Matt stared at his laptop as he read the report he had received from the investigator. For the first time in his life, he was disappointed with the man. How was it possible that he was unable to find out anything about a woman who had been in the lime light in the city. There should have been some gossip, some reason as to why she had suddenly decided to give up a flourishing career. But those years of her life seemed to be a blank.
All the information from the time she came to the city and got a big break to the time she spent in different countries accumulating fame and experience was there but the last five years from the time she had returned to the country to coming to settle in this place were a blank. He could think of only two reasons that the investigator would send in an incomplete report. One that either of his brothers had interfered. That he believed to be impossible because he could think of no reason that they would interfere. After all they were not even aware of this entanglement. Another was that Miss Xue had used someone powerful to cover up for her, someone who was experienced in covering up these kind of things. And if that was the case then there was only one person who could discover the truth. The man who had the senses of a fox on the hunt. His brother Ah Hai.
Matt rubbed his head and wondered if he should get Ah Hai involved in this. Even though Ah Hai was no tattle tale, the fact remained that no one could guess how that stupid bas**** would react. He had been on his case regarding coming back already and now if he found that he had become entangled in someone's business, the cunning man would definitely use this to force him to come back to the city.
As he lay back pondering this dilemma, his phone dinged with another incoming e mail. He almost ignored it when he saw the name. Why would the investigator send an email again. Clicking it open, he saw that it was a link and below it, he had said," Sir, this relates to your search." it had been marked as urgent. The link took him to the page of " The National Times" and an article that was published this morning. It showed the picture of a burning building. Frowning, he wondered what a burning building had to do with his investigation of Xue Qian but when he read the news article, it was sufficient to say that he was not just shocked but wondered if he had somehow lost his senses and was not understanding the article!
But re reading it made no difference.. and he could only stare.
" The National Police has announced that a house in Sunset Apartments in District A of the city was set ablaze in a fierce fire. The owner of the house, a certain Miss Heng was burnt alive. Worried about the safety of the other residents, the police conducted a thorough investigation and has concluded that the fire was not an accident but indeed an arson. This conclusion led the police to know that the victim had been involved in a kidnapping case a few years ago and had been blackmailing her co conspirator for a while. It is believed that the other person was now tired of paying and in a fit of anger killed the other party. As of now the prime accused, Miss Xue Qian is missing. The police will soon be releasing the pictures of the murderer and you are requested to report her to the police if she is spotted..."
Matt steepled his fingers and placed his chin on them. Little Ella had been kidnapped by Xue Qian. He thought hiw he had initially thought the same thing but then ignored this possibility.
Standing up, Matt paced a few times before he came to a conclusion. Miss Xue would have to come clean. Because one thing was very clear. This Heng Ci person had been killed to make Cue Qian come out of hiding and whoever had used this method was not just ruthless but also desperate. And desperate people had no limits whatsoever.
Grabbing his coat, he walked out of the room, this time in search of a clear answer. On the way, he finally chose to message Ah Hai toninvestigate everything about Xue Qian and even Heng Ci. Even if his brother forced him to bend to his will, it was a price he was willing to pay to keep little Ella safe.