Old Chen, seeing Sister Xu's mood was off, cautiously asked, "Old Xu, are you... alright?"
"I'm fine, what could be wrong with me." Sister Xu turned her head, quickly wiping away the tears welling up in her eyes.
Old Chen grinned, "Why did you suddenly mention the police academy?"
Sister Xu cleared her throat, "We had an auxiliary course back then, called Criminal Portraiture, do you remember?"
"Mm, I remember," Old Chen nodded.
"Do you still remember the teacher who taught it?" Sister Xu asked softly.
Old Chen narrowed his eyes, recalling, "Mm, that old man not only drew well, his handwriting was also superb."
As he spoke, Old Chen clicked his tongue, "I just felt he was a bit eccentric. Right, wasn't the other party surnamed Lu?"
"Yes, Teacher Lu's temper was indeed not very likable, but he had the skills," Sister Xu agreed, then said softly, "But don't you think Teacher Lu's eyes and Lin Yaoyao's are very similar?"
Upon hearing this, Old Chen recalled Teacher Lu's face, "Now that you mention it, there really is a bit..."
"Because Teacher Lu is Xiao Lin's maternal grandfather. Chapter 22: Suspicion
"What?" Old Chen exclaimed, "You said Teacher Lu is Xiao Lin's...
"Maternal grandfather."
"Xiao Lin is Teacher Lu's...
"Maternal granddaughter."
Listening to the other party's repeated inquiries, Sister Xu patiently gave the same answers over and over.
But Old Chen was still astonished, "Then Xiao Lin killed... her own...
"I don't know. Although the evidence in this case is conclusive, I actually don't believe it," Sister Xu said with her arms crossed.
"Hey, Old Xu, you're planning to reopen the case." Old Chen felt Sister Xu had other intentions, but Sister Xu chuckled lightly, "What's the use of me not believing? The evidence at the scene is all there. It's just..."
"It's just what?"
"It's just that I think there must be a reason. Xiao Lin, she's not that kind of child..." Sister Xu rubbed her fingers, deep in thought, "I used to go to Teacher Lu's house for meals often back then, so I saw Xiao Lin frequently. It's just that she probably doesn't remember me now."
Hearing Sister Xu's narration, Old Chen asked doubtfully, "Then why didn't you tell Xiao Lin?"
Unexpectedly, Sister Xu shook her head, "Xiao Lin is a strong-willed child. If she knew she was taken care of because of her maternal grandfather, she would refuse directly." As she spoke, she moved her slightly sore waist, "Besides, after so many years, bringing up an old friend would inevitably cause sadness."
Old Chen sighed, and the two quietly watched Lin Yaoyao busy inside the house.
The phone rang, and five minutes later, Old Chen looked at Sister Xu after extinguishing his cigarette butt, "Liu is back with news."
"Okay, let's go back."
The two returned to the house, where Lin Yaoyao and Zhao Hao were still working busily.
"How is it, Xiao Lin?" Sister Xu walked behind the two.
In front of Lin Yaoyao, there were many new white papers, densely filled with codes and numbers.
"It's done, Sister Xu." Lin Yaoyao finished the last line, brushed away the eraser shavings, and stood up to hand the papers over, "Sister Xu, these are all the information Officer Zhao helped me compile. The surveillance footage has also been printed out. We can also try to see if we can find any other information."
"Okay, we'll go back first. We'll talk in the car." Sister Xu tightened the papers in her hand, greeted Captain Zhang, and then led the three down the mountain.
In the car, Xiao Zhao was driving as usual.
"Xiao Lin, tell us about it," Sister Xu divided some of the materials to Old Chen, and also flipped through the papers in her hand, "What do these words mean?"
Hearing the question, Lin Yaoyao also picked up the materials, "Currently, there are a total of thirty-two surveillance cameras that have footage of Xia Xiaofeng. I have marked everyone who appeared with letters."
