arly in the morning, heavy rain loudly crashed on the windows, the whole town was shrouded in the gloomy mist.
In the conference room of the district police station, all the police officers sat around the long black table, everybody was very serious.
The operation, this time, was very productive. Within few days, the police had arrested more than thirty suspects and rescued more than forty victims. However, “Brother Lu” was a needle in the haystack, still missing without a trace.
The province police instructed and issued arrest warrant provinces wide, to implement a large-scale hunt. The action team led by Ji Bai finished with their task had disbanded today, everybody had returned to their posts waiting for further instructions.
After the brief summary report, Ji Bai invited deputy director Liu to speak.
Deputy director Liu had always been known across the province for her vigorous and resolute personality. This time was no exception.
After affirming the achievements and values of the operation, this time, she changed the subject: “But our operation cannot be said to be successful, or even fall short in the last minute because of a negligence of a comrade, a criminal that the ministry of public security named “Brother Lu” escaped right in front of our eyes.”
Within the heavy rain that was like the sound of drums, the conference room appeared to become quieter.
Yao Meng sat straight, her face changed from red to white.
Liu Cheng’s gaze stopped on her, bluntly said: “Yao Meng, we made an exception for you and Xu Xu letting trainee participate in the operation because we were hoping that you will be able to play professional roles. However, “Brother Lu” was in your car, and you didn’t even notice, and moreover you let her go into the bathroom alone, from where she easily escaped. I can’t forgive this mistake. After going back, I will request your director, a need for punishment responsible for this matter. I hope you reflect and learn from experience and improve your professionalism, and never let a similar mistake from happening again.”
Yao Meng’s eyes filled with tears, and she lowered her head down: “Yes, deputy director Liu.”
Liu Cheng was the type of person to point at the wrongs instead of the person. After being criticized, seeing the little girls aggrieved look, more than half the irritation in her had already gone down. She turned to Ji Bai and said: “I’ve no more opinion, you may adjourn the meeting.”
JI Bai lifted his eyes to look at her, and said in the deep voice: “I do not agree about punishing Yao Meng.”
Everyone was quiet, there was only the sound of the rain from outside the window.
Yao Meng in trance looked up, watched Ji Bai with misty eyes. He sat not far from her, behind him was the dark sky outside the window, and his face was so calm and determined.
Liu Ying turned sullen. Ji Bai as if not seeing her expression continued to say slowly: “This matter happened not because of Yao Meng’s oversight but because she’s a trainee policeman, and lacks real life experience. Combining all her performance in this operation, I think her performance is basically good.”
The room turned even quieter, and the young police officers didn’t dare to even breath loudly, and all the old police officers expressions didn’t change as if not feeling the tense atmosphere.
At this time, Da Hu said in a low tone: “I agree with Ji Bai’s opinion.” Xu Xu nodded: “I also agree.” Her voice was crisper than Da Hu’s.
Yao Meng sat between the two of them, buried her head even lower.
Liu Ying glanced over them, and stared at Ji Bai: “As you say, who will be responsible for “brother Lu’s” escape?”
Ji Bai: “I’m the commander of the operation, if you want someone to be held accountable, I’ll be responsible for everything.”
Liu Ying threw the notebook on her hand on the table: “Ji Bai, do you think I won’t discipline you?”
Ji Bai turned silence with an indifferent expression. Others stayed silent, the tense atmosphere in the room turned to extreme instantly.
Suddenly, Yao Meng raised her head and chokingly said: “It’s my responsibility, discipline me. This has nothing to do with him… nothing to do with boss.”
The conference room became increasingly quiet, only the sound of Yao Meng’s sobs were heard.
At this, an official from province police laughed: “Look, you scared the little girl. Don’t cry anymore. Ji Bai, Liu Ying just wants to improve the quality of the police team from Lin city of yours by having such strict requirements. Up in the province, the one who praised you the most was deputy director Liu, how could she punish her little brother?” Ji Bai and Liu Cheng both graduated from criminal investigation department of the office of public security university and were considered to be from the same sect.
The official looked at Liu Ying: “I think what Ji Bai said is reasonable, how about we go back and discuss it later?”
Ji Bai nodded: “You’re ri