Chapter 014: The Criminal Investigation Brigade

Late at night, at the Jiangxia Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Gong Jingfan was sipping coffee, straining to keep his eyes open while watching the surveillance footage.

This time, the "Smiling Face Murder" case has attracted high - level attention from the superiors. As a result, more than fifty people have been assigned to the special task force. Moreover, the clues they've found are numerous and complicated. Therefore, just digesting the surveillance footage, testimonies, and physical evidence would take a huge amount of time. Gong Jingfan hadn't slept more than three hours in the past few days.

According to the crime cycle of this copycat killer, he should strike again next Tuesday. The superiors had issued a strict order to prevent the next case at all costs.

"Old Gong, take a look at this!" His partner, Wang Bing, walked over with his phone in hand.

Gong Jingfan dropped two drops of eye drops into his eyes and rubbed them. He saw a video of a naked man hugging a fire hydrant and howling. A lot of people had gathered around, taking pictures with their phones.

Gong Jingfan commented, "Those people making short videos are really going all out these days. Isn't this a violation of the public security regulations? Where did this happen?"

"Nah, this ain't no short - vid. It happened right here today! Take a closer look at who this is."

Gong Jingfan's eyes were really tired. He squinted and looked for a while. "Isn't this the husband of the second victim?"

At this time, the man in the video suddenly covered his ears and seemed to be saying something. Gong Jingfan turned up the volume and heard him say, "It wasn't me! It wasn't me! It was that guy who did it!"

Gong Jingfan couldn't believe it. He rewound the video and listened again, then looked at Wang Bing suspiciously.

Wang Bing said, "This is quite strange. This guy suddenly ran out onto the street naked, shouting like he was possessed. We've suspected him before. His wife was killed while he was with his mistress."

Gong Jingfan pondered, "Could he really be hiding something from us?"

"Do you believe in supernatural beings?"

"Ridiculous. There are no supernatural beings in the world. I think this guy has a guilty conscience. We'll go see him again tomorrow! By the way, how's the investigation on that man who bought the glass this morning?"

Wang Bing shrugged. "The surveillance footage caught him. He's tall, but we can't see his face clearly. We don't know who this guy is. He hasn't appeared before. If he's the killer, his build is too noticeable." 

 "

 "He probably isn't. Why would a murderer buy glass? I think his actions seem like he's conducting an investigation."

 "Investigation? Is he a private detective?"

 "Three people have died, and dozens are involved. It's understandable that someone would hire a private detective."

 Wang Bing disagreed. "We've got so many people and so much equipment, and we're at our wit's end. What can just a private detective find out?"

 "Could it be those guys again..." Gong Jingfan thought of a group of troublesome people.

 "Should we still look for this person?"

 "No, leave it for now. We don't have the time. Summon Gao Weiguang tomorrow and see what this kid knows!" Gong Jingfan let out a long yawn and looked at his watch. It was three o'clock in the morning.

 Early the next day, Gao Weiguang, who had received a text message notification, rushed to the police station. Gong Jingfan and Wang Bing found a meeting room and showed Gao Weiguang the video from yesterday. This video had now gone viral, with five hundred thousand views on one media platform.

 "I didn't expect you had the potential to be an internet celebrity," Gong Jingfan joked.

 "Well..." Gao Weiguang scratched his bald head awkwardly. "Someone is setting me up!"

 "Who's setting you up and how?"

 Gao Weiguang told them what had happened last night. From his subjective perspective, he only remembered that someone suddenly patted his head. Then he saw his mistress Lingling. Suddenly, he found himself on the street, naked, and there was a voice speaking in his head.

 Of course, Gao Weiguang had already watched the video himself. Especially that sentence he shouted, he knew it would be very unfavorable to him. He tossed and turned all night, and sure enough, as soon as dawn broke, he received a text message from the police summoning him.

 After listening to Gao Weiguang's account, Gong Jingfan was even more confused. He exchanged a look with Wang Bing, and Wang Bing said, "You said your car was scratched. Just now, I saw your car. It's fine."

 "I don't know. Later, the car was okay again. Maybe that guy knows magic."

 "Who is 'that guy'? You haven't mentioned his features from start to finish."

 "I never saw him at all."

 "If you didn't see him, how can you be sure someone is setting you up and not that it's a psychological problem of yours?"

 Wang Bing added, "For example, having a guilty conscience, so you acted strangely."

 "What guilty conscience!" Gao Weiguang raised his voice. "When my wife had an accident, I was outside. It's been investigated several times. Why do you still suspect me? I'm also very sad that my wife passed away!"

 Gong Jingfan sneered. "Yeah, these past two days, you've been so 'sad' that you haven't come home all night, hanging out with your mistress in a hotel."

 Gao Weiguang frowned and said, "I've got to have my own life, right? Besides, the house is so creepy. Who'd dare to stay there!"

 "I don't care about your private life!" Gong Jingfan pointed at his phone. "I'm just asking you, what did that sentence you shouted at that time mean, and who is 'that person'?"

 "I was completely out of my mind at that time. I had no idea what I was saying. Can't you tell I was under some kind of spell at that time?

This reason simply couldn't convince Gong Jingfan and Wang Bing. Gong Jingfan clasped his hands together. He stared into Gao Weiguang's flickering eyes and said, "I think what you said in that state was more truthful than what you're saying to us now!"

"That's absurd! I didn't get along well with my wife, but I've got nothing to do with her murder!"

Gong Jingfan immediately spotted this slip - up. "Wait a minute. Why did you use the term 'killing one's wife'? Only when the husband is the murderer can it be called 'killing one's wife'!"

"I... I..." Gao Weiguang realized he'd made a blunder. Fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "What I meant was my wife got killed. You can investigate however you want. Anyways, I'm innocent. And your constant bugging is really messing with my work. I'm thinking about hiring a lawyer."

"That's your freedom, but investigation is our job."

Gao Weiguang took his leave then. Gong Jingfan knew he wouldn't be able to get the truth out of him, but Gao Weiguang's mannerisms had practically written the word "suspicious" all over his face.

Gong Jingfan had suspected Gao Weiguang from the start because he was the beneficiary of the case. The "Smiling Face Killer" commits random killings. So why did he just happen to pick Wang Yue, who was home alone? There were plenty of easy - to - target single people out there.

Gong Jingfan poured himself a cup of coffee and sipped it while thinking. Wang Bing said, "Hiring a hitman?"

"I've checked Gao Weiguang's bank account, and there haven't been any large - scale expenditures lately." Gong Jingfan said. "Could the three cases be independent ones that have been strung together?"

"Then... is it an exchange killing!?" Wang Bing thought of a common trope in detective novels.

Gong Jingfan's eyes lit up. "Right! Check this guy's alibis during the other two cases!"

Just then, a group of people walked past the office. Gong Jingfan asked one of his colleagues, "Xiao Zhang, where are you going?"

Colleague Xiao Zhang replied, "Don't you know? Someone hired someone to retaliate against Li Li, and now she's come to report the case."

"What?"

Li Li was the stepmother of the third victim, Zhang Chao, and their relationship was very poor.

Gong Jingfan asked, "How was she retaliated against?"

"Li Li said that someone patted her on the shoulder, and then she was under an evil spell. She vaguely saw Zhang Chao's ghost asking her questions. When she woke up, she found herself at the crime scene. It scared her out of her wits."

"Under an evil spell again!?"

Gong Jingfan was shocked. Could there really be someone investigating in secret, and this person was well - versed in the occult!