Chapter 67 Clash: The Collision of Old and New Criminal Investigation Concepts
Inside the conference room, undercurrents were running deep.
Qin Tieshan took a deep breath, trying hard to control his temper.
He silently recited what Director Zhong had told him in the office: mentor the young people and pass on your criminal investigation experience.
Finally, Qin Tieshan's expression softened somewhat.
He sat back down, lit a cigarette, took two deep drags, and as he exhaled the smoke, Qin Tieshan spoke: "Continue."
"Mmm." Jiang Ling quickened her pace.
"Let's analyze the crime scene. The perpetrator first subdued Ke Xiaoyu by striking her head with a rock, then strangled her with a thin rope. The actions were clean and efficient, effectively avoiding a violent struggle or cries for help. The murder weapon was taken away, the footprints were washed away by rain, and very little physical evidence was left at the scene. The perpetrator successfully took advantage of the environment."
This demonstrates the killer's extremely stable mental state and meticulous planning. He was definitely not an out-of-control mental patient or a aimless vagrant, much less a spur-of-the-moment fugitive. He knew this area well, knew where it was secluded, and where no one was around on rainy nights.
“There’s another important point.” Jiang Ling’s gaze swept over everyone present.
“From a criminal psychology perspective, this type of perpetrator doesn’t rush to flee the scene or hide like a typical criminal after committing a crime. On the contrary, he needs to be close to the results of his actions. He will pay close attention to the progress of the case, buy newspapers, listen to the radio, quietly return to the vicinity of the crime scene, mingle in crowds to listen to people’s discussions, and may even wander around the clinic to see the reactions of other nurses. He needs this sense of participation and control to satisfy his distorted psychological needs. This is a continuation of his criminal behavior and also our opportunity to lock him down.”
"Smack." Qin Tieshan slammed the teacup he was holding onto the table. The lid bounced and made a crisp sound.
Qin Tieshan's anger was rising.
He had been hearing Jiang Ling's name a lot lately and knew that her "three-fixed investigation method" was very creative, but he didn't pay much attention to it.
Having risen through the ranks from the grassroots, Qin Tieshan placed more faith in experience and physical evidence, and was rather skeptical of Jiang Ling's description of psychological profiling.
Give her a chance to continue, and she really dares to say it!
Listen to what she's saying? Criminal psychology analysis: She killed someone and dares to come back and loiter, challenging the police?
She doesn't arrest people with physical evidence, but insists on digging into those unseen and intangible psychological factors! The human heart is unpredictable; who can truly understand what people are thinking?
The challenge to his authority made Qin Tieshan, who was always a man of his word, look rather unpleasant.
"Jiang Ling, all of this is just speculation, pure bookish nonsense. What about ritual, a specific target, and the possibility of returning to the scene? Where's the evidence? Just a broken watch? Just what you've got in your head? Do you know how much public pressure we're under right now? Do you know that every minute we have is a chance for the killer to escape or commit another crime? All this empty rhetoric is wasting precious time in the investigation. Can you take responsibility for that?!"
The meeting room was completely silent; the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Everyone looked at each other, their eyes full of expression.
—Jiang Ling has just been transferred here, she probably doesn't know Lao Qin's temper yet, right?
—Old Qin set the tone as a random crime, but did she dare to directly deny it?
—They're really bold to challenge Lao Qin's authority.
—Oh no, Old Qin is throwing a tantrum!
Lei Xiao frowned, his eyes darting between Qin Tieshan and Jiang Ling, pondering when it would be appropriate to speak.
It's really difficult to please the old boss while also being careful not to dampen the enthusiasm of the young people.
Jiang Ling felt her heart pounding violently in her chest.
This was the first time I had faced my boss's anger.
At the last meeting of the task force, although Lei Xiao and Jiang Chenzhou also questioned her, they did not reprimand her on the spot because Director Zhong was there to oversee things.
