Chapter 27: He Is Suspicious

Based on the position of the corpse and the struggle marks fixed at the time of death, the perpetrator must have strangled the victim from behind.

The time of death was very recent; the body had not even fully cooled. By measuring rectal temperature and accounting for seasonal ambient temperatures, the estimated time of death is within a three-to-four-hour window, with virtually no margin for error.

Yang Rui, not being new to seeing corpses, remained relatively calm and assisted from the side.

Elsewhere, Sun Yujie, a crime scene technician, was working alongside his mentor, wearing shoe covers and meticulously searching for and collecting evidence such as footprints and fingerprints. Since there were no traces susceptible to easy destruction, no foam boards had been laid down.

*Click!*
*Click!*

Forensic photographers captured images, and the entire scene investigation proceeded in an orderly fashion.

"Go look for the murder weapon."

Fang Zhou, standing with Squadron Leader Hu Lihui and Deputy Brigade Commander Ji Bowei, issued the order to the squadron's criminal investigators. No objects resembling a cord or rope had been found on or around the body.

"Yes, sir!"

The group slowly dispersed, including Tong Feng. Tong Feng’s expression was somewhat unnatural; although he had seen bodies in the six months since he joined the force, he still could not remain calm. This was something that would take him time to overcome. Fang Zhou was quite good to him, patient and approachable, behaving more like a senior mentor than a superior. Tong Feng felt fortunate.

The second floor was small, appearing to be the shop owner's temporary living quarters—one room, one living area, and one bathroom. The search was quick, but nothing resembling a murder weapon was found. It seemed the killer had either taken it or hidden it.

"Check the first floor as well. Search carefully, and don't forget the storage room," Fang Zhou said.

All three investigative teams of the Major Crimes Squadron received their orders and entered a state of comprehensive, carpet-style searching. Excluding the leadership, there were nine investigators across three teams—the entirety of the First Squadron under the branch’s Criminal Investigation Brigade, responsible for the investigation and evidence collection of major cases.

Of course, other squadrons also handled the "eight major types" of crimes, but these were mostly robberies and thefts. Such cases were relatively more frequent; in busy times, they might receive several reports of vehicle break-ins in a single day. The First Squadron was more like an "elite unit," tasked with solving major, complex, and difficult cases. This arrangement allowed for the concentration of expertise and a highly targeted approach—pooling strength to focus on a single point.

"I'm going to talk to the victim's family."

Fang Zhou did not stay idle. Without waiting for orders from the squadron or brigade leaders, he knew what needed to be done. When a wife is murdered, the husband is naturally the first to be investigated; other matters could wait.

The work of the forensic and trace evidence teams would take time. Ji Bowei and Hu Lihui did not linger at the scene and headed downstairs. Standing at the entrance of the shop, Hu Lihui handed Ji Bowei a cigarette. Hu Lihui was older than Ji Bowei, nearing forty.

In frontline positions, age is secondary to ability. If you are highly competent, you can be promoted quickly. Leaders favor subordinates who can solve cases; on one hand, they value talent, and on the other, the case clearance rate is directly tied to their own careers. If a precinct has too many cold cases, forget about promotion—a reprimand would be a light outcome; you would be lucky not to be stripped of your position.

The situation varies by city. Taking Qingchang City as an example, there is a three-tier color-coded warning system for the case clearance rate of homicides across jurisdictions, ranging from low to high severity: yellow, orange, and red.

Yellow: A homicide clearance rate below eighty percent. At this point, the deputy bureau chief in charge will be summoned for a talk by the bureau chief.

Orange: A homicide clearance rate below sixty percent. At this point, the deputy bureau chief in charge will leave the office to head directly to the front line to command investigations.

Red: A homicide clearance rate below fifty percent. After two consecutive years of this, depending on the severity of the cases, various levels of administrative disciplinary action are taken.

Leaders feel the pressure, and those below them feel it even more. After all, if the leader is held accountable, those below cannot escape the fallout. There is a line from the show *Drawing Sword* that goes: "I stake my head on it to the Division Commander; if my head is gone, I'll shoot you first." The logic is the same.

"Squadron Leader Ji, this doesn't feel easy to handle. It's going to take some effort, don't you think?" Hu Lihui said, taking a drag of his cigarette.

Ji Bowei replied, "We just arrived, no rush. I'll call the Brigade Commander to report first."

Feng Yao, the Commander of the branch’s Criminal Investigation Brigade, oversaw the entire unit's work and only appeared on-site in special circumstances—such as when a case was particularly heinous or had a massive impact, or when Deputy Brigade Commander Ji Bowei could not handle it and needed support. If a case were extremely severe, the deputy bureau chief in charge would also attend. Feng Yao was getting on in years and rarely went to the front line. In a few years, he would likely be transferred to Legal Affairs, the administrative office, or another non-leadership role with a high rank but no real power.

