Free Web NovelChapter 698: Chapter 698: Corpses in the Sedan
A week passed quickly.
The Blood Butterfly case at the Mingde Road church has been thoroughly investigated and concluded.
At the initial crime scene, all the tools used by the suspects, Li Pingzhang and Song Tiezhu, were present.
The scene was full of the two individuals’ footprints and fingerprints.
It could be said that the evidence was overwhelming.
Of course, although the case was solved, the impact it brought was far from over.
The scene at the Mingde Road church is still sealed off.
After such an incident, it’s impossible for this church to reopen in a short time.
However, after the case was successfully concluded, the Criminal Investigation Team breathed a sigh of relief.
The few outstanding cases accumulated in the past period have also seen better progress recently.
Zhang Hui and Sun Jun took their people on two trips and have apprehended the relevant suspects.
In today’s society, it’s very hard to hide one’s identity and continue living.
Unlike a dozen years ago when a wanted criminal could leave the area and live under a new identity elsewhere.
Such occurrences are increasingly rare now.
With social progress and economic development, the number of villages residing in deep mountains and forests is decreasing, transportation systems are expanding, and people’s connections are becoming easier.
Attempting to hide one’s identity by creating some fake identification documents is becoming more difficult.
The suspects recently apprehended were found when staying at hotels.
Now, staying at a significant hotel or guesthouse requires registering identification information.
And some small inns might claim they don’t require ID information, but anyone behaving suspiciously will have the local police contacted immediately.
In these times, fewer people are willing to take risks for a few dozen yuan.
If luck favors them and they encounter a wanted criminal, the reward alone could be thousands.
And now, whether in large hotels or small accommodations, all have a public security networked monitoring system.
No ID? No problem. Just showing your face at the front desk and having an image recorded can allow identity verification through comparisons.
The Criminal Investigation Team has been resolving cases smoothly, significantly reducing team overtime.
Lu Chuan finds his days becoming more idle.
When there aren’t any cases, the Forensic and Crime Scene Investigation offices are relatively relaxed departments.
After New Year’s Day, Shen Yan and Lu Chuan separately communicated with their families and each other about plans to marry this year.
They’ve known each other for over two years, have been in a relationship for nearly two years, and are already engaged, so it’s natural to consider formal marriage.
Once a date is set, they don’t have to worry about other matters, as a subsidiary company of the Qiangsheng Group specializes in weddings.
It’s guaranteed that the wedding will be spectacular.
In January, Haizhou City’s temperature hits its lowest, but after this month, by February, it starts rising, and the Spring Festival arrives.
"Director Lu, will you be traveling this New Year?"
Sun from the office came over to arrange the duty schedule.
"Yes, I’ll be traveling. Do I need to be on duty?"
This year, Lu Chuan and Shen Yan have agreed to travel.
"Alright, then I won’t schedule you for duty."
The rule for duty in the Criminal Investigation Team is that Captain Qin is on duty either on New Year’s Eve or the first day of the lunar new year.
The deputy team leaders follow in sequence.
Then it’s the responsibility of each action group leader and each department head.
And each department decides its own duty within the department.
Unlike the local police stations below, the Criminal Investigation Team doesn’t require a physical presence unless there’s a case; only an administrative on-duty is needed.
Of course, if there’s a case and someone reports it on New Year’s Eve, everyone has to be ready.
In recent years, the rate of severe cases happening during the Spring Festival has been dropping annually.
Unlike before when approaching the New Year, severe cases, especially robberies and murders, were very likely.
Such cases are relatively easier to crack; usually, people with poor economic conditions, who can’t return home for the New Year, have bad intentions and go astray.
Now that economic conditions have improved, robberies have dramatically decreased.
Moreover, those who commit robbery are generally first-time offenders.
Experienced ones would rather steal than rob.
The same thousand yuan, if stolen, isn’t considered a major case - a few days’ detention and possible compensation might resolve it.
But if it’s robbery of a thousand yuan, the penalty ranges from three to ten years.
Nearing the New Year, the Criminal Investigation Team has started to decorate with lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere.
"Group Leader Zhang, there’s a case in the High-tech Zone; Captain Qin wants you to check it out."
In the hallway, the office owner called Zhang Hui, who was pasting lucky characters.
"A homicide?"
"Director Lu called. He discovered it while driving; something seems unusual."
Lu Chuan?
Zhang Hui immediately put down what he was holding: "Alright, got it."
He was somewhat surprised that Lu Chuan reported the case.
Then he called up some brothers from the second team, and three police cars roared as they departed from the Criminal Investigation Team.
At the entrance of the neighborhood where Shen Yan lives, local police have already set up a cordon.
Lu Chuan didn’t rush to investigate. After calling the team, Yang Lin had already brought the equipment over.
Zhang Hui arrived first.
"Old Lu, was it you who discovered it?"
On the scene, Zhang Hui got out of the police car and greeted Lu Chuan.
Lu Chuan nodded: "Last night when I dropped Shen Yan off, I saw this car with two people in it."
"This morning when I came to pick up Shen Yan, I found the car was still here."
"The car windows had fogged up, and faint silhouettes were visible inside."
"I knocked on the car window; there was no response from inside. It seemed like something happened, so I called the police."
Zhang Hui checked in front of the car and indeed saw two faint silhouettes inside.
"Are they dead?"
"Probably. I just called the car’s moving number," Lu Chuan pointed to the windshield: "The phone is inside the car; I didn’t open it rashly."
As they spoke, Yang Lin finally arrived at the scene.
"Old Lu, I’ve got the equipment."
"Bring it in."
Along with him came a locksmith.
"Let’s open the car door first."
When Lu Chuan initially noticed the anomaly, he didn’t forcibly break the car window.
The people had been there since last night. If there was a problem, it would have presented itself long before.
Breaking the window might damage some evidence.
So, he brought a locksmith.
The target vehicle was a Volkswagen sedan. The locksmith had done many such jobs, and with specialized tools, he unlocked it in a few minutes.
Once the door was open, the situation inside was clear.
The people were dead, a man and a woman.
The faces of the two were flushed, with red lines following the veins on exposed parts of their bodies.
Yang Lin instinctively shouted: "Carbon monoxide poisoning?"
