Animal Detective

Chapter 264 Parallel Branches
On March 19th, Wang Yinshan said he was at home.

Then last night, he had dinner with some friends from the village at a restaurant serving old duck soup near the city college.

We ate until after 10 p.m., then drank too much, so we went straight home to rest.

Shen Xin then asked who he drank with.

These all need to be verified and confirmed.

But when asked about this, Shen Xin felt that Wang Yinshan should not be a suspect.

It takes an hour to get to Shitang Reservoir from here by taxi.

After finishing dinner around 10 o'clock, it would be time to get back to the village by 11 o'clock.

If you take a taxi to Shitang Reservoir at this time, it will be noon.

There might still be time, but Wang Yinshan has a leg disability and difficulty moving around.

Most importantly, his physique doesn't resemble that of the suspect wearing a motorcycle helmet captured on surveillance footage.

He was thinner and his shoulders weren't broad.

"Officer, are you alright now?" Wang Yinshan asked, looking indignant.

Shen Xin glanced at him, pointed to the stall, and said, "Give me a box of strawberries."

Wang Yinshan stared at Shen Xin, and after confirming that Shen Xin was serious, he quickly grabbed a plastic bag, filled it with a box of strawberries, and handed it over.

"Sent to you."

"Need not."

Shen Xin scanned the QR code to pay, took the money, and turned to leave.

The task of verifying the alibi was handed over to Xi Fenghua and his team, while Shen Xin drove back to the New District Branch first.

Which one to investigate next depends on Zhang Hancheng's arrangements.

In the car, Ding Yuwei asked Shen Xin what he thought of Wang Yinshan. As she spoke, she subconsciously opened a plastic bag, preparing to eat strawberries.

"Don't eat it."

Shen Xin stopped her.

Ding Yuwei was taken aback.

Shen Xin said, "You can eat it later. When you get back, let Odin smell it first. There is Wang Yinshan's scent on the box, and Odin remembers the suspect's scent. You can confirm it."

Shen Xin had just realized that since Odin remembered the murderer's scent, he could take Odin along when investigating the eleven people later.

That's why I'm planning to go back to the new district branch first.

Ding Yuwei realized what was happening and quickly tied the plastic bag tightly.

She paused for a moment, then suddenly said, "Shen Xin, I feel like you're improving so fast, I can hardly keep up with your pace."

Just like now, as soon as Shen Xin saw the fruit basket, he immediately guessed that the person setting up a stall at the intersection was Wang Yinshan.

Then he also asked for a box of strawberries, thinking that Odin could smell their aroma.

At the time, I genuinely thought that Shen Xin just wanted to buy a box of strawberries.

Ding Yuwei felt this feeling growing stronger and stronger.

Last summer, the two of them teamed up to work together.

But over such a long period of time, Shen Xin has grown rapidly, while I am far behind.

Shen Xin quickly replied, "What are you saying? You're so smart, you can almost remember everything you see. I'm not as smart as you."

Ding Yuwei gritted her teeth and said nothing more.

They sped off and soon returned to the new district branch office.

Odin and the others were all chained up at the door.

Shen Xin immediately took the strawberry and let Odin smell it.

Shen Xin didn't rush to take it, wanting Wang Yinshan to hold it a little longer, wondering if the smell would have dissipated by the time he returned.

Thankfully, it didn't happen.

Through telepathy, Shen Xin confirmed that Odin had smelled a person's scent.

But it wasn't the killer's scent he had previously detected.

This proves that Wang Yinshan has nothing to do with this matter.

It’s normal to think about it.

He Wei's side was just a tentative attempt by Zhang Hancheng. If he made a discovery, it would be an unexpected bonus; if he didn't, it would be perfectly reasonable.

As He Wei said, people like Wang Yinshan are really old and outdated.

After finding Zhang Hancheng and reporting the situation, Shen Xin also mentioned using Odin to identify the murderer.

Will he remember?

Zhang Hancheng was somewhat surprised.

Even if he could remember, the difficulty lies in being able to proactively warn the killer and recognize that the person in front of him is the one he is looking for after encountering the murderer.

Shen Xin nodded. Odin remembered and could understand.

Zhang Hancheng was surprised and said, "Xiao Shen, if that's the case, wouldn't we be able to solve cases even with police dogs?"

In the event of a murder, police dogs are used to search for the suspect's scent at the scene.

Then you can immediately identify who the murderer is.

Because it's very difficult for a person to change their scent.

"That's pretty amazing, isn't it?"

Zhang Hancheng gasped, and the way he looked at Shen Xin changed.

Anyway, he knew that the police dogs at the police dog base couldn't do that.

Shen Xin felt that Zhang Hancheng might be too optimistic, so he quickly explained that it wasn't that exaggerated.

Identifying the suspect's scent at the scene is no easy task.

If the suspect's scent is left at the scene, the suspect can actually be tracked down on the spot.

Police dogs at the police dog base can do the same.

The only advantage is that the police dogs you train yourself will be smarter, with better memory and comprehension.

Perhaps they can remember the scent and then use it to identify the suspect.

But the prerequisite is that you also need to find the suspect.

"Right."

Zhang Hancheng nodded.

If the suspects have already been identified, then there's no need to use police dogs for identification.

After saying that, he seemed a little regretful.

If things went according to his plan, wouldn't police dogs be able to solve all cases?

Zhang Hancheng checked the time and said, "Then I'll arrange someone for you. You two take Odin and confirm the names of everyone on the list as soon as possible."

"Consider this a supplementary investigation. If there are any issues or needs, please contact me anytime."

The task force mainly focused on Xu Ruilin's social connections and the anglers who frequently visited Shitang Reservoir.

Shen Xin's side is a parallel branch line.

