I'm not a genius detective

Chapter 141 The Identity of the Dead

Han Ling and Tong Feng searched along the riverbank together. There were very few pebbles on the riverbank, and when they shone a strong flashlight, they found no suspicious footprints.

Tong Feng glanced back, and after confirming that no colleagues were nearby, whispered, "Han Ling, is this a serial murder case?"

His level of trust in Han Ling is now almost higher than that of Ji Bowei.

"It's pretty close to the truth," Han Ling said. "Captain Ji is looking for the safe side. Before the autopsy results are out, we can't draw any conclusions based on what we see on the surface. I estimate that when we get back to the branch office for the meeting, Captain Ji will bring up this possibility."

Tong Feng: "Isn't this troublesome? Serial murder cases are generally very difficult to solve."

While searching the ground, Han Ling said, "It depends on the nature of the case. If it's a targeted killing, the more victims there are, the greater the chance the killer will be exposed. If it's a random killing... that's really troublesome."

Have we ever had a madman in Qingchang who randomly kills people?

Tong Feng: "There was a similar case many years ago. The case was solved, led by the Municipal Public Security Bureau. The murderer was a psychopath who raped and murdered several people."

He comes from a family of police officers, so he knows a lot.

Han Ling said "oh," and the two continued walking forward.

During the search, more support arrived, and Ji Bowei issued new search orders via walkie-talkie.

The search is divided into four stages.

First, the core area surrounding the body, with a radius of two hundred meters.

Second, expand the area to a radius of 200 meters to 1 kilometer.

Third, the route the perpetrator took to the crime scene was even longer, at least three kilometers.

Fourth, targeted searches and visits to key areas refer to residential areas or abandoned houses within a three-kilometer radius.

While conducting the search, Ji Bowen and Feng Yao communicated and coordinated boats and divers to explore the riverbed around the crime scene in search of suspicious evidence, especially the murder weapon.

The river is quite deep in the middle, about five or six meters deep, so divers are necessary.

This case is likely a serial murder. Feng Yao came in person this time, but he did not take away Ji Bowei's command authority. Ji Bowei is still in charge of on-site command.

The two stood on the riverbank, looking at the boats on the river ahead. The search of the riverbed had been going on for more than an hour, but so far nothing had been found.

They desperately wanted to find the murder weapon.

This is not only because the murder weapon is important physical evidence. If the murder weapon can be found, it means that it has fulfilled its purpose, and to a certain extent, it means that the murderer should not kill again.

If the murder weapon is not found and the killer took it, then there is a possibility that the killer might continue to commit murders.

"Qiao Yuanqi from the Languang branch arrived at our branch around six o'clock this morning." Feng Yao spoke as the divers surfaced one by one, signaling that they had found nothing.

Qiao Yuanqi is the captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Langguang District Public Security Bureau.

A new victim with the same modus operandi has appeared in Gu'an District. He can't sit still; he'll definitely come over in person to find out what's going on and discuss the possibility of merging the cases.

If all goes well, the two cases will eventually be reported to the Municipal Public Security Bureau together, which will then decide whether to establish a special task force to investigate them jointly.

Ji Bowei nodded, his expression somewhat grave: "I understand. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be the same murderer."

Feng Yao: "Let's first confirm the identity of the deceased and see if there is any connection between them and the deceased in Languang District."

Ji Bowei: "Hmm."

The on-site investigation lasted for several hours. At four o'clock in the morning, the criminal investigation team left, and the local police station temporarily assigned personnel to take turns protecting the scene for the criminal investigation team to conduct a second investigation in the future.

The most urgent task is to identify the victims.

The victim's personal belongings were all there: a cell phone, a wallet with money in it, but no ID card.

Since they have cell phones, verifying their identities is simple.

However, after the criminal police of the technical squad extracted the victim's fingerprints and entered them into the system, a person named Xiong Chuan jumped out.

Xiong Chuan, male, 35 years old, a local of Qingchang, has been detained by the police station three times in the past six years.

One case involved prostitution, one involved gambling, and one involved drugs.

It has everything: prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

The problem isn't too serious. Those involved in prostitution are just customers, those involved in gambling are just participants in gambling, and those involved in drugs are just users of drugs. None of these cases have escalated to criminal offenses, and each detention period has been less than fifteen days.

Being detained three times in six years shows that this person is incorrigible. After being released from detention, he will definitely continue to do whatever he wants. If he is lucky, he will continue to live a carefree life. If he is unlucky, he can simply go back to detention.

This is a typical seasoned criminal, a frequent visitor to detention centers, and a habitual offender.

They wouldn't dare commit crimes, but they keep making small mistakes, and it's practically impossible for them to stop.

5:20 a.m., in the branch office conference room.

