National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 482 - 482 443 Keeping Pace

482: Chapter 443 Keeping Pace 482: Chapter 443 Keeping Pace “Xiao Wang.”

Just as Wang Chuanxing had come into the warehouse to move some large nails, someone called out to him.

He turned his head and saw Pan Zhisheng, the forensic officer from Changyang City Criminal Science Center responsible for bullet mark identification.

To speak of it, even in a provincial capital city like Changyang, Pan Zhisheng was the only technician devoted exclusively to bullet mark identification.

And for this case, Pan Zhisheng had clearly been thrust into the limelight.

Wang Chuanxing couldn’t help but smile and said, “Old Pan, what’s up?”

“Ah…” Pan Zhisheng sighed before he had even spoken, then said, “I really don’t know how to put this…

Can the comparison with this nail that your Captain Jiang is working on be valid?”

“Do you hope it works, or do you hope it doesn’t?” Wang Chuanxing’s mood relaxed, and with a chuckle, he beckoned Pan Zhisheng to come and help him move the nails.

The nails purchased locally were generally in smaller packaging, after all, the detectives in charge of procurement didn’t want to carry too much weight.

But it was a different story with online purchases, especially from a store selling various types of nails.

Buying just a small amount of each type could result in one super-large package.

The all-metal weight was something you’d understand only if you had lifted it yourself.

Now that Pan Zhisheng had shown up, Wang Chuanxing quickly invited him to help lift those large packages of nails onto a small trolley.

Pan Zhisheng had no choice but to lend a hand, while helplessly saying, “It’s not about what I hope; it’s just…

To be honest, our bullet mark identification work mainly involves examining guns or bullets.

Now, without a gun— and no casings—just a bullet, and the bullet was even fired from within two meters…

This is…

difficult for me.”

Within the realm of bullet mark identification, the most common task might be to determine the source of firearms and bullets, such as whether two bullets were fired from the same gun.

But the toughest skill is actually to analyze the bullet impact marks—to determine the shooting distance, direction, angle, point of entry and exit, and sequence of shots based on the marks.

And for the more skilled, to perform ballistic analysis, calculating the angle of fire, angle of descent, and changes in the bullet’s kinetic energy, etc.

And all of these have nothing to do with nails.

For Pan Zhisheng to even need a steel ball, let alone analyze ballistic traces.

And ballistic traces from a nail…

confirming that the shooting happened within two meters could be considered a contribution.

But Pan Zhisheng still worried that he would be seen as odd.

Wang Chuanxing could understand him, but mostly he just found it amusing.

He said, “You guys have worked on nail gun cases before, right?

I was doing some research a few days ago and saw that, on average, you have to identify over a dozen modified firearms cases every two months.”

“It’s mainly because some places up north have a tradition of modifying firearms,” Pan Zhisheng said, then, not knowing how to continue, he simply bent down and said, “Let me help you with the nails.”

Wang Chuanxing laughed heartily, “That’s what I’m saying, don’t think too much about it.

If Captain Jiang says there is a way, then there must be a way.

There’s a lot of things that we don’t understand.”

“You’re not in forensic identification, you don’t get it…” Pan Zhisheng almost cried out, “You’re comparing new nails, that’s easy if you have two to compare.

We have methods for that.

But now you’re carting them in by the basket, how long can one possibly spend on comparing and assessing each nail, and all by eye?

You’re joking, right?”

Wang Chuanxing pursed his lips and said, “If you want to talk about mysteries, Captain Jiang’s examination of footprints is even more mysterious.

One look and he knows the person’s age and height, accurate to the centimeter.”

Pan Zhisheng glanced sidelong at Wang Chuanxing with an expression akin to examining hardened toilet paper and said, “The first great master in domestic footprint analysis was Ma Yulin from Inner Mongolia Zhaowuda League.

He used to directly determine the criminal’s activity route from the scene and followed it right to their doorstep.

He had three disciples—Miao Chunqing, Ge Youzhong, Yu Xinhao—who, since the early 80s, started conducting footprint analysis classes.

There are many mysteries left in those stories.

Determining age and height is just a basic skill for them.”

Wang Chuanxing worked while listening to Pan Zhisheng recount history, then asked, “So how good are your basic skills?”

