Chapter 47 Chapter 47 He did something to hurt you...
The new clues provided by Ji Yinhe gave all members of the task force a shot of adrenaline.
Director Rao immediately ordered the Serious Crime Squad to lead a small team to visit various universities and schools in Jiangtan, requiring them to find young men who met the requirements at the seminar.
They even sent the relevant information to Handong University far away in Jingzhou for verification.
However, two and a half days passed, and everyone brought back the same news:
The day before the incident, no qualifying activities were held in Jiangtan or the surrounding cities and counties!
"...In the past month, only Jiangtan Veterinary College held a 'Postpartum Care Seminar for Sows' yesterday. Sister Ji, do you think this person is a medical professor who misremembered the date?"
In the office, Xiao Wu held his head and sighed helplessly.
"That's impossible," Ji Yinhe said calmly. "The criminal's third scouting of the location was the day Ye Qing and I went to the museum last weekend. It's been more than ten days since then. No one in their right mind would have made a mistake."
Tang Ci leaned against the blackboard. "This is the outcome I fear most. What if this identity as a professor at Handong University was completely fabricated just to leave the museum? That would mean all our efforts these past few days have been in vain, and the task force is once again at a standstill..."
Xiao Wu and Cheng Mo sighed together, and the police officers transferred from the police station also looked worried.
But Ji Yinhe was not discouraged by this result.
"Let's report the results to Director Rao." She stood up and exhaled. "Even though there's no direct evidence, this at least makes the young man a highly suspicious person, doesn't it?"
Everyone: "Yes, but..."
The previous major cases were all solved quickly within a few days, but this time, since the theft of the Buddha head, no new clues have been found. The other party even had the audacity to sneak into the museum, leaving them helpless for more than ten days.
Tang Ci frowned heavily, "I'm going to go find Director Rao. Everyone's worked hard, let's take a break first."
The office was quiet. Ji Yinhe stood up and walked to the large blackboard covered with dense writing. He stared at the handwriting and repeatedly thought about the current known clues.
If the thieves were the man and woman who stole the Buddha head from Huo Zongping's house and other Ming and Qing dynasty tombs, did they scout the area beforehand? Were they from outside the area, or were they locals?
Officer Xiao Ji shook his head slightly in his heart.
——No, since the stolen items all came from Jiangtan and surrounding towns, and the time span was as long as ten years, even if the other party was not a local, he must have grown up here.
Is he a professor at Handong University? If not, why would he create such an identity for himself and carry such a conspicuously printed cloth bag?
Is there some inexplicable obsession with this university? Did you miss out on it before?
A thin face suddenly appeared in her mind.
Ji Yinhe wrote down a name with keen mind.
——Could the girl in this gang be Li Tunan?
…
While she was still thinking quietly, Tang Ciren came back with great vigor.
"Director Rao told us not to miss any possible clues and to continue investigating the hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, and inns surrounding the museum... And regarding the white sedan, Xiao Wu, go to the traffic police brigade now and have them add personnel to conduct searches at every intersection in the city."
"...Okay." Comrade Xiao Wu went there listlessly.
"Then let's split up now." Tang Ci pinched the watch on his wrist. "Comrades who came to help, Lao Cheng, Xiao-Xiao Ji, what are you looking for?"
Ji Yinhe squatted in the corner of the office at some point and rummaged through the pile of newspapers on the floor.
These are all subscribed to by the Municipal Bureau, including newspapers from the public security system and local daily and evening newspapers.
Since Che Zhiwen was transferred, few people read the newspaper. Especially when they were busy with a case, they didn't even get enough sleep, so how could they care about national affairs?
But Ji Yinhe's fingers slid quickly through the pile of papers as if he had a clear goal.
"...I found it!" She held up several newspapers joyfully. "These are the local evening papers from last Sunday!"
Tang Ci narrowed his eyes, "What's wrong?"
"Captain Tang, the museum was holding an event that day. Ye Qing and I saw several reporters carrying cameras and taking photos for interviews. They might have taken a picture of the criminal!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people immediately rushed up, each picked up a copy and began to read it carefully.
Tang Ci was just about to say that there was no such coincidence in the world when he discovered that the piece of news in his hand was actually the news about the museum's activities that day.
In the photo in the middle, a child is enjoying an exhibition in the square. A man of medium build is passing by. He is wearing a black coat and carrying a cross-body bag with the words "Handong University" on it!
