Pure Darkness

Chapter 16

It was 5 in the morning. Fang Qing, who had been asleep in the task room for a while, got up. After washing his face, he stood in the corridor smoking and calming down.

The clouds in the distance brightened layer by layer, turning into a reddish-red. However, a bitter cold lingered on his chest, seemingly trapped and refusing to leave.

He suddenly had a keen desire to talk to someone.

He smoked his cigarette, pulled out his phone and dialed the number.

Someone finally answered after more than 20 rings. The voice on the other end of the phone was unclear, that person had obviously just woken up. “Halo?”

“Hi what are you doing?” he bursts, then realizes that his voice is very soft.

On the other end, Jin Xiaozhe appeared silent for a moment before he asked, “Why did you call me? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, just that. .” I was thinking about you.

“I think you called me the day before yesterday, but I just left TKP, and couldn't pick it up in time. Is there something?” he asked casually.

“Forget.” Jin Xiaozhe replied.

“Oh.”

“If there is nothing else, I will hang up.” Jin Xiaozhe said.

“Jin Xiaozhe, i. .” he thought about the transfer application in his drawer.

“Other times, don't call me this time.” He continued coldly, “I attended the show last night, and only slept at 4am. I have a photo shoot at 8 today. You have work to do, and I also.” The line is dead.

Fang Qing stared at the screen of his phone, which had just turned black. He was anxious to say “f*k you*”, but was reluctant to actually say those words. The morning air was cold, but his heart was burning. He played lethargic with his phone for a while, unwilling to keep it, before finally putting it back in his pants pocket.

*T/N literal word used: “ ⁇ ” (wo cao)

Two people appeared at the top of the stairs. Emerging from the morning mist, the two of them had the exact same bright and calm expression.

Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao. Fang Qing had asked them to come over so early in the morning.

——

5 Reports of missing people lying in front of the 3 people.

First: 2008

Missing Person's Name: Tang Lian Lian

Age at Disappearance: 24 years

Disappearing Place: After vacationing in the ancient city, he went to visit other cities and disappeared.

Second: 2010

Missing Person's Name: Tong Sheng

Age at Disappearance: 23 years

Disappearing Place: After vacationing in the ancient city, he went to visit other cities and disappeared.

Third: 2012

Missing Person's Name: Zhao Manman

Fourth: 2014

Missing Person's Name: Zhu Fanglin

Fifth: 2015

Missing Person's Name: Ning Qianrui

……

Fang Qing said, “I have selected this from the Missing Persons database. The five victims were all quite handsome young women. Their cases all share common features. First, they all traveled alone to vacation in the ancient city. Second, they were all seen buying bus or ferry tickets to another city. Third, their cases were investigated by police in different cities and provinces, so their cases were never linked. However, at least two of them now had a clear connection with the Yao family. I suspect this is a serial case! A perverted criminal who specializes in kidnapping young women is hidden in an ancient city! ”

Jian Yao bit on her lower lip, revealing a bubbling unease within her. Bo Jinyan's expressions became solemn, and while her eyes were cold, they also appeared to be lit up by some black flames. “Let me see all the details.”

Fang Qing gave them a print of information.

While Jian Yao inspected the information meticulously, line by line, by his side, Bo Jinyan read the information at high speed, and circled around point by point with the questioner. Jian Yao looked at the information she was highlighting:

“Introvert.”

“Introvert, not many friends.”

“Both of his parents are dead.”

“Dad died of illness, mother stayed in Hunan.”

“Normal family financial situation.”

……

Finally, he circled the bus stops and ports mentioned in 5 cases.

Bo Jinyan raised her head and said, “All the missing people are the same age, and also similar appearance and personality – the tastes of criminals are very stable. They are all closed, with limited social interaction, and unfamiliar with the ways of the world. Their family relationships are simple, and some even have both parents who died – it would be easier for criminals to control them, and therefore less likely to attract police attention. Poor family financial situation, included in the disadvantaged group – these aspects may have satisfied the dominant personality of the villain. What's more, the way the women ‘disappear’ is the same in every case. There are also regular intervals between such cases. We can combine these cases and investigate them.

“But . .” Jian Yao asked, “Why are there witnesses in each case who saw them leave the ancient city, thus diverting the line of investigation that the police did?”

Bo Jinyan and Fang Qing exchanged looks.

——

Located in the west of the ancient city, Pier Canglang is a tourist attraction as well as a functioning passenger terminal. Plus, the peak season is approaching, so it's no surprise that the dock is filled with people.