She pulled out a portrait, clearly marked with the letter 'S', followed by the number '3'. Lin Yaoyao explained, "The number behind it is the number of times they appeared in the camera's view."
After Lin Yaoyao's explanation, Sister Xu kept looking at different portraits, nodding frequently.
At this moment, Old Chen in the passenger seat turned his head and held up a portrait, "Old Xu, I have one that appeared twenty-six times here."
He handed the portrait back. Sister Xu pondered it, and Lin Yaoyao took the opportunity to speak, "This person indeed needs attention. They were wearing a mask, and their real appearance still needs to be verified."
"That's fine, we'll investigate this," Sister Xu nodded.
"There are a total of six people who appeared more than fifteen times, and three of them have unclear facial features." Lin Yaoyao handed the drawing paper in her hand to Sister Xu, "I think these also need attention, or we need to find the real people."
"No problem, I'll contact Changhe Police Station later and ask them to assist in finding these people." Sister Xu looked at Lin Yaoyao with satisfaction, "It's really thanks to you, you've made a great contribution this time."
"It's mainly Officer Zhao. If he hadn't helped me, I couldn't have done it," Lin Yaoyao shook her head. Hearing her name mentioned, Zhao Hao said proudly, "Heh heh, Sister Yaoyao is praising me again."
"You've done something decent," Old Chen quipped from the side. Zhao Hao shrunk his neck and focused on driving.
Silence in the car. Lin Yaoyao leaned against the car window, watching the streetlights fly by. Xia Xiaofeng's figure also flashed in her mind; he hadn't appeared all day.
At one o'clock in the morning, the lights of the Criminal Investigation Team were still bright, but unlike before, the buzzing noises were gone.
Back in the office, a burly man with a buzz cut was organizing the clues on the board, his back to them.
"Liu, what's the situation?" Old Chen asked first.
"Captain Chen, Captain Xu," Da Liu responded, "The Technical Department has found the reason for the guardrail's breakage."
"What do you mean?"
"The guardrail has rust and paint, as well as some irregular impact marks." Da Liu moved aside, revealing several new photos on the clue board, one of which was a clear photo of the guardrail at Bulut Gözlem Terası.
"Rust?" Old Chen leaned over, repeatedly comparing the photos of the railing from different angles, "Rust on a stainless steel guardrail, what's the reason?"
"The Technical Department reported it was chlorine." Da Liu scratched his head.
"Chlorine?" Old Chen cursed, "Are they not checking security in the scenic area if someone can bring this stuff in?"
"Actually, you don't need to bring pure chlorine." Lin Yaoyao suddenly interjected, "Some industrial cleaning agents contain chlorine."
Hearing this, Sister Xu looked at Lin Yaoyao, who explained, "When I used to paint on silk scrolls, I used cleaning agents to treat parts of the scrolls that were contaminated."
She pursed her lips, "Later I found this to be quite effective, so I filled quite a few stainless steel buckets with it, but soon I discovered it had corroded the buckets."
Lin Yaoyao took two steps forward, and looked closely at the photo, "So I guess the person might have brought cleaning agents instead of pure chlorine."
"I agree with Xiao Lin's idea," Sister Xu said, nodding as the words fell, "After the stainless steel coating on the guardrail was corroded, the suspect covered it with paint, so it would be less likely to be noticed."
"Yes, and if cleaning agents were used for corrosion, it would take a long time, and they would have to bring cleaning agents into the scenic area frequently," Lin Yaoyao added.
After listening to their analysis, Old Chen returned to his seat and took a sip of tea, then said, "Liu, go to Yunqi Dağı tomorrow. Find the person in charge and coordinate with them to see if this person can be found."
He then looked at Sister Xu, "Old Xu, you take Xiao Lin back. You've been working non-stop for several big nights."
Lin Yaoyao was about to say something, but was interrupted by Sister Xu, "Okay, you guys rest too. We'll be going back now."
