Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 687 Hospital
The police car covered a distance of over ten kilometers in just over ten minutes.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop in front of the emergency building, Chen Shu jumped out of the passenger seat. Having transported many victims and suspects to the ICU in the past, he knew the hospital like the back of his hand and ran straight to the emergency operating room.

Chen Chuan grabbed Zhu Yiba and asked them what they had done on the rooftop. He explained that when they left, the deputy captain of the criminal investigation team had a livid face, was clutching his cigarette case tightly, and spoke to people as if he were arguing.

The deputy branch captain's eyes, in particular, were glaring wide, almost spitting fire at the special police officers.

Zhu Yiba shrugged and didn't answer. The fewer people who know about this kind of thing, the better.

He watched Chen Shu's disappearing figure and sighed, realizing that once a person is determined, there's really nothing they won't do.

Just as Chen Shu rushed through the lobby on the first floor, his phone rang.

Throughout the journey, he didn't dare call Yang Chang to inquire about Xu Mingliang's situation. What he feared most was hearing someone else's phone ring. However, once he arrived here, he finally answered it.

"Okay, okay, I'm here, downstairs. Okay, I'll be right there." Chen Shu put down his phone. It was a call from Captain Li Da. Fortunately, he didn't hear any news about Xu Mingliang.

After learning from Yang Chang on the rooftop that Xu Mingliang had lost his heartbeat and breathing, Chen Shu, a veteran of many battles, was 90% certain of his sacrifice. So, after sending everyone else away, he decisively killed the murderer.

Some might think Chen Shu was foolish, because after a police officer was killed in a fire, a suspect would most likely face the death penalty. Therefore, there was no need for him to pull off a stunt that could jeopardize his career and even his life trajectory.

But in the end, he did make a move.

For a moment, Chen Shu suddenly felt that he had grasped the true thoughts and emotions of Yu Maiken, the captain of the Special Investigation Team, back in NJ.

His statement, "The Special Investigation Team has no prisoners," begs the question: how many members made substantial, bloody sacrifices to arrive at such a seemingly tough but ultimately deeply tragic rule?

It's a rule, a rule that could easily land you in jail if you're not careful.

They are the team leaders and are responsible for their teammates.

It's that simple.

When they arrived at the hospital operating room, Captain Li Da, Deputy Instructor Xie Chi, and Yang Chang were already waiting outside, their expressions solemn, even tinged with sadness.

"What's the situation now?" Chen Shu asked immediately about the injuries, lowering his voice so as not to disturb the doctors inside who were performing emergency treatment.

"I don't know, they're still being treated inside." Li Da shook his head, glanced at Chen Shu, whose face was full of anxiety, and hesitated before speaking.

"Sigh, his heart stopped beating and breathing stopped right there on the scene. How could he possibly be saved?" Yang Chang sighed, turning his head away from Chen Shu, probably still sulking, annoyed that the other party hadn't followed him to the hospital immediately.

The rescue lasted for an hour. The Zhengming Brigade's duty team rushed over, and the police officers on standby at home spontaneously came to the hospital. Even colleagues who were off duty gathered together to guard the entrance after hearing the news. Twenty or thirty people waited silently, with nothing to do but wait.

Nobody wants to chat or discuss cases at this time; nobody's in the mood.

People just smoked, occasionally glancing up at the surgical lights above the main entrance.

The red light above the operating room turned green, the door opened from the inside, and several doctors wearing masks walked out, shaking their heads.

"Feel sorry."

"We have done our best." This news pierced the hearts of the police officers present like a sharp knife. They could not accept this cruel reality; they were not prepared for the loss of their colleague.

Having served as the captain for over a decade, this was the first time Li Da had witnessed the sacrifice of a comrade-in-arms. At this moment, the burly special police captain seemed like a child, somewhat at a loss.

As the instructor, Xie Chi was busy contacting his superiors. After receiving their approval, he arranged for a car to go to Xu Mingliang's home to pick him up.

Chen Shu just stood there, clenching his teeth tightly, afraid that he would lose control if he relaxed even slightly. Every time he swallowed, his mouth felt bitter.

The atmosphere suddenly turned somber. A bleak autumn wind blew in through a half-open window at the end of the corridor, sweeping through the crowd and taking away the last warmth that people had left in their bodies and hearts.

Some doctors, nurses, and ordinary people passing by, seeing the police officers like this, also became cautious, walking quickly and lightly.

Soon after, Wang, the executive director of the municipal bureau, Zhang Xuming of the branch bureau, and leaders of various detachments all arrived.

Although the operation successfully completed the mission assigned by superiors, the perpetrators were either killed or arrested, and no one living nearby was harmed.

However, the police suffered injuries and fatalities.

The police officers' eyes were filled with grief and sorrow; they didn't know how to face this unfortunate outcome. They stood together, as if huddling for warmth, tears silently streaming down their faces.

As the grief spread, some began to blame and vent their anger on Chen Shu.

He was the on-site commander of this operation. Given the successful implementation of the "Theft of the Sky" plan and the favorable conditions of being under police control in the taxi, why did he insist on letting the tiger return to the mountain, resulting in the unnecessary sacrifice of a policeman?

Chen Shu silently endured the police officers' accusations, without a trace of resentment on his face.

If Chen Shu understood and sympathized with everyone's feelings, knowing that the police needed an outlet to vent their pain and sorrow, then he stood there and allowed himself to be condemned.

Rather, at this moment, he was filled with nothing but self-blame and had no other thoughts.

Xu Mingliang's wife and daughter arrived.

The usually imposing police officers cowered, as if debuffed, their bodies shrinking by half, their heads bowed, not daring to step forward, like a group of children who had done something wrong.

Director Wang, the highest-ranking official present, stepped forward. As he braced himself to comfort Xu Mingliang's family, he was surprised to find that Chen Shu, who had been standing silently in front of Xu Mingliang's family as if he were in a daze, was now standing in front of them.

Chen Shu's face was solemn and sad: "Sister-in-law, I'm so sorry."

The woman and girl's faces instantly turned ashen, their eyes filled with pain and despair. Their lips trembled slightly, unable to utter a sound.

A few seconds later, the girl fell to the ground, covered her eyes with her hands, and burst into tears.

"It's alright, Mom's here, Mom's here." The woman bent down, half-embracing her daughter, and softly comforted her, but her blank expression seemed to have lost everything.

A once complete family was torn in two, leaving behind only endless sorrow and unforgettable memories.

(End of this chapter)