Suspect 003

"What new skills are there?" Han Bin asked.

"Combat techniques."

"Micro-expression analysis."

"Anti-pickpocketing."

"Surveillance skills."

...

"There are more hidden skills, but you need to spend merit points to unlock them," the police badge replied.

All of these were skills a detective should possess, and Han Bin wanted to learn every one of them. For the moment, he couldn't decide which to choose. Since he was still in the middle of an investigation, Han Bin had to set this aside, planning to look into it thoroughly once the case was over.

Director Wu Mingyong soon found the suspect's information.

Name: Lin Changsheng

Ethnicity: Han

Age: 42

Height: 174 cm

Features: Sturdy build, slightly hunched back.

Family: Wife and son.

Address: Qindao City, Xiàhé Village.

Based on the footprints, Han Bin believed Lin Changsheng was a suspect. Zeng Ping immediately led a team to Xiàhé Village to apprehend him.

"Tian Li, call Zhao Ming and ask him to go to the station to apply for a search warrant and an arrest warrant, then meet us in Xiàhé Village."

"Understood," Tian Li replied.

Zhao Ming was also a member of Team Two, but he was off duty today.

...

Xiàhé Village wasn't far, only about a twenty-minute drive. They brought along two local officers to assist with the arrest.

Upon entering the village, they went to the village committee to gather information. The village chief, Wang Jinxǐ, personally went to Lin Changsheng's neighborhood to inquire among the villagers, while Zeng Ping and his team set up surveillance near Lin Changsheng's home.

Not long after, the village chief hurried back and said, "Captain Zeng, I've got the details."

"Is Lin Changsheng at home?"

"A neighbor saw him return early this morning. He’s at home right now," the chief replied.

"The timing fits," Han Bin commented.

"But I just took a look—his door is locked," the chief added.

"In the countryside, who keeps their door locked in broad daylight? That’s a guilty conscience if I’ve ever seen one," Li Hui remarked.

"Chief Wang, could we trouble you to help us get the door open?" Zeng Ping requested.

"Of course."

Just then, the sound of an engine approached. A BMW X5 pulled up and stopped beside them.

A man in his early twenties got out—it was Zhao Ming from Team Two of the Third Criminal Investigation Unit.

"Wow, look at you, arriving in a BMW," Li Hui said, his face full of envy.

"I was afraid I wouldn’t make it in time, so I drove my own car," Zhao Ming replied.

"Tsk, no wonder you’re always so extravagant. Turns out you’re from a rich family," Li Hui muttered, patting the hood. "Lucky you."

"Enough with the nonsense," Zeng Ping waved his hand. "Zhao Ming, did you bring the search and arrest warrants?"

"Right here," Zhao Ming confirmed.

"Let's move."

...

There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Wang Jinxǐ."

"Oh, Chief, what brings you here with so many people?" A middle-aged woman opened the door and asked.

"Chen Juan, these are detectives. They have a few questions for your husband," the chief explained.

"Detectives? What do you want with my husband?" Chen Juan looked flustered.

"Here’s the search warrant," Zeng Ping said, showing the document and leading the team inside.

"Hey, what are you doing? Lao Lin, Lao Lin—" The woman called out anxiously.

A slightly hunched man emerged from another room. "Who are you people? What are you doing in my house?"

"We’re police officers. We suspect you're connected to a theft case. Please cooperate with our investigation," Han Bin said.

"Officer, you must be mistaken. My husband isn’t a criminal," Chen Juan cried out.

"You must have the wrong man—you can't just accuse innocent people," Lin Changsheng protested.

"We're investigating to clear your name. Please cooperate," Zeng Ping said with a wave.

Han Bin, Tian Li, Zhao Ming, and Li Hui began searching the premises.

"Lin Changsheng, where were you last night?" Zeng Ping asked.

"At home."

"That’s a lie. A neighbor saw you return home early this morning," Zeng Ping pressed.

"Oh, right, I remember—I went to visit a friend out of town early today but changed my mind and came back," Lin Changsheng said.

