Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 264: Extortion Call

Kidnappers called?

Without a word, Qin Yong dashed out of the surveillance room.

"You stay here and watch!"

Ren Qiang shouted and rushed out following Qin Yong.

The surveillance room was located in the basement level of the hotel, but fortunately, there was an employee elevator right outside the door.

However, seeing the elevator was on the nineteenth floor and still going up, Qin Yong didn’t hesitate and headed straight for the stairs.

Xu Zhe’s room was on the ninth floor, so climbing up wouldn’t take too long.

Ren Qiang followed Qin Yong, running towards the stairs as well.

Though Qin Yong had been a leader for years and seldom went on-site, his earlier training still held.

Climbing nine floors wasn’t too challenging for him.

It was just that he was too anxious, and his breathing became labored.

Ren Qiang’s stamina was evidently better than Qin Yong’s; although he was also breathing heavily, it wasn’t too intense.

By the time they reached the ninth floor, Sun Jun’s team was already waiting at the door.

Upon seeing the two of them coming up, they hurriedly waved.

Gently opening the door, Qin Yong and Ren Qiang rushed inside.

But they were ultimately a step too late.

The speakerphone on the coffee table was on, only the beeping hang-up sound remained.

"How is it?"

Without wasting words, Sun Jun handed the phone to Qin Yong: "I didn’t say a word, it’s all recorded."

Qin Yong nodded, took the phone, and opened the video that had just been recorded.

"Xu Zhe, it’s Liu Bai."

At the beginning of the call, there was no sound from the kidnapper, but Liu Bai’s voice.

Qin Yong looked at Xu Zhe, whose face was pale and body still trembling: "Are you sure that’s Liu Bai’s voice?"

"Ah?..."

Xu Zhe was clearly not yet recovered from the fear of the ransom call.

Qin Yong didn’t rush, as Sun Jun circled the coffee table, patting Xu Zhe on the shoulder.

"Calm down, we’re here. Captain Qin is asking you if the voice just now was Liu Bai himself?"

"Ah..."

Feeling Sun Jun’s composure, Xu Zhe calmed down a bit, took a deep breath, and looked at Qin Yong: "Yes, it was Liu Bai’s voice."

"Are you sure?"

Xu Zhe nodded: "I’m sure, I’ve worked with him for over ten years, I wouldn’t mistake his voice for anything."

Qin Yong nodded, then continued playing the video.

"I’ve been kidnapped, they want money..."

"Alright, Mr. Liu Bai, after your long journey, why don’t you rest a bit, and let me talk to Mr. Xu."

A childlike voice interrupted Liu Bai.

Evidently, the other side used some sort of voice changer.

"Mr. Xu, I’m sorry to inform you, Mr. Liu Bai is in our hands."

"Eighty million, my demand isn’t high; within three days, prepare eighty million in cash, otherwise in untraceable old bills."

"Eighty... million... I... I don’t have that much money, Liu Bai... Liu Bai doesn’t either."

"That’s not my concern."

"Eighty million, within three days, if you can gather eighty million within three days, Mr. Liu Bai can make it back to Haizhou for the concert."

"If we don’t receive it... I’m sorry, Mr. Liu Bai’s fans will never hear his songs again."

"And Mr. Xu, you’ll be out of a job."

The video ended, and the call hung up.

"Anyone have thoughts on this?"

Handing the phone to Sun Jun, Qin Yong sat on the sofa, frowning deeply.

"Although the kidnapper’s voice was altered, it still revealed plenty of information."

Sun Jun, having been present throughout, had the most authority to speak, even though he hadn’t talked to the kidnappers.

"Oh? Go on."

"First, the other side might already know that Xu Zhe reported to the police."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because the kidnapper didn’t tell Xu Zhe not to call the police during the call."

"Moreover, the kidnapping of Liu Bai happened last night, and this morning," Sun Jun looked at the time on his phone: "it’s almost noon now, and only now did they call, indicating they don’t care if the police are involved."

"Additionally, I suspect there are people from their side monitoring around the hotel."

Qin Yong nodded, agreeing with Sun Jun’s analysis.

"Anything else?"

"Eighty million!"

Sun Jun nodded: "Why do the kidnappers want eighty million, not ten million, not a hundred million?"

Sun Jun looked at Xu Zhe: "Mr. Xu, since Liu Bai’s debut, you’ve been with him, you’re most familiar with Mr. Liu Bai’s net worth over the years."

Xu Zhe gave a bitter smile: "Liu Bai’s fortune... just happens to be eighty million."

Hmm?

Everyone looked towards Xu Zhe.

Liu Bai’s fortune was just eighty million, and that’s exactly what the kidnappers demanded?

"Did Liu Bai... tell the kidnappers?"

"Impossible."

Xu Zhe shook his head: "Over the years, Liu Bai has made a lot of money, especially right after his debut."

"Originally, his net worth was more, but after terminating the original company’s contract, he paid a hefty penalty."

"Later, due to being blacklisted for a while, he managed to amass only this much."

"But I was the one managing and investing his money. He only cares about singing and creating, and is quite indifferent about financial matters."

"So, he’s not really aware of how much money he has."

This causes a problem.

If Liu Bai himself isn’t clear about how much money he has, how do the kidnappers know so accurately?

When Liu Bai was first kidnapped, Bang Jian, Qin Yong, and others immediately suspected there might be an inside source.

After all, Liu Bai’s trip to Haizhou City, including his accommodation, was not disclosed to the public.

For a celebrity, such information is meant to be confidential.

Otherwise, the hotel would be overrun by fans.

So, how did the kidnappers know Liu Bai was staying at the Haotai Hotel?

And they knew exactly which room he was staying in.

They could even prepare a video replacement.

Clearly, someone already leaked Liu Bai’s itinerary earlier.

And now, even Liu Bai’s entire net worth has been completely exposed.

This is what Sun Jun’s group is investigating.

Before they could make headway, the kidnapper’s call further confirmed Qin Yong and the others’ suspicions.

"Besides you, who else knows about Liu Bai’s financial situation?"

"Well... there are seven people in our line of work, except for the two younger ones, the rest have been with Liu Bai since the beginning."

"This matter isn’t really a secret. Besides me, three others are aware."

Qin Yong gave Sun Jun a look, and naturally, the other understood, these few are the focus.

Of course, Xu Zhe can’t be ruled out either.

The idea of a thief crying thief happens every day.

"Anything else, any other opinions?"

"I have a question."

Ren Qiang had been listening, finally speaking up.

"First, when the kidnapper interrupted Liu Bai, he mentioned being tired from travel."

"Does that imply, after Liu Bai was kidnapped, the kidnappers used a car to take him away, and by saying tired from travel, do they mean they have been driving since yesterday till now?"

At the very least, they’ve been driving for two or three hours.

Hmm?

This point is quite significant.

They left by car, and they’ve been driving for so long, where did they go?

"Go on!"