I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

3:30 p.m.

Two black sedans drove into the Qingshun County government compound one after the other.

The old gatekeeper poked his head out of the guard booth, glanced at the license plate, and didn't recognize it.

But he recognized the markings on the car—it was a vehicle belonging to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He turned his head away and didn't come out to stop him.

Wei Zhiqiang, director of the Third Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, got out of the first car, straightened his collar, and glanced at the county government building in front of him.

He has been here several times, each time on official business.

But today is different.

He was followed by six people, four men and two women, all dressed in dark clothes.

The group did not linger downstairs but went straight upstairs.

The corridor was quiet, and footsteps echoed in the empty space.

Several office doors were open, and people inside peeked out, but upon seeing the commotion, they quickly retreated.

No one dared to ask, "Who are you looking for?"

Fang Mingyuan's office was on the third floor, at the end of the corridor, and the door was closed.

There was no sign on the door, only a string of numbers—302.

Wei Zhiqiang walked to the door and knocked.

no respond.

He knocked three more times.

Still no response.

He turned and glanced at the person next to him.

A young cadre stepped forward, grasped the doorknob, and turned it.

The door wasn't locked; it was open.

Wei Zhiqiang frowned slightly—it was during working hours, and he wasn't there, yet the door wasn't locked.

This is not normal.

He pushed open the door and went inside.

The documents on the desk were spread out, the water in the teacup had gone cold, and the computer screen was black.

Everything seemed normal, like an office that had been temporarily closed.

But Wei Zhiqiang noticed a detail—

The phone charging cable on the table was empty; the plug was still in the socket, but there was no phone at the other end of the cable.

Wei Zhiqiang turned and walked out of the office, into an office next door.

The door was open, and two people were sitting inside.

He stood at the door and asked, "Where did your County Chief Fang go?"

Sitting inside was Liu Changhe, deputy director of the government office.

He looked up, saw Wei Zhiqiang, and paused for a moment.

"May I ask who you are?"

"From the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. His surname is Wei. Where is County Chief Fang?"

Liu Changhe's expression changed slightly.

He stood up, his voice a little dry: "Director Wei, County Chief Fang left his office around 2 p.m.

At the time, I thought he was going to a meeting or something, so I didn't pay much attention.

But I haven't seen him come back. I called his cell phone, but no one answered.

Wei Zhiqiang glanced at the watch.

I went out around 2 PM, and it's almost 4 PM now.

Where did he go for more than an hour?

"Did he take anything with him when he left?"

Liu Changhe thought for a moment: "I didn't notice. When I passed by in the corridor, I saw him coming downstairs, and it seemed like he wasn't carrying anything in his hand."

Wei Zhiqiang then asked, "Was he acting strangely this morning?"

"No. I went to work and had meetings as usual. I ate lunch in the cafeteria, the same as usual."

"Where's his car? Is it still in the yard?"

Liu Changhe walked to the window and glanced down at the parking lot below.

His gaze swept around the parking lot and then stopped.

"His car...is not here. His parking space is empty."

Wei Zhiqiang walked to the window and followed Liu Changhe's gaze.

There were more than a dozen cars parked in the parking lot, but the spot Liu Changhe pointed to was empty.

What kind of car does he usually drive?

"A black Passat. License plate number: Jiang H·K7979."

Wei Zhiqiang turned to the young cadre behind him and said, "Check the surveillance footage immediately. Find out what time Fang Mingyuan's car left the government compound and which direction it went."

The young cadre nodded and walked away quickly.

Wei Zhiqiang then asked Liu Changhe, "Did County Chief Fang receive any phone calls this afternoon?"

Liu Changhe thought for a moment: "I'm not sure about that. He's in his office, and whether he answers the phone or not, people outside can't see."

Wei Zhiqiang did not ask any further questions.

He walked out of the office, stood in the corridor, took out his phone, and dialed Han Yuming's number.

"Secretary Han, we've arrived. Fang Mingyuan isn't in his office. He went out around 2 PM and hasn't returned. His car isn't in the yard either."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Check the surveillance footage and find out where he went."

"It's already under investigation."

"Tell me immediately if you have any news."

"it is good."

Wei Zhiqiang hung up the phone and stood in the corridor waiting.

He worked at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection for fifteen years and handled many cases.

