chapter748

The police had been executing a rigorous crackdown for over a month, and today, their efforts finally culminated in a massive success. They had uncovered a significant cultivation site hidden deep within the mountains, seizing raw materials and confiscating two tons of illicit goods. As the lead on the case, Daniel was completely submerged in the aftermath.

Among those apprehended was Clement, a primary investor in the local film and television production base. In the sterile, cramped environment of the interrogation room, Clement sat with an eerie composure, refusing to utter a single word despite his lawyer's frantic attempts to secure bail.

"Clement, silence isn't the shield you think it is," Daniel urged, his voice steady despite the long hours. "The evidence we’re processing is substantial. Whether you cooperate or not, the conviction is coming. Telling the truth is the only leverage you have left."

Clement didn't flinch. Instead, he offered a thin, calm smile that didn't reach his eyes. He remained a statue of indifference until a sudden knock broke the tension.

Finley swung the door open, his face pale. "Captain Morrison, I need you outside. Now."

As Daniel turned to leave, Clement finally spoke, his voice dropping into a chillingly casual tone. "Daniel, I’m just an investor. I have no connection to your mountain secrets. You’ll have to release me eventually."

Daniel’s expression darkened, but he didn't give Clement the satisfaction of a reply. He stepped into the hallway, shutting the door on Clement’s icy smirk.

"What is it, Finley?" Daniel asked, his brow furrowing as he noticed his colleague’s agitation. "Felix is here," Finley whispered. "He’s reporting a missing person."

The blood drained from Daniel’s face. He didn't wait for further explanation; he dashed toward the reporting area, pulling his phone from his pocket. He had kept it off all day to focus on the raid. As the screen flickered to life, a deluge of missed calls and frantic messages flooded in.

He found Felix in the waiting area, looking broken and distressed. "Captain Morrison—"

"What happened to Sienna?" Daniel demanded, his voice tight with panic.

Felix’s eyes were rimmed with red. "She went out for groceries this morning and never came back. We found her electric scooter abandoned by the roadside, but... she’s just gone."

A nearby officer interjected, tapping on a computer screen. "Captain, we’ve just pulled the preliminary surveillance. You need to see this."

Daniel leaned over the desk, his hands flat on the surface as he scrutinized the grainy footage. It had been ten hours. Ten hours of silence.

"Have there been any ransom calls?" Daniel asked, turning back to Felix.

Felix shook his head. "Nothing. My mother is a wreck; she’s been inconsolable since we found the scooter."

"Why did you wait ten hours to report this?" Daniel’s voice rose, a flash of fury masking the terror beneath.

Felix looked down, guilt etched into his features. "I thought... I thought she had just lost track of time or gone to see a friend. It wasn't until a neighbor brought us her keys—still attached to the abandoned scooter—that I realized how wrong I was."

Daniel pressed his palm against his forehead, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. Sienna was the most disciplined, composed person he knew; she would never simply abandon her belongings or leave her family in the dark. As the realization of the danger she was in took hold, Daniel looked back toward the interrogation room where Clement sat.

The successful raid felt like a hollow victory now. The clock was ticking, and the silence in the mountains had followed him home.