Having done several kidnappings before, all relatives they’d contacted had voices mixed with fear and panic, but this time was different.
“I’m telling you, I’m the one controlling the situation, not you!”
“I need to ensure she’s alive. No confirmation, no ransom.” His tone was forceful, leaving no room for negotiation.
The kidnapper thought speaking for a minute or two wouldn’t hurt, so he brought the phone close to Huo Yawu’s ear.
“Brother! Come rescue me and Sister Pinxi!” Huo Yawu shouted.
Suddenly hearing “Sister Pinxi”, Huo Juren’s expression changed.
The kidnapper took back the phone and gripped it, “Confirmed, right! Your sister is still alive, but if you pay even a cent less, hehe—”
“You’ve kidnapped another woman too. I want to hear her speak,” Huo Juren said.
“Are you done?” The kidnapper roared.
“Don’t you want the ransom?”
The kidnapper had to bring the phone close to Shao Pinxi.
Shao Pinxi knew this was her only golden opportunity to call for help.
Shao Pinxi didn’t speak to Huo Juren, just breathed heavily into the phone.
The kidnapper was used to this, having seen many kidnapping victims too panicked to speak.
“Hey! Woman, say something!” After waiting a while and hearing no words from Shao Pinxi, the impatient kidnapper pushed her.
“Huo Juren?” Shao Pinxi spoke in a low voice, as if with great difficulty.
“Understood.” Came the knowing response from the other end. “Wait for me.”
The kidnapper retrieved his phone and told Huo Juren: “Everything’s confirmed! Cut the chatter, I want to see five hundred million tomorrow! Understand? Short even a cent, and you can prepare to collect these two women’s bodies!” Then he hung up.
After talking to Huo Juren, they were thrown back into the sealed room, but Shao Pinxi’s heart was calm.
Because she knew Huo Juren was on his way to rescue them.
“Yawu, don’t be afraid. We’ll be fine,” Shao Pinxi comforted the trembling Huo Yawu.
“Sister Pinxi, how can you be so confident?” Huo Yawu’s voice was shaking.
“Because I believe in your brother.” Mindful of eavesdroppers, Shao Pinxi didn’t want to explain now. During the phone call with Huo Juren, she had cleverly used Morse code through her breathing to tell him roughly where they were.
