Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 152 Three-Day Deadline
Zhengming District Public Security Bureau, Criminal Investigation Brigade, Conference Room

Ren Guoqing sat imposingly in the main seat, watching the group of criminal police officers busy organizing and summarizing relevant information about the Civil Aviation Mountain murder case.

After a moment, Li Meng approached with a stack of A4 papers. He was somewhat curious; it was just an ordinary murder case, and Ren Da, as the head of the Criminal Investigation Division, didn't really need to get involved personally.

Ren Da took the case file, placed it on the table without even glancing at it, and coughed heavily a few times, clutching his throat.

The detectives below knew their boss had something to say, so they all stopped what they were doing, some standing and some sitting, and focused their attention on Ren Guoqing.

Ren Guoqing glanced around and said in a deep voice, "I haven't looked at the case, nor do I intend to. I'm here today to tell you something. An hour ago, Director Zhang called me and said that this case has attracted the attention of the city."

Ren Guoqing raised his right arm and tapped the large, portable whiteboard next to him that had the words "Civil Aviation Mountain Murder" written on it.

"The top leader said that Dongzhou City is about to enter the final stage of the 'Civilized City' evaluation, and no abnormal situation is allowed to occur."

In short, the motto is: every murder case must be solved!

His eyes seemed to gleam with murderous intent: "Deadline: three days."

"Wow!"

The tense atmosphere dissipated instantly. There was no organizer at the scene, but the detectives spontaneously coordinated their movements according to the needs of the case, like a sophisticated machine starting to operate rapidly.

Ren Guoqing nodded in satisfaction, stood up and walked out, pulling Li Meng aside as he passed by.

After leaving the meeting room, the two walked side by side down the corridor.

"What's the current status of the case?" Ren Guoqing asked.

"This is a crime of passion stemming from love turned to hate. The victim's identity has now been confirmed. According to analysis, this case has clear characteristics of revenge, and the murderer is very likely her husband."

"Doesn't she have another lover?"

"According to the investigation, the deceased's lover is currently working normally at a shoe factory in Yangyi Street, while the deceased's husband bought a train ticket back to his hometown three days ago and left."

"Oh? What was the time of death?"

"Three days ago. And since that day, the deceased's husband's cell phone signal has not been detected at any communication base station in China."

"Shut down?"

"It's turned off."

"What are you going to do next?"

"We will set off immediately for the deceased's husband's hometown to make the arrest."

The two arrived at the elevator, but it was still on the top floor and had not yet come down.

Ren Guoqing pressed the elevator button: "As before, I won't interfere with the case; I'll leave it all to you. But you must remember one thing: this case is currently being overseen by the city's top official, so absolutely no mistakes are allowed. I'm going to the branch office now to accompany Director Zhang to the city. Finally, I'll just mention one point: spare no expense!"

Li Meng stood at attention with his feet together and whispered, "Mission accomplished!"

The elevator doors opened, and Ren Guoqing stepped inside.

……

Li Meng returned to the meeting room and summoned Zhang Liyun, the instructor of the Second Squadron, and Wen Zhao, a key police officer. "The murderer is currently either the victim Zhang Yan's lover or husband. The lover is still working at the shoe factory, and the husband, aside from knowing he bought a train ticket back to his hometown three days ago, seems to have disappeared. What are your thoughts on this?"

Wen Zhao glanced at the instructor Zhang Liyun, who was standing silently to the side, and waited a few more seconds before speaking: "I suggest we split into two groups. The main force will go to the deceased's husband's hometown, while the detachment will only need to leave two people to interrogate the deceased's lover in the team."

Li Meng looked at Zhang Liyun.

“I agree,” Zhang Liyun stated.

Li Meng pondered for a moment.

In fact, according to normal investigative procedures, the investigation should indeed proceed in two separate groups, as Wen Zhao suggested. However, this case is not just a simple case; it even relates to the creation of a 'civilized city'.

Three days is too short!
The lover's composure, the husband's loss of control;
The mistress goes to work as usual, while the husband mysteriously disappears.

He frowned and finally made a decision: "Time is of the essence. After we arrive at the deceased's husband's location, we may need a large number of police officers to conduct a thorough search. Every extra person counts! I suggest that I lead the entire Second Squad to the deceased's husband's hometown to search for him!"

Li Meng stood up, spread her fingers and rested them on the desk, looking down at the other two.

Zhang Liyun, the instructor in charge of the Second Squadron, remained silent.

"What about the deceased's lover?" Wen Zhao hesitated for a moment before offering a different opinion.

Li Meng adjusted the frame of her glasses: "Notify the Dongming Police Station and ask them to assist in the investigation."

Wen Zhao pressed further: "They're all at the same level, so they're unlikely to pay us any attention. Besides, Xu, the officer in charge of cracking down on crime, never hesitates to push any criminal case that even remotely relates to our Criminal Investigation Division, let alone major cases."

The image of the figure lingering at the entrance of the courtyard where the crime occurred in the early hours of last night flashed through Li Meng's mind: "Call forensic doctor Zhu, Xu Chaofan will be here."

Wen Zhao lowered his head and thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and objected, "Li Da, what if the deceased's lover is the murderer? Wouldn't we be handing over the credit we've already earned? We'd all become a laughing stock in the whole operation!"

Li Meng laughed: "After all these years as a criminal investigator, you're not confident about this?"

Earlier in the conference room, after analyzing all the information they had gathered, everyone basically determined that the deceased's lover had neither a motive nor the opportunity to commit the crime.

The fact that the deceased's husband ran back to his hometown and turned off his phone at this time makes him a prime suspect by all accounts.

At this point, even the instructor had no objections. Only the police officer Wen Zhao knew that he had overstepped his bounds. While the young deputy captain was still willing to joke with him, he should have let it go.

However, he still stubbornly insisted, "Li Da! What if!"

Looking at this trusted subordinate, Li Meng knew that he was different from the instructor next to him who seemed to be involved in the case but had actually been standing aside. She couldn't bear to dampen his enthusiasm.

"Yes, that's how a squadron leader should act. From now on, it's still more reassuring to hand over the Second Squadron to Wen Zhao..." Li Meng affirmed Wen Zhao's performance in her heart, but on the surface, she still nodded in agreement with a very reluctant expression.

"Zhang, you and forensic doctor Zhu are in charge of the deceased's lover. The rest of the Second Squad will come with me to the deceased's husband's hometown. What do you think?"

No more business trips!
Zhang Liyun's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied, "Okay, I'll go to the forensic lab and call forensic doctor Zhu to come and take the people with me."

Li Meng calmly looked at Wen Zhao.

Wen Zhao lowered his head: "I'm fine."

"Alright! Let's set off immediately!"

(End of this chapter)