Saying this, she called Lin Yaoyao and they walked out. On the way back to the apartment, Sister Xu suddenly asked, "Xiao Lin, you didn't seem surprised about Xia Xiaofeng at all from the beginning. Chapter 23: The Missing Camera
Hearing the question, Lin Yaoyao's heart tightened, "No... no..."
"But your demeanor suggests you knew about it beforehand," Sister Xu stared at her.
Lin Yaoyao gritted her teeth, "Sister Xu, do you remember what I told you that night about looking for Xia Xiaofeng?"
"Mm."
"I found a broken rope at Bulut Gözlem Terası, the one Officer Zhao brought back." Lin Yaoyao explained.
"Yes, there was. What does that have to do with anything?"
"I found this in the cracks between the bricks next to that rope." Lin Yaoyao carefully took out a torn piece of paper.
The car suddenly slowed down, the tires emitting a screeching sound.
"What is this?" Sister Xu was surprised.
Taking the note, she saw a few faint characters that made her feel uneasy--XX Xia X Feng, camera to XX...
"Why didn't you bring it out sooner?" Anger appeared on Sister Xu's face, "Do you know the consequences of your actions?"
"I..." Lin Yaoyao lowered her head.
"You've gone too far this time! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you've made a contribution!" Sister Xu reprimanded.
Lin Yaoyao bit her lip tightly, "I'm sorry..."
"What's the use of 'I'm sorry'!" Sister Xu interrupted, "Three to ten years in criminal responsibility, do you want to go through that again!"
But as soon as she spoke, she regretted it. Seeing Lin Yaoyao's pale face, she sighed helplessly, "Sorry, I spoke too harshly."
"No, Sister Xu, you're right." Lin Yaoyao shook her head lightly, "I've disappointed you."
"Xiao Lin, you haven't disappointed me. You've... " Sister Xu paused, looking seriously into her eyes, "You can't disappoint your maternal grandfather."
"My maternal grandfather?" Lin Yaoyao was surprised and tentatively asked, "Sister Xu, you know my maternal grandfather?"
Sister Xu did not answer and restarted the car.
After arriving home, both felt exhausted. After a simple wash, they bid each other goodnight.
On the bed, Lin Yaoyao recalled the events of the past two days. Xia Xiaofeng's voice lingered in her mind.
Sleepiness came over her. She turned sideways, hugging the quilt, and with one leg over the edge, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next day while washing up, Lin Yaoyao met Sister Xu, who was already dressed.
"Sister Xu, why so early?" Lin Yaoyao asked muffledly, holding a toothbrush.
"If you had taken out that piece of paper earlier, I could have slept longer," Sister Xu said, feigning anger, "You're off today."
Then she put on her shoes and went out.
After breakfast, Lin Yaoyao lazily lay on the sofa, reciting the information for the sketch artist.
At 5 PM, she turned over, picked up her phone, and opened a second-hand platform. In less than ten minutes, an interface made her panic.
Lin Yaoyao stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the "Buy Now" button.
The Nikon D850 camera on the second-hand trading platform was the same one she remembered seeing.
"Sister Xu!" she called, shouting loudly into the phone, "I saw Xia Xiaofeng's camera on the 'Xian Le Me' platform!"
"Are you sure?" Sister Xu's tone also stirred.
"Wait..." Lin Yaoyao calmed down, brought up the software interface, and magnified the picture--the lens had a gap, with subtle repair marks inside.
"Sister Xu, the wear and tear marks on the camera are basically consistent," Lin Yaoyao said into the phone, "It's just that the photos don't have the serial number."
"Okay, keep the seller steady, I'll be right back," Sister Xu said and hung up.
Twenty minutes later, Sister Xu pushed the door open, "Xiao Lin, how is it?"
"I've registered a new account and messaged him." Lin Yaoyao opened the read but unreplied chat interface, "I said I'm willing to pay 20% more, but I must inspect it in person."
