Chapter 5: The Real Killer Is Close at Hand (Part 3)
It was my rental apartment.
A homeowner had walked past and noticed the lights on. The group chat was buzzing with discussion about me.
"Marcus Zhang's ex-wife has moved back into the apartment."
"What's she doing there?"
"His mother is disabled. She brought the old woman to the city for medical treatment. She seems like a good person—shame she ended up with a guy like that..."
"I always knew Marcus Zhang was no good. I can read faces—there's something sinister about his eyebrows. I even did a fortune-telling, and it predicted he'd be involved in a violent crime!"
"So you're a master now! Your face-reading is that good? Can you do a reading for me—when will our condo project resume?"
"Through divination I commune with the heavens and observe all earthly phenomena! Remember, the secrets of fate must never be revealed—I didn't dare speak when I saw Marcus Zhang's dire fate, because revealing it would cost ten years of my lifespan. Now that it's happened, I can tell you. But don't ask me for readings!"
I skimmed past the nonsense and opened the video. Elena was carefully helping my mother sit up in bed, the floor cluttered with luggage she'd just brought in.
She'd left this tiny home once. Now she'd come back to take care of my mother.
Wendy Xu said, "That's the girl from before..."
I didn't respond. Watching this scene, an ache welled up in my chest.
Mom... I wondered if she was still in pain.
The person filming had pointed the camera directly at Elena and my mother. Elena noticed and turned—the videographer quickly panned away to the hallway.
But that brief pan sent a shockwave through me. Wendy Xu gasped aloud.
In the final seconds of the video, a man was leaning against the corridor railing, smoking a cigarette.
It was Tiger Lin—the truck driver!
I leaped to my feet. How had he found my home?!
A thousand fears flooded my mind. Tiger Lin's ruthlessness, Elena's safety, my mother's vulnerability—my heart was in my throat!
I couldn't stay here, no matter how safe it was. My family was in danger!
There was no time to waste. I turned to Wendy Xu: "I'm going out. Watch her. No matter what she says, don't trust her and don't untie her."
Wendy Xu looked anxious. "What am I supposed to do on my own?"
"Barricade the front door and the secret passage. Make sure nobody can get in. If I haven't contacted you within twenty-four hours, call the police and tell them everything. You understand? Forget about my case—finding this secret passage alone is enough to earn you credit for a reduced sentence."
"Got it. I'll wait for you! Be careful—that man is dangerous!"
I handed her Detective Sullivan's business card and told her to call this number if anything went wrong. Going straight to a detective would be faster than calling the general emergency line—every second counted in a crisis.
I'd already memorized Sullivan's number, just in case.
I slipped the rolling pin into my pant leg and hurried out.
Howard Li wasn't in the hallway—probably still handling business matters. I rushed downstairs and out of the complex. It was late; the residential area was quiet and dark. No one noticed me.
I sprinted toward home, pulling out my phone and dialing Elena on the new SIM card.
When she answered, I said urgently, "It's me. Don't make a sound, and don't act like you're talking to me. Don't let Mom hear my voice—I don't want her upset. Are the windows and door open at the apartment?"
"What? Yes—I left them open to air the place out."
"Lock every door and window right now. No matter who knocks, do not open it. Wait for me to contact you again!"
"Why?"
"Don't ask. Just do it—did you hear me?"
"I... I heard you..."
I hung up, finally exhaling.
They were safe for now. That was a relief.
I couldn't believe Tiger Lin had found my home so quickly. I had to track him down!
Even as the thought crossed my mind, my apartment drew closer. I spotted a figure in the alley below my building—someone wearing a hat, face shadowed in the dark, walking directly toward me. As I quickened my pace toward my door, the figure accelerated too.
It had to be Tiger Lin!
That bastard—I had to deal with him, once and for all!
I quickly scanned the layout. Four cars were parked on one side of the alley, two on the other, the narrow lane already cramped, but the vehicles provided plenty of cover.
I crouched behind one of the cars and gripped the rolling pin, listening to the approaching footsteps.
Closer... closer...
I seized my moment—whirled around and swung the rolling pin with all my might, roaring, "You son of a—"
In that instant, all six surrounding cars lit up at once, headlights blazing.
The man in the alley wasn't Tiger Lin.
It was Detective Sullivan.
My mind went completely blank. How was it him?!
He raised an arm to block my blow, grunting in pain, and shouted: "Suspect spotted—he's resisting! Move in!"
I stared in stunned disbelief as the six cars lurched forward, blocking the narrow alley in both directions. Doors flew open and cops poured out from every vehicle.
"Resisting arrest!"
"On your knees! Hands on your head!"
"You're surrounded—don't move!"
I stood there clutching the rolling pin, watching a wave of detectives flooding toward me from four directions...