DipNovel Chapter 2: The Murder Case
Chapter 2: The Murder Case
Jiang Chen felt a lot of pressure as he met her gaze.
The policewoman was beautiful, but her eyes were like knives.
But he had completely calmed down. He hadn't done it, and without solid evidence, he couldn't be convicted based on just one novel.
"You can tell how to use the binding technique without committing a crime," Jiang Chen said calmly. "Before I wrote my crime novel, I read through a lot of domestic and foreign criminal investigation files and crime records. This technique is just an old trick. You can find plenty of information about it online. I just used it as a reference when writing my novel."
Su Wan's brows furrowed more and more, her doubts began to waver, but she was still unwilling to give up.
"Okay, even if the method involved researching, let me ask you another question: the death number code at the crime scene, known only to the murderer, is exactly the same as the foreshadowing code in your novel, which was updated half a month in advance. You dare call this a coincidence? Or something you made up based on deduction?"
Jiang Chen remained completely calm.
"That's easier to explain. I've checked all the architectural plans for the old factories in the city from the early years. Factories built in the last century all used reinforced concrete sandwich structures, which naturally become blocked and dead ends as they age. The landslides that cut off the way back and the load-bearing stones blocking the door that I wrote about in my novel are common building hazards in old factories, nothing unusual."
Su Wan stared at him: "What about the special markings used in rare murder cases at the scene?"
Jiang Chen said calmly, "I went through the old cold case files from the past few decades, and many long-standing cases had the same markings. I didn't make them up; they were all recorded in real files. I only used them as material for my novel. Who knew that someone in real life would actually replicate the crime?"
Jiang Chen's answer was logical and well-founded, without a single flaw.
Su Wan was speechless for a moment.
Is it really just a coincidence?
Seeing her silence, Jiang Chen added another sentence.
"Officer Su, there's one more crucial point. If I were really a serial killer, why wouldn't I touch all those valuables and precious items at the scene? What's the point of all that trouble I go through to commit murder and not take a single penny? Wouldn't it be more reassuring to earn money peacefully by writing novels than to commit crimes?"
Su Wan was stunned for a moment.
That makes perfect sense. Every murderer has a motive, whether it's for money or revenge. Who kills someone just for the sake of it and nothing?
She left Jiang Chen alone in the interrogation room and went out.
Outside the interrogation room, the bureau chief and several leaders were watching from behind a one-way glass window.
This case has gone viral online and has had a huge impact; it cannot be closed casually.
Su Wan walked over and said helplessly, "Director Zhang, you saw it yourself. He answered all the questions correctly, and his logic is flawless. With the evidence we have right now, we can't convict him, nor can we approve his arrest."
Director Zhang stroked his chin and pondered for a while.
"Xiao Chen, have you ever considered that this was all a pre-prepared story? He prepared an escape route for himself before writing the novel, and he had already thought about how to deal with the interrogation."
Su Wan nodded: "I also had my suspicions, but there's one thing that doesn't make sense. If he really was the murderer, why didn't he touch any of the valuables at the scene? That doesn't make any sense in a crime."
Director Zhang took a drag of his cigarette: "Some people are psychologically disturbed. They don't care about money, they just want excitement. There are such people."
If Jiang Chen heard this, he would probably be furious.
The thing he lacked most in both his lives was money; he had no interest in engaging in any thrilling crimes.
The temporary base of the special task force investigating the serial murders was located at the foot of a desolate mountain on the outskirts of the city.
It had been raining heavily for several days in a row, and the mountain roads were all muddy, making it impossible to go into the mountains to investigate the second scene.
Inside the tent, everyone sat together for a meeting.
The head of the task force this time was a veteran criminal investigator, and he didn't look too good.
"We've already dragged this out for so long, we can't afford to wait any longer. We must come up with a feasible plan to get into the mountains today, or the higher-ups will cancel the project and merge it into a single case."
The people below looked at each other, but no one said a word.
A middle-aged detective stood up and said, "Captain Zhou, the rain is too heavy. The soil on the mountain is loose, and forcing our way up could easily cause a landslide. No one can afford to take responsibility if something goes wrong. The weather station said the rain won't stop for at least another week."
Others echoed this sentiment.
Zhou Guoping sighed: "I know it's dangerous, but all the clues are in the mountains. If we drag this out any longer, all the traces of the murderer will be washed away, and the case will never be solved."
As they were talking, Zhou Guoping noticed a young policewoman in the group looking down at her phone, not listening at all.
He became an instant sensation.
"Lin Xiaoyu! We're in a meeting, and you're playing on your phone! Do you think your phone can solve a case if it can't?"
Everyone turned to look.
Lin Xiaoyu was startled, and her face turned red instantly.
"Captain Zhou, I'm sorry."
Zhou Guoping's anger subsided a bit: "It wasn't directed at you. But the case is at a critical juncture now, and everyone needs to be involved."
"Xiao Lin, who exactly is this Jiang Chen? How can you be so sure he can help our task force solve the case?"
Zhou Guoping looked at Lin Xiaoyu with a very serious expression.
Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up immediately when Jiang Chen was mentioned.
She has always been outgoing and cheerful, and when she talks about the novel authors she has been following, she speaks with particular confidence.
"Captain Zhou, Jiang Chen is currently the most popular crime novelist online. The cases he writes are incredibly realistic, with every detail exactly matching real-life cases. Reading his novels is like witnessing a crime scene firsthand."
"Many readers online say that what he wrote is not a novel at all, but his own real experience of committing crimes."
Several young police officers nearby nodded in agreement; they were all fans of Jiang Chen's books.
"Yes, his book describes in more detail how to investigate clues and find traces than our team's case files."
"I've been to many murder scenes with him, and the methods he described are terrifying to read; they're so realistic."
Zhou Guoping was a little confused: "Personal experience? Those bizarre murder plots in novels actually happen in real life?"
Lin Xiaoyu quickly explained, "Those scary scenes are just written to attract readers. The core crime plan, the killer's thoughts, the location of the body, and the escape route are all based on reality."
Upon hearing this, Wang Lei, the criminal police officer in charge, immediately frowned and retorted.
"Stop talking nonsense, you're just spouting useless information."
"Old Zhou, don't listen to these young people's nonsense. Writing novels is just about making up stories to make money. There's no such thing as realistic crime-solving."
"I've worked in criminal investigation for thirty years and solved dozens of murder cases, big and small. I've never seen anything as outrageous as those in novels."
Zhou Guoping didn't say anything, letting the two of them argue.
Lin Xiaoyu, unconvinced, continued, "Captain Wang, just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The case is completely stuck now; conventional methods aren't working. We have to try other methods, right?"
"Besides, if he had made it all up, would the police have come knocking on his door and arrested him so early in the morning?"
"The setup of the murder scene in the suburbs, the killer's habits, and the secret passage where the body was hidden were all exactly the same as described in his novel. That's why he was arrested."