I'm not a genius detective

Chapter 154 Case Progression, Finding a Crossroads (I'm back, here's one more chapter)
Branch office.

The casino case was handed over to the Second Squadron and the Criminal Investigation Brigade, and Shao Fei went directly into the interrogation room.

He probably had never sat in a chair in a police station interrogation room before, and kept shifting and adjusting his posture, as if he couldn't feel comfortable no matter how he moved.

"Officer, can we talk somewhere else? I'm only going to be detained for a few days for gambling, is that really necessary?" Shao Fei suggested.

Ji Bowei was in charge of interrogating him.

Xiong Chuan's case was a serious serial murder case, and it was not safe to entrust it to others, so Ji Bowei personally took charge of everyone related to Xiong Chuan.

It can't be called "trial," it's more like "questioning."

The anti-drug squad was hoping to uncover the drug network behind Shao Fei, although the chances of that were slim.

Even if the chances are slim, we should still give it a try. The anti-drug squad is more patient than the criminal investigation squad when it comes to trial and error.

"Where do you think this is? A coffee shop?" Ji Bowei said, displeased.

If it weren't for the fact that the anti-drug squad was still useful, he would have liked to slap them twice. They dared to transport drugs, what were they planning to do next?
Shao Fei was embarrassed. He had just said it casually. After learning that he had only been arrested for gambling, he completely relaxed and even wanted to hum a few tunes.

Ji Bowei: "How did you and Xiong Chuan meet?"

Shao Fei: "We met through gambling."

Ji Bowei: "Which casino?"

Shao Fei: "It's in the billiard hall."

Ji Bowei: "Did you introduce him to Yiqi Information Consulting Company to borrow money?"

Shao Fei was slightly taken aback. Now he understood. No wonder Xiong Chuan was able to find him after he died. If the police wanted to investigate something, they really couldn't hide it.

"Yes," he admitted.

The normal procedure would be to ask Shao Fei if he had also borrowed a lot, but Ji Bowen skipped that step.

Because the other party could not answer the question of "how to repay the money".

Shao Fei wasn't smart enough; he didn't understand criminal police and narcotics officers well enough. Otherwise, he would have been able to sense the danger during the interrogation. If it were those extremely cunning suspects, they might have run away as soon as they left the detention center.

"Are you very familiar with him?" Ji Bowei asked.

Shao Fei raised both hands to scratch his itchy forehead, causing the handcuffs to rattle: "He's alright, he's a pretty good guy, we have a lot in common."

By the way, how exactly did he die?

Ji Bowei: "Don't ask too many questions. In the time you've known him, have you ever heard him mention enemies or anything like that?"

Shao Fei thought for a moment and shook his head: "No."

Ji Bowei: "Since you're familiar with him, why haven't you seen him for so long?"

Shao Fei: "He likes to go to Phoenix Nightclub, I like to go to billiard halls, I have no interest in singing or drinking."

Ji Bowei: "Have you heard him talk about...some rather unusual things? Think about it carefully, there's plenty of time."

Upon hearing this, Shao Fei knew he couldn't leave anytime soon, and his face fell: "Officer, Xiong Chuan's death has nothing to do with me. I just knew him."

Ji Bowen tapped the table: "Didn't you just say you were pretty familiar with us? Be honest! Answer my questions!"

The interrogation of Shao Fei lasted for two hours. They asked him everything they could, and it was quite fruitful. They found out someone who had a motive for the crime.

Shao Fei didn't know his name; he had only heard Xiong Chuan mention it. He said that his wife, Liao Xue, had a high school classmate who couldn't forget her, and Xiong Chuan was furious, threatening to break the classmate's legs.

They only made threats, but didn't take any action.

Without the case of Wu Cuicui in Languang District, this person would be a strong suspect. However, with Wu Cuicui involved, the motive for the crime of passion becomes difficult to establish, and it cannot be linked to Wu Cuicui.

But the investigation still needs to be conducted. Since the husband was murdered, the focus of the investigation would be on the wife. This matter has been handled by another investigation team.

Ji Bowei made the call, and the investigation on the other end began immediately.

Shao Fei's case has been transferred to the Public Security Brigade. He will be sent to the detention center along with other people involved in gambling. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, he will be detained for up to five days or more than ten days but less than fifteen days, and fined.

After he gets out, the anti-drug squad will keep a close eye on Shao Fei.

Gamblers spend money very quickly. Once Shao Fei runs out of money, he is likely to continue participating in drug trafficking. At that time, the anti-drug squad will follow the trail and try to dismantle the entire supply chain.

If we can catch the big fish, that would be an unexpected bonus.

In the afternoon, the Criminal Investigation Division held a meeting to clarify the next steps in the investigation.

They investigated gambling, prostitution, and drugs, but found no clues related to Xiong Chuan's death, not even the slightest hint. They had no choice but to give up for the time being.

How to describe Xiong Chuan? He's a bully at home, but he's actually quite timid outside. He's a typical bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong.

Such a person is unlikely to get himself killed.

Wu Cuicui was the same; she was a housewife. Who would kill her?

During the meeting, Ji Bowei reviewed Wu Cuicui's detailed personal information. Since the cases had been merged, it was natural to pay attention to both cases at the same time.

"It doesn't seem like it's a delayed retaliation."

Ji Bowei suggested the possibility of "delayed retaliation," but rejected it after comparing the two individuals' information.

From elementary school onwards, Xiong Chuan and Wu Cuicui had no connection whatsoever, and they lived quite far apart. It's truly baffling why the murderer would kill two completely unrelated people. Even if it was a random crime based on characteristics, there are no clear common features. You can't use commonalities like "having children," "being married," or "lacking money" as a direction for the investigation; that's completely unreliable and will only lead to a deadlock in the case.

