Free Web NovelChapter 370: Chapter 354: Checking Out the Idle Factory Building?_2
Xu Dayuan nodded.
"It’s natural, even if we don’t hide on Nan Island, there is a bay right behind this area. You can easily get up from the scenic spot, and there would be no place to search..."
As he spoke, Xu Dayuan stopped short.
"Wait, you mean to say that the motorboat escaped in this direction, and seven days later, the bodies were also found here, already starting to decompose? Maybe the location where the Zhu family was held captive and attacked could be the same place, and this place might be on Nan Island?" freēwēbnovel.com
Zhou Ning made an acknowledging sound, and Mr. Zhao licked his lips, then walked straight to the door.
"What are we waiting for? This Lou Sanfeng is a lunatic, and the kind who isn’t afraid of death, fearless. He’s been a soldier, knows how to repair boats, understands weapons, is aware of counter-surveillance, and has strong physical stamina.
Putting all this together, he wouldn’t just confess under interrogation. Anyway, we have to wait for the examination. Instead of wasting time here blindly, let’s go directly to Nan Island to take a look. Go door-to-door for a search, there’s bound to be some traces to find."
While they were discussing this, the door was opened and Yang Xuetong arrived with Sun Gaotie and Zhu Xingxing, all three of them drenched in sweat. They were about to speak when they saw Xu Dayuan and immediately halted, out of respect for the whiteboard near the door.
Mr. Zhao grinned with a show of teeth.
"Alright, we all work hard. Have a drink, wipe your sweat, replenish the supplies in the survey box, and let’s head out quickly. We’re going to examine a crime scene. If you haven’t had a meal, bring your lunchbox with you and eat on the way."
Mr. Zhao organized the group; Xu Dayuan had no objections. After all, he had met Lou Sanfeng before. It would indeed be tough to pry open his mouth, and the analysis just now did sound somewhat reasonable.
Yang Xuetong waved his hand.
"Bring the water, we’ll just take a trip to the restroom, and then we’ll get on the vehicle. Mr. Zhao, just bring us some water. There’s a whole box of supplies in the back of the Iveco. Not to mention one crime scene, it’s enough for ten."
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, may it bring good fortune!"
...
Forty minutes later.
The vehicle arrived in front of Xiaofengtai. Zhou Ning wanted to see the situation there in person; after all, he had only ever heard descriptions of it. Holding up a map and comparing it to the scenery in front of him, the reality was very different.
On the map, this area was a dumbbell-shaped peninsula with only one road leading up and down. In the middle lay a basketball court and a few buildings. The rest was entirely covered with trees, which completely enveloped the cliff above, with only rocks exposed along the edges.
Vehicles could stop directly at the eastern edge, on the rocky side. Perhaps because it was higher up, the wind was very strong. Zhou Ning stood at the edge of the clifftop viewing platform and looked down. Below were three small docks jutting out from the peninsula.
The location was well chosen; from above, the view was unobstructed. However, only the three small docks on the eastern side and the sea surface could be seen from above; it was impossible to see directly below. Zhou Ning leaned out completely, which scared Mr. Zhao who hurried over to hold onto him.
"What are you doing, trying to get yourself killed?"
"It’s okay, just hold onto me a bit. I want to check out the situation with the waves below."
Mr. Zhao and Mr. Yang both gripped Zhou Ning’s arm and belt, while Zhou Ning leaned his entire body out to see that the rocks below receded inwards, wide at the top and narrower at the bottom, which explained why the waves could not be seen from above. If one were to drop something from this position, it could fall directly into the sea, rather than hitting the rocks. Even if a motorboat approached the edge, it would not collide.
"Pull me up."
The two hoisted Zhou Ning back up, and after he took a deep breath, he continued:
"I couldn’t understand why if a bag was thrown below, the perpetrator could retrieve it so quickly and leave. Xiaofengtai lives up to its name, similar to a diving platform, fully extending over the edge with the sea below, wider on top, and narrower at the bottom. Indeed, that would allow someone to quickly pick up the object and depart without the rocks getting in the way.
Of course, with the right tool, a dragging rope could hook the bag, and one could leave directly without even having to go into the water to retrieve it, and without worrying about drifting off course. If the object was in the sea, the police would not be able to spot it, escaping with the money bag."
Xu Dayuan glanced at the three small docks below, then looked at the photographs of the scene from the past.