Qin Tieshan, however, was different. He was the captain of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, a "pillar of strength" in the field of criminal investigation. His style was always solid, stable, and decisive, and he had extremely high prestige.
Qin Tieshan's anger erupted like molten lava, and Jiang Ling could hardly withstand it.
—All speculation!
—Where's the evidence?
—What a bunch of empty boasts!
—Can you bear this responsibility?
Each word carried immense weight, striking like a storm, making Jiang Ling's legs feel weak.
Since her rebirth, this is the first time Jiang Ling has truly felt the pressure of the workplace.
To be looked down upon.
It was questioned.
Her immediate supervisor, Qin Tieshan, was straightforward and frank in his rejection of her, making no attempt to hide it.
Jiang Ling knew that, from the perspective of workplace survival, the best option for her at this moment was to back down.
The leader has already spoken, and she's still stubbornly arguing. Isn't she just asking for trouble?
But Jiang Ling cannot back down.
Her retreat meant returning to her past life's trajectory, and the case once again became an unsolved mystery.
Every minute the perpetrator takes a detour, the longer the murderer can roam free.
Just as Jiang Ling was about to speak, Luo Yunchen suddenly stood up.
His voice was loud and clear, with a unique Beijing accent.
"Captain Qin, you were the one who said we should all speak. Since this is the first meeting of the task force, let's speak freely and say whatever comes to mind, don't you think?"
I don't think she was just guessing. The watch's hands stopped precisely at 12 o'clock; it couldn't have been a coincidence that the murderer broke it at that exact moment. Not a minute more, not a minute less—what a coincidence!
The rain was so heavy, yet he didn't flee the scene immediately after killing someone. Instead, he crouched down and carefully adjusted the hands of his watch. Isn't that unusual behavior? Clues to solving cases often lie hidden in these unusual details.
Luo Yunchen's support gradually calmed Jiang Ling's rapidly beating heart.
At this moment, having someone by her side to tough it out is somewhat like having a senior brother.
Jiang Ling clenched her fists, her voice trembling slightly with excitement, but her eyes shone even brighter: "Captain Qin, this is not just empty talk, but a psychological analysis based on the details of the scene, the core idea of the three-point investigation method."
Jiang Ling looked around, her gaze sweeping across every face: "Everyone here has attended my lectures and should know that the Three-Fixed Investigation Method has a strong theoretical guiding role in solving cases."
Lei Xiao finally got a chance to speak and nodded, saying, "Yes, Xiao Jiang's three-point investigation method is not just theoretical. She even helped us solve the rope murder case last time. Captain Qin, please give the young woman a chance and let her analyze it."
The others, having received Lei Xiao's signal, also bowed and spoke.
"Captain Qin, don't be hasty, listen to what I have to say."
"Although Jiang Ling is young, her three-point investigation method makes a lot of sense."
"Let her speak first, and then you can point out anything that's wrong, Captain Qin."
Qin Tieshan suddenly felt old.
He has worked in the public security system his entire life, starting as a police officer in a rural police station and working his way up step by step. He owes his success to his solid work style, his tireless visits to the police station, and his rich experience in criminal investigation.
In the past, when he held meetings, who dared to speak up once he started talking?
Once he makes a decision, the response is overwhelmingly positive.
--yes!
--yes!
—I guarantee the mission will be completed!
But today, at the meeting for his last case before stepping down, a newly hired young man dared to stand up and speak frankly, questioning his decision. Even his previously obedient subordinates were speaking up for Jiang Ling.
For some reason, Qin Tieshan felt somewhat tired.
He lit another cigarette without saying a word.
Lei Xiao actually really wanted to hear Jiang Ling's opinion.
Seeing that Qin Tieshan didn't speak, Lei Xiao winked at Jiang Ling: "Little Jiang, you can continue."
Jiang Ling nodded and continued her analysis.
