The weapon by the pillow

Chapter 70 Liu Li! That hanged ghost—! She's over there—!

Cheng Tan looked miserable, head down, being "escorted" downstairs by Cheng Jing and Chen Ming, one on each side.

The stairwell of the old apartment building was dimly lit, and the footsteps of a few people echoed softly in the empty corridor.

click, click, click...

Cheng Tan could feel that Cheng Jing's hand holding his arm was very steady, but the temperature of her fingertips was a little cold.

Chen Ming followed a little behind, his steps slightly hesitant, his breathing heavier than usual, and his eyes warily scanning the shadows around the corners of the stairs.

Cheng Tan lowered his head, staring at the cracks in the steps in front of him, and moved his feet as if resigned to his fate.

However, beneath this seemingly submissive posture, his right wrist subtly and almost imperceptibly twisted, and the fingers of his left hand, which were handcuffed together, quietly grasped the edge of the palm of Cheng Jing's hand that was gripping his right arm.

Cheng Jing's hand stiffened slightly, but she did not loosen it.

Cheng Tan's fingers began to lightly trace across her palm. It wasn't writing, but rather rhythmic touches and pauses.

At first, there were just irregular scratches, like nervous, unconscious movements. But soon, the rhythm became clear—short clicks, slightly longer presses, and distinct pauses.

Morse code. The simplest short code combination.

Cheng Tan had participated in the radio club in college and learned some basics. He never expected to use them at this time.

"Monitoring...more..." He tapped the keys, conveying the message with the simplest combination of letters.

Cheng Jing's hand muscles tensed for a moment, then relaxed.

Her steps remained unchanged, steadily walking downwards as if she felt nothing at all.

But her grip on Cheng Tan's arm tightened almost imperceptibly, and her fingertips lightly tapped his arm three times.

clear.

She also responded.

Immediately afterwards, Cheng Jing slightly adjusted the angle of her fingers and tapped the back of Cheng Tan's handcuffed left hand with her fingertips in a lighter but more distinct rhythm.

Her tapping was faster and more professional.

"The car is in danger."

Three words, short and powerful.

The car was in danger? Cheng Tan's heart skipped a beat. Did it mean the car that came to pick them up downstairs might have been tampered with? Had a listening device been installed? Or... was there something wrong with the driver?

He remembered Cheng Jing saying earlier that she had contacted the car and the driver... Could he be one of their people? Arranged by Yang Hong? Or... a pawn planted by a deeper force?

"Go. Where." Cheng Tan's fingers traced across her palm again, this time not a password, but the simplest strokes, outlining the two characters. His movements were light and slow, ensuring that only touch could perceive them.

Cheng Jing fell silent.

The stairs have reached the third floor corner.

From behind a half-open door on the second floor, Cheng Tan seemed to catch a glimpse of a blurry shadow flash by out of the corner of his eye, as if someone was spying through the crack in the door. But he didn't turn around; the panic and flush on his face, a result of being forced into a trap, became even more pronounced, and his breathing became rapid, as if he were truly terrified to the extreme.

A few seconds later, Cheng Jing's fingers finally tapped on the back of his hand again.

"Get rid of them."

She wanted to shake off any possible stalking and surveillance! Including the car and driver downstairs!

Cheng Tan's mind raced. Cheng Jing's decision was bold, but it also meant she judged the situation to be so critical that conventional methods could no longer guarantee safety. She chose to trust his warning as a "suspect" and decided to take unconventional action.

But how do they get rid of him? In broad daylight, in a neighborhood likely teeming with informants, two police officers are escorting a handcuffed "fugitive"?

Cheng Tan's fingers moved rapidly across Cheng Jing's palm, no longer asking questions, but conveying an idea.

He drew very quickly, with overlapping strokes, making it almost messy.

As Cheng Jing walked, she sensed the surroundings, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. Her expression gradually shifted from cold and stern to serious, and finally, a hint of surprise and hesitation flashed across her face.

Her steps unconsciously slowed down a beat.

Cheng Tan's idea... was too risky.

But it seems to be the only possible way to break the deadlock at present.

Finally, as they were about to reach the platform between the first and second floors, Cheng Jing took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. She tapped her hand, which was gripping Cheng Tan's arm, three more times with her fingertips.

agree.

Then, she released Cheng Tan's hand, quickly took out her phone from her pocket, looked down and operated it with one hand, her thumb rapidly tapping the screen a few times to send several pre-set text messages.

This action is natural, like checking the time or information.

Chen Ming noticed Cheng Jing looking at her phone from behind. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but when he saw Cheng Jing's cold profile, he swallowed his words.

The group continued downwards.

They walked down the last step, through the dimly lit first-floor lobby, where the slightly glaring sunlight shone in from outside the unit door.

After last night's heavy rain, the morning sun was unusually bright, and the air was still moist and fresh.

On the old residential streets, there were few pedestrians. A few elderly people sat chatting under the shade of trees, and the faint shouts of breakfast vendors could be heard in the distance.

A black sedan without any police markings was parked on the side of the road. The car was ordinary, like a typical ride-hailing vehicle or private car. The driver's side window was half open, and the expressionless middle-aged driver was looking down at his phone.

The two plainclothes police officers who got out first stood by the car. When they saw Cheng Jing and the others come out, they immediately stood up straight and gave each other a look to indicate that everything was normal.

Cheng Jing led Cheng Tan towards the car. Chen Ming followed closely behind.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

However, just three or four meters away from the car—

"Ouch!" Cheng Jing suddenly stumbled!

She felt as if she had stepped on a wet, slippery piece of fruit peel that had rolled in from somewhere, and her body suddenly tilted to the right!

She gasped and instinctively reached out to grab the arm of Chen Ming, who was right next to her!

Caught off guard, Chen Ming also lost his balance due to the sudden force. The two collided and staggered several steps to the side before barely managing to stand up, looking quite disheveled.

And at the very instant Cheng Jing let go and her body slumped over—

Having been "ignored" for a moment, Cheng Tan suddenly jerked his arm away!

His arm, which had been tightly gripped by Cheng Jing, was suddenly freed!

Without the slightest hesitation, like a rabbit cornered in a desperate situation, he unleashed astonishing speed and agility!

Instead of rushing into the depths of the alley or any pre-planned "escape route," he abruptly turned around, facing the black sedan and the two plainclothes policemen. His face showed an expression of extreme terror and near-madness, and he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Arrest her! Liu Li! That hanged woman! She's over there!!!"

His voice was shrill and piercing, exploding in the quiet street with a hysterical realism, but his finger pointed in the exact opposite direction from the black sedan—to the side of the apartment building, at the entrance of a narrow alleyway piled with clutter and garbage cans!

Has Liu Li... appeared?

The shout and the sudden accusation stunned everyone!

Even the white-haired old man who was holding a tablet and watching the police arrest criminals with great interest was stunned!