National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 1069 - 1002: Master

Chapter 1069: Chapter 1002: Master

The next morning.

During the office hours, Zhang Xiaoya arrived at the Criminal Police Brigade.

The officer who led her in walked a bit quickly and brought her straight to Director You, who was tidying up his army cot.

Zhang Xiaoya showed a surprised expression: "Director You, why... did you stay here overnight?"

"It was too late, and I didn’t want to fuss about going back and forth. Besides, my wife and kids were already asleep; going back and forth would disturb them." Director You smiled genuinely.

Zhang Xiaoya became even more embarrassed: "This... this is really... I had no idea that you came here personally and stayed up so late, ah—on behalf of my brother, I thank you."

"No need to thank me, this is what we should do." Director You smiled and waved his hand, then continued to tidy up the army cot.

He hadn’t slept on an army cot for quite some time, but the skills trained in his early years were still there, and after getting familiar with it again, he managed to set it up quickly.

Dressed in her work attire, Zhang Xiaoya couldn’t step forward to help, so she could only take out her cellphone and snap a few photos.

Director You no longer felt the pain on his shoulders and waist caused by the hard cot.

At this moment, Jiang Yuan entered with a few people, carrying a PAD and other items.

"Jiang Yuan!" Zhang Xiaoya directly called out his name.

"Director Zhang." Jiang Yuan’s entrance was with a bit of emotional intelligence, as if it was a gift that came with being clear-headed early in the morning.

But at this moment, Zhang Xiaoya lacked a bit of emotional intelligence.

At the sight of Jiang Yuan, it was as if a fog had clouded Zhang Xiaoya’s vision.

"Jiang Yuan..." Zhang Xiaoya’s lips trembled slightly, and then she said, "Thank you!"

This time, Zhang Xiaoya, facing Jiang Yuan, behaved just like any ordinary family member of a victim, without difference.

The Zhang Xiaoya who was just conversing openly with Director You felt as though her throat was stuffed, barely able to utter any extra words.

For Zhang Xiaoya, pursuing the murderer who killed her younger brother had been a mission lasting over 20 years. She once thought this mission would stretch to the end of her life, even turning into a massive event and ultimately creating a terrifying black hole.

Yet, in less than a week, Jiang Yuan had apprehended the murderer.

Although it was the murderer’s remains, to Zhang Xiaoya, what she considered a lifelong regret had largely been mitigated. At least at this moment, she felt that even if the mastermind behind the scenes couldn’t be caught, stopping here was still acceptable.

"Jiang Yuan, tell Director Zhang about our findings." Director You, seeing Zhang Xiaoya regain her composure, stepped forward and said, "I couldn’t stay awake, so I took a nap, but Jiang Yuan and the others were busy all the time."

Zhang Xiaoya nodded vigorously.

Jiang Yuan cleared his throat twice and before he could start speaking, his phone rang.

"Let me take this call first, it’s from an officer at the scene." Jiang Yuan said as he answered the phone.

"Captain Jiang, we’ve found Li Dianzhong’s master. His mother revealed it, it’s Li Dianzhong’s own uncle, Shen Peng. He served time for intentional harm, a 3-year sentence, and is missing a thumb on his right hand." The other end of the phone was Miao Liyuan, who was originally quite adept technically as a detective, but this time he wasn’t needed for technical tasks, thus becoming more like a regular technical officer, transformed into a basic laborer.

Jiang Yuan’s eyelids twitched at this; the thumb is the most important finger in the hand, and missing this one meant that half of the hand’s function was essentially destroyed. This level of disability quite suited an old thief’s identity.

"What did Shen Peng say?" Jiang Yuan asked, his voice slightly raised, drawing attention from Zhang Xiaoya and others.

"He said a lot." Miao Liyuan, unable to see the situation on this end, spoke excitedly, "When he found out we were police, he voluntarily said a lot. First, he confirmed that Li Dianzhong learned the grappling hook and some body techniques from him. But Shen Peng always refused to teach Li Dianzhong lock-picking skills, continually educating him not to engage in petty theft, just passing on the skills because someday they would be useful."

Miao Liyuan sighed and then said, "Shen Peng himself was chopped on his thumb for stealing, so he doesn’t want Li Dianzhong to follow his old path."

Miao Liyuan: "Also, in front of Shen Peng, Li Dianzhong mentioned Zhang Xiaoming, saying he was going to lay off employees, and Li Dianzhong felt he might be laid off too, something like that."

"I understand," Jiang Yuan nodded slowly, his head bowed in thought.

If being laid off is considered as the motive for murder, the case at Jianmen Court is essentially clear. Li Dianzhong had succeeded in his "studies", and with the impending wave of layoffs and a sharp reduction in income, he had quietly started engaging in part-time activities.

Meanwhile, as Zhang Xiaoming began promoting layoffs within the factory, Li Dianzhong, being an external staff member, felt he couldn’t escape, and likely decided to steal from Zhang Xiaoming out of spite and for some money, hiring Wang Futing to help pick the lock...

Thinking this, Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but shake his head.

The 500 yuan hiring fee for Wang Futing was excessive, and moreover, stealing from one’s own workplace just to vent seemed overly bold.

Given the dense housing at Jianmen Court, how did Li Dianzhong manage to move around without attracting attention?

Back then, people might have greeted each other when they met. Even if Li Dianzhong had grappling hooks, he might not have avoided such eyewitnesses.

Ding ding.

Jiang Yuan’s phone beeped twice, showing a WeChat message from Miao Liyuan.

Miao Liyuan: [Before his death, Li Dianzhong mailed a box to Shen Peng, asking him to keep it safe. I’ve taken photos for you to see.]

Following that were a series of pictures.

Shen Peng received a leather suitcase, neatly filled with a large amount of items.

Most of them were daily necessities, including some books and various small items.

Miao Liyuan and others had completed taking photographs for evidence, sending only the main ones to Jiang Yuan.

"Got any updates?" Director You asked after Jiang Yuan ended the call and had waited a moment.

Jiang Yuan nodded: "We’ve found Li Dianzhong’s master, and some items that Li Dianzhong had sent... Just a moment."

Hearing the familiar phrase "just a moment," Director You inexplicably stood still, completely silent, as if afraid to disturb Jiang Yuan at work.

Jiang Yuan made a call back to Miao Liyuan, asking, "Do you have the items with you?"

"In the car," Miao Liyuan replied.

"Take a few people with you, keep an eye on the evidence, and then take out the notebook from the seventh picture. Show me a live video," Jiang Yuandao instructed.

"Understood." Without any extra words, Miao Liyuan immediately set into action.

Soon, they started a video call, and Miao Liyuan displayed the notebook Jiang Yuan asked for.

Jiang Yuan had him flip through a few pages, and after watching, said, "Protect the evidence well, and rest right there. I’ll send someone to pick you up."

After a few more instructions, Jiang Yuan finally hung up.

The few people present couldn’t help but look towards Jiang Yuan.

Tao Lu asked, "Did you find anything?"

Jiang Yuan hesitated for a few seconds and then slowly said, "I suspect it’s a codebook."