"First, determine the nature of the crime. This murder was not a crime of passion, but a premeditated murder triggered by a specific target. Second, determine the direction of the investigation. The murderer has a special attachment to medical environments or nurses' uniforms, which may stem from past psychological trauma. He is meticulous, has a strong sense of counter-investigation, and observes the progress of the case after committing the crime. These two points can help determine the direction of the investigation. Third, define the scope."
Having said all that in one breath, Jiang Ling didn't guide others to think as she usually did, but instead directly stated her analytical conclusions.
"The perpetrator is male, aged 25-40, with an ordinary or even honest appearance, a legitimate job, and most likely works in a medical-related auxiliary field. He is a local or has lived in Yan City for a long time, is familiar with the surrounding environment, and has a means of transportation, namely a bicycle."
Why do we say someone is plain-looking or honest and unassuming?
In his previous life, the Yan City police used a massive manpower tactic to investigate cases, conducting a thorough search of the surrounding residents, but they still couldn't find the culprit. This suggests that the murderer was adept at disguise, appearing ordinary and honest; anyone who met him would have said, "He's a good person."
Why is it said that he works in a medical-related auxiliary job?
In the previous life's serial murder case, all three victims were wearing nurses' uniforms when they were killed, and all died on rainy nights after their night shifts. This suggests that the killer was familiar with their work hours and environment. However, investigations into the victims' social relationships revealed nothing unusual, indicating that the killer was neither a relative, friend, nor colleague of the victims. After ruling out other possibilities, only one conclusion remains: the killer worked in a medical-related auxiliary field, enabling them to come into contact with nurses, but without developing a close relationship.
Why do we say he is a local or a long-term resident?
Because he continued to commit crimes without being discovered, he was very well hidden. In addition, he was familiar with the environment, so he should be a resident of the neighborhood.
As for the determination of male sex and age, that was based on the method of murder, the force used, and the existing evidence.
The conference room once again became Jiang Ling's domain.
Jiang Ling got out of her seat, walked to the whiteboard covered with photos, and pointed to the photo of the murderer's fingernails with embedded dark blue fibers.
"This fiber points to his profession or his usual clothing. My analysis points to his psychological profile and possible next behavioral patterns, which can greatly narrow down the scope of the investigation and avoid searching for a needle in a haystack. I am not denying the effectiveness of the human wave tactic, but if we only investigate the transient population in the eastern bungalow area based on random motives, we are very likely to miss the real murderer."
"The clue of the dark blue overalls is very useful, but the murderer has excellent psychological qualities. Even if he is included in our investigation list, he may be overlooked because he looks too ordinary and too honest."
Jiang Ling took a deep breath, turned to look at Qin Tieshan, and looked at him earnestly.
“Captain Qin, I have a strong feeling that this will not be the last victim. If we cannot catch him as soon as possible and find out his real motive, there will be another young woman wearing a similar uniform who will be murdered on a rainy night, and the watch on her wrist will also be stopped at 12 o’clock.”
It's that watch with the cracked dial again!
There will be another victim!
Qin Tieshan, who was already suppressing his anger, narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Jiang Ling, who was standing in front of the whiteboard.
"Scare tactics!" Qin Tieshan's anger erupted. "Intuition? Serial crimes? Do you think this is a TV drama? Solving cases is about evidence and solid work, not about a young girl's intuition and some psychological profiling!"
Qin Tieshan turned his gaze to Lei Xiao: "Lei Xiao, just as I said, thoroughly search the eastern bungalow area, those factories with people wearing blue overalls, dig three feet into the ground! Don't miss a single person wearing those clothes. Disperse..."
"Captain Qin! Please wait a moment."
Jiang Ling's clear voice rang out again.
Her gaze sharpened as she met Qin Dashan's angry stare. "I disagree with the current direction of the investigation. It's not only a waste of time, but it could also cause us to miss the golden opportunity to catch the real culprit and prevent the next crime."
The meeting room fell into a deathly silence.
All eyes were on this excessively young policewoman who dared to challenge authority repeatedly.
