Chapter 1114 - 571: Investigating in Zhujiang City

The meeting lasted for nearly an hour and didn’t conclude until 6:30 in the morning.

After this brief discussion, the next steps in the investigation were made clear.

Seeing the fatigue on everyone’s faces, Vice Director Chen Guan said, "Thank you all for your hard work. I never expected this case to be so complicated."

"Next, we will proceed as per the agreed direction from the meeting and conduct a thorough investigation of all insurance companies in the city to see if Li Ailing has taken out any large insurance policies as the insured person."

After a brief pause, he looked at Qin Feng and said, "You need to carry this out promptly."

"Rest assured, Mr. Chen, the moment dawn breaks, I’ll summon our entire criminal investigation team."

"Good, we’ll be waiting for your good news at home."

After speaking, he raised his wrist to check his watch and continued, "Everyone worked hard all night, so I invite you all to have breakfast at Zhangwa Soup Dumplings right across from the police station."

"Director Hou, what do you think?"

Director Hou smiled, "It’s not often Mr. Chen personally treats us, we can’t miss this opportunity."

Then, everyone burst into laughter and walked out together.

After breakfast, Qin Feng led the entire criminal investigation team out of the office to thoroughly review all the insurance companies in the city.

The review showed there are close to 40 insurance companies in Guangling City of various sizes.

Standing in front of the Guangling City CBD building, Wan looked at the list and said, "Mr. Qin, I’ve never even heard of some of these insurance companies."

"Taihu Insurance, Yongen Insurance, they clearly sound like some obscure companies."

Qin Feng picked up a pen and highlighted more than a dozen large insurance companies on the list.

"Even so, we need to check these insurance companies one by one to ensure none slip through the net."

"Some small insurance companies may not be well-known, but that doesn’t mean they never existed."

Subsequently, the criminal investigation team was divided into 10 groups, each with four members, and began a comprehensive investigation of these over 40 insurance companies.

At this moment, Director Hou, Jiang An, and Chen Guan were anxiously waiting in the office.

Everyone’s mood was very heavy.

The outcome of this investigation directly determines the next steps in the investigation.

Moreover, the suspect, Zhang Xiang, is currently detained in the interrogation room.

Without solid evidence, according to criminal procedure law, he can only be detained for 24 hours, with a maximum of no more than 48 hours.

Therefore, within this golden time frame, we must find evidence that can confirm he has major suspicion of committing the crime.

Currently, the skeletal remains from the coffin years ago have vanished, leaving no chance for further examination. Zhang Xiang might be the only person who knows where they are.

The only possible breakthrough is understanding the cause of the fire that year.

At 3:30 in the afternoon, the urgent ring of a mobile phone suddenly shattered the silence in the meeting room.

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on the phone placed at the corner of the table by Mr. Chen.

Mr. Chen furrowed his eyebrows slightly, glanced at the caller ID, "It’s Qin Feng."

He swiftly picked up the phone, his voice carrying a hint of barely contained urgency: "Hello, Qin Feng, what’s the situation?"

On the other end, Qin Feng’s voice was noticeably exhausted but excited: "Mr. Chen, I have good news! We found it at Taiping Insurance Company! We found the claims form from 15 years ago!"

"Oh?" Vice Director Chen instinctively sat up straight, "Is the insured person Li Ailing?"

"Yes! It’s her! Mr. Chen, you wouldn’t believe it. Three of us combed through the archives for four whole hours!" Qin Feng said, breaking into laughter, "But it was worth it! We really found it!"

Vice Director Chen’s face broke into a smile, "That’s great work, everyone deserves a reward when you return!"

"It was no trouble! Mr. Chen, guess what? The form clearly states that on August 21st, 15 years ago, Li Ailing died due to an accident, and the insurance company paid out a full 300,000!"

"300,000?!" Vice Director Chen could not help but repeat, his voice unconsciously loud.

The meeting room became even more silent, as the eyes of several colleagues moved from his hand that clutched the phone tightly to his subtly changing expression.

What was the concept of 300,000 fifteen years ago?

A house in a good area of a county town cost no more than 100,000 back then.

Vice Director Chen took a deep breath and asked, "Who is the beneficiary?"

"The form lists a statutory beneficiary, but I looked closely at the signature section at the back, and the payment was collected by Zhang Xiang! It was his signature, no mistake!"

"I knew it was him!" Vice Director Chen suddenly raised his hand and slapped it on the meeting table with a "bang."

"It all connects! The fire back then had major hidden elements! Everything is clear now!"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, and spoke to Qin Feng on the other end of the line: "Qin Feng, your team has done a tremendous job! Keep the original claims form safe, take a photo, and send it over immediately!"

After hanging up, Vice Director Chen looked around at everyone and said firmly: "Qin Feng found the evidence at Taiping Insurance Company, on August 21st, Zhang Xiang claimed 300,000 from a personal accident insurance policy! The insured person was indeed his wife, the deceased Li Ailing."

Director Hou glanced at Jiang An, and both were very excited.

"It’s a true blessing in disguise."

"With this, at least regarding the motive for the crime, Zhang Xiang’s suspicion has shifted from ’alleged’ to ’substantial.’"