He had seen this situation before—the person wasn't there, the car wasn't there, and he couldn't reach them by phone; it wasn't a last-minute errand run, but a planned departure.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the young cadre returned.

He was holding a mobile phone, and the screen showed a surveillance video.

"Director Wei, we've found it. Fang Mingyuan's car left the county government compound at 2:10 PM. Surveillance footage showed him driving around the county town before parking downstairs in his residential complex."

"Did he go home?"

"Probably. He went upstairs and stayed for about ten minutes, then came back downstairs carrying a black travel bag. But he didn't drive—"

The young cadre's voice carried a hint of doubt.

He parked his car in the residential area, walked to the entrance, and hailed a taxi.

Wei Zhiqiang's heart sank.

I didn't drive; I took a taxi.

Fang Mingyuan's decision was not impulsive; he had been preparing for it for some time.

He drove home first and then took a taxi, which made tracking him much more difficult.

"Did you get a picture of the taxi's license plate number?"

"It was captured on camera. It was seen on the security camera at the entrance of the residential complex. The license plate number is—"

He gave out his number.

"Which direction?"

"At 2:40 p.m., the taxi entered the expressway from the Qingshun County entrance and headed towards the provincial capital."

Wei Zhiqiang closed his eyes briefly.

We got on the highway at 2:40.

The city discipline inspection commission's car didn't arrive in Qingshun County until 3:30 p.m., while Fang Mingyuan had already been driving on the highway for almost an hour.

He went to the provincial capital.

The provincial capital has an airport, a high-speed rail station, and a bus station.

He can go anywhere from the provincial capital.

"Contact the highway patrol immediately. Check the taxi's route and see which exit it took."

At the same time, contact the taxi company to check the driver's information and the destinations of the passengers.

The young cadre nodded and turned to get to work.

Wei Zhiqiang dialed Han Yuming's number again.

"Secretary Han, Fang Mingyuan left the county government at 2:10 PM, went home to get his luggage, and then took a taxi. He got on the highway at 2:40 PM, heading towards the provincial capital. He didn't drive his own car."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

They don't bring their phones, take taxis, and don't drive their own cars.

Fang Mingyuan had considered everything very thoroughly.

He knew the methods the disciplinary committee used to investigate cases—checking surveillance footage to identify license plates and using mobile phone location tracking.

So he doesn't drive, doesn't make phone calls, and doesn't leave any trace that can be tracked.

"Secretary Han, if he changes cars or other modes of transportation in the provincial capital, it will be very difficult to track him down."

"I know." Han Yuming's voice turned serious. "You continue the investigation. I'll coordinate with the police in the provincial capital."

"it is good."

Wei Zhiqiang hung up the phone and stood in the corridor.

Fang Mingyuan was more astute than he had anticipated.

It wasn't that I panicked and ran around recklessly; I had planned every step carefully.

But Wei Zhiqiang was also thinking—he could think of the same things Fang Mingyuan could think of.

He doesn't drive, but taxis have license plates and driving records.

He went to the provincial capital, but the provincial capital has surveillance cameras and police.

Young cadres are back.

"Director Wei, the highway patrol has located it. The taxi exited the highway at the south exit of the provincial capital at 5:20 PM and headed towards the development zone."

Wei Zhiqiang glanced at his watch—5:40 PM.

Fang Mingyuan got off the highway at 5:20, and 20 minutes had already passed.

"What about the taxi company?"

"We found it. The taxi driver said the passenger got out of the car at the entrance of a residential complex in the development zone. His description of the appearance matches Fang Mingyuan. After getting out of the car, he walked into the complex but didn't say which building he was going to."

"What's the name of that neighborhood?"

The young cadre gave the name of the neighborhood.

Wei Zhiqiang had never heard of this neighborhood.

But he knew that Fang Mingyuan must have had a reason for choosing that place—either he had a house there, or he had friends there, or he had scouted the area beforehand.

"Let's go to the provincial capital."

The group went downstairs and got into the car.

Two black sedans drove out of the county government compound and headed towards the highway.

Wei Zhiqiang sat in the passenger seat, staring at the road ahead.

He took out his phone and dialed Han Yuming's number.

"Secretary Han, Fang Mingyuan exited the highway at the south exit of the provincial capital at 5:20 PM and entered a residential area in the development zone. The taxi driver confirmed this."

