The air in the tiny storage room was thick with the smell of old cardboard and mothballs. I pressed myself deeper into the shadows, my ears straining to catch every word from the living room.
Mr. Li's voice quivered as he replied, "I... I don't know what you're talking about. Just an old acquaintance, came by to catch up."
The man in the gray jacket let out a cold laugh. "Catch up? About the factory that burned down five years ago? That kind of 'catch up' can get you into trouble, old man."
I could almost picture Mr. Li's face turning pale, his hands shaking as he tried to light another cigarette. "It was a long - time ago. What's the harm in reminiscing?"
The floorboards creaked as the man in the jacket paced around the room. "You know very well what kind of harm. There are things better left buried."
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. This was the lead we'd been looking for, but now Mr. Li was in danger because of us.
Suddenly, the man stopped pacing. "Where are the letters?"
My heart skipped a beat. How did he know about the letters?
Mr. Li feigned ignorance. "Letters? What letters? I don't have any letters."
There was a thud, like something being knocked over. "Don't play dumb with me! I know you've been in contact with those nosy kids. Where are they?"
I heard Mr. Li gasp in pain. "I don't know! They just came by, showed me a photo, and left. I don't know where they went."
The man let out a string of curses. "If you're lying, old man, you'll regret it. This is your last chance. Tell me where they are, and I might just let you live."
I couldn't just sit there and let Mr. Li take the blame. I reached for the doorknob, ready to burst out and face the man, but then I heard another voice.
"Is there a problem here?" It was a woman's voice, firm and authoritative.
The man in the jacket hesitated. "This doesn't concern you, ma'am. Just doing my job."
I peeked through the crack in the door. A middle - aged woman stood in the doorway, her arms crossed. She had a no - nonsense look on her face. "Your job? Harassing an old man in his own home? I've already called the police. They'll be here any minute."
The man in the jacket swore under his breath. "You'll pay for this," he hissed at Mr. Li, then pushed past the woman and disappeared out the door.
I waited a few seconds, then stepped out of the storage room. Mr. Li was slumped on the couch, his face ashen. The woman turned to me, her eyes narrowing. "You must be one of the 'kids' he was talking about. What on earth are you two getting yourselves into?"
I quickly explained about the letters, the factory fire, and our suspicions. She listened intently, her expression growing more serious.
When I finished, she sighed. "That factory fire was a tragedy, and there have always been rumors that it wasn't an accident. But you kids need to be careful. These people are dangerous."
Mr. Li nodded weakly. "She's right. You should stay away from this. They'll stop at nothing to keep the truth buried."
But I knew we couldn't back down now. We were too close. I thanked the woman for her help and promised Mr. Li we'd be more cautious.
As I left Mr. Li's house, the sun was starting to set, casting long shadows on the street. I knew that the shadows held secrets, and we were in a race against time to uncover them before it was too late. Chen and I had to piece together the remaining clues, and fast, before the men with the scars and the secrets caught up with us.