"Well done. Old Chen will be here soon, we'll go and investigate first," Sister Xu nodded approvingly, then suddenly looked at the clothes she was wearing, "Go and change into casual clothes and put on some makeup."
Seeing Lin Yaoyao stunned, she explained, "You look too much like a police officer now. Wear that floral dress and let your hair down."
Soon, the doorbell rang. Old Chen stood at the door with his briefcase, the outline of a gun holster faintly visible under his police uniform jacket. Seeing Xiao Lin dressed like this, he couldn't help but grin, "Oh, what act is our Comrade Xiao Lin going to put on today?"
"Bait and switch operation," Sister Xu handed him the tablet, "The seller is active near Changle Yolu Dijital Şehir Merkezi. Transaction records show three high-end cameras were sold recently."
Lin Yaoyao's phone suddenly vibrated.
The seller replied, "Meet in the back alley of the digital city, at Çay Fırtınası at 3 PM today. Cash transaction, expires if not met."
"He's suspicious," Old Chen rubbed his stubble, "The wording is cautious."
He took out his police ID and clipped it to his inner pocket, "Sister Xu and I will cover you from the next table. You wear this."
He took out a button-shaped device from his bag, "The latest listening device, with a valid radius of fifty meters."
Sister Xu was loading her firearm, the metallic clinking crisp and cold.
"Remember, no matter what the other party says, don't admit you're a police officer." She suddenly placed a hand on Lin Yaoyao's shoulder, "If the situation turns bad, immediately knock over your drink."
At 2:40 PM, Lin Yaoyao sat by the window at Çay Fırtınası. Most of the ice cubes in her lemon tea had melted. She checked the voice recorder hidden in her handbag for the third time.
The glass reflected Lin Yaoyao's deliberately softened makeup; Sister Xu had used blush to lighten the sharpness of her eyes, making her look like a recent art school graduate.
At 3:05 PM, a man in a black hooded sweatshirt pushed open the door. He had a scar on his left cheek and a spider tattoo on the back of his right hand.
Lin Yaoyao's sketch artist instinct immediately captured the features: height around 178cm, right shoulder slightly lower when walking, likely carrying heavy objects for a long time.
"Hua Mei Niao?" The man said, his account name, as he pulled out a chair, the metal legs scraping the floor.
Seeing Lin Yaoyao nod, the man threw down his canvas bag, revealing a corner of the camera from the unzipped opening.
Lin Yaoyao forced herself to breathe steadily and looked at the camera in the bag, "The condition is worse than in the photos."
She deliberately tapped the camera body with her fingernail, "The CMOS has scratches, and you're selling it for this price?"
The man suddenly leaned forward, his breath smelling of smoke and sweat, "Little sister, if you want it, it's eight thousand cash, no bargaining."
Outside the glass door, Old Chen was pretending to read a newspaper.
Sister Xu sat diagonally opposite, her gaze locked on them from under her sunglasses.
Lin Yaoyao showed a hesitant expression as planned, "I need to test the focus..."
"Click." The shutter sound made the man flinch.
Lin Yaoyao pretended to accidentally touch the button.
"If you're not buying, don't touch it!" The man snatched the camera back, and his canvas bag knocked over the lemon tea.
Sister Xu immediately stood up, and Old Chen's newspaper rustled loudly.
The man's expression changed drastically. He shoved Lin Yaoyao and rushed out the door, but was quickly apprehended by Old Chen and pinned against the wall.
His police ID flashed coldly in the sunlight, "Police. We now suspect you are involved in a case. Please cooperate with the investigation. Chapter 24: Found!
"Stay still!"
Old Chen's knee pressed firmly on the back of the man's lower back, and the handcuffs clicked shut on his calloused hands. As the man struggled, his hooded sweatshirt slipped, revealing a shocking burn scar on the back of his neck.
