Clue 014

Inside the hospital ward.

Zhang Xin lay pale-faced on the bed, a bandage wrapped around her head, her right hand connected to an IV drip.

There was a knock at the door.

Tian Li entered, scanning the room before her gaze settled on Zhang Xin. “I’m Tian Li from the Criminal Investigation Unit. I’d like to ask you some questions.”

“All right, please go ahead.”

“Name?”

“Zhang Xin.”

“What is your position here at the hospital?”

“I’m an accountant in the Finance Department.”

“Do you know the robber?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Can you describe what happened during the incident?” Tian Li asked.

Zhang Xin nodded, biting her lip as she tried to recall. After a moment, she spoke:

“A little after three in the afternoon, I went to the payment office on the first floor for some business. Around four, I returned to the Finance Office on the fourth floor. The elevator was crowded, so I decided to take the stairs. When I reached the corner on the third floor, I saw a man in a white coat with his back to me, smoking. I didn’t think anything of it. But as I walked past him, he covered my mouth and pressed a knife against my lower back.”

Her expression revealed lingering fear. “He forced me to take him to the Finance Office and warned me not to make a sound, or he’d stab me.”

“I was truly terrified, really.”

“I believe you. You showed courage, and your information can help us catch the criminal sooner,” Tian Li encouraged.

“At the time, there weren’t many people in the corridor. He pressed close behind me, and together we entered the Finance Office. He made me open the safe, then knocked me out,” Zhang Xin recounted.

“What did he use to knock you out?” Tian Li asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Did you see what he looked like?”

“I didn’t dare to look.”

“How about his voice?”

“It was a man’s voice, but the tone was odd, as if he was deliberately disguising his accent.”

“Was he wearing gloves?”

“No.”

“Any other clues?”

“I can’t remember. My mind was a mess then—I just wanted to survive and hoped he wouldn’t hurt me,” Zhang Xin replied.

...

Inside the hospital break room.

An hour later, Zeng Ping gathered everyone together.

He swept his gaze across the group. “Let’s summarize the clues.”

“Captain Zeng, the robber shows a certain level of counter-investigation skill. The scene was cleaned up, and neither I nor the technical team found any evidence,” Han Bin reported.

“I’ve finished recording the victim’s statement. Let me give you an overview,” Tian Li said, recounting the details she’d just gathered, giving everyone a clearer understanding of the incident.

“According to the victim, the kidnapper was smoking at the stairwell corner. We can have her confirm the exact spot later—perhaps there are cigarette butts or other clues left behind,” Zeng Ping suggested.

“I personally think that’s unlikely. When I came to the hospital, I also used the stairs and saw people smoking at the corner. There’s a container there specifically for cigarette butts and ashes, and there are a lot of them,” Li Hui said.

“Have you found any clues from the surveillance footage?” Zeng Ping asked.

“Yes, I saw video of the victim being forced into the Finance Office,” Li Hui replied.

“Let’s see it.”

Li Hui took out a tablet and played a video. The timestamp showed 4:05 PM. First, the victim’s head appeared at the stairwell entrance, peering out to check before entering the fourth floor corridor, followed by a man in a white coat.

The footage wasn’t very clear, but judging by his physique, he appeared to be male. Unfortunately, he kept his back to the camera, so his face wasn’t visible.

“There’s another video—when he left after the crime,” Li Hui said, playing a second clip. The time showed 4:15 PM. A man in a white coat exited the Finance Office, head lowered, wearing a mask and sunglasses, carrying a bag.

Zhao Ming shook his head. “There’s no way to see the robber’s face.”

“Are there videos of any other suspects?” Han Bin asked.

“None so far.”

“How many exits are there from the stairs, and are there cameras installed?” Zeng Ping inquired.

“Above the fifth floor is the inpatient ward; the stairs are blocked off, so you can only use the elevator. There’s only one exit downstairs, which leads to the main courtyard on the first floor. No cameras are installed there,” Li Hui explained.

“What about the corridors on each floor?” Han Bin asked.

“Every corridor has surveillance. During the time of the crime, no one was seen entering the corridors from the stairs carrying a bag,” Li Hui said.

“So, the robber most likely left via the stairs to the first floor. To escape the hospital, he would have exited through the front or back door. Checking the surveillance at those exits should yield clues,” Zeng Ping said.

“People leaving the hospital often carry luggage—it’ll be difficult to sift through,” Li Hui commented.

“I may have found something that could lead to a clue,” Zhao Ming interjected.

“What did you discover?”

“I asked the nurse at the fourth floor reception if she’d seen any suspicious people recently. A nurse named Feng Ran said someone had been lurking around the fourth floor, acting suspiciously,” Zhao Ming said.

“What does that person do?” Zeng Ping asked.

“He’s a hospital attendant named Duan Jiliang.”

“For now, our investigation should focus on the surveillance footage and this Duan Jiliang,” Zeng Ping decided after some thought. “Han Bin, Zhao Ming, you two go speak with Duan Jiliang and see if he’s a suspect. Li Hui and Tian Li, continue checking the surveillance.”

“Yes, sir.”

...

Han Bin and Zhao Ming found Nurse Feng Ran.

She was about five foot two, petite and rather cute.

Zhao Ming got straight to the point. “Nurse Feng, your information is very helpful. We’d like you to help us identify attendant Duan Jiliang.”

“Is he the robber?” Feng Ran asked.

“We’re still investigating. Which floor does he usually work on?” Han Bin said.

“The third floor.”

“Then his appearance on the fourth floor could mean he was scouting the area,” Zhao Ming remarked.

“Did you see him today?”

Feng Ran nodded. “I saw him in the morning.”

“We’d like to ask him to cooperate with our investigation. Could you help us identify him?” Zhao Ming asked.

“I… He won’t retaliate against me, will he?” Feng Ran expressed concern.

Zhao Ming pounded his chest. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

Zhao Ming was quite handsome but not very tall—about five foot seven, slender. His assurance wasn’t particularly convincing.

Feng Ran glanced at Han Bin beside him, who was tall and resolute, inspiring more confidence.

“All right.”

Led by Feng Ran, the group went to the third floor. Feng Ran pointed to a man filling his cup with hot water in the corridor. “That’s attendant Duan Jiliang.”

She stepped aside, not wanting to get involved further.

Han Bin and Zhao Ming exchanged a look and approached.

“Duan Jiliang,” Zhao Ming called out loudly.

“Yeah?” Duan Jiliang responded instinctively.

“We’re from the police department. We’d like to ask you a few questions,” Zhao Ming said.

Duan Jiliang hesitated, glanced at the two, then suddenly hurled his cup of hot water at Zhao Ming and bolted.

“Damn!” Zhao Ming grimaced in pain from the scalding water.

Han Bin had anticipated an attempt to escape. He leaped forward, delivering a flying kick to Duan Jiliang’s lower back...