Chapter 5: Autonomy

After getting the CCTV footage, Jia and Huojin carefully studied it. Two men came out and forcibly dragged the little girl into their van. It was a typical white van and the plate number was slightly obscured, but it was still manageable to read the number.

"Run the plates against our system. They could be very well fake, but we will do a check anyway. Where did the van go next?" Jia asked.

Officer Xiyang scrolled over to the next footage and said, "Towards the Second Ring Road."

"Second Ring?" Huojin widened his eyes. "That's one of the busiest traffic hubs that encircles the city center. These kidnappers have some nerve to head there when committing a crime in broad daylight."

They kept following the road surveillance filled with rows of cars, trucks, and shops until they saw the van heading towards the parking garage of a less crowded, residential area.

Huojin grabbed his cap and said, "I will quickly head to the location with some officers."

"But we cannot be reckless," Jia uttered in a heavy voice. She looked at Mingshen and asked, "Did Bojing see anything that can be helpful?"

He lazily smiled and said, "Four people in the van. Two who grabbed the girl, one driver and another sitting on the passenger seat. The kidnapper beside the driver seemed to be feeling a little hot in the van so he had slightly pulled up his mask, revealing a trace of some tattoo. It looked like a tail of some sort."

Jia furrowed her brows, feeling odd.

Why did four men come to kidnap a little girl?

Huojin said, "Will keep a lookout for that tattoo while I am there. You coming Jia?"

She shook her head. "I need to talk to the girl's family. They would need some confidence and comfort that their daughter will be fine. Also, I want answers if this is a random kidnapping for ransom or somebody planned it. You go ahead."

"I will keep you updated."

Huojin called his team and sped off towards the location while Jia made her way to meet the girl's family.

—

There was only one woman present in the school who looked to be in her early thirties. Her eyes and face were swollen red as her tears refused to stop. She faced the school's principal, roaring at the authorities with anger and resentment. "How did this happen! Isn't it your job to protect my daughter? Then how come some random men k-kidnapped her…"

Her voice was shaking and losing its spirit. She could barely remain standing on her feet.

"Miss. Wenqian, please calm down. We have already informed the police," The principal anxiously said.

Her brow twitched, her fury rising further. "Police? I don't need the cops' help! I just want my Danya back! How could your guards let a child go out of school alone just like that!? Where is this school's responsibility!"

She pointed her trembling finger at them, her wet eyes burning with animosity. "If anything…anything happens to my daughter, I will sue this school!"

"Mam, I will take full responsibility," he bowed, "It's a shame on this school's reputation that such a crime happened. But the cops will be here at any moment! They will definitely rescue-"

"I don't need the cops!"

"Yes, you do, Mam," Jia's voice echoed from the back as she stepped into the principal's office with Mingshen happily hopping behind her. Naturally his presence irked her, but she kept her calm.

She took off her cap and faced her. "I am Superitendent Song Jia. Your daughter's kidnapping case was reported just some time ago. Rest assured. We already got the location and have dispatched a team to-"

Wenqian narrowed her eyes. "I don't need your help."

Jia blinked. "Sorry?"

Mingshen raised his brow with interest.

"I said I don't need your help or the police's help for that matter."

Jia widened her eyes. "Mam, this is a criminal case, and your daughter's life is at stake. We will do everything we can to save her."

"No you won't. The police won't interfere in my matter."

What is wrong with her? Why would she refuse to have our help?

Jia watched her closely. "Mam, is there anybody threatening you-"

"No. Nobody is threatening me. But this case is outside your jurisdiction," Wenqian firmly said.

"Huh? I am sorry, but I am pretty sure that there is no jurisdiction problem here."

She glared at her. "There is. Danya and I are from Huayuan."

The school principal slightly coughed, averting his eyes. His sense of slight awkwardness came from the fact that Huayuan was not only Beijing's but the whole of China's most popular and well-known red-light district.

Huayuan was its name. It wasn't just a mere district but akin to a whole city in itself.

Naturally, Jia was aware of the place too. But she couldn't understand how it was related to the jurisdiction problem.

But Mingshen could.

"Ah this could be a problem," he whispered to himself, which Jia clearly heard but had no time to question him.

Wenqian noticed Jia's confusion. "I see the officer here doesn't know."

"Doesn't know what?"

"That Beijing's Public Security Bureau doesn't handle any cases related to Huayuan. Huayuan has full autonomy. The police never interfere with anything happening at Huayuan, and your laws don't apply to us."

Jia stared at her.

Autonomy? Like…self-government?

"That's not possible. Huayuan and the people living there fall under Beijing's law and enforcement. There is no way that that place would have a separate governing system."

Wenqian snorted. "Guess your higher ups didn't give their underlings the required pep talk. But then again, when has your so-called police force ever acknowledged our existence, especially when it's related to 'disgusting and loose' people like me?" She gave a bitter smile.

She walked away, giving a stern warning to Jia. "So stay away from this case. Huayuan take care of their own people. We don't need you. We won't ever need you."

Before Jia could ponder over this new fact laid upon her, her phone rang with Huojin's call.

"Bad news Jia. We found the van, but there is no sign of those kidnappers or the girl anywhere."

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