Sister Xu quickly stepped forward and took out the Nikon D850 from the canvas bag. She put on gloves and carefully pressed the playback button. The moment the LCD screen lit up, her brows furrowed.
"Where's the memory card?" she asked sharply.
The man pinned against the wall retorted angrily, "I didn't have one when I bought it!" The scar on his face twisted with rage, "You bunch of urban management thugs are always bullying ordinary people! I bought this camera for six thousand from 'Old Ghost'. If you want to arrest someone, arrest him!"
Sister Xu exchanged a look with Old Chen. She took out her police ID and flashed it in front of the man's eyes, "Name?"
"Wang, Wang Da Li..." The man's arrogance suddenly deflated.
Onlookers outside the digital city center began filming with their phones, flashes going off one after another.
Suddenly, a figure wearing a baseball cap in the crowd was quietly backing away.
"Sister Xu! Over there..." she shouted and quickly rushed into the crowd, but it was only for a moment; the figure disappeared.
Sister Xu caught up, asking puzzledly, "What is it?"
"I just saw someone very strange, wearing a baseball cap and with a scar on his left hand," Lin Yaoyao said, rapidly scanning the crowd.
Sister Xu looked at the onlookers and said softly, "Are you sure?"
Lin Yaoyao fell silent and finally shook her head.
Sister Xu looked at Lin Yaoyao, "I'll contact other comrades later to check the surveillance footage."
Hearing this, the latter nodded.
In the car back to the Criminal Investigation Team, Wang Da Li confessed like a rushing torrent, "Old Ghost is a stall owner in the South Suburb flea market, specializing in collecting electronic equipment. He sold this camera at the end of last month. I've been looking for a buyer for a long time..."
Back at the Criminal Investigation Team, Sister Xu had Zhao Hao watch Wang Da Li while also asking him to describe 'Old Ghost's' appearance. Lin Yaoyao sat aside, rapidly sketching in her sketchbook with a pencil.
"Captain Xu!" At this moment, Da Liu's voice cut through the corridor, "The test report for the guardrail corrosive agent is out!"
In the Technical Department office, the fluorescent lights shone on the metal fragments in the evidence bag, giving off a cold glow. Da Liu pointed at the image from the electron microscope, "High concentration of sodium hypochlorite was detected on the fracture surface of the guardrail, which is the main component of bleach. What's more amazing is..." He brought up another spectrogram, "We found polyethylene particles in the rust layer."
"Plastic..." Sister Xu immediately reacted, and Lin Yaoyao, who had followed behind, quickly added, "It's a plastic bucket!"
Da Liu's eyes widened, "How did Comrade Xiao Lin know it was a plastic bucket?"
"Surveillance footage." Lin Yaoyao's voice was a little shaky, "Yunqi Dağı surveillance footage number 32, July 14th, 3:27 PM."
Sister Xu immediately turned on the computer to retrieve the corresponding footage.
In the video, a man in a blue work uniform is seen carrying a white plastic bucket towards Bulut Gözlem Terası.
Due to the angle, his face is never clearly visible, but his slightly hunched posture perfectly matches Lin Yaoyao's sketch.
"This person appeared 19 times in seven days." Old Chen flipped through the record book, "Each time he was wearing a work uniform and carrying a plastic bucket, but the scenic area registration office had no record of him."
Lin Yaoyao pointed at the frozen surveillance frame, "Look at the handle of the bucket!"
The magnified image shows that the handle of the plastic bucket has a crooked character 'Zhang' painted in red.
In the conference room's whiteboard, all the clues began to connect.
Sister Xu drew a circle around the character 'Zhang' with a red pen, "Da Liu, check if there are any scenic area staff surnamed Zhang."
Da Liu produced a stack of files, "There is a maintenance worker named Zhang Ming in the logistics department of Yunqi Dağı, who was fired three months ago. His reason for dismissal was... selling scenic area supplies." He pulled out the disciplinary record.
Lin Yaoyao stared at the photo on the file.