Empire of Shadows

Lance White.

The Lance Family.

In a daze, Police Captain Matthew reacted. He was stunned for a moment, and his tense body slowly relaxed.

Lance could hear the sound of skin rubbing against skin as he rubbed his cheeks through the receiver. He must be very haggard.

”They are innocent, they did not participate in our operation, you shouldn’t do this!”, these were the words spoken by Police Captain Matthew after rubbing his cheeks for a while.

The fact that Lance could call here meant that some things had already become a foregone conclusion.

He wanted to awaken... Lance’s possible mercy, of course, this was just what he longed for, ”Let them go, if you have something, come at me!”

Lance’s voice was as calm as when he had just answered the phone, ”Those drivers, and our young lads, are also innocent.”

The flatter the tone, at this time, the heavier the weight.

Police Captain Matthew couldn’t help but say, ”They were transporting illegal goods, they are criminals!””You see, Police Captain Matthew, people are like this.”

”People always like to stand in a place that is beneficial to them, and refuse to let others get close.”

”I’ve heard a very interesting saying—”

”When you meet a scoundrel, you reason with him, and he talks about morality with you.”

”When you talk about morality with him, he talks about fists with you.”

”When you raise your fists, he tells you again to be reasonable.”

”Isn’t this the same as now?”

”Among those young lads, the youngest was only nineteen, it seems a year younger than your son.”

”When you killed him, did you ever consider his feelings?”

”Did you ever consider his family’s feelings?”

Police Captain Matthew actually couldn’t listen to it at all. If he could really listen, he wouldn’t have done those things.

He took a deep breath. Now his family needed him to save them. He had to pull himself together, ”What do you want?”

”To have me pay my debt?”

”Or to have me die?!”

He almost roared out in a suppressed voice, like a wounded beast!

Lance’s laughter came from the receiver, ”Your chief has talked to me. You should know the price I offered?”

”Money, and a life.”

”Originally, this matter was not so complicated, but you have complicated it.”

Lance’s voice gradually became calm again. A kind of indifference could be felt in his voice.

”Besides these, you still have to pay some other things to save your family’s lives.”

”Your children are very cute.”

Police Captain Matthew slumped in his chair. He tilted his head and looked at the azure sky outside the window. A flock of birds passed by the window. Seeing them soaring freely, on the contrary, made him feel panicked and irritable in his heart.

”What else do you want me to do?”, he asked.

Lance’s tone became a little gentler, ”Go... here, find a guy named John. He will tell you what to do.”

When he said this name, he thought of another John. What a terrible name.

This guy is Mayor Wade’s man. He will get some evidence from Police Captain Matthew’s side to use to attack the chief of the state police, and by the way, drag the lieutenant governor down with him.

Of course, this is just an ideal state. Even if Police Captain Matthew really has bombshell evidence, even if the chief of the state police also stands on Mayor Wade’s side, and is willing to help him deal with his former superior.

The governor will not allow Indeno State to fall into chaos because of these small matters. He will immediately intervene to stabilize the situation.

But having these is enough. Lance will achieve his purpose, and Mayor Wade will also get what he wants.

Police Captain Matthew did not yet know what kind of a game he was involved in, but as a piece in the game, besides obeying the arrangement of the player, he seemed to have no other way out.

Although he did not speak, he used a pen to record the address.

Neither of them spoke again. After about ten seconds, Lance took the initiative to say, ”That’s it then!”

”Police Captain Matthew, although we have not met, I will respect your choice, and I also hope that you can respect the choice you have made. Goodbye!”

Lance hung up very decisively. Police Captain Matthew also slowly hung up the phone.

He looked at the address recorded on the paper and was not completely disheartened. He believed that he still had a chance!

Just as he picked up the phone and was about to dial the chief’s number, the deputy chief of the police station pushed the door open and came in. ”Matthew, the state bureau has asked us to remove the roadblocks and let the vehicles pass.”

Police Captain Matthew’s hand had already hung up the phone and had just picked it up a little again, but his action was frozen at this second.

His mouth was slightly open, and his eyes were full of astonishment. ”What... did you say?”

”The roadblocks have been removed?”

The deputy chief nodded several times. ”It’s a request from the state bureau. I thought I should tell you about this.”

The matter of Police Captain Matthew’s family being kidnapped was already known to everyone in the section branch here. They also knew that the purpose of setting up checkpoints to check passing vehicles was to catch those kidnappers.

But now they were suddenly to be removed...

Police Captain Matthew’s face suddenly darkened. He nodded. ”I see.”

The deputy chief had originally wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing, turned and left, not forgetting to close the door properly.

Police Captain Matthew picked up the phone again and dialed the chief’s number. The call was quickly answered.

”They said you had the roadblocks removed.”

The moment the chief heard Police Captain Matthew’s voice, his expression immediately became a little annoyed. ”Yes, I gave the order.”

