“You’re the liaison officer—can you really afford to be careless?” Sophie Harris said with annoyance. David Bolton was responsible for external communications; if his identity and whereabouts were discovered, the Military Statistics Bureau would have nowhere to hide in the British concession.

“I’ll be twice as careful from now on,” David Bolton replied. The British concession was outside Chinese jurisdiction; as long as the Military Statistics Bureau didn’t commit any crimes, the British police would actually protect them.

“The situation in Haigu is pressing. The Japanese are restless, their ambition to destroy us undying. Some people opposed to the principal are conspiring against the party and the country. We have a heavy burden ahead,” Sophie Harris said earnestly.

“That’s why I’m thinking—should I make direct contact with Andrew Carter?” David Bolton asked. According to standard procedure, he should spend more time getting to know Andrew Carter, testing his true attitude before broaching the subject.

“You mean, reveal your identity to Andrew Carter?” Sophie Harris was slightly surprised. David Bolton was a veteran, yet when dealing with the newcomer Andrew Carter, he wasn’t following the usual playbook.

“I believe the time is ripe,” David Bolton insisted.

“If he learns your identity and doesn’t join us?” Sophie Harris asked. After all, Andrew Carter was young—who knew what he might think? Admitting to being with the Military Statistics Bureau in front of him was a big risk.

“I trust that Andrew Carter won’t do that,” David Bolton said with conviction after a brief pause.

If Andrew Carter were truly impulsive and hot-tempered, he would have stormed into the Guangfa Hotel today.

Andrew Carter didn’t come in; he only showed his face outside, which showed he wasn’t impulsive. Judging by his behavior in the British concession, he also displayed a maturity and steadiness beyond his years.

Even in the worst-case scenario, even if Andrew Carter knew he was with the Military Statistics Bureau, he would just turn a blind eye.

Chapter Six: Conversation

Andrew Carter had no idea that his attempt to stir things up had already achieved the intended effect.

After leaving Ren’an Lane on Campbell Road, Andrew Carter was still thinking about a task William Thompson had given him.

Since he had some free time today, he needed to get it done.

He went to Oxford Villas. As a police inspector, he naturally knew which areas in the British concession had the best security.

The rent at Oxford Villas was high, but most of the residents were British. Even the Chinese who lived there were all prominent figures.

As a result, the police patrolled that area very strictly, and petty criminals didn’t dare go near.

If important party cadres lived there, there would be no security concerns.

To conduct an on-site inspection, Andrew Carter even went to take a look at Villa No. 3.

He had learned that Villa No. 3 was currently vacant.

Oxford Villas had about a dozen courtyards, each a standalone villa with different uses for each floor.

The basement was for parking; the first floor was the living room; the second floor was the bedrooms; the third floor was for storing furniture and miscellaneous items.

It was said that some wealthy families living there would change the furniture every season.

The restroom in each courtyard was located on the mezzanine between the second and third floors, and there was a back door in the restroom. Down a few steps from there was a small room—the servant’s quarters.

After personally inspecting Oxford Villas and changing out of his police uniform back at the dormitory, Andrew Carter went to the Chinese district.

After contacting William Thompson, he gave him a detailed report on Oxford Villas.

“Alright, I’ll report it to the higher-ups,” William Thompson replied noncommittally.

Whether or not the organization chose Oxford Villas, Andrew Carter couldn’t be told for now—not because they didn’t trust him, but for everyone’s safety.

What you shouldn’t know, you don’t need to know. That was the party’s secrecy discipline. Everyone, including William Thompson, had to strictly abide by the party’s confidentiality rules.

“There’s one more thing. Last night, there was a kidnapping at No. 24 Sun Zhuling’s house on Road 24. His younger brother, Sun Baoquan, was taken and there’s been no word since,” Andrew Carter said.

William Thompson was the chief staff member of the pretrial section at the Haigu Public Security Bureau, dealing with criminals and all kinds of cases every day.

Andrew Carter wanted to hear William Thompson’s opinion on this case.

“I’ve already heard about it,” William Thompson said slowly.

If the victim had been an ordinary businessman, the news wouldn’t have spread so quickly.

But Sun Zhuling was a comprador for Jardine Matheson, a highly influential figure among the Chinese in the British concession. With his family kidnapped, it naturally attracted attention from all sides.

“Teacher Li, who do you think did it?” Andrew Carter asked. Clayson had already ordered the case to be solved within seven days.

Although the case had been assigned to Wen Xiufeng, it had happened in his jurisdiction.

If possible, Andrew Carter hoped to solve the case himself.

“So, you want to handle this case?” William Thompson smiled.

Andrew Carter had indeed done well at the police academy, but now he was just a patrolman.

Besides, theory alone wasn’t enough—practical experience was necessary.

In kidnapping cases like this, if the perpetrators were outsiders, the chances of solving it were slim.

The most feasible approach was to wait for the kidnappers to demand ransom, then follow the trail and catch them all at once.

“The case happened in my jurisdiction, of course I want to give it a try.” Andrew Carter met William Thompson’s gaze, showing the fearless spirit of a young calf unafraid of tigers.