However, The Mitchell Family and Jardine Matheson demanded that the police department must do something.

Ethan Brooks sat at The Mitchell Family, waiting for the kidnappers to call—was this considered investigating a case?

At noon, Andrew Carter received orders to keep a close watch on 24th Road.

Not only 24th Road, but the entire British concession was mobilized.

At the same time, Andrew Carter was given a photo of Paul Mitchell. In fact, he already knew Paul Mitchell, but had never spoken to him before.

Taking advantage of lunchtime, he gathered his twelve subordinates and handed them the photo to study carefully.

The Mitchell Family was a prominent family on 24th Road; some of the older patrolmen had also seen Paul Mitchell before.

Claisenqi demanded that the case be solved within seven days.

He asked Ethan Brooks directly whether the case could be solved in seven days. If not, he would assign someone else to handle it.

Ethan Brooks was already a very proud person. Provoked by Claisenqi, he immediately patted his chest and guaranteed that the culprit would be caught within seven days.

Having made such a pledge, the pressure on Ethan Brooks increased. Catching the culprit within seven days—if he failed, being reprimanded by his superiors was a minor issue; losing face as the great Detective Wen would be far worse.

However, Andrew Carter felt no such pressure. He clocked out when his shift ended.

During working hours, he could cooperate with the detective division’s investigation. But after work, he would go about his own business as usual.

This kind of investigation wouldn’t yield results in just a day or two.

Even if everyone worked overtime, pulling all-nighters, they might not find the culprit.

Even though Andrew Carter had seen some suspicious people yesterday evening, he couldn’t conclude that Paul Mitchell had been kidnapped by them.

After work, Andrew Carter didn’t go straight back to the dormitory. Instead, still in uniform, he went to Kangbo South Road.

Going from 24th Road to Gordon Hall via Kangbo South Road was indeed a detour.

But Andrew Carter did this on purpose—he hoped David Bolton would see him.

Last night, Andrew Carter had barely slept. He kept pondering the question: how could he determine David Bolton’s true identity?

Today’s police operation had alarmed the entire British concession. It was said to be a move to “startle the snake in the grass,” hoping to scare the kidnappers out.

Andrew Carter wanted to follow suit, so he deliberately didn’t change out of his uniform and swaggered into Ren’an Lane.

When passing by Guangfa Hotel, Andrew Carter intentionally slowed his pace, looking around and glancing at the photo in his hand from time to time, as if he were still investigating.

At that moment, David Bolton was indeed at Guangfa Hotel, sitting right behind the counter.

Seeing Andrew Carter appear on the street, he nervously slipped from behind the counter and hurried up to the second floor.

In front of Andrew Carter, David Bolton used the name “Wu Zhiren” and hadn’t revealed his real occupation.

If Andrew Carter suddenly barged in and they ran into each other, it would be awkward.

Andrew Carter didn’t know if he had achieved his goal, but as long as David Bolton didn’t reveal his identity, he would keep passing by here from time to time.

But according to Andrew Carter’s analysis, if David Bolton really had ulterior motives, he would probably have noticed him today.

After returning to the dormitory, he still didn’t see his roommate Brian Foster. Andrew Carter didn’t mind; after changing out of his uniform, he prepared to head to the Chinese district.

William Thompson was his teacher. Even if they were seen together, it wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

David Bolton hid behind the curtain on the second floor, secretly observing Andrew Carter.

Only after Andrew Carter left did he breathe a sigh of relief, immediately slipping out the back door—he had to report to Sophie Harris at once.

David Bolton was indeed a bit flustered. Andrew Carter showing up at Ren’an Lane and outside Guangfa Hotel today was definitely unusual.

If Andrew Carter were just an ordinary person, passing through Ren’an Lane could be considered a coincidence.

But Andrew Carter was not an ordinary person—he was police-trained, and they had just met. For him to suddenly appear outside Guangfa Hotel today—if there was nothing going on, that would be suspicious.

David Bolton was able to serve as the liaison for the Military Statistics Bureau’s Haigu Station because he was a clever person.

Andrew Carter’s appearance at Ren’an Lane indicated one thing: he might already know that he wasn’t “Wu Zhiren,” and might even know his real identity.

If that was the case, David Bolton felt he should be honest with Andrew Carter.

“Chief, I think Andrew Carter appeared at Ren’an Lane on purpose,” David Bolton said firmly. The fact that Andrew Carter could find Guangfa Hotel made him both nervous and gratified.

On balance, he felt more gratified than nervous. After all, it was he who had discovered Andrew Carter; the better Andrew Carter performed, the more it proved his own discernment.

“What’s going on with you?” Sophie Harris frowned deeply after hearing David Bolton’s report.

David Bolton was the liaison for the Military Statistics Bureau’s Haigu Station, and had been in Haigu since the twenty-first year of the Republic, making him a veteran in the intelligence service. Andrew Carter was just a newcomer—how could he possibly have uncovered David Bolton’s background?

“It was my carelessness,” David Bolton said, bowing his head in shame.

Kangbo South Road’s Ren’an Lane was several li from 24th Road. He thought Andrew Carter would just go back to the dormitory to rest after work. Even if he wanted to go out at night, he wouldn’t pass through Ren’an Lane.