Chapter 49: Candlelight at 20:40
City Bureau!
“Team Leader, Han Xue’s psychological evaluation is out.”
A young policewoman rushed into the office, holding a printed report, and spoke to Wang Qiang.
Hearing this, Wang Qiang turned to her and said in a deep voice, “Just give me the results!”
“She meets the criteria for mandatory psychiatric treatment…”
The young policewoman hesitated before speaking.
Wang Qiang’s face immediately darkened.
“Damn it! She got away with it again!”
He cursed furiously.
“What should we do now, Team Leader?”
The young policewoman asked cautiously.
“Follow protocol. Transfer her to the psychiatric hospital!”
Wang Qiang gritted his teeth as he spoke.
“Understood, I’ll handle it now.”
The young policewoman nodded, though she felt uncomfortable about the situation.
They all knew Han Xue was guilty, but the law had allowed her to escape prison and be sent for treatment instead. The outcome was nearly the same, but the nature of it was completely different.
After she left, Wang Qiang lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and stared at its flickering glow. His gaze grew deep and unreadable.
“I hope you don’t try any more tricks…”
He muttered to himself.
Suburbs!
The sun had set, and twilight cast its final glow.
Song Lin glanced at his watch—18:38.
“Time flies so fast…”
He sighed while looking through the car window toward the house.
The elderly woman was already busy in the kitchen.
“How nice… You still get a warm meal.”
“All I have is dry bread and bottled water.”
Through the window, Song Lin watched Axi sitting at the dining table. He sighed again.
As the investigation progressed, Axi’s suspicion grew heavier. In Song Lin’s mind, he was already convinced—this child before him was the ruthless murderer.
The only thing missing was evidence.
Surveillance was the best way to catch a suspect slipping.
No matter how cunning the fox, its tail would eventually show.
Song Lin refused to believe that Axi could keep his composure forever.
If he had already killed his adoptive parents, then either he had been exposed or was about to be.
This place was no longer safe for Axi. He would have to run.
And when he ran, he would need to eliminate the elderly couple first.
Song Lin was waiting for that moment—to catch him in the act.
Once caught red-handed, the interrogation would be easy. Gathering evidence would be a slow but certain process.
At the dining table, Axi’s gaze occasionally flickered toward the window.
Not far away, a car sat parked.
Song Lin’s car.
City Bureau!
“Xiao Li, where’s my mentor?”
As the end of the workday approached, Wang Qiang stretched and asked.
“New Sky Community, Unit 402. The family murder case had new developments. Captain Song believes the killer may strike again—this time targeting the victims’ parents—so he’s staking it out.”
The young policewoman answered while packing her things.
Wang Qiang was stunned.
He scanned the office and saw that his entire team was still there. The other teams weren’t missing anyone either.
“Who went with him?” Wang Qiang asked suspiciously.
“Captain Song went alone.”
The young policewoman replied.
“That’s ridiculous!”
Wang Qiang shouted.
“How can he go after such a dangerous killer alone?”
“His injuries haven’t even fully healed yet!”
“Besides, this isn’t proper procedure!”
His voice echoed across the office, startling the detectives and administrative staff who hadn’t left yet.
The city bureau had two criminal investigation teams, one of which was led by Song Lin. Under each team were several investigation units, and Wang Qiang was the leader of one of them.
For the past six months, since Song Lin’s accident, the team had been without a captain, with a deputy director overseeing operations. Wang Qiang had been managing most of the team’s affairs.
Even though Song Lin had returned, Wang Qiang’s authority remained strong.
Hearing his outburst, many officers instinctively remembered the past six months under his command.
“Well…”
“Because there’s no solid evidence yet…”
“Captain Song said the team should be ready for real emergencies and shouldn’t waste manpower based on a mere suspicion…”
The young policewoman stammered.
“Where exactly is he?”
Wang Qiang took a deep breath and asked in a low voice.
“The suburbs…”
Before she could finish, Wang Qiang grabbed his car keys and stormed out.
At the door, he paused, swept his gaze over the office, and called out, “Shiguang, you’re working overtime—come with me.”
“Yes, Team Leader!”
A detective named Shiguang immediately stood up and followed.
Suburbs!
As time passed, night fell.
A few scattered stars blinked lazily in the sky.
“Ahh~”
Inside the car, Song Lin yawned.
He glanced at his watch—20:35.
“It’s already this late?”
He muttered, then looked toward the house.
All the lights were off except for the two bedroom lamps.
The elderly couple must have gone to bed.
Song Lin shifted into a comfortable position, pulled out a can of coffee, opened it, and took a sip.
“Coffee keeps me awake and alert.”
He mumbled.
Suddenly—
Clang… Clang…
A strange noise came from outside the car.
Song Lin froze, instantly becoming alert.
He looked around.
At some point, all the house lights had gone out.
His brows furrowed. Something was wrong.
He checked his watch again—20:40.
“In just five minutes, everyone’s asleep?”
Song Lin narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
After a moment of hesitation, he pushed open the car door and stepped out.
He drew his gun, chambered a round, then holstered it at his waist.
Taking a deep breath, he moved toward the house.
At the gate, he found it ajar.
The strange “clang” sound from earlier—
It had been the wind blowing the gate open.
Song Lin’s frown deepened. Through the open gap, he peered into the courtyard.
It was pitch black—like the gaping maw of a beast.
“Luring the prey into the trap?”
The thought flashed through his mind.
Looking up at the house, he suddenly noticed—
The second-floor bedroom light had turned on again.
A small figure stood at the window, gazing down into the courtyard.
Perhaps, there was someone else inside.
The elderly couple’s house was a self-built two-story home.
The first floor housed the living room and kitchen.
The second floor had three bedrooms.
Song Lin’s eyes locked onto the shadowy figure in the window.
The figure seemed to be smiling at him.
Under Song Lin’s watchful gaze, the small figure raised a kitchen knife and waved it slightly.
The next second, the figure disappeared from the window.
A flickering candlelight emerged—
It drifted out of Axi’s bedroom…
Floating toward the elderly couple’s bedroom.
“No!”
Song Lin gasped.
Without another thought, he pushed open the courtyard gate and dashed inside.
The main entrance to the house was locked.
Looking up, he saw the candlelight already slipping into the elderly couple’s room.
In the flickering glow, a small shadow was cast on the curtain—
A tiny figure… slowly raising a kitchen knife.
(End of Chapter 49)
