previously appeared in front of the motel, and I pointed them out.
Gao Mingqiang, hearing my words, asked in confusion, "So many footprints, Section Chief He, and you remember them all?"
"Pay more attention. You should also exercise your observation skills more often. We in the Punishing Sin group are not ordinary police officers, understand?"
"Understood, Section Chief He. You're truly remarkable. This is my first time seeing a forensic doctor actively investigate to this extent."
"Actually, when I was studying, I scored full marks in criminal investigation. And my combat skills... forget it, hand me the luminol reagent!"
Gao Mingqiang handed me the chemiluminescent agent. I sprayed it directly onto the surrounding walls. Soon, faint bloodstains appeared on the walls. However, the bloodstains were peculiar; they extended from bottom to top. We all know that water flows downwards, yet this blood seemed to defy gravity, moving upwards. Of course, this was because someone had smeared it with their fingers. It wasn't a supernatural event.
Modern science couldn't detect fingerprints covered in blood. But we have a special spray, cassia seed and chili oil. Besides its anesthetic and spicy properties, this substance has the ability to make fingerprints covered by blood reappear!
As soon as I sprayed the chili oil, several clear fingerprints immediately emerged on the wall. I had Gao Mingqiang and Xiahou use adhesive tape to lift and collect them. Before sending them to the technical team, I silently prayed, "Ancestors of the He family, He Shenlong, please! I've exhausted all my options. If I can't find the perpetrator this time, I'll truly be at a loss!"
However, the technical team sent me a message twenty minutes later: "Section Chief He, we regret to inform you that there is no matching data in the database."
"How could this be? Is there really no way?" I fell into a panic. But at that very moment, another piece of devastating news arrived simultaneously.
"Section Chief He, it's bad! He Xin is missing!" Gao Mingqiang rushed into the main camp, appearing on the verge of tears as he spoke to me.
"What did you say? When did this happen?"
"Just now. Weren't we looking for witnesses near the motel together? She said she needed to use the restroom and never came out. It's been two hours now. I checked the restroom, and it's near the motel."
I called Yuan Hezhi, asking him to come here immediately and simultaneously trace He Xin's phone signal. On the way, he told me, "He Xin's phone signal disappeared after she entered the restroom."
We rushed back to the restroom immediately. Initially, we couldn't find He Xin's phone there. But I remembered He Xin had a luminous keychain attached to her phone. I squinted, scanning the restroom. Suddenly, I noticed a dim purple light emanating from the gap of a stall. I kicked open the door and saw a strange glow inside a trash can!
I put on rubber gloves and rummaged through the trash can. I discovered He Xin's phone there. I initially suspected the perpetrator had done it, but as I swiped to unlock it, I found a message left behind: "Dad, I'm sorry. I've been lying to you all along. For your safety, they said they would kill you and everyone else in the Punishing Sin group if I didn't do this! Therefore, I have to leave now. I've been threatened by the film crew all along. The reason this film crew came here was to obtain cordyceps similar to illicit drugs. They are that mysterious organization. This explains why they all disappeared. That's right, I was acting all along, saying they disappeared. They demanded I do this. I'm sorry!"
Didn't He Xin realize that even if she did this, those people wouldn't let us go? She was the one who had been deceived. But how could she not have foreseen this? It must have been a case of panic leading to rash decisions. At that moment, she probably thought that even with the slightest chance, she couldn't give up. She always prioritized our safety the most!
Thinking about this, my hands almost trembled uncontrollably. My mind was severely stimulated. Gao Mingqiang snatched the phone and immediately blurted out angrily, "Scoundrels! I'll have them torn limb from limb!"
As soon as Gao Mingqiang finished speaking, he charged out like an enraged bull. I desperately held him back from behind, "Mingqiang, don't be impulsive! Please! We cannot afford to be disorganized now. These people are targeting us, the Punishing Sin group. The previous kidnappings were just their warm-up exercises!"
I spoke these words very loudly. By now, the members of the Punishing Sin group had gathered around. Zhang Keying said, "How can that be? Does that mean we are all in danger from now on?"
"No! I think even our families..."
"Section Chief He, don't scare me!"
Xie Chuchu rarely addressed me like this. It seemed she was extremely nervous this time.
I nodded helplessly. Everyone immediately called their families to inquire about the situation and urged them not to leave home recently. If they needed to eat, they should order delivery. Under no circumstances should they leave home unless absolutely necessary.