Chapter 27: Zhang Heng’s Text Message (1)

Indeed, with Liang Song gone, the case must still be investigated. Yet, it was so unjust that he had to die like that. Zhang Heng sighed continuously to himself. He felt that, according to the leaders' directives, the only way to crack this case was to capture the primary human trafficker—the one who first purchased the victim from Liang Lahua’s husband—and start the investigation there.

Reflecting on Liang Song’s previous investigation, it had gone like this: they started with the phone number of Liang Lahua’s husband, found that the line was active, tracked the signal to this city, and then visited the location where the number had been traced. But what good had it done? There was still no news, and it had cost Comrade Liang Song his life. Zhang Heng was certain that they could no longer rely on investigating that phone number. To truly catch the primary trafficker, they had to find another way. He began to pace and ponder in the conference room.

After a while, Wu Cong pushed the door open and walked in, startling him out of his thoughts. He hurriedly asked what was happening. It turned out that because Liang Song, a police officer from Beijing, had been killed by a shuttle spear while investigating in this city, the incident had drawn intense attention from journalists and the media. He was needed to join Wu Cong for a press conference.

Zhang Heng followed Wu Cong downstairs and was stunned. The courtyard was packed with dozens of reporters holding microphones and cameras.

"Dear members of the press, good afternoon. Our Public Security Bureau takes this incident extremely seriously. We have already dispatched an elite forensic team and criminal investigation unit to the hospital and the crime scene to gather evidence. We will notify you as soon as we have any findings. We will deal with this vicious crime, which challenges the dignity of our police force, with the utmost severity. Thank you all," the Chief of the Taiyuan Public Security Bureau announced.

Only after the Chief spoke did the crowd begin to disperse.

"It is over for now, Comrade Zhang Heng," the Chief said, looking at Zhang Heng as he came down.

This wave of events, one after another, was a challenge for everyone present.

"Chief, sir, I would like to request permission to return to Y City to continue tracking the previous case," Zhang Heng said to the Chief and the others.

The Chief and the Commissioner simply nodded and turned away.

"Comrade Zhang Heng, regarding the detention of the Y City Police Chief as suggested by Comrade Liang Song, what is your opinion? Should we release him?" a fellow officer asked.

The detention and interrogation of the Y City Police Chief had indeed been Liang Song’s idea. Hearing that he was still being held, Zhang Heng felt that they might as well start the investigation with him. He asked Wu Cong to print out all the information on the Y City Police Chief.

After reviewing the documents in his room repeatedly and finding nothing suspicious, Zhang Heng took it upon himself to release the Y City Police Chief, and then he set off back to Y City himself.

On the road back, his phone suddenly buzzed with a text message. He assumed it was just a tedious promotional message from his service provider about a data plan and ignored it. Only after he disembarked in Y City did he check his phone. The message was not spam; it was a threat:

"Comrade Zhang Heng from Beijing, I advise you to leave immediately. Get out of Shanxi Province and stop investigating that case. Otherwise, you will end up just like your Comrade Liang Song—dying a miserable death with no place to be buried. Do not report this to the police, or your end will be even worse."

Seeing the threat, Zhang Heng did not feel fear; instead, a slight smile touched his lips. He scanned his surroundings, found a secluded corner, and walked over. He pulled out his phone and dialed the number that had sent the message.

"Beep... beep..."

The call went through, but no one answered.

The other side hung up and sent another text:

"You have arrived in Y City, haven't you? You are near the Y City train station right now, aren't you? You returned to Y City to continue tracking the buyers from the previous case, didn't you?"

Seeing the text that laid bare his inner thoughts, Zhang Heng was bewildered. He typed a reply: "Who are you, and how do you know everything about me?" He hit send and stared intensely at the screen, waiting for a reply.

Two or three minutes later, the number sent another message:

"How about this? Let’s make a deal. Rest assured, this deal is perfectly fair for both of us—neither side will lose out."

Zhang Heng felt skeptical, but treating it like a casual conversation, he replied: "Fine, what kind of deal? Be specific."

He waited, eyes glued to the screen. A few minutes later, the reply arrived:

"Believe it or not, we can let you see your comrade, Liang Song, who is still alive. If you want to see him, do not make a scene. Follow my instructions. If you agree, reply with 1."

Zhang Heng was stunned. In the conference room, he had heard with his own ears that the Chief had received a call from the First People's Hospital confirming that Liang Song had died. Yet, this message claiming Liang Song was alive was unfathomable. Still, he had never gone to the hospital himself to see the body. Driven by curiosity, he typed "1" and sent it.

The moment he sent it, he received another, even more unexpected message.