Chapter 786: A Narrow Escape
Zhang Shaowu has already killed Zhao Dong, Li Junhao, Zheng Bin, and Zhao Kai.
This indicates that Zhang Shaowu had connections with these four people in that subcontracting project from 10 years ago.
However, Gao Xiang’s investigations also show that some details of the subcontracting deal were unclear, and the information was incomplete, so it’s uncertain if there were only these five people involved at the time.
Li Donglin suspects that Zhang Shaowu likely seized the opportunity to commit the crime immediately after Song Mingguang left the scene.
It’s highly unlikely that only these five people were deceived in that incident years ago.
Now it’s a race against time.
If Li Donglin and his team can find the associates from back then before Zhang Shaowu strikes again.
They might be able to take measures to prevent further killings.
Therefore, the team splits into two groups.
"Gao Xiang, you are familiar with the situation in Binzhou City, trace the path Zhang Shaowu took when he left this afternoon and pursue him with all your might."
"Use whatever resources you can muster, and make sure to find him before he strikes again."
"Yes!"
"Lu Chuan, you are knowledgeable about tire track identification, assist Gao Xiang in his work."
"Yes, Director Li."
Lu Chuan is skilled in tire track identification, and Zhang Shaowu escaped on his motorcycle.
Keep an eye on the road to see if any traces can be found.
This will certainly aid in the pursuit.
Of course, it’s easier in the village since there are both paved and unpaved roads, making tracking relatively simpler.
However, if he rides the motorcycle from the fisherman’s village onto the mainland, it becomes much more challenging to track.
But regardless of the difficulty, the pursuit cannot be abandoned.
Just as Li Donglin assessed, given that he left on a motorcycle in the afternoon, he likely hasn’t gone far.
Moreover, he is likely heading straight for Binzhou City after leaving the village.
Therefore, Gao Xiang begins allocating police force with targeted precision.
"I’ve already contacted the traffic police squad, and they will gather all the city’s traffic police to track down Zhang Shaowu’s motorcycle."
On the other end, Li Donglin personally leads a team to interview and investigate those involved in the construction project years ago.
In Fifth Mr. Wang’s Village, only three to five people were involved in the construction with Zhang Shaowu.
"Back then, the building was doing well, but we were all deceived, and despite having advanced money in the morning, ended up deeply indebted by the end."
"Do you know with whom Zhang Shaowu cooperated on the contract?"
"I’m not sure about that, but I heard from Zhang Shaowu while drinking that they had a total of six people."
Six!
Indeed, there is another person still alive!
However, nobody in the village knows who these six people were.
"We need to think of alternative methods."
"Can we check their bank records from back then?"
"Since they pooled money, they must have contributed financially."
"We might uncover some clues!"
Wang Song came up with a solution.
This idea is good!
However, the events from ten years ago are quite distant.
The bank accounts they opened back then might already be canceled, making it difficult to trace any financial connections between the four people through bank transactions initially.
But this can be solved.
Li Donglin then called the Economic Investigation Department of the Provincial Bureau.
Requesting assistance in investigating.
The Economic Investigation Department of the Provincial Bureau has the capability to track financial records, even if they date back ten, thirty, or fifty years.
But all this takes time.
And time is what Li Donglin and his team lack the most.
Meanwhile.
At the side gate of the City Garden District in Binzhou.
A blue, old motorcycle lay in the bushes nearby.
If anyone from Fifth Mr. Wang’s Village were present, they would recognize it as Zhang Shaowu’s motorcycle.
At this moment, Zhang Shaowu is inside a hotpot restaurant at the entrance of the district.
When he was young, his biggest dream was to earn more money to eat hotpot.
Unfortunately, during his ten years in prison, he never got to taste hotpot.
He ordered a few plates of lamb and his favorite vegetables, enjoying the meal thoroughly.
Perhaps this will be the last hotpot of his life.
Zhang Shaowu savored it meticulously.
At another table, a family with several members was also enjoying hotpot.
In stark contrast to Zhang Shaowu dining alone.
"Uncle, have some candy."
A chubby little boy suddenly came over from the crowded table and handed Zhang Shaowu a piece of candy.
"Why are you eating hotpot alone?"
Zhang Shaowu hesitated for a moment but took the candy from the boy.
"Uncle is alone at home, so I’m eating hotpot by myself."
The little boy, merely curious, left after hearing this and walked away with his head tilted.
Zhang Shaowu looked at the boy, then at the group at the table with their drinks and the man sitting at the head.
So many years have passed... don’t recognize me anymore?
One kilometer from Zhang Shaowu, at an intersection.
Lu Chuan and Gao Xiang and their team arrived, weary from the pursuit.
"Just an hour ago, the motorcycle you spoke of appeared at this intersection!"
The traffic police officer pointed at the surveillance camera at the intersection.
The string of four murders has caused quite a stir in Binzhou City.
Now the suspect has finally been identified, and it’s likely he might kill again.
Gao Xiang called his superiors while chasing Zhang Shaowu.
The entire Binzhou City Public Security Bureau deployed its police force to capture Zhang Shaowu.
The traffic police were the first to make significant progress.
In recent years, Binzhou City has tightened its control over motorcycles.
Every motorcycle must be registered and tagged to be on the road.
Although Zhang Shaowu’s motorcycle is old, it still had a registration plate.
The traffic police squad positioned themselves at intersections, using surveillance to find Zhang Shaowu’s motorcycle.
Efforts paid off, and finally, there was a lead on Zhang Shaowu’s motorcycle.
However, the search was limited to this intersection for now.
"There are a dozen large residential districts around here; how do we search?"
"We have to search, nevertheless."
Gao Xiang glanced around and said, "Summon all available police, go undercover, and search the area!"
"Ensure Zhang Shaowu is found before he takes action!"
"Yes!"
As this search began, the Economic Investigation Department of the Provincial Bureau found a lead.
Ten years ago, Zhao Kai, Zheng Bin, Li Junhao, Zhao Dong, and Zhang Shaowu all remitted money to a person named Sun Tao.
Back then, bank transfers weren’t very common, so they used remittance forms for the transactions.
And the amount was significant, totaling over thirty million!
Sun Tao!
The sixth person is Sun Tao!
And he is likely Zhang Shaowu’s next target.
"Quick, investigate where this person lives!"