Time of the Crime

"I remember that suspect—slender build, in excellent physical condition. He would climb up the exposed drainpipes outside the residential complex, scale the victim’s balcony or the outer wall of the air conditioning unit, and then open a window to enter the high-rise apartment," Zhao Ying recalled.

"Indeed, the method in these two cases is very similar," Zheng Kaixuan nodded slightly. "Where is that suspect now?"

"I recall he was sentenced to a little over three years. If he behaved well, he might already be out."

"Send someone to the precinct to check his current situation."

"Understood."

The clue Zhao Ying provided was crucial. There were not many people capable of committing crimes at such heights; investigating this lead could well yield a suspect.

"Lu Wen, has the forensics team found anything?" Zheng asked.

Lu Wen took a sip of his noodle soup. "The technicians have surveyed all the scenes and taken photographic evidence, but nothing substantial was found."

"What about fingerprints?"

"They've been collected and most have already been compared—so far, all prove to be the residents’ own. Nothing suspicious has turned up yet, but the rest are still being processed."

"Complete the comparisons as soon as possible. If you find a suspect’s fingerprint, notify me immediately."

"Understood."

Zheng Kaixuan then turned to Han Bin and Li Hui. "Any findings from the second team?"

"Captain Zheng, this suspect committed nine cases in a short span. I think he must be bold, meticulous, and experienced," Li Hui said.

"Yes," Zheng Kaixuan acknowledged; this matched his own assessment.

"Also, the person must be quite familiar with the neighborhood—either he surveyed it in advance or he lives nearby."

"Any recommendations?"

"We should screen people with theft records in the vicinity and see if any have reoffended."

"That can be one avenue of investigation." Zheng Kaixuan nodded, then looked to Han Bin. "What about you?"

Han Bin finished the remaining half of his lamb skewer in one bite. "Captain Zheng, I think we should narrow down the timeframe of the crime. This would be invaluable for reviewing surveillance, tracking the suspect, and conducting interrogations."

"Absolutely. That’s essential," Zheng Kaixuan agreed. "All nine victims were away last night. The last to leave home did so at ten in the morning, so before 10 a.m. yesterday, the suspect had not yet applied the tape."

"If I were the suspect, I’d stick the tape before noon," Han Bin said.

"And your reasoning?" Zhao Ying pressed.

"The suspect’s goal in sticking the tape is to check if anyone is home. If the tape is applied too late, the interval is too short and loses its discernible function," Han Bin analyzed. "Noon and evening are times when people come and go most frequently. Whether going out to buy groceries or ordering takeout for lunch, the door would be opened; not to mention the typical evening return from work. Applying the tape before noon allows for more accurate screening."

"That explains the tape’s application, but what about the actual time of the crime?" Li Hui asked.

"I interviewed some residents who weren’t robbed. One family left at 9 a.m. and didn’t return until 11 p.m., yet their home was untouched—no sign of intrusion. This means the suspect hadn’t checked the tape then. Factoring in the tape check, the crime likely occurred after midnight," Han Bin speculated.

"Bravo," Zhao Ying clapped appreciatively. "Impressive analysis. Interested in joining our team?"

Han Bin just smiled.

"Hey, hey, trying to poach someone right in front of me? Old Zeng isn’t here—if you lure this guy away, Old Zeng will have it out with me," Zheng Kaixuan joked.

Zhao Ying shrugged and continued her analysis. "According to Han Bin’s theory, if the suspect started at midnight and had to climb thirty floors and rob nine homes, that’s a huge workload. From my experience, it would take at least three or four hours. Around five, dawn breaks, and climbing outside the building could easily attract attention. So the window for the crimes is most likely between midnight and 4 a.m."

Clapping broke out among team one’s members. "Sister Zhao is brilliant!"

"Captain Zhao’s analysis is spot on!"

"You’re amazing, Sister Zhao!"

Zheng Kaixuan glanced at them and laughed, "A bunch of sycophants!"

"Ahem..." Zhao Ying coughed, slightly embarrassed.

Li Hui joined in with a round of applause. "Captain Zheng, you’re amazing too—saw right through this bunch!"

"Li Hui, you have the nerve to call us sycophants? Aren’t you just the same?" retorted a team one member.

Everyone burst out laughing. After the mirth subsided, they returned to discussing the case.

Having eaten his fill, Zheng Kaixuan took out a Hardeman cigarette. "If the suspect committed the crimes between midnight and four, then from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. would be the preparation phase."

"Applying the tape would take about an hour, and checking it half an hour. Where’s the suspect the rest of the time?" Li Hui wondered, spreading his hands.

"Either he left the complex, or he hid somewhere inside," Zhao Ying speculated.

"If he left, then the main gate or basement surveillance could have caught him," Li Hui offered.

"If he stayed, where would he hide?"

"This is a self-built neighborhood in Linfang Village. Most residents know each other. If the suspect lurked outside the building for long, he’d likely draw attention. If I were him, I’d hide in the stairwell," Han Bin analyzed.

"If the suspect was climbing into apartments, he’d need to keep himself in good condition. Over those eleven hours, he’d have to eat, drink, and use the restroom. The stairwell might have his discarded trash," Zhao Ying noted.

"Our main lines of investigation are twofold: reviewing surveillance and screening suspects with theft records. We’ll assign specific tasks tomorrow morning. Tonight, everyone’s exhausted—go home and rest," Zheng Kaixuan instructed.

"Captain Zheng, the owner of unit 2704 needs to pay for surgery the day after tomorrow," Li Hui reminded him.

"Look at everyone, Li Hui. Even if we pushed through tonight, what about tomorrow? Would anyone have energy then?" Zheng Kaixuan countered.

"I suggest we split into day and night shifts. Assign two members to gather profiles of known thieves overnight. Tomorrow, when we start work, we’ll have concrete information to begin screening," Zhao Ying proposed.

Zheng Kaixuan nodded. "Good idea. You take charge of the arrangements."

"Understood."