”Matthew, this matter is very tricky. The Secretary of State from the Likalai State side has called the governor to protest, saying that our stopping of the traffic has prevented some goods from entering Likalai State on time, and many merchants are protesting to them.”

”This matter has made the governor very passive, and then it was directly pressed on me. I don’t want to do this either, but I really have no choice!”

”I have already done my best to try. I’m sorry, Matthew, I have to stop.”

Police Captain Matthew, who had still held a trace of hope in his heart, his blood suddenly cooled down. He was even a little at a loss!

He asked, ”Then what about my family?”

The chief of the state police also had a headache at this time. He supported his temple with one hand and held the phone with the other, with an uncomfortable look. ”I will set up a special team to be in charge of this case.”

”I will personally select the most capable police officers on our side to form an investigation team, to ensure that they can bring your family back.”

”Don’t worry. I have told them that although we are withdrawing the posts, we will not withdraw the personnel. The police officers will still be on standby at any time, and will also strengthen the patrols on the interstate highway.”

”Once they find anyone calling for help, they will immediately intervene.”

”I promise, I will do my best to bring your family back!”

Under the immense pressure, Police Captain Matthew was already a little unable to hold on. ”How can you guarantee?”

”On what basis can you do your best?”

”Fuck!”

”They have used so much power to put pressure on us, which means that their men are still somewhere in Indeno State. As long as we continue to block the highway, they will definitely not be able to go back!”

”But you fucking want to open the door for them at this time, to send them out of the encirclement, and now you still want to promise me. How the fuck can you promise?”

Although Police Captain Matthew was indeed a bastard, and as a police officer, he often played the role of a robber, his professional ability was still worthy of recognition.

After all, for the lowest-level police officers, professional ability is an important factor that can determine their future.

But it is only at the lowest level that professional ability can show its value.

Because after reaching the middle level, what affects whether a person has a chance of being promoted is no longer how good this person is at solving cases, how much they know about their own work.

It’s whether they have the favor of the chief, whether there is someone who can speak a few words for their promotion, and whether they are willing to pay some price for the promotion.

It could be dignity, it could be wealth, it could be the bottom line, anything is possible.

Matthew did not have a special family background. He was from an ordinary urban family.

He was also an upright guy when he was young, and very enthusiastic.

After graduating from high school, he had taken the initiative to join the police academy. Because of his outstanding personal ability, he had only graduated after a year and a half, and had directly started as a police officer.

However, many unforeseen things had happened later, which had gradually turned him into another person.

Although he had become the kind of person he had disliked the most when he was young, the professional skills he had mastered were still there.

As soon as he heard the chief say these words, he knew that for the Secretary of State of Likalai State to protest at this time, he must have been entrusted by Lance.

It wasn’t because the road was blocked and there was a problem with the supplies, or that the factories would have to stop production without these supplies.

Their purpose was to let the besieged people of Lance leave in a grand manner!

Originally, Police Captain Matthew’s idea was to follow the interstate highway from Red Rock City to the east, and he would definitely be able to find a clue to those kidnappers.

There are not so many cars coming and going in the countryside. For some villages and towns, as long as there are foreign vehicles, you can find out with a single question. It would only take two or three days, five days at most, for them to check all these places along the way!

These people couldn’t run away at all!

But now, everything was developing in the worst possible direction. Once these roadblocks were removed, it meant that the kidnappers could leave at their leisure. Police Captain Matthew was really angry.

He stood up and walked back and forth a few steps. ”Can’t you fucking hold on for a bit?”

”I give you so much money every year. I need your help now, and you fucking tell me you’re under a lot of pressure?”

”Fuck!”

The chief of the state police on the other end of the line also became unhappy, and even angry.

”Don’t fucking use those dirty words when you’re talking to me. I’m your superior. You have to show me the most basic respect!”

Police Captain Matthew had also completely let go. ”To hell with your respect!”

”Fuck you!”

”Why didn’t you let me respect you when you were taking the money?”

In the chief’s office, which Police Captain Matthew could not see, the chief’s expression became a little ferocious. He did not like Police Captain Matthew’s tone at this moment, and also the words he had said.

He took the money because he deserved it. How much pressure had he borne for this group of fools?

What’s wrong with taking a little money?

”Matthew, remember your identity. I can understand that you are a little out of control now because your family has been kidnapped, but you have to find a way to calm down.”

”Anyway, this matter has no room for maneuver. I can’t refuse the governor’s request. I will notify you again when there is any new news.”

He hung up the phone as he spoke, and then sat in his chair with a grave face. He lit a cigarette and took a slow drag.

The smoke swirled around his face, making his expression look a little strange.

The words that Police Captain Matthew had just said on the phone had already given the chief the intention to kill!

It wasn’t because Police Captain Matthew had been cursing, and had been very specifically cursing him, but because Police Captain Matthew was losing his ability to think rationally!

