Chapter 5

I leaned against the wall, my voice laced with sarcasm. "If some VIP loses a watch, you’d tear apart the whole city to find it. But a living, breathing child, for seven whole days, and not a single clue?"

Officer Miller fell silent at my accusation.

"Ms. Lee, maybe your daughter is closer than you think?"

I froze for a moment, unable to immediately grasp his meaning.

My daughter's last known location was here, but I'd scoured every closet, every bathroom, every corner. There was no trace of her.

"The entire area is covered by surveillance, except for the bathrooms. We suspect your daughter might have been taken through a bathroom."

"Ms. Lee, surrender! The police will uncover the truth."

Bathroom, bathroom.

I carefully thought about the bathroom's layout. The preschool bathrooms were unisex, with only two small stalls and a tiny exhaust fan.

I looked in the direction of the bathrooms, feeling a strange sense of unease.

But I just couldn't pinpoint what felt odd.

I licked my dry lips. "Ten minutes left. I just want results. If you don't find my daughter, they'll all die with her."

Officer Miller's eyes were squeezed shut. A detective gave a subtle signal to the sniper behind them, indicating that if an opportunity arose, they should take the shot.

"If my daughter disappeared in the bathroom, then there must be a secret passage connecting the bathroom to the outside, right, officers? I hope you find it soon. Even if you arrest me, it'll be worth it."

I had also suspected that my daughter was taken from the bathroom.

But that would require a secret passage, and it would leave clues.

But I was just an ordinary woman. What I couldn't find, I naturally had to leave to the professionals.

I lowered my gaze. Now, everything was going according to plan.

The second hand on my watch spun relentlessly. I beckoned a small girl over.

I smiled. "Chloe, want to play a game with Ms. Lee?"

0

Five minutes remained. The police were still making futile pleas.

Officer Miller's throat was raw. "Ms. Lee, please don't rush! Police forces from across the city are deployed, all helping to find your child!"