Chapter 23: Truth or Deception?

After Zhang Jianhan hung up the phone, he hesitated briefly before making a painful decision. He knew that as long as Kang Ning remained at large, he would have more time to gather evidence and investigate. No matter what, he had to clear his brother's name. So, once again, he used the magnetic card at the public phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Wei, it’s Zhang Jianhan. Kang Ning called me from Liuzhou three minutes ago, but my phone was dead, so I immediately returned his call from a public phone. The conversation lasted only three seconds before Kang Ning hung up. I didn’t dare delay and am reporting to you right away!”

“What? Quickly, gather our men and return to the unit to await instructions!”

“Yes!”

Wei Mingzhong paced back and forth for a dozen steps after ending the call, then returned to his desk and picked up the receiver. “Boss, Zhang Jianhan has just made an urgent report that the fugitive Kang Ning was spotted in Liuzhou. The fugitive is currently in Liuzhou.”

Jiang Shangwu, who had been at a loss for days, was overjoyed by the news. “Rush to the bureau immediately, and order all members of the ‘621 Task Force’ to attend an emergency meeting! Also, bring Zhang Jianhan along. I’m granting him special permission to join the case discussion.”

“Yes!”

Half an hour later, Jiang Shangwu, who had just coordinated with the Liuzhou Public Security Bureau, strode into the meeting room. He set down his folder and drew out a document to brief the twenty-some attendees. “Ten minutes ago, the conversation between the fugitive Kang Ning and his family was intercepted by the technical department. The mobile number used by the fugitive has also been submitted to the technical investigation division, which is working to pinpoint his location. We expect to confirm the fugitive’s whereabouts soon. Here, I want to commend Comrade Zhang Jianhan. It is his selfless dedication and loyalty to the Party and the people that enabled us to receive the fugitive’s information without delay, turning the tide of the investigation. On behalf of the organization, I thank Comrade Zhang Jianhan!”

Led by Jiang Shangwu, the attendees applauded. Shen Tiejian smiled as he looked at Zhang Jianhan, whose demeanor remained calm and composed despite the recognition. Behind the glasses, Shen’s deep-set eyes flashed with a subtle gleam. The others also turned their attention to Zhang Jianhan, all smiling, though each harbored thoughts known only to themselves.

Jiang Shangwu continued, “It’s true what they say: ‘When all seems lost, a new path emerges!’ This time, we won’t let the cunning fugitive slip away again!”

“Report! The technical investigation division has urgently notified us: signal detection shows the fugitive is moving rapidly north. Based on analysis, he’s likely taking a train or car toward Guilin. The bureau has already notified the Guilin Public Security Bureau and ordered Liuzhou, Guilin, and all departments along the highways and railways to initiate an emergency blockade and intercept all routes.” The breathless head of the technical department burst in, loudly delivering his report.

Jiang Shangwu’s spirits soared. “Excellent! Everyone, I order you to return to your posts and stand ready for further instructions! Old Shen, Old Lu, any additions?”

Seeing both men agree, Jiang Shangwu announced the meeting’s end.

Zhang Jianhan strode toward his battered Santana. As soon as he started the engine, Wei Mingzhong jumped in. Zhang Jianhan frowned, shifted gears, and the car belched smoke as it quickly left the bureau’s gates.

“Well done! Sacrificing personal ties for justice!” Wei Mingzhong commented, lighting a cigarette and exhaling a long plume of smoke.

Zhang Jianhan remained silent, eyes fixed ahead as he drove. Wei Mingzhong sighed, “I know this is hard for you, but I can tell you’re a man of integrity. Some might think you’re cold and heartless, but I understand.”

Zhang Jianhan forced a bitter smile and shook his head. “Wei, I have a bad feeling. We might not catch him this time.”

“Haha, funny! Seems we’re thinking the same thing.” Wei Mingzhong laughed loudly. “If we do catch him, I’d be disappointed! Let’s head back and wait—Guilin should have news for us in two hours.”

At Guilin Railway Station, armed police and officers were stationed every few steps. The first platform was lined with over four hundred fully equipped police officers and armed guards, all waiting anxiously for train K316’s arrival. After precise location tracking and analysis, the bureau urgently informed Guilin: the fugitive was likely aboard train K316!

Meanwhile, the crowded K316 train presented another scene. Four railway police officers, joined by fifty more who boarded at Yongfu, spread out through every carriage, scrutinizing each passenger and inspecting all large luggage. Anyone sleeping under the seats was awakened for identification. The restrooms and water booths in each carriage were closed after strict inspection and tightly locked.

Nearly a thousand passengers waiting on the platform were shocked by the situation. Rumors and guesses quickly spread among the crowd, but the stern faces of the police discouraged anyone from speaking loudly. The usual bustle was absent; most people stayed silent, glancing around nervously. The oppressive tension weighed heavily across the hundred-meter platform.

The train finally stopped. The police searched the carriages thoroughly but found no trace of the fugitive. A few passengers who resembled him were detained and released after repeated verification.

Just as the search teams were losing hope, a middle-aged officer wearing glasses rushed toward the postal carriage, holding a rare instrument. “Quick! The target is in the postal carriage!”

Surrounded by ten submachine guns and twenty or thirty pistols, the postal carriage’s guards and three porters below were terrified, their faces pale and legs trembling. One tall porter with a Henan accent fell to his knees and pleaded repeatedly, “Don’t shoot! I confess, I confess!”

The kneeling porter was quickly restrained and taken away. Under the command of the officer with the instrument, eight police officers jumped into the carriage and began inspecting the piles of mail bags one by one. At last, beneath a mail sack filled with letters near the door, they found a vibrating mobile phone, its indicator light blinking green in a steady pattern.

The train moved north slowly, watched by hundreds of disappointed and angry eyes. A fifty-year-old officer wearing a first-class inspector’s epaulets pulled out his phone to report to his superiors. “Report: we found the fugitive’s abandoned mobile phone in the postal carriage of train K316, but there is no sign of the fugitive himself. The train has departed, and our colleagues on the railway are interviewing passengers to see if anyone witnessed him jumping off during the journey. We expect feedback in two hours.”

“So, there’s nothing gained?” came the dissatisfied reply from his superior.

“Heh, not exactly. We did apprehend a Henan murderer who had been on the run for four years.”

“Well, let’s leave it at that for now. Report promptly if anything comes up.”

“Understood!”

The officer put away his phone and spoke softly to his gathered subordinates. “Tell everyone to stand down and return. We’ve done our best.”