Xu Yu followed her colleagues as they checked the surveillance footage near the crime scene for the third time. She was so tired that she could barely keep an eye open.
Wang Yifei arrived in City A at around 6 PM. If he took the subway and then a bus to the outskirts, he could have arrived by 7:30 PM.
He probably used cash after arriving in City A, as there were no bank transactions on the 16th, which made the investigation more challenging.
They could only check surveillance cameras near stops on the routes marked on the map between 7pm and 11pm, but found no trace.
According to the weather records, it rained from 10:15 PM to 1:32 AM on the 16th. Jiang Pingxin’s statement indicated that the murder occurred after the rain started and before 11 PM. This meant the killer had to murder Han Songshan and dispose of the body during the time Jiang Pingxin went back to get her umbrella.
After watching the last segment of the footage, a colleague, on the verge of collapse, leaned back in his chair, covering his face and howling, “We can’t find him! There’s no trace of him at the bus stops, and the taxi drivers said they didn’t pick him up. How did he get to the outskirts? Did he take an unlicensed car? He couldn’t have walked, right?”
Xu Yu lazily tapped the mouse with one finger, her eyes half-closed, and said, “It’s possible he did take an unlicensed car. Even though we’ve cracked down on them, there are still many unlicensed car drivers at the station exits.”
The colleague pointed at the screen, incredulous. “Even if he took an unlicensed car, he couldn’t have completely avoided surveillance in the suburbs! He hasn’t been back to City A for seven years! I wouldn’t bet he’s that familiar with the area’s roads.”
Another colleague chimed in from his workstation, "I agree. Choosing such a remote area to commit the crime suggests that the killer has some knowledge of City A."
Xu Yu rubbed her face, feeling a blur in her vision, about to speak when Shao Zhixin suddenly exclaimed, “I found him!”
The previously drowsy group snapped to attention, rushing over to him, eyes practically glued to his screen, asking repeatedly, “Where?”
Shao Zhixin pointed to a young man in the corner of the video. “Isn’t this him?”
The person in the paused frame was wearing a white T-shirt and loose jeans, carrying a black backpack, walking with his head down. The angle didn’t capture his face, but his back was clearly visible.
Xu Yu crouched down, scrutinizing the image, her brow furrowing in confusion.
The colleague, thinking he had a bad angle, turned and asked, “Have you seen Wang Yifei? Can you recognize him just from his back?”
Shao Zhixin zoomed in, confidently saying, “I don’t know him, but I recognize his bag. He often features this black backpack in his short videos. Look, the sun hat hanging on his bag and the red trinket are exactly the same as in his videos. It’s too much of a coincidence!”
The colleagues, eyes bright, enthusiastically patted Shao Zhixin’s back. “Great job, Shao Zhixin!”
Xu Yu, still hesitant, said, “But didn’t Jiang Pingxin say the killer was wearing a blue T-shirt that night? Did he change clothes after the murder?”
Shao Zhixin, wincing from the pats, pointed to the timestamp, “This footage is from 1:42 AM! If this is correct, Wang Yifei only arrived at the outskirts at this time!”
He rewound the video, showing Wang Yifei standing by the roadside, checking his phone, then turning around, likely confirming directions, before heading down the road toward the river.
According to the testimony, Han Songshan had been dead for over two hours by this point. If Wang Yifei were the killer, he wouldn’t still be at the scene. Plus, him checking the navigation suggested he was unfamiliar with the area, possibly visiting for the first time.
Shao Zhixin, excited, asked, “So, did I make a breakthrough?”
Xu Yu pressed his head, indicating he should calm down. “Where’s this footage from? Confirm his route.”
Half an hour later, Captain Zhang, holding the printed images, convened an emergency meeting.
He sat near the projection screen, raising a hand to signal everyone. “Report your progress.”
Shao Zhixin read from his notes, “The surveillance shows that after arriving in City A, Wang Yifei went elsewhere first and only walked to the crime scene at around 1 AM. The rain had stopped by then, which contradicts Jiang Pingxin’s testimony. Also, he was wearing a white T-shirt in the footage.”
Xu Yu eagerly added, “Can we conclude that Jiang Pingxin lied?”
