Diary of a Criminal Investigator

Ten minutes later, Wang Zhaokai met Chen Meimei’s parents.

The two elderly people were almost sixty years old.

They also had two sons living in the village.

Regarding Chen Meimei’s death, according to the elderly couple, their daughter married out that year and died suddenly from an illness.

"Did you see your daughter for the last time?"

Wang Zhaokai had already collected blood samples from the elderly couple, planning to perform a DNA screening when he returned to Haizhou City.

Chen Meimei’s father looked very aged, with years of heavy farm work bowing his spine, his face weather-beaten, appearing to be about seventy years old.

"No, we were not able to see her; she was already cremated when we got there."

However, Chen Meimei’s husband did give the elderly a large sum of money.

"He said Meimei died because he did not take good care of her, and it was compensation for us."

The elderly seemed not very emotional about the events from back then, their voice calm as they spoke.

"Thanks to that money, Meimei’s two brothers could find wives."

The inquiry did not last long, and currently, Wang Zhaokai could not confirm if Chen Meimei was indeed the deceased.

Or perhaps, this Chen Meimei was the Chen Huihui mentioned by Zhang Manman.

Just drawing on years of police experience, he gathered as much information as possible.

After returning to Haizhou City with the blood samples of Chen Meimei’s parents, Wang Zhaokai promptly took them for DNA authentication.

If the match is positive, the identity of the deceased can be confirmed.

If it’s negative...

This lead would also be cut off.

A simple DNA verification did not require Lu Chuan’s input.

Wang Zhaokai handed it over to the technical department; results were expected by the next morning at the latest.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiang was investigating Zhang Manman’s situation.

The deeper the investigation went, the more problems emerged.

"Captain Lu, here are Zhang Manman’s sources of income."

By the afternoon, Chen Jiang had probed Zhang Manman’s financial status further.

Some intriguing findings came to light.

"Years ago, while working at a KTV, Zhang Manman received significant sums in addition to her salary."

More than a decade ago, Zhang Manman had a monthly income of seventy to eighty thousand, but besides that, she received a few particularly large sums.

"Around a hundred thousand each time, twelve times in total, all from a person named Zhang Dongfeng."

Chen Jiang’s investigation, though not conclusive, revealed some unusual aspects about Zhang Manman.

"Is there anything else?"

Chen Jiang shook his head: "Not at the moment. We’re still looking into this Zhang Dongfeng, a Haizhou City resident who runs a transport company."

Knock, knock, knock.

As Chen Jiang was reporting, Wang Zhaokai knocked on Lu Chuan’s office door.

"Captain Lu! It’s confirmed!"

In Wang Zhaokai’s hand was the DNA identification report.

Lu Chuan was a bit surprised.

Unexpectedly, the trip to Liangzhou yielded results.

"The deceased’s real name is Chen Meimei from Three Gaps Village, Liangzhou City, but she wasn’t reported missing at the time."

With this discovery, many issues could now be resolved.

According to Chen Meimei’s father, she died of an illness thirteen years ago.

Her husband even visited the village back then.

Due to Chen Meimei’s death, he gave her parents 150,000 yuan.

However, now it turns out she was not cremated but instead found in a small park on Qianjin Street.

Lu Chuan took the report from Wang Zhaokai: "Has her husband’s situation been investigated?"

However, Wang Zhaokai shook his head: "I checked the system; Chen Meimei was never actually married."

"Not married?"

Lu Chuan flipped through the materials brought by Wang Zhaokai, questioning in confusion.

"Indeed, there was no marriage registration; her family thought she was married, but it should have been her boyfriend."

Wang Zhaokai handed over another document: "According to Chen Meimei’s parents, his name is Zhang Dongfeng."

"Last night, I checked some information about him..."

"Wait!" Chen Jiang suddenly stood up: "What did you say his name was?"

"Zhang Dongfeng, a resident of Haizhou City, currently runs a transport company..."

Wang Zhaokai casually mentioned a few details: "What’s the matter?"

Chen Jiang looked at Lu Chuan: "Captain Lu, this Zhang Dongfeng... has issues."

Of course, there are issues.

Without even mentioning his relationship with Zhang Manman, forging Chen Meimei’s death was problematic.

"Follow procedures, arrest Zhang Dongfeng immediately!"

"Yes!"

Friendship Road.

"Zhang Dongfeng, we are from the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team, and we are here to summon you according to the law. Please sign here."

Wang Zhaokai personally came to make the arrest.

The process went without a hitch, and the person was brought back directly.

In the interrogation room.

"Zhang Dongfeng, do you know Chen Meimei?"

Zhang Dongfeng didn’t appear like a businessman.

Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his skin was pale, and he didn’t look like a man in his fifties, appearing at most in his thirties.

"Chen Meimei..."

Zhang Dongfeng thought for a moment, adjusting his glasses: "Doesn’t ring a bell..."

"Doesn’t ring a bell? You sent her ashes to her parents and now you’re telling me you don’t remember?"

Wang Zhaokai sneered.

This Zhang Dongfeng definitely had issues.

Chen Meimei’s death was undoubtedly connected to him.

And based on Chen Jiang’s findings, Zhang Dongfeng might be linked to more than just one Chen Meimei.

Next door, Zhang Manman was also being questioned.

Currently obtained leads indicated that Chen Meimei, who went by the alias Chen Huihui, was introduced to Zhang Dongfeng by Zhang Manman.

"Oh," Zhang Dongfeng adjusted his glasses again, "I vaguely remember, a former girlfriend..."

"Back then, she wanted to marry me, but then she left with another man."

"We were already discussing marriage at that time, and to spare her parents’ feelings, I could only deceive them by saying she died from an illness."

"Is there a problem with that?"

Problem?

Wang Zhaokai coldly stared at him: "Zhang Dongfeng, don’t you think your lie is a bit illogical?"

"Do you really think we have no evidence at all?"

Zhang Dongfeng leaned back in his chair: "Officer, I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

"I am a law-abiding citizen; you can’t treat me like this."

Outside, Lu Chuan was watching the interrogation of Zhang Dongfeng on the monitor.

"Follow procedures, investigate Zhang Dongfeng’s house and factory."

"And, apply some pressure, proceed with continuous interrogation."

Zhang Dongfeng was problematic.

Not only problematic but also highly suspicious.

Because the interrogation with Zhang Manman had already made a breakthrough.

"I... I was just making introductions for him..."

Zhang Manman appeared flustered: "They... they eventually ended up somewhere... I don’t know... sobbing... It really has nothing to do with me..."

The interrogation with Zhang Manman had immense breakthroughs, based on the information he provided, all these years he has been introducing girlfriends to Zhang Dongfeng.

And all of these girlfriends... eventually disappeared!