Chapter 242 - 236: Going Deep in Disguise

"Miss Li, I will contact my colleagues and have them be extra vigilant. Until the killer is caught, you absolutely must not go outside."

"Okay, I... I won’t go out. You have to protect me."

After offering a few words of comfort, Feng Dong hung up the phone and looked at Cheng Xiangyu. "Captain Cheng, what was Zhang Ze like back then?"

Cheng Xiangyu sat down and carefully recalled the events. "At the time, we had already tracked them to the vicinity. Li Xin happened to run out and led us back."

"When we got back, we only managed to arrest Chen Longtan. Later, based on Li Xin’s identification, we learned he had an accomplice."

"So we took our team and rushed over. At that moment, Zhang Ze was packing his things, getting ready to flee."

"During the arrest, Zhang Ze took Li Xin hostage. In the end, he became so enraged he tried to kill her, which is when the police opened fire and shot him dead."

Cheng Xiangyu opened the five-year-old case file and pointed to a section. "Zhang Ze was no innocent victim. While Li Xin was held captive by the two of them, he also assaulted and abused her."

Cheng Xiangyu frowned and sat back down in his chair. "But under those circumstances, could Zhang Ze have really survived?"

Feng Dong contacted the colleagues on stakeout near Zhang Ze’s home. "Anything happening at Zhang Ze’s house right now?"

"Nothing unusual so far. Zhang Jianqiang and his wife just went out to buy groceries, then chatted with the neighbors downstairs."

"We went over and eavesdropped on their conversation. There was no mention of Zhang Ze."

"Okay, keep a tight watch. Notify us immediately if you see anything out of the ordinary."

Feng Dong hung up and looked at Cheng Xiangyu and Jiang Li.

Cheng Xiangyu looked at Jiang Li. "Miss Jiang, can you walk me through the scene from your dream again, in full detail?"

Jiang Li nodded and then recalled her two dreams.

"The first one didn’t have much detail. As soon as I opened my eyes, the victim was already hanging there. Then I woke up."

"In the second one, the killer dragged the victim for two minutes and twenty-five seconds, then took out a rope and strangled her with it. He then stepped on a nearby chair and tied her to the ceiling fan."

"The victim asked him why, and he just said it was her bad luck. As he was leaving, he carefully wiped the doorknob, looking forward to his next victim."

Cheng Xiangyu recorded the details, then looked up at her. "Two minutes and twenty-five seconds. How did you know the exact time?"

"There was a timer."

"From the timer and the comment about the pregnant woman’s bad luck, we can determine that the killer is someone else."

"The only question is whether it’s Zhang Ze or another person."

Cheng Xiangyu looked up at his other colleagues.

Several of them nodded in agreement. One of them said, "Isn’t he looking for his next victim?"

"We can use this as an opportunity to lure him out."

Cheng Xiangyu nodded in agreement. ’It’s a solid plan,’ he thought, ’but who should be the bait?’

The group’s gazes all fell, as if by unspoken agreement, on Feng Dong.

Feng Dong froze for two seconds, then shot to his feet and wailed, "Why me!"

"We’re all familiar faces at the bureau. If the killer really is Zhang Ze, he’d definitely recognize us."

"There’s no better candidate than you."

Cheng Xiangyu got up and patted Feng Dong’s shoulder. "This is a great chance to earn some merit. Go for it. I’m sure you can do it."

As he spoke, Cheng Xiangyu patted Feng Dong’s ready-made beer belly.

Feng Dong squeezed his eyes shut in agony but ultimately accepted the assignment.

Cheng Xiangyu found a female colleague to help with the transformation. After changing into a maternity dress, putting on a wig, and shaving his beard, he looked quite convincing.

Feng Dong spent the afternoon practicing a pregnant woman’s walk, then went for a stroll near Zhang Ze’s home.

"Oh, my, you’re a new face around here! My, that belly is so big! How many months along are you?"

He had just sat down on a nearby chair when a group of warm-hearted aunties started fussing over him and inquiring about his situation.

"Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I’m six months along. My... my man left me. I just came here to clear my head."

Feng Dong forced his voice into a higher pitch as he spoke. The people around him immediately showed looks of sympathy.

"Oh, you poor thing! Your man is no man at all, taking no responsibility whatsoever."

"Listen to this old auntie, dear. You’re far along, and the baby is innocent. If there’s truly no other way, you should contact your family."

Feng Dong lowered his head and let out a sob or two. "Auntie, to be honest with you, I’m an orphan. I have no one to rely on. Otherwise, that scumbag would never have treated me this way."

Feng Dong stayed for half an hour. He figured the news had probably spread enough by now. The sky was getting dark, so it was time to head back.

"Aunties, thank you all. I’ve thought things through, and I’ll get over it. It’s getting late, so I’ll be heading back now."

Feng Dong picked up the cloth bag beside him, supporting his lower back as he walked slowly, observing his surroundings as he went.

Nothing happened the entire way back to the rental apartment he had just secured.

’Did the target sense something?’

’No way!’

Feng Dong took out his phone to contact Cheng Xiangyu and the others, who were hiding and keeping watch from the shadows.

[Captain Cheng, the target isn’t taking the bait!]

Cheng Xiangyu scanned the surroundings. There were indeed no suspicious individuals in sight.

[It’s fine. The target might be overly cautious and wants to observe for a few more days. Keep wandering around for the next few days.]

[Okay.]

Cheng Xiangyu looked at Jiang Li in the back seat.

Jiang Li looked up. "Is something the matter, Officer Cheng?"

Cheng Xiangyu averted his gaze, his thoughts turning to the fact that she was being targeted by Kun Sha.

’Right now, the enemy is in the shadows while we are in the open. Plus, Kun Sha came prepared. It’s going to be tough to find any leads.’

"Regarding Kun Sha, if there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"Thank you." Jiang Li looked down at her phone. ’Sometimes, a powerful backer isn’t sought for nothing.’

She had already contacted the Yu Family in City A. With their immense influence, they could definitely help.

Plus, with the police departments of several cities on high alert, she should be fairly well protected.

Jiang Li turned to look outside. They would have to keep watch here tonight.

「Over the next few days」

Feng Dong got into costume every day and went out to wander around. He even went to the mall to buy some baby supplies.

After a few days, everyone in the neighborhood knew about the poor, abandoned pregnant woman at 23 West Street Alley.

Feng Dong sat at home, his brow furrowed with worry.

[Captain Cheng, do you think I overdid it?]

’Did too many people find out, making the target afraid to make a move?’

Cheng Xiangyu looked at the message from Feng Dong and also wondered if they had publicized it too much.

He quickly sent Feng Dong a message: [In that case, tell people you’re preparing to go back to your hometown.]

「The next day」

Feng Dong did as Cheng Xiangyu said, buying some small gifts for the warm-hearted aunties in the neighborhood and then began saying his goodbyes.

After delivering the last gift, Feng Dong was heavy-hearted on his way back.

He was afraid that the killer’s failure to appear meant he had already struck again somewhere else.

If that were the case, all their efforts over the past few days would have been for nothing.

Suddenly, Feng Dong’s sharp senses picked up the sound of footsteps behind him.

He had specifically chosen this route. He hadn’t encountered anyone on it for the past few days, but now there was a sound.

’Could it be? The killer’s taken the bait!’