Chapter 920: Interpersonal Relationship Investigation

Lu Chuan shook his head at Chen Weiguo’s confusion: "Probably didn’t hear anything."

"Impossible, is the room soundproofed that well?"

Lu Chuan rummaged through the crime scene investigation photos and found a bloodstained earbud headset.

"There are bloodstains on this headset, and analyzing the pattern of the bloodstains, they should have been left by the suspect."

"Furthermore, when we arrived at the scene, music was still playing in the headset, and it was quite loud. This suggests that when the suspect committed the crime, the victim’s daughter Zhang Mei was likely listening to music with these headphones in the second bedroom, which is why she wasn’t aware of what was happening outside and thus didn’t come out of her room."

Lu Chuan continued: "And when the suspect stabbed Chen Xue, there was no hesitation, indicating that Chen Xue was not the intended target."

"His real target was Zhang Mei in the second bedroom."

"Zhang Mei typically doesn’t stay at home. She only came back this weekend to stay for a day. For the murderer to know this, he must have monitored the victim’s house for an extended period of time, indicating that he could be working or living near the victim’s house."

Lu Chuan’s deduction wasn’t based on speculation, but rather inferred from the scene.

The killer entered the house and started killing with relentless actions.

First, he stabbed Zhang Haibin twice without hesitation, then it was Zhang Haibin’s son, Zhang Tao, and afterwards, Chen Xue in the kitchen.

The murders of these three were sequential, and judging by the spray patterns of the blood, the killer acted without hesitation.

Based on this, the killer probably knew Zhang Mei was home, so he prepped with a condom in advance.

However, currently, it’s not doubted; if the perpetrator indeed didn’t know Zhang Mei was home but still killed Chen Xue, it would suggest the killer is indeed somewhat deranged.

Generally, the likelihood of this is quite small, though.

"Furthermore, there’s another peculiar situation."

Lu Chuan found a photograph; it was a bird’s-eye view of the second bedroom.

"This is a bird’s-eye view of the side bedroom; everyone look, the bloodstains here are somewhat different from other places."

The area Lu Chuan pointed out had more viscous bloodstains, and despite being mopped, it was distinct from other areas.

Lu Chuan proceeded to explain why such circumstances appeared.

"From the entrance hallway to the side bedroom, look here, there’s a trail of blood being dragged."

Lu Chuan then presented two more photographs connected, showing the walkway from the entrance to the second bedroom.

"The killer didn’t deliver a fatal blow to the victim Zhang Haibin. He stabbed him twice but didn’t hit vital parts, meaning Zhang Haibin wouldn’t have died instantly."

Lu Chuan pointed at a few photographs: "From these dragged blood traces, after subduing, Zhang Mei from the second bedroom, Zhang Haibin was dragged from the entrance to the second bedroom."

"Dragged to the second bedroom? Why?"

Song Jiangguo was puzzled.

Based on current information, the killer raped Zhang Mei in the second bedroom, but...

Upon thinking about this, Song Jiangguo suddenly grasped Lu Chuan’s implication.

"You’re suggesting the killer forced Zhang Haibin to witness the entire rape of Zhang Mei?"

Lu Chuan nodded heavily.

"Although it can’t yet be determined whether Zhang Haibin survived to witness the entire event, looking at the scene’s evidence... it is likely so."

Exhale!

Song Jiangguo exhaled.

Why would the killer do such a thing?

Leaving behind millions of cash under the bed, killed the victims, tidied the scene, and then left.

The key is, the killer even set fire to the bodies.

Why?

If the killer had just left, leaving the bodies at the scene, wouldn’t the likelihood of discovery be lower?

After all, moving four bodies is labor-intensive.

So, is there a compelling reason the perpetrator acted this way?

Regardless, from the crime scene situation, the motive for killing Zhang Haibin’s family seems to be an act of revenge.

And a deep one at that, otherwise such methods wouldn’t be employed.

"Lu Chuan, you all need to endure a bit more, the city leadership takes this case very seriously, I must head up to report now."

Song Jiangguo’s report was just about outlining the basic case details and current investigation progress, not likely to delve into such detailed stages to the higher-ups.

The victim’s identity is known, awareness that it’s a premeditated murder, presumed to be a revenge kill, and a significant amount of cash was discovered in Zhang Haibin’s house...

At this point, these details are enough for the higher leadership report.

After Chen Weiguo and Lu Chuan left the municipal bureau, they headed directly to the Criminal Investigation Team.

With Song Jiangguo handling matters at the higher level, Lu Chuan’s pressure wasn’t directed there.

Now the focus is on scrutinizing the interpersonal relationships of Zhang Haibin’s family, with particular emphasis on Zhang Haibin himself.

The Finance Bureau.

Wang Zhaokai was gathering information there.

"Vice Director Zhang, this person was generally quite amiable, treated us all well, and had been working at the Finance Bureau for a long time, leaving the impression of integrity and kindness."

"Director Zhang... was pretty good, although his work demands were sometimes high, he treated us quite well."

"Oh dear, how could such a good person like Director Zhang become involved in an incident like this? He usually treated us well, even when we asked for leaves, he generally didn’t object; everyone respected him."

Wang Zhaokai organized people to understand the aspects of Zhang Haibin’s work he was in charge of.

Currently, the feedback suggests Zhang Haibin didn’t have enemies in his workplace; he was affable, and appeared honest and straightforward with high work standards yet was personally nice.

At the core of the Finance Bureau’s leadership, Wang Zhaokai gathered some critical information.

"Recently, there is an adjustment of cadres in the city, and Zhang Haibin is one of the two most hopeful leaders in our bureau for such promotions."

Wang Zhaokai was caught off guard, realizing this is about a promotion.

"Director Sun, who is the other person? Do Zhang Haibin and this person know they are up for promotion?"

Director Sun nodded: "Of course they know; last week, the top personnel department already had a word with them, although there hasn’t been feedback from those talks, as far as we know, only one of them can be promoted. But who exactly will be promoted is still unknown."

Unknown?

The results of the talk weren’t feedback and who gets promoted wasn’t specified, but now it should be quite clear, with Zhang Haibin dead, obviously the other candidate is the one to be promoted.

Finance Bureau’s Vice Director Wang Qinghai’s office.

This Vice Director is the one competing with Zhang Haibin for promotion.

"Vice Director Wang, where were you last night?"

Wang Zhaokai’s question took the other by surprise.