I'm not a genius detective

Chapter 163 A Mistake, A Single Slash
The crime scene and its surroundings were very clean.

We've searched all the areas that needed to be searched, and we've also checked the nearby waters. We haven't found any murder weapon or suspicious items.

The crime was simple: the murderer knocked Li Dechang unconscious, drove him to the crime scene, and stabbed him three times in the heart with a sharp blade, just like when he killed Xiong Chuan and Wu Cuicui, causing Li Dechang to die on the spot.

After killing the people, he burned the vehicle and then prepared to leave the scene.

The task force and the perpetrator acted almost simultaneously, ultimately trapping everyone who had been lingering in the vicinity around the time of the crime.

If the murderer is Zhang Zhenhua, then the process would basically be like this.

Of course, if the killer had prepared another car in advance, the speed would have been even faster, and it would have been possible to break through the five-kilometer encirclement before the police could set up a roadblock.

Every vehicle and every person within a five-kilometer radius is recorded, and a second investigation can be initiated at any time. No second suspect has been found so far.

With their attention now largely focused on Zhang Zhenhua, everyone could see a glimmer of hope in solving the case.

After the meeting, Gao Bingyang told everyone to rest for a while and recharge for the new tasks that would begin the next day.

Han Ling and Tong Feng had taken a nap earlier, but now they can't fall asleep.

Gao Bingyang was also having trouble sleeping. The head of the task force was under a lot of pressure. Even though they had found Zhang Zhenhua as a suspect, it didn't make him relax at all.

Investigating a case is a process of trial and error. In more complex cases, there is often more than one suspect, and no one can guarantee that Zhang Zhenhua was the murderer.

"Stop drinking tea, Gao Zhi, go get some sleep." In the office, Wu Bin saw Gao Bingyang brew another cup of strong tea and couldn't help but advise him.

Gao Zhi shook his head: "I can't sleep. People died during the investigation. This is a slap in the face to me."

Li Dechang's death clearly had some impact on him.

Wu Bin: "There's nothing we can do, the killer was too fast."

Gao Bingyang: "Go get some sleep, don't worry about me."

Wu Bin laughed and said, "You don't know me, Gao Zhi. I'm used to staying up all night."

"You've worked hard." Gao Bingyang opened the drawer and tossed over a pack of cigarettes. "Since you became the deputy branch captain, I've had an easier time, but you, if you keep going like this, you'll easily develop neurasthenia."

Wu Bin once went three days and three nights without sleep, which was almost at his physical limit. Overworking for a long time will seriously damage his health.

There's no way around it; that's just the job of a criminal investigator.

Wu Bin took the cigarette and put it away naturally: "I need to take good care of my health. I'm still waiting to take your place."

Gao Bingyang chuckled: "Then you'll probably have to wait a few years, or... I might just ask for sick leave and transfer to another position?"

Wu Bin agreed: "Okay."

The two joked around and didn't mention Zhang Zhenhua, as if they were giving their brains a break for a while.

"What do you think of Han Ling's performance in the investigation? Was it just a coincidence or luck?" Gao Bingyang asked.

Wu Bin thought for a moment and replied, "He found out about the car accident and Li Dechang through his investigations, and he also discovered the suspicious points about Zhang Zhenhua. Objectively speaking, he definitely has the ability, but it also requires the joint efforts of everyone."

"If my colleagues at the police station hadn't asked Zhang Zhenhua a few more questions and fulfilled their duty, we might not have been able to trace it back to him."

Gao Bingyang nodded: "Investigating a case is not a one-person job; it requires collective effort, but individual ability is also indispensable. The team needs outstanding individuals."

Wu Bin agreed: "Yes, a group always needs an individual to lead it. I'm thinking of transferring Han Ling to the municipal bureau after he has enough experience at the grassroots level."

A temporary transfer is also acceptable.

"What's your opinion?" Gao Bingyang was silent for a moment, then said, "The branch office's team also needs someone to lead it. Do you think Han Ling can surpass Ji Bowei in the future?"

Wu Bin: "I'm afraid we've already surpassed him. Ji Bowei's advantage lies in experience, but I value personal ability more."

Gao Bingyang: "Yes, years of experience have proven that experienced but not particularly capable criminal investigators can only handle ordinary cases. They will run into obstacles when they encounter complex cases. You are right."

Old Ding doesn't like Han Ling, let him stay at the branch office for now.

Wu Bin didn't say anything. Ding Lingfeng held a significant position in the brigade, and even Zheng Hongyi had to seriously consider his words.

It's obvious that both Gao Bingyang and Ding Lingfeng prefer Zhang Yunhang.

This could be considered a disagreement.

There will always be some disagreements between people.

"Is it possible to involve Han Ling in the forgery case?" Wu Bin asked.

This case has been under investigation for several years, but it has never been completely resolved. He very much hopes that one day this group of people can be uprooted and the real mastermind behind it can be found.

Han Ling gave him a very special feeling; perhaps she could dispel the fog.

Gao Bingyang: "No, the people from the branch office can't participate, especially the new police officers."

Wu Bin: "But Zhang Yunhang is also a new police officer."

Gao Bingyang: "He's from the Municipal Public Security Bureau... We'll talk about that later. Right now, let's solve this serial murder case first."

Wu Bin: "Okay."

"A higher rank can crush a lower one." He respected Gao Bingyang, and the two had a good relationship, but they occasionally had disagreements over the years.

At seven o'clock in the morning, after breakfast, the task force immediately held a meeting. Gao Bingyang ordered that the investigation of Zhang Zhenhua's house and electric vehicle be carried out immediately, leaving no corner unchecked.

The autopsy results were in and projected onto a large screen, where everyone could see them.

There were two bruises on the head of the body, indicating that the murderer hit the head twice. The forensic doctor determined that it was a stick-like tool.

No similar objects were found at the crime scene or in the van.

The perpetrator acted hastily in this case, stabbing the heart twice. The third stab was slightly off-target, grazing the edge of the heart and passing through the sternal angle where the body and manubrium of the sternum meet, but this did not affect the final result; two stabs to the heart were enough to be fatal.

Three lives lost, nine stab wounds in total, the first eight were to the heart, and the last one was a mistake.

After seeing the location of the third strike, Han Ling's gaze shifted slightly, and he fell into deep thought, seemingly lost in thought.

“The killer is in a hurry. It seems he knows the police have identified Li Dechang as a suspect, and he also knows that if he makes a move against Li Dechang, the entire city will be in a search state.” Ji Bowei was the one who spoke.

Qiao Yuanqi agreed: "That's right. He's racing against time. He needs to leave as soon as possible after killing Li Dechang. Now, he's just waiting for the results of the investigation into Zhang Zhenhua."

Han Ling and Tong Feng did not participate in the investigation. There were enough people available. Initially, the investigation was mainly handled by police officers from the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Technology Brigade, plus four experienced investigators from the First Brigade.

It would be best to get results; if there are no results, the scope of the investigation will be expanded.

The murderer premeditated the crime, and must have done a lot of preparation beforehand, such as understanding the victim's life and going out habits, and choosing the best time and place to commit the crime. This process will leave traces to some extent.

……

P.S.: Chapter 2 will be tonight. I haven't been feeling well these past two days, and I still have some trivial matters to handle. I'll take care of myself for a bit, and I should be done by today.

(End of this chapter)