I Sent You to Take the College Entrance Exam, and You Ended Up Solving a Murder Case?! - Chapter 16

“These…are all of them?” Lu Mingrui’s voice was a little dry.

Yes, all of them.

“The suspect, Dong Jian, started installing a pinhole camera in the bedroom of the deceased, Shi Ying, three months ago.”

“He not only spied on her, but also used it to blackmail her into having an improper relationship with Shi Ying.”

Chen Mo paused for a moment, then added a crucial piece of information.

“Just one day before the incident, on March 21, Dong Jian transferred three thousand yuan to Shi Ying.”

Wu Che’s fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the mouse.

This discovery is nothing short of a bombshell.

This means that all their previous investigations into Shi Ying’s social relationships may have gone completely astray!

“Dong Jian confessed that he only spied on people and had sexual relations with them, and did not kill anyone.”

Chen Mo continued, “He said that he hadn’t seen Shi Ying since the early morning of March 22nd.”

Is what he said credible?

Wu Che subconsciously asked back, his tone no longer as stiff as before.

“Basically credible.”

Chen Mo offered his own assessment.

“I have already asked Guan Yuexing to verify his alibi.”

“Moreover, judging from his psychological state, he doesn’t seem to be lying.”

“Wait a minute…” Chen Mo seemed to suddenly remember something and changed the subject.

“We found a box of small umbrellas that were still unopened in Shi Ying’s room.”

Lu Mingrui and Wu Che both looked at him, not understanding why he suddenly brought this up.

“The security guard at the gate of the community also testified that in the period before Shi Ying disappeared, different men often came to see her late at night.”

Chen Mo pieced together the clues little by little, and a bold hypothesis took shape in his mind.

“I suspect that Shi Ying’s claim of ‘cutting ties completely’ may just be a pretext for her family.”

“She is likely still engaged in prostitution, just in a more discreet manner.”

“On the night she disappeared, she most likely went to make a deal with a customer!”

Lu Mingrui fell into deep thought.

Wu Che’s expression became extremely complicated. He looked at Chen Mo, his lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.

A few seconds later, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke in a deep voice.

“Chen Mo, before… I was too subjective.”

I apologize to you.

Chen Mo glanced at him with some surprise.

Unexpectedly, the vice-captain, who had been holding back his pride and competing with him, actually took the initiative to back down.

“This is not the time to talk about this; investigating the case is the priority,” Chen Mo replied calmly.

Lu Mingrui gave Chen Mo an approving look; his demeanor didn’t seem like that of a young man in his twenties.

“Good! Well said! Investigating the case is the priority!” Lu Mingrui made a decisive decision and immediately began to deploy the task.

“Wu Che!”

“arrive!”

“Go and investigate right now! Find out which supermarket bought that box of small umbrellas in Shi Ying’s room, and the exact time of purchase!”

“yes!”

“The rest of you, conduct a thorough search of all hotels, inns, and guesthouses in the surrounding area, with Shi Ying’s house as the center!”

“Especially those small hotels that don’t require strict identity registration!”

“clear!”

Everyone responded in unison, preparing to get off the bus and get moving.

“Wait a minute,” Chen Mo suddenly said.

All eyes were once again focused on him.

“Section Chief Lu, I’d like to add something.”

Chen Mo looked at the team members who were about to set off, “When checking hotels, be a little tougher.”

“Many small hotel owners may conceal registration information or even help guests commit perjury in order to increase their business.”

“Tell them directly that this is a murder case! Anyone who dares to conceal it is committing the crime of harboring a criminal!”

“At the same time, copy all the surveillance footage from the relevant time periods; don’t miss a single one!”

Chen Mo’s words sent a chill down the spines of the veteran detectives present.

That’s right, this is the most effective way to deal with those seasoned veterans!

“Let’s do as Chen Mo says!” Lu Mingrui made the final decision. “Let’s move out!”

“yes!”

At a command, several team members quickly got out of the vehicle and disappeared into the night.

Passatelli was left with only Lu Mingrui and Chen Mo.

