The emergency room doors closed.
The two men sat on a bench in the corridor.
"It's over. We've lost our chance this time." Zhou Qiang looked grim.
Wang Xiaoliang looked at him.
"She got away with it." Zhou Qiang lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "Did you notice? Not a single restraint mark on him, clean pajamas, freshly washed hair. He didn't stink; he even smelled of perfume. Who would believe someone like that had been tied up? Even I wouldn't believe it."
"With Li Xiude in that state, if he doesn't wake up, it'll be sudden death from drinking too much. If he does, he'll most likely be brain-damaged from alcohol poisoning."
"No. We got him here in time. He'll get better. Luck is on our side this time."
Officer Zheng called. They had found nothing of value in the villa. The house had been cleaned thoroughly, with no strange smells or traces left behind. There was no sign that anyone had been imprisoned there.
But they had found four safes.
And a passport-Li Xiude's. They suspected he intended to flee with the money, and this passport supported that suspicion. Afterward, they sent Li Xiude's phone to be unlocked.
The next day, the phone was unlocked. They found plenty of evidence that Li Xiude had been secretly taking money, along with messages between him and Situ Hui. Although the wording was guarded, it still suggested that they intended to flee with the money. Li Xiude's detention by the police was now certain.
After lunch, the unlocked phone received a message from Li Lanxiang.
Then a second, and a third.
The first: Are we still meeting tonight?
The second: I'll bring you something good to eat, but no booze. You drink too much. It gets in the way.
The third: