Chapter 41 We Are All Ashamed of You!

Yu Dachang subsequently reviewed the technical department's three-dimensional reconstruction of the footprints.

A point must be made here.

Although footprints are less uniquely identifiable than fingerprints, they can yield a wealth of additional information in certain contexts.

Through the analysis of footprints, investigators can deduce the criminal suspect's height, weight, walking habits, and more.

Some readers might wonder: how can height and weight be determined from footprints?

Footprint extraction is divided into two methods: two-dimensional and three-dimensional.

Starting with the two-dimensional prints, the size of the footprint and the width of the stride can help distinguish gender.

Through three-dimensional reconstruction, the suspect's height and weight can be estimated.

How is this reconstruction performed?

Consider the technique of gypsum plaster casting.

Both individuals were adult males... This conclusion was well within Yu Dachang's expectations.

To kill Zhang Yan with bare hands while she offered no effective resistance other than struggling, the perpetrator had to possess overwhelming superiority in both physical strength and skill.

This indicated that the killer possessed exceptional physical fitness.

Even if not professionally trained, he was at least a robust and powerfully built man.

That rendered the presence of the second person somewhat redundant.

Could he have accompanied the killer?

Perhaps the killer and Zhang Yan suddenly got into an argument, driving the killer into a frenzy to strangle Zhang Yan's neck, leaving the second person frozen in place with shock.

That could not be the case... Yu Dachang immediately dismissed the hypothesis.

If the second person had been a woman, she might have been paralyzed with fear and unable to move.

However, an adult male would not react that way; he would have definitely tried to stop the killer. Any normal person would do so.

That left only one final possibility...

The second person did not arrive at Zhang Yan's apartment together with the killer.

He arrived afterward!

Indeed, that was it... The more Yu Dachang thought about it, the more logical the sequence became.

That individual had been summoned by the killer via a phone call after Zhang Yan's death.

Summoned for what purpose?

To transport the corpse!

This implied that the killer had not arrived by car.

The private vehicle used to transport Zhang Yan's body had been driven into the residential compound by the second person.

Chronologically, Zhang Yan disappeared from the surveillance cameras at 2:12 PM, entering her home approximately two minutes later.

Upon seeing Zhang Yan return, the killer went upstairs and knocked on the door, a process that would take at most two minutes.

Following that came the confrontation and the murder...

No, the altercation phase could be omitted.

Because Zhang Yan and the killer had already argued over the phone while she was on her way home.

The killer had come to confront her in person.

Undoubtedly, Zhang Yan's response had provoked his murderous intent. That process, combined with the killing, would have taken roughly ten minutes.

After committing murder, a brief period of panic inevitably ensues; no matter how strong one's psychological fortitude, remaining completely calm during a first-time murder is exceedingly difficult.

This daze would last at least five minutes.

By this point, it was already past 2:30 PM.

Once the killer regained his composure, his primary thought would be to dispose of the body, prompting him to call for external reinforcement.

Zhang Yan's parents were scheduled to arrive home at 3:00 PM, leaving the perpetrators with less than half an hour.

To rush to Zhang Yan's apartment within such a brief window, load the body into a vehicle, and drive it out of the residential complex before her parents returned...

That summoned reinforcement must live in the immediate vicinity of Zhang Yan's home!

Why was this certain?

First of all.

Time was of the essence; the killer called him because he knew the person could arrive at the scene within a very short timeframe.

Furthermore, their relationship had to be exceptionally close—mere friendship would not suffice.

Among ordinary friends, no one would assist in such a heinous crime; refusing to call the police immediately would already be considered the height of underworld loyalty.

Therefore, the immediate course of action was...

Inside the precinct director's office.

Luo Zhongxin, who was listening to Director Wu issue instructions, felt his mobile phone vibrate in his pocket.

He pulled out the phone and glanced at the screen.

His apprentice?

He initially intended to step outside to take the call, but Director Wu made a tapping gesture toward the desktop.

The implication was unmistakable... answer it right here.

With the senior leader's directive so explicit, Luo Zhongxin naturally dared not disobey and swiftly pressed the answer button.

Before Luo Zhongxin could even utter a greeting, Yu Dachang's urgent and anxious voice came through the receiver:

"Master, we need to narrow the time window even further!"

"Use the fastest possible method to check all private vehicles that entered the residential compound after 2:30 PM that afternoon and left before 3:00 PM."

"Keep the rest of the criteria unchanged; exclude any vehicles belonging to residents of the compound."

"As for the remaining ones..."

Yu Dachang paused for a second on the other end of the line, then continued in a resolute tone:

"Investigate all information regarding the vehicle owner and hand it over to me immediately!"

Because the volume on Luo Zhongxin's earpiece was somewhat high, combined with the quietness of the room, Director Wu and Li Jun heard every word with crystal clarity.

Apart from the opening word "Master," which sounded pleasant enough, everything that followed constituted a series of directives directed at Luo Zhongxin.

By the end, it was delivered in an outright tone of command.

It left both Director Wu and Li Jun frowning deeply.

Simultaneously, the same thought crossed both of their minds: Youth naturally possesses its own arrogance!

This little fellow really considers himself a leader; quite audacious indeed.

He calls him "Master" warmly and fluently enough.

Yet anyone listening to his subsequent words could tell... you certainly don't treat your master as a human being.

Good grief, there was not the slightest trace of negotiation; he just rattled off one task after another.

He was practically holding his master's hand and teaching him how to do his job.

Can this possibly be a rookie?

Which police academy could possibly produce a rookie like this?

He's barely been here, yet his master is dancing to his tune...

Even pulling in a police academy professor might not yield this level of capability.

The scene that followed caused both men's eyes to widen in astonishment.

To their utter disbelief, Luo Zhongxin showed not the slightest hesitation and immediately replied:

"Rest assured, I am heading right back to the vehicle administration office. The vehicle data has already been pulled; I guarantee I'll clear this up within the hour!"

The two men stared blankly at the solemn expression on Luo Zhongxin's face.

This was...

Has it become a habit?

Is this the way a master is supposed to reply?

You're even offering guarantees now.

Big brother, you are the master here.

We feel embarrassed on your behalf~

Concluding the call, Luo Zhongxin stood up and hurried out of the office.

Having just stepped through the threshold, he immediately turned back, pushed the door open, and poked his head inside:

"Leaders, circumstances are urgent; I'm off to the vehicle administration office."

Before the two leaders could respond, he closed the door and departed in a rush.

Just like that, he left?

Did we even give an answer before you walked out?

Director Wu and Li Jun exchanged glances, each recognizing the mutual sentiment reflected in the other's expression.

It turns out that when he bolted out of the room earlier, he had completely forgotten about them.

Like master, like apprentice.

You two don't treat us like human beings either!

One hour later, at the Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Yu Dachang was in the middle of a phone call.

"Since the investigation is complete, hurry back. Do not show the transcripts or the scene footage to anyone for now."

"Right, we need verification later on; evidence isn't established by mere words."

"Understood, I'll be waiting for you in Songhai."

Scarcely had he hung up when his phone rang once more.

Yu Dachang did not need to guess to know it was his master calling.

He knew Luo Zhongxin's character intimately; if he said he could investigate it within an hour, he certainly would.

Master disdained the practice of making empty boasts.

"Dachang, we've tracked it down," Luo Zhongxin's excited voice came through the receiver:

"Following the screening method you specified, only a single private vehicle remained."