"Comrades," Tang Ci hesitated, raising the newspaper in his hand. "Although it's a silhouette and the face can't be seen clearly, the outline of this person's figure... quite fits the suspect we're looking for!"
Warm applause rang out in the office, and Xiao Wu excitedly said, "I'll contact the reporter right away to see if there's another angle where I can get a clearer view of his face!"
He grabbed the newspaper and was about to run, but Officer Xiao Ji grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait a minute."
Xiao Wu stopped walking obediently, "What's wrong, Sister Ji?"
Ji Yinhe's eyes were fixed on the photo, his brows slightly furrowed. He pointed at the girl who was several people away from the man and said, "Isn't this... Li Tunan?"
Xiao Wu's eyes widened, "Oh my god, it's true!!"
*
After reporting to the task force headquarters, Li Tunan was listed as the primary suspect along with the young man because of his involvement in the Buddha head case.
Fortunately, Ji Yinhe asked the police from Changwu County Police Station to help keep an eye on him that day, and they called him immediately.
"...That little girl, she's quite honest!" A bewildered voice came from the receiver. "What's wrong? Aren't you going to stare at her anymore?"
"Don't do that, keep watching!" Ji Yinhe asked repeatedly, "What has she been doing during this period? Is there anything unusual?"
The police officer said, "No, doesn't the little girl work in Jiangtan? She leaves early and comes back late. Sometimes she digs up some sweet potatoes and takes them to the city to sell. She doesn't come back until late at night. She works so hard."
"Did you send someone to follow her the whole time?" Ji Yinhe's forehead jumped. "Do you know what she did in Jiangtan?"
"Uh... Leader, we need to rest too. Besides, once we enter the city, we are no longer under our jurisdiction, and it will be inconvenient to follow us. Don't you agree..."
“…”Everyone was disappointed.
Ji Yinhe sighed and pondered for a moment, "The day before the national treasure theft case, that is, last Sunday night, do you know what time she returned to Shuangdun Town?"
"...I don't know, but there's a reason for this. She works all night at the restaurant every Sunday night and probably doesn't get off until the next morning."
Everyone in the office jumped up.
...Wow, this girl not only showed up at the crime scene on the day of the scout, but now even the time of the crime matches!
The police officer from the Changwu County Police Station continued to ask, "Leader, do you have any further instructions?"
"...We now suspect she's involved in the theft of national treasures from the city museum." Tang Ci took the receiver and said in a deep voice, "Please send someone to apprehend her immediately and send her to the city police station. We will interrogate her!"
*
An hour later.
In the interrogation room, Ji Yinhe looked at the nervous and pale face of the girl opposite him and flipped through the household registration information sent by Changwu Police Station.
——Li Tunan, female, just turned sixteen years old, is the third child in the family and has two older sisters and two younger sisters. After graduating from junior high school, she was unable to continue her studies and currently makes a living by working.
It seems that she did not lie when she was at the police station that day.
Tang Ci next to him pressed his brows with a headache.
He had always faced extremely vicious criminals in the past, but this was his first time to interrogate such a pitiful underage girl.
He was a little scared and asked in a soft voice, "Li Tunan, right? Do you know why we called you here?"
Li Tunan's face was tense and he shook his head. "I don't know anything..."
Tang Ci took a deep breath. It seemed that today would be another tough battle.
"Because you are involved in a serial theft of cultural relics!"
They called Li Tunan in under the pretext of questioning her, so instead of letting her sit on the interrogation chair in the corner, they brought her a wooden chair.
However, the little girl curled up on the wooden chair and shivered as if she had been tortured.
Tang Ci was a little angry, "You still have a chance now, tell the truth, we can be lenient-"
"I really don't know anything!" Li Tunan hunched his back, tears streaming down his pale face. "Officer Ji asked me all this last time. I'm really innocent...right, Officer Ji?"
Ji Yinhe took a deep breath and pushed the photo in the newspaper over. "Then can you explain why you appeared in the city library that day?"
Li Tunan's eyes fell on the photo, and he trembled violently. "...I didn't study history well in school, so I want to go and see..."
"Okay." Ji Yinhe stared into her eyes. "I have your high school entrance exam report card here. You got almost full marks in history. It seems that you set very high standards for yourself..."
"..." Li Tunan was stunned for a moment before saying, "No, no?"
The interrogation room was silent for two seconds. Tang Ci tapped the table with his index finger and asked impatiently, "Who is this man carrying the Handong University canvas bag?"
"I don't know him..."