The large screen displays Xiong Chuan's basic information, including his family situation.

He is married with one daughter, does not have a regular job, and his source of income is currently unknown. He has already notified Xiong Chuan's wife, who is on her way.

Feng Yao was also present at this meeting.

“Involved in prostitution, gambling, and drugs.” Ji Bowei stood in front of the large screen, pointing to the photo on the document and said, “The social relationships of such people are definitely very complicated, and the places they frequent are often gray areas. When we conduct visits and investigations later, everyone should pay attention to their own safety.”

Everyone nodded, understanding what the other person meant.

People involved in prostitution are one thing, but those involved in gambling and drugs are relatively more dangerous.

Ordinary people may frequently visit prostitutes, but they generally don't gamble or use drugs. This group is more likely to refuse investigation or even arrest than those involved in prostitution.

Hu Lihui said, "Emotional disputes, economic disputes, and even drug disputes are all possible."

Xiong Chuan is a drug user. Whether he has recently relapsed depends on the forensic autopsy results. We'll probably need more manpower for this case.

After saying that, he looked at Feng Yao, who nodded slightly: "I will draw people from other squadrons. I will give you as many people as you need."

During the meeting, no one mentioned the serial killings; the case was treated as a separate incident and discussed normally.

Regardless of whether this case is a serial murder or not, it is always right to investigate it according to the normal procedures. The main issue is that another case occurred in Languang District. Before the cases were merged, it had nothing to do with their Gu'an Branch Bureau. Besides, they did not have any case files for murders in Languang District at the moment.

The meeting had been going on for a short time when police officers knocked on the door to inform the victim's family that they had arrived.

Family members are important targets for visits and investigations. The meeting was temporarily suspended, and Ji Bowei and his team left the meeting room to receive them.

Currently, a full forensic autopsy must be completed before the identification of the body can be arranged.

Xiong Chuan's wife was an ordinary housewife. Her hair, tied up in a slightly messy bun, looked haggard. Upon hearing the news of her husband's death, she showed no grief; her expression was as calm and undisturbed as still water.

She came with her daughter.

The little girl was no more than three years old, probably still half asleep. She was holding a pink doll in her left hand and clutching her mother's clothes with her right, looking timid and bewildered, unaware of what she was about to face.

Ji Bowei poured a glass of water for the mother and daughter, but did not ask them any questions for the time being.

At 6:30 a.m., the autopsy was completed. Qiao Yuanqi, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Languang Branch, called to say that he would arrive later. So Ji Bowei brought the victim's family to the morgue.

Prior to this, Ji Bowei had asked Xiong Chuan's wife if she was sure she wanted to bring her daughter to identify the body. She gave an affirmative answer and insisted on it.

Xiong Chuan lay quietly on the cold metal table, covered with a white sheet. His wife slowly approached, glanced at him, and nodded, saying, "It's him, my husband Xiong Chuan."

The metal platform was taller than the girl, so she couldn't see her father, but she could understand the name Xiong Chuan.

"Mom, why is Dad sleeping here?"

A childlike, innocent voice rang out in the morgue, seemingly dispelling the surrounding chill.

The wife, expressionless, took her daughter's hand and left.

"Your dad is going to work far away to earn money. Mom will stay with you from now on." "Oh...when will Dad be back?"

"When you grow up."

The daughter, clutching her doll, looked back at the metal platform until the mother and daughter disappeared through the doorway.

Room inquiry.

Ji Bowei poured more tea for Xiong Chuan's wife, Liao Xue, and began to formally inquire about Xiong Chuan's situation.

The little girl wasn't there; Han Ling and Tong Feng had already coaxed her away to play. They also wanted to ask her about her memories of her father, as young people can communicate with children more easily.

"Thank you."

Liao Xue picked up the cup, took a sip, and then held it in her palm, feeling the warmth emanating from the teacup.

Ji Bowen sat down and looked at her, saying, "You don't seem to be reacting much?"

Upon hearing this, Liao Xue revealed a slightly mocking smile: "Should I have reacted so strongly? I forgave him for soliciting prostitutes, and I didn't divorce him even though he gambled away all the family's money and his parents' retirement savings. And what happened? He even dared to do drugs."

What's next? Drug trafficking? Turning my daughter into a drug addict?

Ji Bowei: "It seems that your relationship with your husband is not good."

Liao Xue: "We're just partners. We'll raise Tangtang together. I don't want her to lose her father's love when she's young."

"Fatherly love?" Ji Bowei followed the other person's lead and said, "The fact that you can say the word 'fatherly love' proves that although Xiong Chuan is a frequent visitor to the detention center, his love for his daughter does exist."

Liao Xue was silent for a moment, but did not deny it: "Yes, he loves Tangtang. As a father, he is qualified, but when he gambled, he did not think about what it would bring to Tangtang if he lost everything."