Send me the name of the neighborhood. I'll have the provincial police go there first.

"it is good."

Wei Zhiqiang sent the name of the residential area over.

The car was speeding along the highway at 130 km/h.

He leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed.

Fang Mingyuan entered the residential area and did not come out.

He should still be inside.

But how many buildings are there in that residential complex?

Which building is he hiding in?

Which household?

If he has the key and has hidden it in his friend's empty house, it will take time to investigate.

If he changes his clothes early tomorrow morning and blends into the crowd, he might not be recognized.

It was almost 8 p.m. when the car entered the provincial capital.

Wei Zhiqiang did not go directly to that residential area, but went to the Provincial Public Security Bureau first.

The person in charge of assisting with the investigation was a deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Provincial Public Security Bureau, surnamed Zhang, who was in his early forties and very capable.

"Director Wei, we've reviewed the surveillance footage. At 5:20 PM, the target got out of a taxi and entered this residential area. Then—"

"And then what?"

"Then he never came out again. We checked all the exits of the community, but we didn't see any footage of him leaving."

Wei Zhiqiang's heart skipped a beat.

They didn't come out.

Fang Mingyuan is still inside.

"What about inside the residential complex? Were there any security cameras that captured it?"

"Yes. But the community's surveillance coverage is incomplete, only capturing the main road and a few major intersections."

There are many blind spots between the buildings inside.

We're looking at it frame by frame; it takes time.

Wei Zhiqiang thought for a moment.

"Captain Zhang, can you find out which houses in this neighborhood are related to Fang Mingyuan?"

Captain Zhang nodded: "We're already investigating. We're checking property registrations, rental records, owner information, and the owners' family relationships. But it will take time."

"How long will it take?"

"As early as tomorrow morning."

Wei Zhiqiang remained silent for a moment.

Fang Mingyuan will probably have left by tomorrow morning.

Since he could think of not driving, not carrying a mobile phone, and taking a taxi, he could also think of leaving early the next morning.

He can't stay in one place for too long.

"Captain Zhang, how many exits does the residential area have?"

"There are three. One main entrance, one side entrance, and one fire escape. The fire escape is locked year-round and people can't use it. The only places you can actually get out are the main entrance and the side entrance."

"Are these two doors being watched now?"

"We've arranged for plainclothes officers. Two officers at each of the two entrances, working in shifts. They'll recognize him as soon as he comes out."

Wei Zhiqiang nodded, but he felt uneasy.

If Fang Mingyuan changed his clothes, wore a hat, and walked with his head down, the plainclothes officers might not be able to recognize him.

Moreover, what if he climbs over the wall from the residential area?

The wall isn't high; with a little effort, you can climb over it.

"Director Wei, I have a suggestion."

"you say."

"First thing tomorrow morning, send people in to check each building. They'll pretend to be property management staff or community workers, knocking on doors one by one. As long as he's still inside, he won't be able to escape."

Wei Zhiqiang thought about it and realized that this was the dumbest method, but also the most effective one.

But it takes time and manpower.

How many people are needed?

"It will take at least twenty people to walk through those key buildings that we are investigating."

Wei Zhiqiang remained silent for a moment.

"Then twenty people. It starts at seven o'clock tomorrow morning."

Zhang, the detachment leader, nodded.

Wei Zhiqiang walked out of the police station and stood at the door.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Han Yuming: "Secretary Han, Fang Mingyuan is in that residential area in the development zone. He went in and hasn't come out. Arrange for people to go in and check each building first thing tomorrow morning."

Han Yuming quickly replied: "Be careful. Make sure you catch him."

Wei Zhiqiang put away his phone and got into the car.

"Director Wei, where are we going?" the driver asked.

"Go to the entrance of that residential area. I'll wait in the car."

The driver paused for a moment, then asked, "You're going to wait all night?"

"Um."

The car drove out of the police station and headed towards the development zone.

Wei Zhiqiang leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed.

He had to wait, wait for dawn, wait for the investigation, wait for Fang Mingyuan to come out from inside.

He wasn't sure if Fang Mingyuan was still inside, nor was he sure if they could catch him tomorrow.

But he's already caught up with us here; we can't let him escape any longer.