Bo Jinyan, Jian Yao and Fang Qing stood in the distance, wearing sunglasses. Everyone's faces showed signs of being in a hurry. They hurried away on vacation, rushed on the ferry, hurried away.

“Oh,” complains Bo Jinyan, “this is certainly different to the way people travel abroad. So crowded and noisy, what are the chances of witnesses seeing the victim's face clearly?”

Jian Yao's heart skipped a beat. He means. . .

Fang Qing also smiled wryly. “Witnesses in two missing persons cases are ticket sellers placed at counters. However, there are different ticket sellers on duty right now, so it will take a long time before we can find them.”

Bo Jinyan immediately said, “Whatever you choose, watch it very well. Human traffic here is overwhelming, which ensures that the police will be able to find the exact witness they are looking for when they come and investigate.”

The three then walked to the ticket counter. After searching for a while, Jian Yao simply stood up and stared.

Because there is no difference between ticket sellers here compared to those in other tourist attractions. The ticket seller sat behind the window with an impatient expression on his face, not even looking up.

“Let's do an experiment,” said Bo Jinyan.

Fang Qing nodded. “I'll go find a policewoman.”

Even though Jian Yao could slightly guess their intentions, it still remained. .they had only known for a few days. How could you have such a deep mutual understanding?

When did Bo Jinyan's ability to get along with other men become so good? Surely not possible because her aura marriage changed, until . . .she brought forth the favor of an older criminal investigator?

——

“Hai, I want to buy ferry ticket to Zhou.” area

“Twenty dollars.”

“Give . . . aiyah!”

Hearing the exclamation, the ticket seller looked up, only to see a girl in a light blue T-shirt, with a hat and sunglasses. He lowered his head and bowed to take his money off the floor. A small brass bell hung from his red bag, clanking softly.

The ticket seller once again lowered his head.

The girl picked up her ticket and boarded the boat. The boat was very crowded, but he boarded early and managed to sit near the bow. He kept looking at the sea. The ferry pilot was separated from him by a panel of glass, and could only see his silhouette. However, he was constantly in his field of vision.

When they reached Zhou's area, he lowered the rim of his hat and went down, all the while without taking off his sunglasses. He even asked the crew members for directions to a hotel. The little bells in his bag clinked softly.

An hour later.

Tok. Someone knocked on the glass. The ticket seller raised his head, and a police identity card was displayed before his eyes. Behind him was Fang Qing's serious face.

“Did this girl ever come here?” asked Fang Qing.

The girl in the photo was wearing a light blue T-shirt and carrying a red bag, on which hung a small brass bell. She was slim, with hair reaching under her shoulders.

The ticket seller thought carefully for a while. “Yes yes! He just got here, and bought a ferry ticket to Zhou.” area

“Are you sure? Did you see it clearly? ”

“I saw it clearly, I'm sure it's him!”

The ferry.

Fang Qing showed the photo to the crew.

The crew members thought carefully for a moment, then suddenly said, “Ya! He sat in that chair! She is so beautiful!”

“Do you see it clearly? Are you sure it's him?”

“Yes! No doubt about it!”

……

In the afternoon, Bo Jinyan, Jian Yao, Fang Qing and the female police who were called to join them, sat in a small shop on the edge of the pier while eating vermicelli.

The female police officer had already stripped Jian Yao of her clothes, replacing her with her own casual clothes. However, the kind of discovery they had just made did not bring happiness to anyone. Instead, they feel helpless.

“We can not blame one of ‘saksi’,” said Bo Jinyan. “When an ordinary person remembers an unknown person, it is usually due to some key distinguishing features or details. For example, Jian Yao's clothes, bags, and even unique ornaments. In the case of the missing person we examined, ‘saksi’ very accurately describes some of the clothes, hair ornaments, and even the physical features of the missing person. Moreover, when ordinary people were faced with such a large criminal case, if they could be useful, they would definitely have a strong desire to get involved and participate as much as possible. This tendency can make them put a great deal of trust in their initially hazy memories. The more they think about it, the more ‘clear’ it becomes, and the more they trust it.”

“We also cannot blame the police officer who investigated the case that year,” Jian Yao said. “These cases happened in different cities, at different times. Without making a connection between them, there was no way to find the pattern. In this aspect, criminals are also very meticulous and careful, so it is very difficult to distinguish common problems among such cases.”