Morning.
Dong Xuebing woke up in the motel, looking terrible. He lit a cigarette the moment he got up. It’s been three days since Qianqian was abducted. Li Taibo had disappeared, and Dong Xuebing wondered what had happened to Qianqian. Is she still alive?
Dong Xuebing took out his phone and called Xu Yan. “Hello, Sister Xu.”
Xu Yan replied. “I had used my connections and still have not found him.”
“How can this be?” Dong Xuebing was anxious. “Did he leave the country?”
Xu Yan sighted. “I think it might be possible. Maybe he had used some channels unknown to us.”
Dong Xuebing hit the bed in anger. Li Taibo! You are dead if I find you!
“Xiao Dong, you must rest well. I can tell you are in bad condition from your voice. If you collapse, who will save your goddaughter? Compose yourself. I will help you.”
Rest?! How can Dong Xuebing rest when his daughter is missing?!
“Chief Xu, do you have Li Taibo’s detail information?”
“Yes. What are you going to do?”
“Send me a copy of his information. Your side’s information is more detailed.”
“Alright. I will get someone to send it to you.”
“Thank you.”
An hour later, a State Security staff dropped Li Taibo’s personal information at the motel.
Dong Xuebing returned to his room with the information and started reading it. The State Security Bureau’s information was more detailed than the Public Security Bureau’s. It states Li Taibo’s personal life clearly. Li Taibo, forty-one years old. Divorced five years ago with no children. The following section was his work records and medical history. He was hospitalized in the City First Hospital five months ago for fever. Four months ago, his rib was fractured during the earthquake. Falling debris hit him, and his broken rib nearly pierced his heart. During that time, he was near a committee hospital and was saved. The information was so detailed that it indicated the time down to the seconds.
Dong Xuebing studied the information, but he did not find any clues. He kept it in his bag and snubbed his cigarette.
Dong Xuebing’s phone rang.
Xie Huilan called. “Where are you?”
“In a motel.”
“Come back to the family quarters now. Li Taibo had called.”
“What?! Wait for me! I am coming back now.”
Dong Xuebing rushed out of his room and sped home.
The door was opened, and Xie Huilan was waiting for him. She saw Dong Xuebing and said. “Don’t ask anything. Just come in.”
Dong Xuebing followed Xie Huilan into the apartment.
The apartment was crowded and full of devices from the Public Security Bureau. A few officers tried to trace the call, and Qu Yunxuan’s parents were beside them. Even Qu Yunxuan was there in a wheelchair. She was sobbing, and Dong Xuebing was the last to arrive. Everyone seemed to be waiting for him.
An officer explained. “Li Taibo had called and wanted you to be around.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “Is he still on the line?”
“He hung up.” The Officer explained. “He said he would call back later.”
The apartment was tense, and no one said a word.
A few minutes later, the phone rang. Ring… ring… ring….
Dong Xuebing rushed to the phone, and an Officer reminded him before he answered. “Use the speaker phone, Director Dong.”
Dong Xuebing nodded and pressed the speaker button. “Hello.”
Li Taibo said in his hoarse voice. “Dong Xuebing!”
“It’s me!” Dong Xuebing replied. “Where is Qianqian? Where is she now?”
Li Taibo laughed. “I am carrying her in my arms. It must be crowded on your side now. The Police must be there. Here, I will let you all hear Qianqian’s sound.”
“Wa… wa… wa….”
Little Qianqian was crying loudly.
Qu Yunxuan shouted. “Qianqian!”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother cried. “Li Taibo! You bastard!”
Luan Xiaoping turned pale from her anger. “She is a baby! Are you still human?!”
Xie Huilan quickly stopped them softly. “Don’t anger him. Saving Qianqian is more important.”
Qianqian’s cries pierced Dong Xuebing’s heart. He suppressed his anger and asked. “What do you want?! I had prepared the money. When are you coming to take it?”
Li Taibo laughed. “Money? I thought I needed money initially, and I have other ideas now. My whereabouts would be traced if I gave you my account number, and I might not get it out. I demanded a ransom to stall time. Now, I am safe and don’t need the hostage and money.”
Dong Xuebing was furious. “What do you mean?”
“I can tell you are worried for your goddaughter as if she is your real daughter. So, I got a new idea. Do you want to know?” Wave sounds can be heard in the background. Li Taibo seemed to be on a boat or by the seaside. He paused for a second and laughed. “Dong Xuebing, I had built up my connections in Fen Zhou City for many years, and reaching this position was not easy. Do you know how hard I worked?! You destroyed everything! I must get revenge! I want you to suffer for life?!”
Dong Xuebing got furious. “Then come at me!”
Li Taibo laughed coldly. “I am not stupid. Your goddaughter is in my hands now, and I can do everything I want to her as revenge.”
Everyone’s heart skipped a beat.
Qu Yunxuan screamed. “What do you want?!”
Li Taibo smiled. “All of you should hear the sea, right? I am going to throw your precious baby into the sea.”
Luan Xiaoping shouted. “You dare?!”
“Of course.” Li Taibo replied.
Qu Yunxuan’s mother shouted. “You bastard! You will die a terrible death!”
The thought that Li Taibo would kill Qianqian made Dong Xuebing crazy.
Li Taibo laughed. “Go ahead and curse all you want. The more you all scream and scold me, the better I feel. Haha…. This little fellow had just scratched me. She still doesn’t know she will die in a few minutes.”
Qianqian was bawling.
Dong Xuebing closed his eyes slowly. He was sure Li Taibo would kill Qianqian as revenge.
What should I do now?
What else can I do?!
The only way to stop Li Taibo was to kill him. How was he going to kill him thousands of miles away?
Killing someone thousands of miles away?!
Dong Xuebing’s eyes suddenly brightened up. A bold idea suddenly arises in his mind.