“Those are the basic skills of a master.” Pan Zhisheng’s expression fell as he spoke of himself, and he added, “You have no idea.

This case isn’t just making Chief Yu anxious, but the higher-ups and the director are also anxious.

If this drags on for a few more days, I’m expecting to be summoned.”

Wang Chuanxing gave Pan Zhisheng a sympathetic look but indicated he could do nothing to help.

“We’ll see, hopefully there will be a conclusion soon.” Pan Zhisheng said this, but those in the know understood that sifting through so much evidence wasn’t something that could be finished in a day or two.

Even with several people helping, Jiang Yuan found that after a day of work, the warehouse had even more deliveries arriving than before.

While Jiang Yuan was quick in comparing nails, the number of nails piled on the desk awaiting further assessment was still growing.

The forensic experts at the Criminal Science Center wanted to lend a hand, but they didn’t know where to begin.

Jiang Yuan hadn’t expected that they would be able to help much.

The forensic experts from Changyang City Criminal Science Center typically hovered between Level 1 and Level 2, and only occasionally did someone excel slightly in a certain area, but it was highly unlikely that they would reach Level 3.

In terms of the difficulty and workload of forensic work, these experts were certainly adequate, but compared to Level 6 Tool Trace Identification skills, the current experts weren’t far from Muggles.

The case seemed to have come to a standstill for the time being.

In fact, the other detectives at the Changyang City Criminal Police Detachment were all tirelessly searching for clues on their own, but they had yet to have a breakthrough.

After waiting for two days, Yu Wenshu finally couldn’t sit still any longer and came over to inquire about the progress.

Upon entering the office, Yu Wenshu saw Jiang Yuan working intensively, looking just like an ordinary forensic expert.

“How’s it going?” Yu Wenshu asked, full of expectation.

Jiang Yuan lifted his head, taking the opportunity to ease the soreness in his neck and shoulders, and said, “Looking at the current situation, there won’t be any results within the next three to four days.”

“Does that mean, three to four days to review all the nails?” Yu Wenshu asked.

“Yes.”

Yu Wenshu frowned, “Then, is it possible that in searching, we suddenly find an identical nail, say, in two hours, we could suddenly confirm which nail it is…”

“That’s impossible.

Because I am also looking for similarities,” Jiang Yuan explained frankly.

“What I’m looking for now is the closest matching nail, it’s a matter of comparison.

Since the standards for nails are similar, it is impossible to determine an exact match.”

“This…” Yu Wenshu felt despair upon hearing this, “So you mean, even if you find a nail, we can’t be sure it’s the killer’s just because it was made by the same manufacturer?”

“That’s one way to put it,” Jiang Yuan confirmed.

“Then…

then, if we continue this way, it will be very difficult to solve the case!” Yu Wenshu had rarely been so deeply involved in the investigative work of a case.

Usually, he either commanded directly or didn’t bother with it at all, leaving it to others.

His current concern was the result of the higher-ups pressing for urgency.

Jiang Yuan put down the nail he was holding and said, “This is the approach I’m taking now.

If there are other approaches, I think we can pursue them simultaneously.”

“That’s true,” Yu Wenshu sighed.

What he expected of Jiang Yuan was the kind of investigation where the detective would charge at a suspect’s slip-up with determined command, just like they had done before.

But Yu Wenshu also knew in his heart that for a technically-trained police officer like Jiang Yuan, solving a case was this kind of process: somewhat cumbersome and like putting all the eggs in one basket.

But then again, taking another route wouldn’t affect this one, at least.

For a typical case, Yu Wenshu wouldn’t have commented on Jiang Yuan’s methodology.

But now, he found it hard to wait any longer.

After thinking it over, Yu Wenshu said, “I’ll try to think of a way to find some other clues.

Let’s push forward on several fronts.”

“I have no objections,” Jiang Yuan nodded.

Yu Wenshu also nodded, stepped out the door, took out his phone, and found “Xu Taining’s” phone number.

He hesitated for a few seconds, but then resolutely dialed it out.

He knew that spending money might not necessarily make them stronger, but without spending, he wouldn’t feel at ease in his heart!