Originally, Tangtang could eat whatever she wanted, wear whatever she wanted, and go wherever she wanted. Later, she lost all of that. All I could do was try my best to ensure Tangtang's basic education and food.

At this moment, Ji Bowei's gaze shifted slightly downwards, looking at Liao Xue's collarbone area, where there were shallow scars that extended all the way into her clothes.

"What happened to the injury?" he asked, pointing to his neck.

Liao Xue: "Xiong Chuan beat me."

Ji Bowei: "Often?"

Liao Xue calmly replied, "I'll definitely hit you if you've been drinking, and I'll only hit you occasionally if you haven't been drinking."

Ji Bowei: "Where's Tangtang? Will he hit Tangtang?"

Liao Xue: "He never hit Tangtang."

Ji Bowei roughly understood Xiong Chuan's character: not a good son or a good husband, but a good father.

Apart from his daughter, everyone else was dispensable in Xiong Chuan's eyes.

"Do you have any foreign debt?" the question continued.

Liao Xue took a sip of water, nodded, and said, "Yes, about 300,000. I will pay it back."

If ten years isn't enough, then twenty; if twenty years isn't enough, then thirty. When Tangtang grows up, I'll tell her that her father left her nothing but debts.

Ji Bowei: "It's not loan sharking, is it?"

Liao Xue: "No, he borrowed from friends and banks, including my credit card."

Ji Bowei: "Besides prostitution, did Xiong Chuan have any extramarital affairs?"

Liao Xue: "I don't know, maybe."

Ji Bowei: "Where is the enemy?"

When asked about his enemies, Liao Xue chuckled and said, "There are too many. If we start counting from middle school, his enemies could stretch all the way to Paris."

Ji Bowei: "Were you classmates in middle school?"

Liao Xue: "Yes."

While Xiong Chuan's wife was being questioned, in another room, Han Ling was playing with the girl and thoughtfully went out to buy her a lollipop—mainly to prevent her from crying and interfering with the routine questioning of Liao Xue.

"Officer, your phone is so high-tech!" Tangtang was having a great time playing with Han Ling's Meizu phone.

Before Han Ling could speak, Tong Feng said, "Of course, it's the king of domestic phones. Don't you even know who bought it?"

Han Ling glanced at him: "Thank you for the tip, now shut up."

"Tangtang, do you like Daddy or Mommy more?"

"I like Daddy and Mommy," Tangtang said in her sweet, childish voice.

Han Ling laughed: "Does your mother love you more, or your father?"

"They all love me..." Tangtang thought for a moment and then changed her mind, "But my dad loves me more. Whenever my mom scolds me, my dad protects me."

Han Ling: "Why did your mother yell at you?"

Tangtang: "My dad won't let me watch cartoons, and he always makes me study English, but he says that happiness is the most important thing!"

Han Ling: "Do your parents usually argue?"

When this was mentioned, Tangtang felt a little sad and nodded gently.

Seeing this, Han Ling didn't ask any further questions.

The couple's educational philosophies were clearly opposite: the wife looked to the future, while the husband valued the present.

“Xiong Chuan is right,” Tong Feng whispered. “If I become a father in the future, I will definitely prioritize my child’s happiness. So why bother with all the studying? Should parents not study but let their children study? If you’re so capable, then work hard to make your child a rich kid.”

Han Ling said, "On one hand, there is an uncertain future, and on the other hand, there is a certain present. But a good education can increase the chances of a bright future. It depends on the individual's choice."

The topic had veered off course, and he then continued to ask the girl, "Have any bad uncles argued or fought with your dad?"

Tangtang shook her head, her attention focused on her phone, and refused to speak further.

On the other side, Qiao Yuanqi arrived, accompanied by the deputy captain and two criminal police officers from the Major Crimes Unit. The four of them went directly into the conference room.

They didn't come empty-handed; they brought murder case files and detailed investigation reports.

"Ji Bowei is questioning the victim's wife, please wait a moment."

"Captain Joe, have you eaten?"

Feng Yao received colleagues from the Languang branch.

Qiao Yuanqi is in great shape, with clearly visible muscles, and a slight beard adds to his mature appearance.

At nearly forty years old, he's not considered old; becoming the captain of the criminal investigation team won't be his final destination.

"I've already eaten," Qiao Yuanqi said politely with a smile. "Captain Feng, have the autopsy results come out? Can I take a look? Let's first confirm whether the murder weapon is the same one."

Feng Yao: "No rush."

Qiao Yuanqi: "Shall we take a look at the deceased's information?"

Feng Yao: "Wait a little longer."

Qiao Yuanqi: "..."

Okay, you're in charge of your jurisdiction.

(End of this chapter)