"Officer, meeting a friend isn’t a crime, is it?" Chen Juan demanded.

"Where did you go to meet your friend?" Zeng Ping asked.

"In the city."

"The Qindao Brewery?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Lin Changsheng replied.

"Honesty will be rewarded, but resistance will only make things worse. If we find evidence here, it’ll be too late for regrets," Zeng Ping warned.

"My conscience is clear," Lin Changsheng insisted.

A moment later, the detectives returned one by one.

"Captain, there’s nothing in the bathroom or kitchen," Li Hui reported.

"Nothing unusual in the east room either," said Tian Li.

Zhao Ming shook his head. "Nothing in the car."

Zeng Ping frowned. Without evidence, the investigation would be much harder.

Just then, Han Bin emerged from the living room, wearing gloves and holding a pair of shoes. "Whose shoes are these?"

"Mine. What about them?" Lin Changsheng replied.

Han Bin stood up. "Captain Zeng, after comparing them with the prints at the scene, I can confirm these are the suspect’s shoes."

"Lin Changsheng, how do you explain this?" Zeng Ping demanded.

Lin Changsheng looked nervous, then scoffed. "Lots of people wear these army shoes—there must be a hundred pairs just at the factory. Why do you think they’re mine?"

"Exactly. Shoes these days are mass-produced—they all look the same," Chen Juan chimed in.

"They might look the same when they leave the factory, but everyone has a different build, foot shape, walking posture, and habits. After some time, each pair acquires unique wear patterns, just like fingerprints—absolutely unique," Han Bin explained confidently. "The footprints found at the Qindao Brewery match the wear on these shoes exactly. You were definitely there!"

Lin Changsheng now looked truly uneasy, bowing his head in silence.

"My husband used to work at the brewery—of course his footprints would be there," Chen Juan protested.

"Is that so?" Li Hui sneered. "Did your family always climb over the wall instead of using the main entrance?"

"Lao Lin, say something," Chen Juan whispered.

"I'm innocent. I know nothing about this," Lin Changsheng muttered, lowering his head again.

Trying to convict me with just a pair of shoes? Ridiculous!

"Captain, should we take him in for questioning?" Zhao Ming asked eagerly.

"No rush," Zeng Ping shook his head slightly.

Footprint identification is different from DNA analysis. The latter is machine-based and provides precise data as a standard of proof. Footprint identification relies on professional judgment and experience, with no clear standards—the system of features is not yet fully developed.

According to regulations, footprint identification can only be used to guide investigations, not as conclusive evidence.

If they took him in now and Lin Changsheng refused to confess, it still wouldn’t be enough to close the case. Only by finding the stolen goods could they complete the chain of evidence.

"Han Bin, any other findings?" Zeng Ping asked.

"There’s coal dust on Lin Changsheng’s soles," Han Bin replied.

"Coal dust?" Zeng Ping looked around—there was no coal in the house, and to his memory, there was none at the Qindao Brewery either.

Han Bin analyzed, "Since we haven’t found the stolen goods at home or in the car, Lin Changsheng likely hid them elsewhere—somewhere that might have coal."

"Check the car tires for coal dust," Zeng Ping ordered.

Li Hui and Zhao Ming ran to inspect.

"Front tires—nothing."

"Rear tires—nothing either."

"That suggests the hiding place has coal, but not much. If it were somewhere like a coal yard, there would be ash on the tires too," Zeng Ping concluded.

Han Bin searched the yard and said, "Captain Zeng, there are shoeprints here."

Zeng Ping hurried over. "These prints have traces of coal dust."

Following the direction of the prints, Han Bin walked west to the base of the western wall. Across the way was another house.

"Anyone living next door to the west?" Han Bin asked.

"The Zhao family—everyone’s working out of town. The place is empty," the chief replied.

"Bring that ladder over," Han Bin said.

At these words, Lin Changsheng trembled, his legs giving way—he nearly collapsed to the ground...