Chapter 865: Plenty of Evidence
According to the information provided by Zhang Manman, what Zhang Dongfeng has on his hands is far more than just the matter of Chen Meimei.
But even with the case broken to this point, there’s still a key problem that hasn’t been solved.
At the scene where Chen Meimei was killed, and from the clues and information obtained from the body, there is nothing that directly points to Zhang Dongfeng.
All these years, the reason Zhang Manman has been able to live such a wealthy life, apart from some money she accumulated herself, is the payments from Zhang Dongfeng.
But all she knows is that some of the women she introduced to Zhang Dongfeng went missing and couldn’t be reached.
Yet Zhang Manman doesn’t have any substantive evidence either.
Without evidence, even if they know these missing people may have been victimized, there’s still no way to do anything to Zhang Dongfeng.
In the office, Lu Chuan was convening an case analysis meeting.
"I suggest we search Zhang Dongfeng’s residence and all possible locations."
Chen Jiang put forward his own proposal.
He was in charge of interrogating Zhang Manman.
"Based on the clues provided by Zhang Manman, it’s highly likely that Zhang Dongfeng has killed more than just Chen Meimei."
"Everyone, look. This is a preliminary list I’ve compiled according to the information from Zhang Manman."
On the screen, Chen Jiang projected a list and a hand-drawn chart.
"From the information we have so far, Zhang Manman started introducing women to Zhang Dongfeng fourteen years ago."
"Chen Meimei wasn’t the first. She was the second. The first was a hostess named Jiang Juan, who also worked at that KTV back then."
Chen Jiang operated the projector, bringing up a case file he’d found: "This is the missing persons case file on Jiang Juan. She’s from Tianzhou City. The complainant was her husband."
"In addition, there are five other missing persons cases that we can currently confirm are linked to both Zhang Dongfeng and Zhang Manman."
Chen Jiang continued projecting, showing the files for several other missing persons cases.
"But aside from the information provided by Zhang Manman, we currently haven’t found any clues indicating that Zhang Dongfeng committed a crime. That’s why my recommendation is a full-scale search of all locations connected to him."
Chen Jiang gave a detailed briefing on what had been obtained from interrogating Zhang Manman, and, based on the information she provided, went over the clues his squad of detectives currently had in hand.
"Zhaokai, talk about your side of things."
Lu Chuan looked over at Wang Zhaokai, signaling him to speak.
Wang Zhaokai picked up the mouse and opened the folder he’d prepared in advance.
"First, I’ll report on the situation regarding Zhang Dongfeng himself."
Wang Zhaokai stood up and walked to the projector.
"Zhang Dongfeng, male, 52 years old, a local of Haizhou City, divorced and single."
"Divorced?"
Someone asked, "So he hasn’t remarried since?"
Wang Zhaokai nodded: "No. According to the results of our investigation, Zhang Dongfeng got divorced 15 years ago. No children, and he’s been single ever since."
"In his early years, he opened a transport company. He had some assets, with an annual income of around one million."
"We looked into his relationship with Zhang Manman. The two met fourteen years ago, when Zhang Dongfeng encountered her while spending money at a KTV. Zhang Manman was the girl he chose that night."
"The two have had a fairly stable and close financial relationship."
Wang Zhaokai glanced at Chen Jiang: "Before this case analysis meeting, Captain Chen and I already compared notes on the situation."
"At this point, almost all of Zhang Manman’s living expenses are supplied by this Zhang Dongfeng."
"The condition is that, on a regular basis, Zhang Manman introduces women to him."
"As for Zhang Dongfeng himself, we’ve also conducted some in-depth background checks."
During the interrogation of Zhang Dongfeng, Wang Zhaokai hadn’t uncovered many direct leads, but in terms of background investigation, he’d made substantial progress.
"First, Zhang Dongfeng is highly educated. He completed a postgraduate degree thirty years ago."
On the projector, a photo appeared of a young man at his university graduation: "After getting his postgraduate degree, Zhang Dongfeng directly joined a state-owned enterprise."
"It was that same year that he married a workshop director who was 15 years older than him."
"After that, the two lived together for over a decade, up until the time Zhang Dongfeng resigned to go into business."
"Have we located his first wife?"
Wang Zhaokai shook his head: "His wife passed away in the second year after their divorce."
"Passed away?"
Lu Chuan asked, puzzled.
"Yes. Terminal liver cancer."
"After that, Zhang Dongfeng never remarried. Because he did fairly well after going into business, and accumulated a considerable fortune, he’s been a regular patron of KTV clubs and other entertainment venues for years."
"He first met Zhang Manman at a KTV."
"During the interrogation, regarding Chen Meimei and the other missing persons, Zhang Dongfeng has refused to say anything."
Wang Zhaokai’s interrogation of Zhang Dongfeng could be described as completely stalled: "Personally, I believe that Zhang Dongfeng is directly connected to the disappearances and to Chen Meimei’s death. But back then, his major was law."
"He keeps insisting we have no evidence."
Wang Zhaokai’s words plunged the meeting into a brief silence.
According to the information provided by Zhang Manman, after she introduced Chen Meimei to him, the relationship between Chen Meimei and Zhang Dongfeng quickly made a breakthrough.
Moreover, Chen Meimei’s family had even met Zhang Dongfeng.
He lied to them that Chen Meimei was dead and handed them 150,000 yuan.
Logically speaking, there’s a direct link between Zhang Dongfeng and Chen Meimei’s death.
But they were stuck for lack of direct evidence.
Wang Zhaokai continued his report: "And just now, during the interrogation, we’ve already used some methods. But with someone like Zhang Dongfeng, it’s completely useless."
Of course, under Lu Chuan’s orders, while Wang Zhaokai had used certain tactics, it couldn’t be classified as torture or forced confession.
It’s just that nothing gets through to Zhang Dongfeng; any minor tactic is ineffective. He keeps demanding evidence—if there’s evidence, he’ll plead guilty and accept punishment.
With that, Wang Zhaokai’s report came to an end.
Lu Chuan began assigning tasks.
"Have you finished processing the search warrant paperwork on your end?"
Wang Zhaokai replied, "Almost. We’ll have it first thing tomorrow morning."
"We’ve investigated all the properties and locations under Zhang Dongfeng’s name. So far we’ve found a total of eight addresses."
"The interrogation can’t stop," Lu Chuan looked at Chen Jiang. "You take over next."
"You can selectively reveal some of the interrogation results from Zhang Manman to him, to put more pressure on him."
Chen Jiang nodded: "Okay, I’ll handle it."
"The searches will be under Zhaokai’s responsibility."
"If there’s nothing else, we’re adjourned."
Lu Chuan received further updates the following afternoon.
It was a call from Wang Zhaokai.
"Captain Lu, at Zhang Dongfeng’s old house... we’ve made a major discovery!"