Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 390: Three Photographs

"Teacher Lu, this time we really owe it to your help. On behalf of the Huangzhou Criminal Investigation Team, thank you!"

Liao Junlong was genuinely happy. His regard for Lu Chuan was not just because Lu Chuan identified the murderer in the Wu Qizhou case — chances to meet an expert of this caliber are rare.

Another reason was for this murder case. Initially, it was just a trial attempt, but unexpectedly, the case was solved in less than ten minutes.

The fingerprint that I wanted him to help with turned out to be intentionally left by the perpetrator to divert attention.

The footprints were the key to cracking the case.

I’ve been a detective for so many years, and while I have extensive experience, I couldn’t keep up purely from a technical standpoint.

"Captain Liao, you’re too kind. Although that fingerprint wasn’t easy to identify, I heard that the provincial office has already started the process. Results should be available in a week or two, and it will be clear then that the fingerprint is indeed the victim’s."

"By then, the focus of the case will naturally shift to the footprints."

Liao Junlong shook his head, "Our own Crime Scene Investigation analyzed the footprints, but we didn’t reach your conclusion. We couldn’t even detect that the killer deliberately wore shoes three sizes larger and entered the scene backward."

Lu Chuan made it sound easy, but for the average person, it’s utterly impossible.

The provincial office does have footprint identification experts, but what level?

Liao Junlong felt that compared to Lu Chuan, there might still be a gap.

It’s not just about spotting footprints and realizing there’s an issue.

They saw the footprints too but didn’t report to the provincial office for identification.

One reason was the long wait time; another was because they had fingerprints.

Since the murder weapon had fingerprints, why bother analyzing footprints?

Furthermore, it’s possible that even the provincial office couldn’t successfully identify the fingerprints, and the case could become an unsolved mystery.

"Anyway, it’s thanks to you this time. Tonight, I’m treating you to dinner."

In the future, there might still be trouble, no, there surely will be situations where we’ll need your help. Building a good relationship and staying in touch is very necessary.

After all, Huangzhou and Haizhou are far apart, not in the same province, and lack close contact. It’s almost impossible to get Lu Chuan’s help through official channels.

But private relationships are much easier.

The two drank tea and chatted about the customs and culture of Huangzhou, and soon it was afternoon.

The investigation led by Zhang Hui and others also showed some progress.

The investigation of the seventeen people had basically concluded.

In the meeting room, Zhang Hui, Lu Chuan, and others, along with the detectives from the Huangzhou Criminal Investigation Team involved in the investigation, were having a briefing.

"Among the 17 people, I think those who originally went together to the bar for drinks and fun can be initially ruled out."

Zhang Lijun, although from the Criminal Investigation Team, had been following Wang Lili’s disappearance case, so he was involved in this investigation too.

Zhang Lijun’s judgment was agreed upon by most, including Zhang Hui and Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan had already reviewed the transcripts of the investigation; those who went to the bar together could corroborate each other that they all went home after their night out.

Additionally, the probability that someone lured Wang Lili to a chemical plant while hanging out with others is very low.

Meanwhile, the investigation results of the second victim Su Xiaochen’s disappearance from Haizhou were also sent to Zhang Hui’s team.

Although there was no concrete evidence to prove where and when Su Xiaochen disappeared, the fact that she frequently visited slow-beat bars, KTVs, and other entertainment venues, combined with Wang Lili’s disappearance, suggests a high probability that she disappeared from a slow-beat bar.

After all, compared to bars, KTVs, and slow-beat bars have noisier environments, where it is also easier for strangers to strike up conversations.

"The killer prefers to find targets in venues like slow-beat bars."

This was the behavioral assessment provided by the Haizhou City Criminal Investigation Team.

Although it’s still unclear how many people the killer has murdered, analyzing the known living patterns of the two victims suggests a high probability of this conclusion.

"Now among these 17 people, we have basically identified all those in Huangzhou, and we have conducted investigations. So far, there are no major doubts, but there are still three people."

Out of 17 people, information on 10 people was already determined through purchase records, and the relevant information for the remaining 7 was confirmed this morning. Investigations have been conducted for the four individuals in Huangzhou, leaving three from other regions.

These three persons have currently become key points for investigation.

"These three people... Can surveillance provide us with facial comparison photos?"

"We’ve reviewed them, but there are only side-profile photos, and they’re not very clear."

Lu Chuan personally studied these photos; the lighting was too dim, and clarity was low. Critically, two individuals only showed half a face, while another showed merely the back of their head.

There is indeed no way to ascertain the identity.

The case seems to have reached an impasse.

The people in Huangzhou have already been investigated; what remains are the three not in Huangzhou, and for now, it seems likely that the killer is hiding among these three.

With no other options, Lu Chuan and Zhang Hui, holding the three photographs, boarded a flight back to Haizhou City.

"Brother Hui, is that it then?"

On the plane, Lu Chuan still felt somewhat unwilling.

This trip to Huangzhou definitely had its gains, but it wasn’t as significant as Lu Chuan had hoped.

He thought that since Wang Lili left more clues, they could find traces of the murderer from her, but they only ended up with three not-so-clear photos.

Lu Chuan personally performed image enhancement on the three photos, but unfortunately, a half-face and the back of a head were impossible to use for facial recognition.

A skillful woman cannot cook without rice.

Zhang Hui also felt unwilling, but reality was as it was.

"Actually, having three photos is already quite good. I’ve been on the front line for so many years, and to have results as we did this time is satisfying enough."

This sort of situation is actually the norm for front-line detective police work; running in circles and possibly finding nothing.

But it is different for technical crime scene police; their work is precise: 1 is 1, 2 is 2. There is only the presence or absence, no middle ground, no ambiguity.

For instance, when Lu Chuan conducts fingerprint identification and analysis, he can’t conclude that a fingerprint belongs to both this person and that person; it belongs to the correct person with no match if not matched.

Other analyses, such as DNA evaluation, footprint analysis, etc., are similar.

The business class treatment wasn’t rescinded due to unsatisfactory case leads. In Lu Chuan’s words, if the case isn’t solved yet, they should take good care of themselves.

Given the significant mental pressure, there was no need to add physical stress.

Zhang Hui expressed that if Captain Qin Yong could think like Lu Chuan, that would be wonderful.