I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Chapter 328 Police Rescue

Chapter 328 Police Rescue

The task force quickly took action and began investigating the Golden Bay office building. They visited each company, trying to find any suspicious clues. However, the investigation was not going smoothly, as many companies claimed that they had never seen Zhang Wanqing and the other two.

"It's too difficult," a police officer said frustratedly. "There are too many companies here. We have no way of knowing where they are going."

"We can't give up," Wang Gang said. "They might have been moved somewhere else. We have to expand our search area."

"I have an idea," Zhang Beichen said. "We can start by tracking Old Wu's capital flows. He might have a secret hiding place."

"That's a good idea." Wang Gang nodded. "Let's start the investigation immediately."

The police quickly retrieved Mr. Wu's financial records and discovered that a huge amount of money had flowed to a person named "Wu Ming." The transaction records of this account were extremely complicated, with funds transferred multiple times and eventually disappearing into a remote account.

"The last transaction location for this account was in the suburbs of Haikou," Wang Gang said. "We need to go there and take a look."

The task force quickly rushed to the outskirts of Haikou and began a blanket search of the surrounding area. They checked house by house, trying to find any suspicious clues. However, time passed, and still no results were found.

"Are we going in the wrong direction?" said a police officer with a hint of fatigue in his tone.

"No, we can't give up." Wang Gang said, "They must be here."

Just when the police were at their wits' end, an officer found a note in the corner of an abandoned warehouse. The note had a few blurry words on it: "Three kilometers south, beachfront villa."

"What is this?" Wang Gang took the note and looked at it carefully.

"It looks like a clue, perhaps left by one of their insiders." Zhang Beichen said, "We have to go to the beach and take a look."

The task force moved quickly, heading in the direction indicated on the note. They searched along the coastline and eventually found a remote beachfront villa. The villa was surrounded by weeds, making it look particularly desolate.

"This place is suspicious," Wang Gang said. "We have to be careful."

The seaside villa on the outskirts of Haikou looked eerie in the moonlight. Overgrown with weeds, it was desolate and silent, as if hiding endless secrets. Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei were locked in the basement, their hands and feet tightly bound. All they could hear were each other's breathing and the occasional crash of the waves.

Old Wu's laughter still echoed in her ears, and his contemptuous eyes seemed to declare their despair. However, Zhang Wanqing did not give up hope. She knew that as long as there was a glimmer of hope, she must persevere.

"We have to find a way to notify the people outside." Zhang Wanqing whispered, her voice trembling slightly, but her tone was extremely firm. "They will definitely come looking for us."

"But how are we supposed to notify them?" Li Wei struggled, trying to break free from the ropes, but to no avail. "This place is too remote, no one will hear our cries for help."

"Don't panic." Fu Siyuan said, trying to stay calm and recall the route they took. "We have to find an opportunity to let them know we are here."

The three began to search for possible clues in the basement. Fu Siyuan noticed that there was a vent in the corner of the basement. Although it was small, it might be possible to use it to send a signal.

"There's a vent here," Fu Siyuan whispered. "If we can send a signal through it, people outside might be able to hear it."

"Good idea." Zhang Wanqing nodded. Although her hands and feet were tied, she still tried to get closer to the vent. "We can knock on the wall to make a rhythmic sound."

"Dong Dong Dong - Dong Dong Dong -" The three began to knock on the wall rhythmically, hoping to attract attention from outside. However, time passed by minute by minute, and there was still no response.

"It may need to be louder," Fu Siyuan said. "We need to find something harder."

Zhang Wanqing looked around and found a loose brick in the corner. She pulled it out with all her strength and handed it to Fu Siyuan.

"Try this." Zhang Wanqing said.

Fu Siyuan took the brick and hit the wall hard, making a loud "bang bang bang" sound. This time, the sound was obviously much louder than before.

"Dong dong dong—bang bang bang—" The three of them took turns knocking, sending out regular signals.

The task force moved quickly, heading in the direction indicated on the note. They searched along the coastline and eventually found a remote beachfront villa. The villa was surrounded by weeds, making it look particularly desolate.

"This place is suspicious," Wang Gang said. "We have to be careful."

The police quickly surrounded the villa, and Wang Gang led several police officers into the villa and quickly took control of the situation. They found that Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan and Li Wei were imprisoned in the basement of the villa.

"Are you okay?" Wang Gang walked quickly to the three people and quickly untied their ropes.

"We're fine." Zhang Wanqing said, a trace of fatigue in her eyes. "How did you find us?"

"We found a note in an abandoned warehouse," Wang Gang said. "It showed the location of the villa."

"What about Old Wu?" Fu Siyuan asked.

"We have him under our control," Wang Gang said. "Your clues have been very helpful."

"That's great." Zhang Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief.

While the police were rescuing Zhang Wanqing and the other two, Old Wu was still in the villa's living room, waiting for news. He sat on the sofa, playing with a pen in his hand, a sneer of contempt on his face.

At this moment, there was a sudden noise outside the villa. Then, sirens sounded and a group of plainclothes police rushed into the villa.

"Police! Don't move!" Wang Gang led the police officers into the living room and quickly subdued Old Wu.

"How did you find this place?" Old Wu raised his head, a hint of panic in his eyes.

"You would never have thought that it was a note that led us here, Old Wu? Someone among your men betrayed you, haha..." Wang Gang said with a smile.

Old Wu was handcuffed and escorted out of the villa. He turned back to look at Zhang Wanqing and the other two, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

With Old Wu's arrest, the police swiftly launched an operation, dismantling the entire criminal organization. They discovered that the group was involved not only in tourism fraud but also in smuggling, money laundering, and other criminal activities. Old Wu was a key figure in the organization, not the ultimate boss behind the scenes, but merely a partner. The police decided to bring him back to the Sanya police station for further questioning.