This time, even Luo Yunchen, who is usually outspoken, held his breath.
Qin Dashan's face was ashen, his eyes like knives: "Jiang Ling! The direction of the investigation is not up to you."
"Captain Qin, please listen to my opinion before making a decision, okay?" Jiang Ling stood in front of the whiteboard, pressing her finger firmly on the key photos.
"The murderer did not commit the crime randomly; his purpose was very clear. On a rainy night, when there were few pedestrians, Ke Xiaoyu was not the only lone woman the murderer encountered. There was an eyewitness, the female factory worker who was coming off her night shift, who brushed past the murderer, but the murderer did not make a move."
Why did the killer choose Ke Xiaoyu? Because she was wearing her intern nurse uniform. That uniform was the trigger for the murder. This wasn't a random act; it was a targeted killing.
Qin Tieshan remained silent.
He had to admit that Jiang Ling's analysis made some sense.
The female worker who was coming off the night shift had physical contact with the murderer, but the murderer did not lay a hand on her. Why? Could it be that the murderer was not committing crimes while on the move, nor was it a crime of passion, but rather a premeditated murder?
Jiang Ling's hand stopped again on the close-up of the watch: "After committing the crime, the murderer did not immediately flee the scene, but deliberately set the hands of the watch on the victim's wrist to the 12 o'clock position. This action requires time, concentration, and may even require wiping the watch face in the rain. What does this mean? It means that the murderer valued the 12 o'clock time. He not only killed someone, but also ceremonially adjusted the time on his watch."
He repeatedly questioned why the watch hands pointed to 12 o'clock, which finally attracted everyone's attention.
The people below began to whisper among themselves.
"In a crime of passion, it's impossible to be distracted and set the clock afterward."
“Actually, I had some doubts at first, but since 12 o’clock coincided with the time of death stated by the forensic doctor, I didn’t pay much attention to it and thought it might be a coincidence.”
"Yes, I also thought that when the murderer knocked the victim unconscious with a rock, he accidentally smashed the clock face, so the time was frozen at that moment. But now it seems that we can't rule out the possibility that the clock was set after the murder."
Jiang Ling's gaze swept across the room, her voice rising with a maturity and certainty beyond her years: "The first step of the three-pronged investigation method is to determine the nature of the crime. Based on the above two points, I believe that the motive for the murder was not a crime of passion, but a premeditated act of revenge."
Qin Tieshan is an experienced veteran criminal police officer. His initial anger at having his authority challenged gradually dissipated as Jiang Ling provided reasoned and evidence-based analysis.
He felt somewhat annoyed, realizing he shouldn't have dismissed Jiang Ling's words entirely out of prejudice from the start.
"I'm caught in a dilemma," Qin Tieshan snorted coldly.
Lei Xiao was a soldier personally trained by Qin Tieshan, so he naturally understood his personality. He said to Jiang Ling, "You just said that our reconnaissance direction is problematic. So tell me, how should we adjust it?"
"Once the nature of the crime was determined, the direction of the investigation became very clear."
Jiang Ling also felt that the pressure Qin Tieshan was putting on her had lessened considerably, and her heart gradually calmed down.
"The reason the murderer chose Ke Xiaoyu as the target of revenge could be due to a new grudge or an old one. If it is a new grudge, then we should do as Captain Qin said at the beginning and investigate whether Ke Xiaoyu had any enemies during her internship at the clinic and her university studies."
Lei Xiao immediately replied: "According to the preliminary investigation, Ke Xiaoyu has a gentle personality, no boyfriend, simple social relationships, good interpersonal relationships, and no enemies."
Jiang Ling nodded: "Then it could be an old grudge." In fact, in the other two nurse murder cases, the killer wasn't targeting any one person, but rather a group of people. In other words, the killer hated nurses.
"Why did the murderer have such a strong, morbid hatred for nurses, to the point of wanting to kill them? The root cause may be related to serious medical accidents or traumatic events that happened to nurses in the past."