Everyone turned to the dimly lit screen, awaiting Captain Zhang’s response.
He nodded slowly, saying, “Not only that, but Jiang Pingxin’s testimony has contradictions.”
He asked for someone to project Wang Yifei’s image. “She said the mysterious man wore a hat and a blue T-shirt. Later, while describing his appearance to the sketch artist, she didn’t mention the hat, which would hide his eyes and forehead.”
She claimed she used a flashlight to scan his face up close to see Wang Yifei clearly. However, a person would normally turn away from a bright light, making it hard to remember facial features in a brief glance, yet she remembered vividly.”
Brother Huang put down his documents, agreeing, “Right. And she said he had bangs. But Wang Yifei’s hair isn’t long. How could she see his bangs under a hat?”
He took a colleague’s baseball cap, put it on, and pushed the brim up, demonstrating. “Would he wear it like this? In the rain? It’s not practical, and it doesn’t cover the face.”
Xu Yu felt relieved, leaning on the table. “But if Wang Yifei isn’t the killer, who is he covering for? His father? And why would he go to the river at midnight?”
Captain Zhang asked, “When did Wang Yifei leave the southern district?”
Xu Yu quickly flipped through her notes, replying, “We haven’t pinpointed the exact footage. But his transaction records show he paid 3.5 yuan at a breakfast shop near the outskirts at 6:15 AM, so he must have left after that.”
Captain Zhang fell silent, lost in thought.
Shao Zhixin muttered, "Who on earth could make both Jiang Pingxin and Wang Yifei cover for them? It’s too weird."
Xu Yu added casually, "And also be able to lure Han Songshan to the wilderness late at night."
These three conditions together practically formed an empty set.
The investigation was progressing efficiently, yet it had stalled at this crucial point.
Brother Huang slammed the table and suggested, "Let's call Jiang Pingxin back for questioning tomorrow morning."
He looked at Xu Yu with a stern expression and tone, "We can't let her continue to mislead our investigation. She must understand the seriousness of giving false testimony."
Xu Yu nodded, "Understood."
Captain Zhang's eyes darted as he listened to the conversation. He then nodded and said, "Investigate Jiang Pingxin's social circle further. Also, has there been anyone around Wang Gaozhan recently?"
"Wang Gaozhan served 17 years in prison. Most of his old friends and family have distanced themselves from him. He’s probably closer to his fellow inmates." The colleague responsible for the investigation recalled something and said, "Oh, he recently found a new job, which someone introduced him to. I thought it might have been arranged by Captain He or one of Wang Gaozhan’s former cellmates. I didn’t ask too many questions because I was afraid the boss might get suspicious and ruin his job."
Captain Zhang sensed something off but couldn't pinpoint it. He recalled everything carefully, found no flaws, and cautiously said, "Wang Gaozhan returned to City A first, followed by Wang Yifei. But Wang Gaozhan had no reason to stay in City A and look for a job. Even if fewer people know him now, someone might still recognize him. Let's investigate this further but discreetly."
The colleague agreed, "Alright."
The team added some details but had nothing more to say out of exhaustion.
Seeing the late hour, Captain Zhang clapped his hands and stood up, "Let's call it a night. Everyone, get some rest."
The dusk deepened, with some faint light filtering through the half-open curtains. The exposed piece of sky was pitch black, with only an orange-yellow lamp illuminating the corner of the living room.
Zhou Tuoxing sat close to He Chuan Zhou on the sofa, quietly listening to her speak. He said softly, "I don't think Yifei could be the murderer."
He wanted to mention Wang Gaozhan but hesitated and kept silent.
He Chuan Zhou, her voice still tinged with a nasal tone and her gaze somewhat dazed, said, "It’s not Wang Gaozhan. I went to see him today. His reaction didn’t seem like it. He might even believe that Wang Yifei is the killer."
Zhou Tuoxing didn’t know what to say. Seeing her tear-streaked eyes, he felt a strong sense of helplessness and wanted to change the topic to distract her.
"The sub-bureau won't let you investigate, but I have a copy of Han Songshan's file. I'll go back and get it for you."