Diary of a Criminal Investigator

Chapter 609: Chapter 609: Another Wave Emerges

10:08 a.m., November 23.

Qin Yong’s office landline received a mysterious phone call.

The content of the call was very simple, only one sentence.

"North Mountain Park, under the 23rd tree of Fengbo Pavilion, dig it up."

The call was baffling, just a short sentence, not even 20 words.

Moreover, the other party used a voice changer.

You could clearly hear the hoarse voice, altered so it was impossible to determine if it was male or female.

The caller ID showed a virtual number.

Conference room.

Qin Yong called a meeting with Sun Jun, Zhang Hui, Lu Chuan, and the others.

"A strange call?"

Zhang Hui was encountering such a situation for the first time.

"Couldn’t it be a prank?"

Qin Yong shook his head.

"Not everyone knows my office number. The caller was so cautious, using a voice changer and a virtual number to call me. It doesn’t seem like a prank."

The key is that this isn’t abroad — who would dare to use such a call as a prank?

But the question is, why didn’t the caller just dial 110 to report it but specifically called Qin Yong’s office?

"I suggest sending a team over to take a look."

Sun Jun, mature and prudent.

Though the call seemed nonsensical — just one sentence, with the caller hiding their identity.

Precisely because of this, the caller went out of their way to conceal their identity, indicating the call could very well be genuine.

No matter what’s hidden under that tree by Fengbo Pavilion, digging it up doesn’t cost much effort.

Years ago, Sun Jun had encountered similar report calls.

But most of these calls were more common in corruption cases.

They’re rare on the criminal investigation team.

But there are exceptions; if the person called 110, the case might be assigned to a precinct or the criminal division below.

If the caller wanted to catch the attention of the investigation team, calling Qin Yong’s office was a better choice. freewebnovёl.ƈom

"I think it’s alright to send someone over to look. I’ve been to North Mountain Park — never been up to Fengbo Pavilion, but it’s less crowded over there, with nice scenery."

Lu Chuan, having dated Forensic Doctor Shen these past two years, had traversed most of the nearby sites.

North Mountain Park is great for driving trips — quiet and undisturbed.

Qin Yong, being the head of Haizhou City’s Criminal Investigation Team, was indeed very busy.

Beyond handling cases, he was constantly attending meetings, giving endless talks, arranging countless affairs.

For Qin Yong, solving a case actually felt more mentally relaxing. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Recently, the investigation team had no cases at hand; while others had ample rest, he remained busy.

Receiving such a call now, although uncertain if it was truly a case, there was no harm in sending a team to check.

"Alright, Zhang Hui, you’ll make the trip this time; Lu Chuan, it’ll be hard on you to go to the scene."

The two glanced at each other, nodding without objection.

Being in the action group, fieldwork was Zhang Hui’s primary duty.

Since the call mentioned digging, everyone seated naturally considered if there was a body buried, so Lu Chuan’s presence was fitting — crime scene investigation involvement would benefit the case proceedings.

An hour later.

Three police cars drove into North Mountain Park.

Previously, the investigation team wasn’t so lavish — one scene assigned three police cars.

But with the donations from the Qiangsheng Group, it was different — Haizhou City’s Criminal Investigation Team had plenty of cars.

It was a scramble for one or two cars between two groups; now every group had three or four.

The rush for cars on missions no longer existed.

Moreover, with sufficient funds and recent breakthroughs in major cases, the team made the bureau proud.

Qin Yong reported to Song Jiangguo, increasing slots for auxiliary police officers.

No way to increase formal staff; too many people already.

But adding ten or twenty auxiliary slots, Song Jiangguo could approve.

Fengbo Pavilion is a sightseeing kiosk atop North Mountain Park.

A right turn from the park’s entrance leads up stone steps to Fengbo Pavilion.

North Mountain Park was once barren; trees planted two decades ago, during barren land greening.

The trees grew in orderly lines, not like a natural forest.

After reaching Fengbo Pavilion, Lu Chuan, Zhang Hui, and the others counted down...

"Here, Brother Hui, the 23rd tree."

Quickly, the team identified the tree mentioned in the call.

"Then start digging."

Since they were here, no need for politeness, so they started digging.

A few divided tasks and began digging.

However, before that, Lu Chuan briefly inspected around the tree.

Rot and decay, with no signs of recent human activity in the soil.

This conclusion relieved everyone.

Since the surrounding soil hadn’t been disturbed recently, it wasn’t a recent case.

"Hopefully it’s a prank — we’ll have the cyber police investigate later."

Compared to the content of the call, Zhang Hui hoped it was a prank.

The action group members weren’t novices.

They’d done this before, not frequently but with experience.

As detectives in the investigation team, they’ve dug up a body or two.

Mentally prepared for what might surface next.

"Brother Hui, it’s been half an hour, nothing yet."

Circling the 23rd tree, they’d excavated but found nothing.

Could it truly be a prank?

Gazing at the almost one-meter deep pit, Zhang Hui pondered.

"Let’s dig till a meter deep. If nothing’s there, we withdraw."

Not much effort left, so they eagerly swung their picks, continuing on.

Crack!

Old Chen’s pickaxe struck, sounding a snap.

Lu Chuan immediately darted over from beside the pit.

The crisp sound of fracturing bones — all too familiar to Lu Chuan.

Old Chen hit bone.

"Let me do it!"

Others, hearing the snap, put down their pickaxes, waiting for Lu Chuan.

In the pit, Lu Chuan, donning gloves, cautiously brushed aside Old Chen’s newly dug area.

Using a small crime scene shovel, Lu Chuan carefully began shifting dirt on both sides.

In contrast to the vigorous digging by the action group, Lu Chuan’s slow, meticulous movements seemed prudent.

With more soil turned over, more items emerged.

Clothing...

And... bones!