045 The Chain of Evidence

Hewei Restaurant.

Approaching noon, the members of Team Two arranged to meet at the restaurant, discussing work as they ate, making the most of their time. The five of them took a private room by the window on the second floor, enjoying the air conditioning and closed door, sipping tea—more comfortable than their office.

"Don't be shy, everyone. Order whatever you like—lunch is on me today," Zhao Ming declared, thumping his chest with bravado.

Having spent some time together, the others had come to understand Zhao Ming a bit. Despite being the youngest, his family was well-off—he was a bona fide second-generation rich kid. No one stood on ceremony with him.

Zeng Ping ordered dry-fried pork intestines.

Han Bin chose roasted lamb chops.

Tian Li wanted stir-fried choy sum.

Li Hui went for spicy beef and tripe stew.

Zhao Ming ordered a dish and a soup: a large pot of steamed seafood and a bowl of meatball soup.

Finally, they added six bowls of noodles, five bowls of rice, and a plate of dumplings.

"Zhao Ming, that seafood of yours costs more than all our dishes put together," Zeng Ping joked.

"We've all been working hard these days. Let's eat something good to recharge," Zhao Ming replied, also craving the food himself—he'd been too busy lately to enjoy a proper meal.

"Zhao Ming, what does your family do to be so well-off?" Li Hui asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

"It's nothing much—just got a few apartments from a demolition deal. My parents run a small business," Zhao Ming said with a shrug.

"Oh..."

Everyone looked as if it all made sense now.

"With a family like yours, why become a police officer? You could just join the family business," Li Hui teased.

"That's a long story. When I was in high school..." Zhao Ming started, ready to reminisce, but Zeng Ping cut him off.

Zeng Ping waved his hand. "Alright, save it for another day. Let’s focus on the case for now."

"Han Bin, Li Hui, didn’t you two have some leads?"

"I’ll go," Li Hui said excitedly. "Captain Zeng, I followed Yu Wei with Bin today—guess what happened? She took a cab..."

"You take too long, Li Hui," Zeng Ping interrupted. "Han Bin, you say it."

"We collected fingerprints and compared them to those on the computer—they matched perfectly," Han Bin summarized.

"Excellent!" Zeng Ping clapped his hands. "That settles it, doesn’t it?"

"If the fingerprints match, it means Yu Wei used the computer and likely watched the hidden camera footage. She’s also a suspect. Should we apply for a detention warrant?" Tian Li asked.

"Of course we should, but..." Zeng Ping stroked his chin, hesitating.

"Captain Zeng, the fingerprint match is a good thing. What are we waiting for?" Zhao Ming didn’t understand.

"It is good news, but the crime happened three days ago. We arrested Yu Hefeng in front of Yu Wei—she’s already on alert and may have disposed of the evidence. Even if we detain her, without solid proof, it’ll be hard to make a case," Zeng Ping expressed his concern.

Han Bin took a sip of tea. "Captain Zeng is right. This case is unusual—no fingerprints or DNA left behind. The only possible evidence is the video, photos, envelope, and the USB drive."

"Bin, you spent all yesterday morning studying the photos and video—did you find anything?" Li Hui asked.

Han Bin set down his cup. "I did make some findings. I believe they could serve as crucial evidence."

"What did you discover?" Tian Li had also reviewed the footage and photos.

"Those blackmail photos were indeed sourced from the video."

"I noticed that too—they're screenshots from the video," Tian Li nodded.

"They’re not screenshots. They were taken by photographing the computer screen," Han Bin corrected.

"What’s the difference? They’re blackmail photos all the same," Zhao Ming said as he refilled tea for Zeng Ping, Han Bin, and the others.

"If they're screenshots, the images could be transferred directly to a USB drive via computer. If there are no fingerprints or the drive is disposed of, it’s hard to use as evidence," Han Bin explained, holding his cup. "But photos are different. What do you use to take photos nowadays?"

"Cell phones, obviously. Who still buys cameras except for photography buffs?" Li Hui replied.

"Photos differ from screenshots. The angle, lighting—each photo is unique. If we find the victim’s photos on Yu Wei’s phone, that could be key evidence," Han Bin said.

"Tian Li, pay attention—this is professionalism," Zeng Ping praised.

Tian Li smiled wryly. Usually, technical work like this was Han Bin’s domain, but she’d taken charge only because the photos were unusual.

There weren’t many in Team Two, but their division of labor was clear. Tian Li’s strength lay elsewhere. Despite being a woman, she was industrious and often took on the routine tasks: getting signatures from superiors, handling official seals, printing reports, collecting case files, swapping detention warrants, fetching verdicts from court. These errands were mostly handled by Tian Li and Zhao Ming, with Li Hui occasionally pitching in.

When Han Bin first joined the detective team, he’d done his share of errands too. But thanks to his expertise in criminal investigation, Captain Zeng Ping recognized his value and relieved him of such tasks. When the case was tough, Han Bin tackled the challenge; when there was no case, he rested.

Han Bin was content with this arrangement. Like in games, someone had to play support so others could perform well.

A knock sounded on the door, and the room fell silent.

The waiter entered, bringing the first dishes: stir-fried choy sum, dry-fried pork intestines, and roasted lamb chops.

Zeng Ping took a piece of the intestines, savoring it. "That’s the flavor—crispy fried pork intestine is best, especially paired with a half bottle of Erguotou. Now that’s enjoyment."

"Captain Zeng, when we’re not working a case, let’s have a few drinks," Li Hui laughed—he enjoyed a drink when there was no assignment.

Zeng Ping smiled. Once the waiter left, they returned to the case discussion.

"The photos on the phone can indeed be key evidence, but the chain is still incomplete," Zeng Ping analyzed, setting down his chopsticks. "It only proves she took the photos, not that she's involved in the blackmail."

Li Hui thought for a moment. "This morning, Yu Wei left by taxi. If she went to Anyang Apartments, she might have taken a taxi then too. We could take her photo to the taxi company and see if any clues turn up."

"That's a good idea. If we can prove she was at the scene, it strengthens the evidence chain," Zeng Ping agreed.

"Captain Zeng, I recall the Yu family only has one computer," Han Bin segued.

"And?"

"The blackmail letter and photos were copied to a USB drive, which usually requires a computer. For the first letter, Yu Wei may have used the family computer and transferred the photos from her phone to the USB. But the second letter was delivered after Yu Hefeng was arrested and the computer confiscated, so it couldn’t have been done on their computer. Where would she have made the second letter?"

"At her boyfriend’s place?" Li Hui guessed.

"I think young people prefer internet cafes," Zhao Ming offered another opinion.

"Are you saying I'm old?" Li Hui shot back.

"Stay focused," Zeng Ping chided. "This isn't something she'd want her boyfriend to know about—an internet cafe is more likely."

"There are security cameras in internet cafes. If she prepared the blackmail letter there, there’s a good chance she was caught on tape," Zhao Ming added, drawing from his own experience of sometimes gaming at internet cafes despite having a computer at home.

Zeng Ping pondered a moment. "Let's adjust our assignments. Han Bin and Li Hui, investigate at the taxi company."

"Zhao Ming and Tian Li, check the internet cafes near Yu Wei’s home."

"I’ll head back to the station this afternoon to report to Captain Zheng and apply for search and detention warrants."

"Understood."