Elsewhere, Fang Zhou approached the victim's husband, who was still sitting there in a daze, his eyes red. Fang Zhou sat down next to him, took a cigarette pack from his pocket, pulled one out, and offered it: "Want one?"

In truth, he wasn't much of a smoker. He had never touched them during his four years at the police academy. It was only after he graduated and joined the branch's criminal investigation brigade that he gave in to the influence of secondhand smoke. *If I'm inhaling secondhand smoke all day anyway, what's the difference if I smoke it myself?*

Moreover, when staking out suspects, he found that a cigarette when tired provided a nicotine boost that stimulated the nerves to release dopamine, which was more direct and faster than coffee—not that there were ever opportunities to drink coffee. As for the health risks, he didn't care. Which of the old-timers didn't have occupational illnesses? Pancreatitis, chronic gastritis, high blood pressure... he would inevitably have his share later on. It was up to fate.

The husband took the cigarette, and Fang Zhou lit it for him. After a few deep puffs, the husband seemed a bit more alert.

"Want to talk?" Fang Zhou asked.

"Ask whatever you want," the man replied, his speech slow and his mood dejected.

Nearby, Han Ling, who was standing guard, focused his gaze on a man in the crowd. He had been watching him intermittently for nearly ten minutes; in his view, the man's emotional reactions and level of attention toward the homicide indicated significant problems.

There is a line in films: "Eighty-one percent of killers return to the crime scene after the murder to savor the pleasure the work brings them." Is it reasonable? No, it’s a line designed for dramatic effect. In reality, only a subset of killers might return, such as those with narcissistic or controlling personalities. However, another group of killers also returns—people who are relatively normal, driven by psychological stress or simple curiosity. After committing a crime, the killer experiences a massive psychological shock, leading to a temporary state of mental confusion, and they return to verify the state of the scene to escape their inner fear.

What kind of killer dares to return? Strangers are more likely to do so. In his past life, Han Ling often returned to the scene after finishing a job. He belonged to the "unreasonable" group; initially, it was driven by curiosity, and later, by the confidence that he could control the outcome. The only situations where he would return were when his targets were strangers. If it were someone he knew, he would run faster than anyone—one reason being the psychological emotional pressure.

"Strangulation?"

Han Ling recalled what Zhu Yue had said and lowered his gaze to focus on the man's hands. The man had a crew cut, looked slightly nervous, and kept mingling with the crowd to watch the situation inside the shop, showing no concern for the victim's husband or the patrolling police officers. It was late autumn, yet the man seemed to have sweat on his forehead. He raised his hand to wipe it, using the back of his palm, in an unnatural posture with his fingers spread wide.

Han Ling narrowed his eyes to sharpen his vision; he could vaguely see a discoloration on the skin of the man's palms.

"Looks like a crime of passion," Han Ling concluded.

Just then, Ji Bowei finished his call. Seeing Han Ling standing guard, he walked over. Since this was someone the Wu Branch Commander was keeping an eye on, he felt he should show some interest; a few words would serve to get acquainted.

"Han Ling, you..."

Before the sound had fully faded, Han Ling suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the man with the crew cut in the crowd: "He's the one."

"Huh?" Ji Bowei was taken aback and instinctively turned his head.

When the man with the crew cut saw Han Ling pointing at him, his face changed instantly, and without a moment's hesitation, he turned and bolted. The onlookers were startled and scattered in a panic.

"Hey!"

"Stop right there!!!"

Ji Bowei lunged out by reflex, jumping over the police tape. Hu Lihui, seeing the squadron leader in action, immediately joined in without a second thought. The scene descended into chaos. Fang Zhou, who had been questioning the husband, stood up abruptly and sprinted with the speed of a hundred-meter dasher to assist. As he passed Han Ling, he couldn't help but glance at him, his fleeting expression filled with astonishment.

The man had run, which meant there was definitely something wrong—now it was just a matter of whether it was related to this case.

The investigators searching inside the shop were also alerted and poured out. By the time they caught up to the three leaders, the man with the crew cut had already been pinned against a wall by Ji Bowei. Ji Bowei was a core figure in the criminal investigation field of the branch; honed by years of police work, his speed, endurance, and physical prowess were at their peak. As long as a suspect was within his line of sight, they rarely escaped.

"What are you running for, huh?!"

The man with the crew cut shouted, "I didn't do anything!"

Ji Bowei barked, "Then why did you run? Keep a close eye on him!"

Two investigators took control of the man, one on each side, and the group headed back to the shop. On the way back, Fang Zhou deliberately observed the man's hands and noticed various scrapes and bruises on his palms, consistent with the reaction force of strangulation.

This person was a prime suspect.

*That kid from the local station was able to pinpoint him in the crowd so accurately in such a short time—not bad at all. Judging by his age, he must be a new officer.*

*I remember Tong Feng mentioning that the Wanglou Station had a new recruit this year who performed well in police drills. Is it him?*