The next morning.
Han Bin arrived at the police station early and handed over a backup of the video to the tech team for processing.
Back in the office, he saw Zeng Ping eating breakfast on the desk—fried dough sticks, tea eggs, tofu pudding, and pickles—a rather hearty spread.
"Team Leader Zeng."
"Han Bin, want some?" Zeng Ping offered politely.
"I already ate."
While eating, Zeng Ping asked, "How did the investigation with Li Hui go yesterday?"
"I was just about to report to you." Han Bin took out a screenshot from the video. "Chen Jun was at the Yindu Foot Massage Parlor on the night of June 17th."
"That can't prove he wasn't at the crime scene. The crime happened on the night of June 18th."
"I also have this photo, from early morning June 18th." Han Bin added.
Zeng Ping glanced at it and immediately caught on. "You suspect someone picked up Chen Jun's genetic material and planted it at the crime scene."
"This person wearing gloves left the back gate of the city park at 9 PM on June 18th. Here's the video screenshot." Han Bin laid out a third photo.
Zeng Ping put the three photos together and rubbed his chin. "It really is the same person. Interesting."
Han Bin pointed at the photos. "I think this glove-wearing guy is highly suspicious."
"That only means he's a suspect. To convict, we still need direct evidence."
"Team Leader Zeng, two pubic hairs were found at the crime scene. I suggest doing DNA testing on them."
"The hairs might not belong to the suspect; they could be the victim's. And it's not guaranteed we can extract DNA from them."
"Pubic hairs are tiny and hard to spot at night. Even if dropped, the suspect wouldn't notice. In some ways, this is even more accurate than DNA from other sources." Han Bin explained.
Zeng Ping hesitated a moment. "Alright, I'll apply for it."
"Wise decision, Team Leader." Han Bin smiled.
"Stop flattering me." Zeng Ping joked. "I'm assigning you and Li Hui a task: find out the identity of the glove-wearing suspect and get his biological samples."
"Yes, sir."
...
The tech team enhanced the suspect's video to HD and extracted a clear frontal photo. They ran it through the database and after a long check, found the suspect's identity:
Name: Li Feifan
Ethnicity: Han
Age: 25
Height: 174 cm
Occupation: Car salesman
Marital status: Single
Address: Qindao City, Huagang Road, Rongxin Community, 4-2003.
"How about summoning him for a routine interview to get his biological samples?" Li Hui suggested.
"Summoning him to the station might tip him off." Han Bin replied.
"What do you suggest then?"
"Follow him, find a way to get his samples without alerting him."
"Heh, you have a thing for tailing people, huh?" Li Hui laughed.
...
Li Feifan's home was not far from the car dealership—just three bus stops.
To avoid being noticed, the two split up: Han Bin followed the first part of the route, Li Hui the latter part.
From Rongxin Community, Han Bin started following Li Feifan. Li Feifan was well-groomed, confident hairstyle, the smell of strong hair gel drifting a meter or two.
At the bus stop, he bought a pancake and a cup of soy milk.
Han Bin pretended to look at his phone, occasionally glancing up to avoid suspicion.
The bus arrived, and the two boarded one after another.
Li Feifan's eyes scanned the stylishly dressed young women on the bus.
After three stops, Li Feifan got off, but Han Bin stayed on one more stop to avoid raising suspicion.
Li Hui took over the tailing.
Their target? The soy milk cup and straw in Li Feifan's hand.
Han Bin got off after one more stop and hurried to meet Li Hui near the car dealership.
From a distance, Han Bin saw Li Hui standing by a trash bin, smoking.
"How's it going?"
Li Hui grinned and waved a plastic bag containing a plastic cup and straw.
"Well done."
They returned to the station and sent the cup and straw to the tech team for testing.
Targeted comparison is much faster.
...
Next morning.
Zeng Ping came back to the office holding the test report.
Clap clap he clapped his hands. "Everyone, drop what you're doing, meeting time."
"Team Leader Zeng, is the DNA comparison done?"
"It's out." He handed the report around.
"One of the pubic hairs yielded DNA, which matched Li Feifan's DNA perfectly."
"That means Li Feifan is highly suspicious. He was in the city park during the crime." Tian Li said.
"More importantly, he may have obtained Chen Jun's genetic material, trying to frame Chen Jun and clear himself." Han Bin added.
Zeng Ping smiled.
"Han Bin, you're at it again."
"Thanks to your support."
"This case has dragged on too long. We need to act fast before the suspect disposes of the murder weapon."
"Team Leader Zeng, please apply for a search warrant."
"Tian Li, apply for search and arrest warrants. The rest, come with me to set up surveillance." Zeng Ping ordered.
"Yes, sir."
...
At Rongxin Community, Li Feifan's home.
Li Feifan was off work today, slept until 9 AM, still too lazy to get up. Ate some biscuits and lay in bed playing on his phone.
At noon, he ordered takeout.
Knock knock knock Someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"I'm downstairs. Your bathroom is leaking and flooding my ceiling." A man's voice said.
"That can't be, there's no water in our bathroom." Li Feifan replied.
"Don't believe me? Come down and see."
Creak Li Feifan opened the door. Before he could say anything, several men rushed in. Leading them was a middle-aged man flashing a police badge.
"We're the police."
"What are you doing here?"
"We suspect you're involved in a rape case. Here's the search warrant." Han Bin said.
Li Feifan looked innocent. "Is there some mistake?"
"We're here to investigate and clear your name. Please cooperate."
Zeng Ping waved his hand. "Search thoroughly."
"I've never done anything like this! How could I be involved?" Li Feifan protested.
Zeng Ping stared him down. "Li Feifan, where were you on the night of June 18th?"
"Too long ago. I don't remember."
"Let me remind you, you were at the city park."
"Oh, I remember now. I heard there was a rape case at the park recently."
"But lots of people go there. That doesn't mean I'm involved."
"We found your DNA at the scene." Zeng Ping said.
Li Feifan looked shocked.
"That's impossible!"
"Heh, don't be overconfident." Zeng Ping smiled and said no more.
So far, Li Feifan seems to have some counter-surveillance skills. To convict him, more evidence is needed.
A moment later, Tian Li reported, "No murder weapon found in the master bedroom."
Zhao Ming shook his head, "No weapon in the bathroom either."
Li Hui added, "Nothing in the kitchen either."
Li Feifan smiled, "See? I told you, I have nothing to do with this."
Han Bin snorted, "You said that too soon."
(End of Chapter)