"Then Lao Liu has found out the details. I'll see if I can arrange a centralized identification session, and let Odin try to identify them."

It sounds like an unorthodox approach, but with a deadline to solve the case, if it works, then so be it.

Shen Xin nodded and took immediate action.

The person Zhang Hancheng arranged was named Geng Ke.

He's quite young, not even thirty yet. He joined the criminal investigation team directly after graduation.

In this situation, it's either due to connections or genuine talent.

Shen Xin preferred the latter. Upon meeting him, Shen Xin sensed that this guy was not to be trifled with; his eyes were particularly sharp.

He was also tall, about the same height as Shen Xin, with a slender figure that gave him a dangerous air.

He must be a skilled fighter.

But he was a very kind person and even offered to drive.

Since everyone shared the same goal, there was no need for formalities.

The next person on the list is named Cao Xi.

In the new district.

It's just the old city area.

The old city area has now been assigned to the new district.

Back then, He Wei's main area of ​​activity was the old city area.

It was almost 5 p.m. when we found him.

He had just finished his shift and was returning from the market after buying groceries.

According to He Wei, this person was one of his four henchmen back then.

He was skilled with a watermelon knife and had even saved He Wei's life. His best feat was taking on six opponents single-handedly.

But now, at 53 years old, with gray hair, he greets his neighbors as he walks over carrying groceries.

He was just an ordinary person, nothing special.

He now drives a taxi and enjoys playing mahjong after get off work.

Last night I played mahjong in the community's card room until almost 2 a.m.

The alibi is sufficient.

After saying goodbye, the three of them immediately went to investigate the next person.

Shen Xin didn't have high hopes for any discoveries here; his attention was still focused on the main force.

On the way, I used my mobile phone to ask Zhao Tianxing about the progress of his visit.

He immediately showed off his step count, complaining that his legs were about to break.

However, none have been found yet.

The anglers, too, found nothing.

Those who were familiar with Huang Weili and his group and had eaten with them have been identified, and then alibis are being checked.

Upon recollection, they realized that, apart from themselves, no one else had noticed anything unusual about the people who frequently came to fish at the reservoir in the past month.

As feedback has been received, it seems that the angler route is slowly becoming blocked.

Xu Ruilin's social connections are also under investigation.

He runs a software company whose main business is providing customized software systems for enterprises, institutions, and government agencies.

The registered capital is five million.

His ex-wife was one of the shareholders.

So far, we haven't found any problems with the company. Their business is doing well, with annual revenue of around 20 million.

For example, the online consultation system at the First Municipal Hospital was developed by them.

In addition, his social relationships are a bit complicated, since he often deals with various organizations.

The focus now is on investigating whether there are any unknown connections between him and Huang Weili.

But it has not been discovered.

The same applies to Shen Xin's side.

The three of them were running around all day, and it wasn't until almost 11 p.m. that they finished.

Five people were excluded from the list of eleven.

These once ruthless individuals, these so-called influential figures, are now just ordinary people.

Moreover, two of them did not have a satisfactory life.

When they returned to the branch office, Chen Chao and his team had just come back.

After a day of visits, especially to the villages and residential areas surrounding Shitang Mountain, no findings were discovered.

If the murderer fled the scene by climbing over mountains, they would only have chosen a place far from residential areas.

After a hurried meal, there was no way I could rest.

Shen Xin went over to check the surveillance footage.

I watched until two or three in the morning, and only managed to sleep for a while because I couldn't stay awake any longer.

The next day, they got up early again and continued the task that had not been completed the day before with Ding Yuwei and Geng Ke.

Still nothing has been found.

One person moved to another place.

After having lunch, the three set off again to investigate the ninth person on the list.

This man's name is Fan Lei.

The latest registered address is in Huian New Village, Hongmei Subdistrict.

He is 51 years old.

I used to hang out with one of He Wei's rivals. Yesterday, when He Wei mentioned him, he said that this guy was the kind of person who bites but doesn't bark.

Then in 04, almost around the same time as He Wei, he was arrested for multiple intentional assault cases.

He was sentenced to 12 years, reduced by 2 years, and released in 14 years.

Huian New Village used to be the old staff quarters of a precision instrument factory, but now the factory is gone, leaving only a bunch of houses. Because the property rights are unclear, they have not been demolished.

Unit 7, 201.

Shen Xin and the other two knocked on the door, but the door to room 202 across the street opened.

A middle-aged woman peeked out and asked who she was looking for.

Shen Xin said to look for Fan Lei.

The middle-aged woman said that they had found the right person, but the person should have already left.

After saying that, he slammed the door shut.

Shen Xin thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll ask the Hongmei Police Station."

Shen Xin was familiar with the Hongmei Police Station, especially their chief, Chen Ju, nicknamed "Director Chen," who left a deep impression on him.

Downstairs, Shen Xin got Chen Ju's phone number and called him directly.

I remember Chen Ju worked at the Hongmei Police Station his whole life, so he should know the situation here very well.

Sure enough, Chen Ju knew Fan Lei's name.

"Old Fan is also quite pitiful. I remember I arrested him quite a few times back then."

"But he spent more than ten years in prison. He was practically buried by the time he got out. He's just living a normal life now, so he shouldn't be involved in any trouble. Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

Shen Xin certainly couldn't reveal anything about the case, so he said he needed to verify some details with Fan Lei.

Chen Ju didn't ask any more questions and told Shen Xin to wait a moment.

They should call for help and ask the local police officer.

He quickly said, "I asked, and Lao Fan is probably working on a construction site now. I'm not sure which project it is, but I think it's in Nanzhu."

"How about I help you find a phone number? I should be able to find it."

Nanzhu?

Shen Xin was slightly taken aback; this was near the crime scene.

(End of this chapter)