"These three docks were built after the Olympic Games to boost the tourism industry. At the time of the incident, there weren’t any docks here, which made it even smoother for the killer to drive the motorboat.
If we go by our analysis, the killer went straight to Nan Island on the motorboat. It’s only 2.1 kilometers away on the sea, just a tiny effort and you’re there. The police would have to chase over land, following a C-shaped route that’s over eight kilometers long. What would they see by the time they get there?
Let’s go, let’s check out Nan Island directly, Mr. Zeng and the others have already gone over there. We have requested information on those enterprises from the Shazikou Police Station personnel, making the investigation somewhat more convenient."
The group got into the car and sure enough, the eight-kilometer distance took twenty minutes to cover by car. Several intersections were very congested. After all, it is still a tourist season by the sea, which is more crowded than it was in April when the crime was committed.
The car stopped on the back side of Nan Island, surrounded by the sea on three sides. This location was relatively more hidden. Mr. Zeng was already waiting in front of an enterprise with his people; when he saw Xu Dayuan, he quickly waved his hand.
"Leader, we are here."
Xu Dayuan didn’t say anything and silently walked over with Zhou Ning and the others to shake hands with Mr. Wang, head of the Shazikou Police Station, who was standing behind Mr. Zeng.
"Sorry to put you all through this!"
"Leader, you talk like that, and I’m feeling uneasy. Just tell me what needs to be done; give the command. I heard from Mr. Zeng that you need to check the enterprises on Nan Island. I’ve sorted out some information, but there are two places that have been unused for years; do you need to have a look?"
Such a statement sparked Xu Dayuan’s interest.
"Of course! We’ll go through them one by one. I don’t want to miss anything. Ideally, we’re looking for the ones purchased a long time ago or those in the boat and yacht industry."
Mr. Wang chuckled and handed over a list to Xu Dayuan.
"At this moment, there are no enterprises involved in yachts or boats. However, in 2000, there was one here that specialized in export business, monopolizing half of the European market. I heard the owner was originally a Qingdao mixed-blood but moved to Yangkou later because the place here wasn’t big enough."
Mr. Zhao stepped forward, holding up a high-definition aerial survey map of Nan Island.
"Mr. Wang, could you point out where this yacht enterprise was originally? Since it’s surrounded by such high-end businesses, why didn’t anyone around buy it just for fun?"
Mr. Wang shook his head with a smile.
"Kid, you really don’t understand, do you? Those things are very expensive. Ordinary people can’t afford them. But it seems like the factory moved away in the second half of 2004, after which it stood idle for a while. Later, a rental company opened here."
"How many enterprises or individual properties are there in total?"
"Seventeen."
"Then let’s split into two groups and check from the eastern and western entrances. We’ll also check the ones that are not in operation. If we can’t contact them, then we’ll have to look at them from an adjacent high point. As for what and how to investigate, Zhou Ning can arrange that on-site.
Mr. Wang, I apologize for the trouble, but your people are familiar with the area. I need to know the actual legal persons of every enterprise, along with managerial staff information, including when they came to Nan Island and whether there have been any transfers. If there were transfers, I need to know who owned them in 2004."
Mr. Wang nodded hurriedly, assigning his personnel. Zhou Ning and his group also divided themselves, with him taking Mr. Zhao and Liu Yongxin following Mr. Wang, while Xu Dayuan took Mr. Yang and the other two with him, blending into the teams to start their investigation.
They went from one place to another, the three meticulously investigating every corner of the enterprises while Mr. Wang’s people continuously collected enterprise information. After showing it to Zhou Ning and seeing him shaking his head continuously, Mr. Wang also felt somewhat helpless.
"Director Zhou, what exactly are you looking for?"
Zhou Ning smiled, finding it hard to clearly state in a few words what they were looking for. This depended on the condition of the scene. The several enterprises were already of a certain age, and it was apparent they had not been renovated. Moreover, they were designed in an open-plan style, making it clear at a glance, a layout not suitable or likely to be the primary scene of the crime.
"I can’t really describe it. I’m looking for a primary scene from 2004, a place around where not many people would linger, a secluded location with a small, separate space, ideally near the shore, with machinery for moving motorboats. Of course, if it’s near the yacht enterprise, that would be even more perfect."
Mr. Wang leaned closer to Zhou Ning and asked in a low voice:
"Are you investigating that case where the actress and her family of three were abducted?"