Qin Tieshan remained silent, and his tacit approval immediately enlivened the atmosphere in the room.
Someone chimed in: "Is it possible that the perpetrator experienced a medical accident, such as a nurse giving him the wrong injection or administering the wrong medication, which caused his injury?"
Wasn't Ying Yuhua deaf because she received the wrong injection at a rural clinic when she was a child? This line of speculation is indeed possible.
Lei Xiao immediately signaled his subordinates to write it down: "Then we can conduct an in-depth investigation into the serious medical disputes, accidents, and complaints that have occurred in Ke Xiaoyu's clinic and medical school over the past ten or even twenty years, especially those involving nurses' responsibilities. At the same time, we should investigate all staff members related to the medical system, whether they are permanent employees, temporary employees, nursing assistants, maintenance workers, logistics staff, or patients who frequently visit the clinic. We should focus on screening those whose family members or themselves have suffered medical accidents."
Another possibility has been raised: "Is it possible that the murderer was abused by nurses when he was a child? For example, did he have a vicious stepmother who was a nurse, or was he adopted by a family where someone was a nurse?"
That's a possibility, Lei Xiao nodded affirmatively: "Then remember to ask during the investigation if there are any families like that among the nearby residents."
Jiang Ling walked back to her seat, but did not sit down.
"The fact that the killer calmly smashed the clock face and adjusted the hands after committing the murder indicates that his method of committing the crime had a strong sense of ritual. From a criminal psychology perspective, such killers are usually psychologically twisted and need to be seen."
Lei Xiao didn't quite understand: "What do you mean by being seen?"
Jiang Ling placed his hands on the conference table, his back straight, like a pine tree that could not be blown by the wind or feared by the rain: "There is an idiom, 'returning home in glory,' which I believe everyone knows. When you've made money, become an official, and are at the peak of your life, the thing you want to do most is to go back to your hometown. What do you want to do when you go back to your hometown?"
Someone muttered, "He's just showing off."
Jiang Ling immediately fixed her gaze on the person who spoke: "That's right! That's the mentality of wanting to be seen."
Sitting next to Jiang Ling, Li Zhenliang's eyes were shining, and he was so excited that he didn't know what to say.
He clearly remembered that when he was in the anti-trafficking team, Jiang Ling constantly guided Yuan Yi and his team in this way, using the mentality of "returning home in glory" to lead everyone to create psychological profiles. Finally, they pointed out that the main culprit's name contained the character "鹞" (hawk), thus providing the most crucial clue for solving the case.
Now, Jiang Ling has once again taken control of the event!
Li Zhenliang excitedly exchanged a glance with Liu Haoran and Zhou Wei, signaling them to watch their boss's performance closely.
Lei Xiao understood, rubbing his hands together as he asked, "So, what do you mean?"
Jiang Ling said, "The murderer needs to be seen. He wants to know the reactions of the police and the public after he committed the murder. As I just said, he will pay close attention to case information, such as buying all relevant newspapers, listening to radio news, and paying attention to the discussions on the streets. He is very likely to quietly return to the vicinity of the scene after the crime, perhaps just to take a look from afar, or perhaps to blend into the crowd, in order to satisfy his desire to be seen."
Lei Xiao slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide with shock: "You little bastard, you've got some nerve! You killed someone and not only didn't run away or hide, you even dared to show your face to see how the police reacted?"
The police officers below also felt their dignity was challenged, and they were immediately outraged.
"Damn it! This guy is a pervert."
"We must pull him out of the crowd, otherwise, our police will lose face."
"Team Leader Lei, give the order now! If I don't find him, I'll be a ghost!"
Jiang Ling found the atmosphere pleasant. Her gaze swept across everyone's faces as she spoke slowly: "I suggest setting up concealed observation points at the crime scene, near the Kang Le Clinic, and at the main entrance to the nursing department of the medical school. Arrange experienced plainclothes officers, equipped with binoculars and cameras, to conduct long-term, high-density fixed-point observation and identification. Look for individuals who match the psychological profile and exhibit abnormal behavior. For example, those who repeatedly appear, linger and observe for extended periods, or show unusual interest or even secret excitement towards police activities or nurses' uniforms."