This was very dangerous. This meant that once a certain switch was opened, he might, regardless of everything, spill everything he should and shouldn’t say!

This was a threat, a huge threat!

Although everyone knew that they had some not-so-appropriate ways of making money, otherwise a state police chief who only made seventy or eighty a month, on what basis could he wear a watch worth several thousand?

On what basis did he live in a detached house in a middle- to high-class community, and drive a car worth several thousand, and also let his two children go to college without a loan?

Everyone knew what was going on, but no one said it!

Just as a mayor, whose monthly salary was only a little over two hundred, on what basis could he live in a villa, drive a luxury car, and have a bank deposit of possibly over a million?

Everyone had come through this way. This was something that could be done, but could not be said.

Police Captain Matthew had completely lost his reason because of his family. To continue to let him talk nonsense, he would definitely cause a big trouble.

The chief had already made a decision in his heart. He picked up the phone again and dialed the number of the police radio station.

The highway patrol part of the state police would have a special high-power working radio station, because many times the highway patrol would be working on the section of the road.

Sometimes they would not come back at night and would have to stay on the interstate highway, so if there was something urgent, it was not easy to contact them.

There were no communication phones in this period, so the radio had become the best medium for one-way communication.

It was said that a new small interactive radio had already been produced, but it was unknown how long it would take before it was equipped on the cars.

The chief had the radio station insert a missing person notice. The radio station’s side did it directly.

This was also a message they often inserted, although most of the time it was of no use.

After the radio station’s side had arranged for the broadcast, the chief hung up the phone and then sat quietly.

At this time, on the road, about forty minutes away from Police Captain Matthew’s side, a police officer was driving a car with a tired look on his face.

He had driven all night with the gas pedal to the floor. A journey that would have taken more than twenty hours had only taken him a dozen or so.

After driving at a high speed for more than ten hours, his body and mind were in a state of serious fatigue. Now, as long as he stopped the car, he could immediately fall into a dream. He didn’t dare to stop.

At least not now.

At a time like this, the radio was the best companion for a driver’s friend. Some people said that listening to the radio while driving would make you lose focus, but in fact, there was one thing that could concentrate your attention in another way, and on the contrary, it was helpful in avoiding excessive fatigue and not being able to open your eyes.

”Now for a missing person announcement. The missing person is a female, named Alice...”

The moment he heard the name Alice, this police officer was instantly energized, as if he had been injected with a burst of energy out of thin air!

With more details of this missing Alice being revealed, his expression also underwent a subtle change.

This was an agreement he had made with the chief. If the chief had inserted this broadcast, then no matter what job he was currently performing, whether it was protection, investigation, or a search, it would all be changed to solving the target!

He licked his lips. The foot on the gas pedal was pressed even harder. The already fast car became even faster!

On the other side, Police Captain Matthew slammed down the phone and walked back and forth a few times. His gaze quickly fell on the address recorded on the table.

The chief’s side was unreliable. The only hope now was pinned on this address.

He gritted his teeth and made a decision. He put on his handgun and holster, took his car keys, and went out of the office.

He simply instructed the other police officers, saying that he was going out for business, and then drove away.

If others couldn’t help him, then he could only help himself!

He drove his own exclusive car onto the highway and stepped on the gas pedal in the direction of New Birmingham.

About ten minutes later, on the interstate highway, he saw a police car driving towards him from a distance.

And the ”police killer” on the opposite lane also noticed the police car on the opposite lane.

At first, he didn’t pay much attention, because there were police cars everywhere now. However, when the two sides were getting close, his gaze lingered on the face of the driver in that car for a very short moment, a very short time.

By the time he had reacted that this was his target, Police Captain Matthew’s car had already become very small in his rearview mirror.

The police killer suddenly turned the steering wheel. The car drove directly into the wasteland on the side of the road. He didn’t dare to go any deeper. He put it in reverse and went back to the road, and once again floored the gas pedal.

At the same time, he also placed his weapon in a place where he could easily reach it.

The two cars, one in front and one behind, were speeding on the interstate highway, and the distance between the two sides was closing at a very fast speed.

Police Captain Matthew had been thinking about things all along. It was not until the police car behind him had gotten close, and the engine was screaming, that he came back to his senses.

He glanced through the rearview mirror and immediately felt that something was not quite right, because it seemed that he had just passed by this car.

Does the other party have something to find me for?

He was not sure, so he slowed down, and was even looking to pull over to the side of the road.

And at this very moment, the car that was rapidly approaching him had already reached behind his car, and in the process of his pulling over, it rushed up from the left and drove side by side with him.

At this moment, Police Captain Matthew, through the car window, looked at the driver in the car opposite him, and at the same time, the driver in the car that was driving side by side with him also looked at him.

The two looked at each other through the car windows...