Chapter 1347: Chapter 165: We Must Have Evidence!

You’ve come, and now we have a series of thefts here, not just once, but seventeen times.

How can something happen so coincidentally?

Too many coincidences are not coincidences!

Han Yu realized it must be this guy named Liu Jie, and excitedly said, "Once we break through, things will be easier. Director Wang, Director Qi, have you reported these to Director Zhao?"

"We have reported, we called them immediately. Our counterparts at the Dujiang Police Bureau are helping with the investigation, news should come soon."

As soon as Director Wang finished speaking, Director Qi smiled and said, "The leaders of Dujiang Police Bureau originally planned to invite Hongxing, Gui Xiang, and Xiao Gong for dinner tonight, but plans changed. We’ve made a breakthrough here, and they’ve achieved a breakthrough as well, so they’re helping with a side investigation and the dinner didn’t happen."

Director Wang joked, "Once this case is solved, once the suspect is apprehended, I’ll take them out for drinks!"

The dignified Water Police Station chief actually plans to take people out for dinner, showing how troubling this case is for the Water Police Station.

Han Yu was silent for a moment, contemplating with his chin resting on his hand, "Even if we find out Liu Jie’s situation quickly, even if we locate him in three to five days, we still lack evidence, how can we apprehend someone without evidence?"

"Whenever he comes, a theft occurs in our district. If it’s not him, then who is it?"

"Right, once we determine his whereabouts, we’ll get him back, I don’t believe he won’t speak!"

The two directors are determined, envisioning Liu Jie wouldn’t fare well once captured and brought back to Binjiang.

There must be evidence in handling a case, interrogation without proper evidence is not permissible.

Han Yu didn’t know what more to say when the phone on the table rang.

Director Wang pressed the speaker button and heard Zhao Hongxing laughing on the other end, "Director Wang, this is Zhao Hongxing. We’ve basically figured out Liu Jie’s situation; he is indeed a Dujiang native, good at swimming, physically robust, and is thirty-one years old this year. He previously worked at the Jiangdu Shipping Company and is relatively familiar with cargo shipping along the Yangtze River, particularly regarding river vessels!"

"Where is he?"

"The people at Dujiang Shipping Company said he resigned six years ago, went to sea dealing in coal, and rarely returned home. Three years ago, he chartered a fleet from Dujiang Shipping Company to transport over four thousand tons of coal from Beihu to Zhenjiang, but the shipping fee remains unsettled to this day; Dujiang Shipping Company is also looking for him."

"So you don’t know where he is?" Director Wang asked urgently.

"He may escape the monk but not the temple. We asked the local Police Station to consult his village leaders: he returns every year for New Year."

"So we must wait for him at his old home?"

Zhao Hongxing understood the director wanted to apprehend the suspect before the Spring Festival and quickly said, "Aside from this, we have two other leads?"

Director Wang eagerly asked, "What leads?"

"Their town government contracted out a brick and tile factory to a boss surnamed Chen, who reportedly has gambling ties with Liu Jie—rumor has it they gambled at an underground casino in Guzhou and lost hundreds of thousands. Chen boss denies these claims publicly, but Director Huang has subpoenaed him to the Police Station for overnight questioning."

"What’s the second lead?"

"Liu Jie has a middle school classmate named Wang Xiaoyan, allegedly with an ambiguous relationship. This Wang Xiaoyan ran a hair salon in town, her husband went abroad to work two years ago, contracted for three years and will return next year. Town residents have reportedly seen Liu Jie visiting Wang Xiaoyan."

"Is Wang Xiaoyan still at her old home?"

"No, she transferred the hair salon. According to acquaintances, she claimed to open a shop in Guzhou and hasn’t been home for six months. But she has a pager and frequently sends money home, as she has a child who’s in elementary school."

"Do we have her pager number?"

"We do. We plan to contact the paging station tomorrow morning to locate her."

...

After hanging up, Director Wang lit a cigarette and analyzed, "Liu Jie dabbling in coal possibly hasn’t earned him much, otherwise he wouldn’t have unsettled dues with his old unit. His gambling ties with the brick and tile factory owner Chen suggest he’s not focused, unmarried at thirty-something yet harboring an ambiguous relationship with a married woman—it speaks volumes about his character!"

"Director Wang, Director Qi, Salted Fish was right; we should not only locate him but also gather evidence on him."

Jiang Hechun took several deep breaths before continuing, "He always steals cash without leaving fingerprints or witnesses. So if we manage to bring him back and he keeps his mouth shut, not admitting, we might be caught in a dilemma."

No doubt the Criminal Investigation Team leader understands procedure—case handling requires evidence.

Han Yu nodded slightly in agreement.

Li Jun, purely a bystander, seemed contemplative while sitting aside.

Not originally a case for the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau, so Xu Haoran and Guo Weitao refrained from commenting.

Director Wang pondered for a moment and asked, "Hechun, do you have any good ideas?"

"If we can verify Liu Jie involved in gambling, could we leverage the gambling angle upon arrest, at least lending legitimacy to his apprehension?"

"What if he avoids the issue, merely admitting to gambling but denying theft?"

"Sitting here I don’t have a better plan, but it’s a matter of taking one step at a time."

Han Yu raised his head and said, "Director Wang, Director Qi, I feel Wang Xiaoyan could be a breakthrough; if she really shares a special relationship with Liu Jie, she likely knows something about him."