Just then, the phone rang. Ji Bowei glanced at it and answered, "Hello? Captain Qiao."

Qiao Yuanqi made a phone call during the murder investigation, possibly because he had made some progress. Gao Bingyang had already mentioned in a meeting that information should be kept in constant communication.

"Oh? What does Captain Qiao mean?" Ji Bowei's expression changed.

It was indeed fruitful!
"Hmm... okay, I'll investigate that thoroughly." After hanging up the phone, Ji Bowen turned to look at the large screen. "Open the map, zoom in on Xiong Chuan's home address."

The police officer operated the computer, and a map of Qingchang appeared on the large screen. It was then zoomed in and fixed on the street where Xiong Chuan lived, as if viewed from a satellite view.

The Xiong family lives in the urban-rural fringe area of ​​Gu'an District.

The urban-rural fringe refers to the transitional zone that combines the land use characteristics of urban and rural areas. It is a suburban area. It is not far from the city center, but it is not modernized. There are few streetlights, few surveillance cameras, and no large shopping malls.

“Here.” Ji Bowei drew a line near Xiong Chuan’s house, extending all the way to the direction of Languang District. “Do you remember that Wu Cuicui would come to Gu’an District to visit her father every month? This is the route she took by electric bike.”

Everyone's eyes were on the screen, sensing that the case was beginning to move forward.

Wu Cuicui traveled from Languang District to Gu'an District. Although she didn't pass by Xiong Chuan's house, she was already very close.

It can be said that every month, the straight-line distance between Xiong Chuan and Wu Cuicui is shortened to less than 100 meters once or twice.

Assuming twice a month, that's twenty-four times a year. Statistically speaking, over time, the two people will inevitably miss each other multiple times.

There is common ground now.

This is the intersection the task force was looking for.

How did two completely unrelated people become victims of a series of murders? The source may lie in Wu Cuicui's every encounter.

"Gao Zhi is amazing," Tong Feng couldn't help but praise.

At the first special task force meeting of the Municipal Bureau, Gao Bingyang said: "From the current perspective, it is very likely that the problem lies in Gu'an District. We need to investigate Wu Cuicui's route from Languang District to Gu'an District, who she met, who she met, what she encountered, including her father, and everything else."

Currently, something has been found on the [route].

After that, it was about who I met and who I got to know.

Is it possible that this person is Xiong Chuan?
“You weren’t even born when Gao Zhi first received the third-class merit award,” Ji Bowei replied, continuing the discussion. “Now there’s a new problem: if Wu Cuicui had some interaction with Xiong Chuan because of this, or even became acquainted with him, why can’t we find that in the interpersonal relationship records?”

This is indeed a problem that is difficult to avoid.

When two strangers first meet, they certainly cannot predict what will happen later. Exchanging contact information is normal, but they did not.

This shows that even if Wu Cuicui and Xiong Chuan knew each other, they weren't that close.

Hu Lihui asked, "What did Captain Qiao say?"

Ji Bowei: "He plans to start from Xiong Chuan's home and visit the surrounding area to see if any resident or shop has any impression of Wu Cuicui, so as to determine whether Wu Cuicui has lingered in the vicinity."

Hu Lihui: "If we linger, we might offend someone at the same time as Xiong Chuan."

Ji Bowei nodded: "Yes, don't underestimate a person's murderous intent. A single sentence can break down a suspect's last psychological barrier."

This kind of personality... Han Ling, how so?

The other party is Yin Yunliang's student. Although they live in different cities, they can communicate remotely by phone and the internet, so they must have learned some skills and their evaluation will be more professional.

Han Ling said, "It's the accumulation of paranoia and the release of hatred. If someone kills because of a single sentence, the murderer may live in dissatisfaction, resentment, and paranoia for a long time, and be extremely sensitive, regarding the person who hurt them with their words as the source of their suffering."

Or, they may have antisocial personality disorder.

Alternatively, they may have narcissistic personality disorder, which manifests as extreme violence stemming from shame.

Tong Feng turned his head: "Which one is the most dangerous?"

Han Ling thought for a moment and said, "Both are dangerous."

Tong Feng: "Is narcissism dangerous?"

Han Ling: "There are four manifestations of narcissistic personality traits: exaggerating oneself, excessively relying on praise, being jealous and belittling others, and lacking empathy. Among them, lack of empathy is the source of danger, making it difficult to perceive the emotions and needs of others, and even being indifferent to the suffering of others."

Indifferent?

Upon hearing this, Tong Feng suddenly had a vision in his mind: in the dark of night, the murderer abducted the victim to the riverbank, stabbed him repeatedly in the heart with a sharp knife, remained calm throughout the process, and finally watched the victim bleed to death with equanimity.

After Han Ling finished speaking, she offered her opinion: "Is Wu Cuicui mean? Judging from the personality profile given by the Languang District police, she is quite mild-mannered in her dealings with people."

And then there's Xiong Chuan. By integrating all the known information, we can see that Xiong Chuan's personality isn't that of a domineering, fearless person.

Ji Bowei: "You mean, they won't offend the same stranger at the same time?"

Han Ling: "It's not certain, but the probability is low. I personally think it's unlikely, but we still need to investigate. What if the murderer is mentally ill?"

……

P.S.: I'm back. I couldn't sleep, so I'm writing this late at night. Here's one chapter for now, and the next one will be at the same time.

I may suddenly take a few days off in the near future. The reason is obvious to everyone, so I won't go into it here.

Once again, I wish all the dear readers' loved ones a long and healthy life.

(End of this chapter)