National Forensic Doctor-Chapter 858 - 796: Technology is Not Omnipotent_2

Jiang Yuan was skilled in technical methods, but these methods required physical support.

Of course, acquiring more physical support was not impossible, but it all required time.

Deputy Captain Xie Yongle was the first to disagree, "Captain Jiang, you’re underestimating yourself. You’ve worked on so many cases, many of which were solved using every possible method. Everyone uses technology, but is all technology the same? I have an arm, Captain Wu has an arm, if we arm-wrestle, does that mean my arm isn’t an arm?"

When he said that, Huang Qiangmin and the others didn’t know whether they should refute.

Liu Jinghui put down his chopsticks and said, "Technology isn’t almighty. Regarding this case, you’ve been working on it for nearly a year. The special task force has exerted a lot of effort, and various kinds of visitation records have been collected. If we were to conduct a general investigation, we could only base it on your work, which would not only be inefficient but also not very meaningful."

Some police teams or detectives create a tragic amount of redundant investigation, which may be due to bad habits or simply a lack of ability.

However, as the precinct of Qianjin District is the core of Qinghe City, their level is indeed acceptable. They consistently rank high on the combat power leaderboard for good reason—the quality of their investigation is solid.

Under these circumstances, the only possibility is finding evidence as if picking bones from an egg, hoping to find a breakthrough. That is to say, everyone’s busy work for several months is merely an archaeological dig through case files, for just a mere possibility.

The criminal is not a test question, guaranteed to have a solution.

Some leads, followed through, just end in dead ends. What can you do about that?

Liu Jinghui waited, then continued, "We discussed it while reviewing the files earlier, so let me talk about our understanding. The criminal chose different locations for the three incidents, indicating they are indeed familiar with the environment in Qinghe City. But we can’t just conclude that the person is a Qinghe local."

Liu Jinghui said, "Regarding the criminal’s identity, the first possibility, returnees, I see that Captain Lei and your team have already investigated thoroughly, even pulling out the health insurance lists to check... Apart from that, other possible identities the criminal might have, let me list some. There are actually many, such as the second kind, possibly the son-in-law of Qinghe people, or someone of the grandson or nephew’s generation who comes to Qinghe City to pay New Year’s visits. Third, businessmen, those who only do business during the New Year, coming to Qinghe City then, or maybe, only having free time to commit crimes during the New Year..."

Liu Jinghui said, "The fourth kind, professions that require long-term business trips, but not the traditional sense of labor work. For example, survey teams, people like engineers, or staff assigned to work overseas and out of town by certain institutions. The fifth, active soldiers, members of the disciplinary forces, also must be considered as possibilities..."

Liu Jinghui continued, "Fifth, students, especially college students from The Great Learning. Sixth, possibly someone who has lived in Qinghe City before, familiar with the local area, but comes from another place just to commit crimes. Seventh, family factors, the criminal has a spouse or children or other family, who only leave on business trips during the New Year, thus providing the criminal with the opportunity to commit the crime."

Liu Jinghui went on, "From this series of analyses, since the investigation of returnees is already very detailed, I think continuing to investigate from the angle of identity is still going to be difficult."

Listening, everyone nodded in agreement; many were rapidly finishing their stir-fried rice and began listening intently.

The cafeteria had turned into a temporary case analysis site, which actually was quite normal. The stiff and formal meetings held in offices were often too official and not very appealing to many leaders in the police department. They preferred settings that were more showy for the press.

Liu Jinghui, having finished his notes, continued, "We just discussed, including the investigative directions you had, Captain Lei, many which considered the blank spots in the timeline, attempting to solve the case through them. The idea is fine, but since it hasn’t led to a breakthrough, I think we should start considering other directions."

Upon hearing all this, Lei Xin was at a loss for words, only obediently saying, "Go ahead."

"The seven elements of crime: what, when, where, with what, the emotional state, the reason, the person," recited Liu Jinghui swiftly. "The first two have been discussed. The locations have changed across the three incidents. I think, we should shift the focus to ’with what,’ particularly the motorcycle."

"We have also investigated the motorcycle in detail..."

"You investigated the motorcycles in plain sight, the ones on the roads, barking up the wrong tree!" Liu Jinghui slightly chastised, then quickly got back on track, saying, "Of course, that isn’t a flaw. Mainly, based on our analysis, we consider this point worthy of further investigation, though it might be beyond what you can handle."

Liu Jinghui glanced at Xu Taining, then said, "What we know so far is that the motorcycle tire tracks at two crime scenes are the same, meaning we can basically determine it’s the same motorcycle. So let’s boldly assume, since the criminal did not dispose of the motorcycle after the first and second crimes, they likely didn’t dispose of it after the third crime, which was at the beginning of the year."

Lei Xin and others slowly nodded.

Liu Jinghui then said, "With this premise, you’ve already investigated the motorcycles that appeared on the roads or were visible. So now I ask, where did the criminal hide the motorcycle? At their home or somewhere else? How can we find this motorcycle? If we find the motorcycle, does that mean we find the criminal?"

"I believe finding the motorcycle would essentially mean we’re close to solving the case. But if the motorcycle doesn’t appear on the road, how do we find it?" Lei Xin said, gradually understanding and looking toward Xu Taining with a deep frown.

As the saying goes, one person hides something, ten people can’t find it. Buying a motorcycle is easy, and its size is not large, making it easy to hide.

But it’s very hard to find.

Lei Xin shook his head silently.

Xu Taining elegantly wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, then slowly said, "Gasoline."

"Uh?" Lei Xin was startled.

"As far as I know, in Qinghe City, purchasing bulk gasoline requires identity registration. Storing gasoline poses certain risks, and you can’t buy too much each time. For three consecutive years, it’s quite likely the criminal had to purchase gasoline," Xu Taining paused, then continued, "Filling up the motorcycle’s tank with fuel before committing the crime would seem necessary."

"Indeed... that makes sense." Lei Xin nodded, though it was possible the criminal could use someone else’s or a fake ID to purchase gasoline, which itself is illegal. However, for safety reasons, suspects in major cases typically would not commit smaller crimes like this.