The atmosphere became somewhat quiet for a moment.

“Xiao Chen,” Lu Mingrui suddenly spoke, taking off his gold-rimmed glasses and gently wiping them.

“To be honest, when you were first parachuted into the fifth team, I had my own thoughts.”

Chen Mo didn’t speak, but listened quietly.

He knew these things perfectly well.

“The Fifth Team is the sharpest weapon in our city bureau. There are too many people eyeing the position of team leader.”

Lu Mingrui’s tone was very frank, “Wu Che, the vice-captain who was paired with you was originally the first choice for captain.”

“He is highly skilled, experienced, and respected by everyone in the team. And then, you came.”

Lu Mingrui put his glasses back on and his gaze fell on Chen Mo.

“However, you have surprised me today.”

“Not only did it bring such a big breakthrough to the case, but it also made that stubborn mule Wu Che bow his head. It’s not simple.”

I see.

No wonder Wu Che was so dismissive of himself from the very beginning.

“Section Chief Lu, I came to Team Five for only one thing.”

Chen Mo looked ahead, his tone firm, “That’s solving the case.”

“As for other things, I have no interest in them and I don’t care about them.”

Lu Mingrui smiled.

That’s the attitude he wants.

“Good! I’m relieved to hear that.”

Lu Mingrui nodded. “Please be understanding of Wu Che. He’s straightforward and doesn’t have any bad intentions.”

“clear.”

Just then, Chen Mo’s phone rang.

It was Wu Che who called.

Chen Mo answered the phone immediately.

“Chen Mo! We’ve found something!”

On the other end of the phone, Wu Che’s voice was filled with excitement.

“explain.”

“We found out at the supermarket! The cashier confirmed that Shi Ying bought the small umbrella from her on the morning of March 21st!”

This timing almost perfectly coincides with the time Dong Jian transferred the money!

Chen Mo’s heart skipped a beat.

“What about the hotel?”

“The owner of a small hotel was initially defiant, but after we warned him, he confessed everything!”

Wu Che’s voice became even more excited.

“He said that around 1 a.m. on March 22nd, Shi Ying did indeed take a man to a hotel room!”

“Where is that man?!” Chen Mo pressed.

“The boss said the man gave him two hundred yuan and told him he didn’t need to register!”

Chen Mo’s heart sank.

“But!” Wu Che changed the subject.

“We copied their front desk surveillance footage. Although it was a bit blurry, it still captured the man’s face!”

“Most importantly, we found the man’s identity registration information!”

“You’ve found their identity?”

Chen Mo’s voice was calm, but his knuckles were slightly white as he gripped the phone.

“Found it! The registration information shows that the man’s name is… Luo Xiangfu!”

Wu Che’s voice came through the receiver.

Luo Xiangfu!

The name struck like lightning, instantly cleaving through the fog in Chen Mo’s mind.

That afternoon, the landlord who looked honest and even a bit dull!

That middle-aged man who kept saying Shi Ying was a good girl and felt sorry for her!

In Chen Mo’s mind, Luo Xiangfu’s honest face and his evasive eyes flashed by.

I see.

All the sense of incongruity found its answer at this moment!

“Section Chief Lu,” Chen Mo said, hanging up the phone and turning to look at Lu Mingrui beside him, “the suspect has been identified.”

Lu Mingrui’s gaze sharpened behind his glasses: “Who?”

“Luo Xiangfu”.

“The landlord?” Lu Mingrui clearly remembered this person as well, his brows furrowing. “The one we met this afternoon?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

“Is it really him in the surveillance footage?”

“Wu Che said that they obtained Luo Xiangfu’s identity registration information, compared it with the people in the surveillance footage, and confirmed that it was correct.”

The person who seemed to be the least suspicious, and even actively provided clues, turned out to be the murderer!

“I’ll have Wu Che and the others come back immediately and redeploy them…” Lu Mingrui was about to pick up the phone.

“No need,” Chen Mo interrupted him.

“Go and arrest them now.”

“The suspect already knows we are investigating him. Every minute we delay increases the chances of things going wrong.”