"Li Tunan, you were only a few steps away from him at that time—"
"I just don't know him!" Li Tunan covered his stomach with his hands, his back hunched high, tears streaming down his face. "How can I answer someone I don't know?"
Tang Ci leaned back in his chair angrily. "Fine, then just think about it here. Once we find new evidence, you won't have a chance for leniency! ...Xiao Ji, let's go!"
He collected the confession book on the table and prepared to pull Ji Yinhe out of the interrogation room.
Comrade Xiao Ji narrowed his eyes and looked Li Tunan up and down. "Captain Tang, you go up first... Please help me call Ye Qing down."
...Ye Qing? How can a forensic doctor come and help?
Tang Ci was a little confused, but Ji Yinhe always had some clever ideas when it came to interrogation, and he always achieved unexpected results.
So he nodded and left.
There were only two girls left in the interrogation room. Ji Yinhe stood up from behind the table and walked gently to Li Tunan.
The little girl's face flushed. It was winter and there was no heating in the room. A layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Ji Yinhe looked at Li Tunan with his arm across his stomach and asked worriedly, "Do you have a stomachache?"
Li Tunan bit his lip and nodded.
"Have you had your period?" Ji Yinhe asked with concern.
Li Tunan was startled by her blunt words and shook his head, saying, "My period has never been very regular. I haven't had my period for two months..."
"Two months?" Ji Yinhe frowned, "Are you..."
Li Tunan opened his eyes wide, "...What's wrong with me?"
The door creaked and Ye Qing came in.
Ji Yinhe turned around and whispered, "Do you remember our conversation in the dissection room a few days ago?"
Ye Qing understood, "The one about the girl who didn't receive serious sex education?"
"Yes." Ji Yinhe said solemnly, pulling Ye Qing to Li Tunan's side, "She has a stomachache and hasn't had her period in two months."
"..." Ye Qing frowned, squatted down and asked softly, "How do you feel now?"
Li Tunan was a little frightened. He looked at the two policewomen in front of him in shock, shook his head and said nothing.
Ye Qing looked around and said, "It's not convenient here. Let's take her to the women's restroom on the first floor."
"..." Li Tunan was terrified, "What are you going to do with me?"
Ji Yinhe said softly, "This police officer is a law... medical student. We're worried that you're not feeling well, so we'd like to take you for a checkup, okay?"
Li Tunan was very reluctant, but his stomach and some private parts were in so much pain that he could only nod reluctantly, and was supported by Ji Yinhe and Ye Qing on both sides as he walked into the bathroom.
It happened that there was no one there at the moment, so Ji Yinhe closed the door. Ye Qing put on a pair of clean gloves and gently gave her a simple check.
Li Tunan looked at the pool of dark brown blood on his underwear and asked fearfully, "Do I have a terminal illness? Why is it this color..."
Ye Qing helped her put on her clothes and asked softly, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"..." Li Tunan lowered his head, "Not really..."
Ye Qing didn't say anything, but gave Ji Yinhe a worried look.
Ji Yinhe understood and came over to ask, "Did he do anything to you that you shouldn't do at your age?"
"Sister Policewoman, I know I was wrong, please let me go back..."
Li Tunan's shoulders were shaking, and he wanted to escape from the bathroom, but was stopped by Comrade Xiao Ji's strong long arms.
"No, Tunan, this matter has nothing to do with the case. Do you know what he did to you? Did you do it willingly?"
"I, I... I just wanted to prove to him how much I loved him, and then he stuffed that hard thing in me..." Li Tunan squatted with his back against the wall, sobbing, "I was actually scared too... But my mom and sister said that as long as I don't kiss or sleep with men, nothing will happen..."
Ji Yinhe stared at the little girl on the ground, frowned and sighed.
...This kind of sleeping is not that kind of sleeping!
"Tunan, can you tell me who your boyfriend is?" She also squatted down and tried to comfort her gently, "You might have been deceived by his sweet words! He did something... hurtful to you."
"I won't tell you." Li Tunan had a fearless expression on his face. "I love him very much, and he's the best person in the world to me. I did this voluntarily!"
“…”
"What should we do?" Ye Qing asked worriedly, "Should we tell her the truth?"
"Let's take her to the hospital first and have the doctor give her a thorough examination. Then we can try to find some clues." Comrade Xiao Ji stood up and thought for a moment with a helpless look on his face. "—She's already sixteen years old. If she insisted on protecting her boyfriend, that wouldn't constitute a crime."
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