Attending ex-girlfriend's wedding, arresting the groom's officer on the spot

After listening to the report, Lu Chuan fell into deep thought, then said, "Zhang Kai, your autopsy results are very important. They clarified the time and cause of death, providing a crucial direction for the investigation. Regarding the follow-up work, I have a few points to make: First, the technical department should speed up the pathological examination and toxicology review of the autopsy samples, and at the same time complete the database comparison of the deceased's fingerprints and DNA as soon as possible to try to confirm the deceased's identity; Second, the investigation team should expand the scope of their investigation based on the inferred time of death and time of body disposal, focusing on suspicious persons and vehicles in and around the Jianshe Road community between 11 pm the night before last and 2 am yesterday, and between last night and this morning, especially those driving electric tricycles or small trucks; Third, based on the clues found in the autopsy, further analyze the footprints, fibers, tire tracks, etc., extracted from the scene, and compare them with the relevant samples of the deceased to find traces of the suspect; Fourth, continue to investigate missing persons information, and based on the deceased's age, height, weight, and other characteristics, determine the deceased's identity as soon as possible."

“Understood, Captain Lu. We will keep a close eye on the forensic department's findings and report back to you immediately if there are any new discoveries,” Zhang Kai nodded. He then got up to say goodbye and returned to the forensic identification center to continue finalizing the autopsy report while awaiting further results from the forensic department. Xiao Lin, meanwhile, was organizing all the photos and video footage from the autopsy process, ensuring every detail was accurate to provide complete forensic evidence for the subsequent investigation.

At 6 p.m., the last rays of the setting sun streamed through the windows of the forensic center, illuminating the cold instruments and remaining traces on the autopsy table. Zhang Kai stood before the table, his brow furrowed. Although the autopsy was complete, determining the time and cause of death, the unidentified victim and the lack of leads on suspects still weighed heavily on his mind. He knew that forensic work was a crucial cornerstone of case investigation; every detail could be key to solving the case. He was prepared to immediately immerse himself in further analysis as soon as the technical department had new test results, contributing his efforts to uncovering the truth behind this murder.

Meanwhile, investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division were also conducting intensive door-to-door inquiries, focusing on the time of death and the time of body disposal determined by the autopsy. They knocked on doors of residents in and around the Jianshe Road community, patiently inquiring about relevant information, with a particular focus on whether any suspicious persons or vehicles had entered or left the area the night before and the previous night. Meanwhile, the technical staff worked overtime in the laboratory to examine the collected trace evidence, attempting to find a breakthrough from samples such as fingerprints, fibers, and tire tracks. Although the case investigation faced numerous difficulties, everyone was filled with determination, vowing to identify the deceased as soon as possible, apprehend the suspect, and bring justice to the dead.

Meanwhile, as Zhang Kai and Xiao Lin began the autopsy at the forensic identification center, Lu Chuan, the head of the criminal investigation detachment, had already completed the initial deployment at the Jianshe Road community site. He called investigator Wang Shuai to his side and solemnly assigned him a new task: "Wang Shuai, the on-site investigation and autopsy will proceed simultaneously. You will lead a team to immediately conduct a comprehensive investigation of the area surrounding the discovery of the body, the entire Jianshe Road community, and the shopping malls, companies, and shops along the three surrounding streets. There are three core tasks: First, conduct a thorough search of surveillance footage, focusing on the trajectory of suspicious persons and vehicles during the two time periods: from 11 pm the night before last to 2 am yesterday, when the estimated time of death was determined, and from last night to this morning, when the estimated time of body disposal was determined; second, interview and investigate relevant personnel to collect information on any abnormalities before and after the incident; and third, combine the clues extracted from the on-site investigation with missing persons information to determine the identity of the deceased as soon as possible."

"Understood, Captain Lu!" Wang Shuai responded at attention. Tall and sharp-eyed, he was a key investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division, skilled in investigating clues in complex environments. Upon receiving the order, he immediately assembled eight investigators, dividing them into three groups: the first group was responsible for retrieving surveillance footage, the second for interviewing community residents and nearby shops, and the third for liaising with the local police station to compile information on missing persons. "Attention all groups," Wang Shuai emphasized again before setting off, highlighting the crucial clues at the scene. "Five footprints were collected, covering three types: size 41 rubber boots, size 43 sneakers, and size 42 leather shoes. There were also tire tracks from an electric tricycle or small truck, as well as black and green fiber samples. These are key pieces of evidence for the investigation; pay close attention." This ensured each group understood the direction of their investigation.

The first team took the lead and headed straight to the Jianshe Road Community Residents' Committee. Upon learning of the situation, the community director immediately assisted in retrieving the community's internal surveillance footage. "Our community is an old residential area, and the surveillance equipment is quite outdated. There are only cameras at the main entrance, the main road, and downstairs at Buildings 2 and 4. The crime scene behind Building 3 is a blind spot," the community director explained as he led the team to the monitoring room. Wang Shuai followed the first team to the monitoring room and instructed them to focus on reviewing the footage from 10 PM the night before last to 3 AM yesterday, and from 8 PM yesterday to 9 AM this morning, according to the timeline. He himself focused on reviewing the footage at the community entrance, attempting to identify suspicious individuals and vehicles entering and leaving the community before and after the incident.

The surveillance footage was blurry, but the team members were still intently reviewing it frame by frame. "Team Leader Wang, at 11:23 PM the night before last, a man wearing a black jacket and a baseball cap entered the community through the gate. He walked with a slightly hunched posture and was carrying a black cloth bag; he looked suspicious," a team member said, pointing to the surveillance footage. Wang Shuai immediately stepped forward and observed carefully: the man was about 175 centimeters tall, similar to the deceased's height, and was wearing dark shoes, the type of which was unclear. After entering the community, he walked towards Building 3, and was not seen leaving in any other surveillance footage. "Save the screenshots, mark them carefully, and have residents identify him during subsequent visits," Wang Shuai instructed.

Meanwhile, the second team of members began visiting residents of Jianshe Road Community, focusing on checking residents of Building 3 and surrounding buildings. "Auntie, could you please tell me if you heard or saw anything unusual between 11 pm the night before last and 2 am yesterday? Like strange noises or suspicious people?" the team members patiently asked each resident. Most residents said that because it's an older community, it's quiet at night and they didn't hear any unusual noises. However, one resident of Unit 2, Building 3, reported: "Around midnight the night before last, when I got up to use the bathroom, I heard a 'thumping' sound downstairs, which lasted for about a minute or two. I thought it was someone moving, so I didn't pay much attention." (End of Chapter)