After saying that, Jiang Ling looked at Lei Xiao: "Captain Lei, this is the direction of the investigation I proposed."
Lei Xiao asked with interest, "What about that watch with the 12 o'clock hand? Didn't you say it was for a sense of ritual? Shouldn't we consider that when adjusting the direction of the reconnaissance?"
Jiang Ling shook her head: "This time point has special significance for the murderer personally, but during the investigation process, it's difficult to get to this level of detail in the questions asked, such as the time of the medical accident or the time of a major family change. We don't need to worry about it for now. However, it can be used as a key to break down the suspect's psychological defenses after the suspect is identified."
Lei Xiao turned his gaze to Qin Tieshan, who had been silently smoking, and asked, "Captain Qin, what do you think? Should we adjust the direction of our investigation as Jiang Ling suggested?"
Qin Tieshan stubbed out his cigarette, glared at Jiang Ling, then looked at Lei Xiao, and then glanced at the other colleagues in the conference room who were either surprised, thoughtful, or worried.
The cicadas outside the window suddenly stopped chirping.
Time seemed to stand still.
Qin Tieshan's expression shifted, and finally, he gave a heavy snort. He didn't suggest adjusting the reconnaissance direction, nor did he directly deny Jiang Ling's analysis. Instead, he addressed everyone, especially Lei Xiao, and said in a deep voice:
"We can consider revenge as a motive for the murder, but we cannot rule out crime of passion. The direction of the investigation remains the same: investigate the social networks of the bungalows, factories, clinics, and schools in the eastern area to the death! The technical team will compare the clothing fibers 24 hours a day."
He paused for a moment, then said with great reluctance, "Lei Xiao, arrange for a few quick-witted strangers, in plainclothes, to patrol the alleyway and the area around the clinic, and see if there are any suspicious familiar faces loitering around. Remember, it's just a side trip, don't let it interfere with our business."
Qin Tieshan thought for a moment and then added, "As for the medical malpractice cases, the direction of the investigation is correct, so let's investigate along those lines."
After saying that, he stopped looking at anyone, grabbed the cigarette pack and lighter from the table, and strode out of the conference room, leaving behind a stagnant atmosphere and a faint smell of gunpowder.
Jiang Ling stood there, her face slightly pale, but her back ramrod straight.
She knew this was just the beginning.
When she first arrived, her voice may have been weak, but given time, she will surely gain her own voice.
With the rapid development of the times, the field of criminal investigation needs new ideas, new theories, and new technologies.
Examples include DNA testing, criminal databases, facial recognition cameras, Operation Skynet, and big data tracking...
Criminal methods are evolving, and we must also evolve!
Jiang Ling respected Qin Tieshan, but respect did not mean blind obedience.
Everything is for solving the case, everything is for catching the murderer.
Even if it means toughing it out, we must withstand the pressure and move forward!
Jiang Ling stared at the photo of a watch stopped at 12 o'clock on the whiteboard, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
Lei Xiao rubbed his temples, his gaze towards Jiang Ling complex, containing scrutiny, appreciation, and a hint of barely perceptible worry: "Jiang Ling, just do as Captain Qin says."
"Squeak... squeak..."
The cicadas continued to sing.
Jiang Ling's voice was very soft, but incredibly clear.
"Okay, let's do it Qin's way. Please make sure to send someone to observe carefully. The murderer is hiding in the crowd. He will definitely reappear at the scene. He will pretend to be a curious onlooker, participate in the crowd's discussion, and observe the police's reaction."
Inside the meeting room, only the buzzing of the ceiling fan, the chirping of cicadas outside the window, and the silent smoke left by the clash between the old and new criminal investigation philosophies remained.
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