Diary of a Criminal Investigator

The next day, early morning.

Captain Wang Gang of the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team arrived early at the entrance of the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team.

The Tianshan District is located in the northeast of Haizhou City and is the old city district.

The entire historical development of Haizhou City started from the Tianshan District, even though the area isn’t large, due to historical reasons, many party and government offices of Haizhou City are concentrated in the Tianyuan District, where the population is dense, the buildings are relatively old, and supporting facilities are quite outdated.

Therefore, compared to other districts, it is relatively difficult to manage.

The Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team also happens to be the sub-division with the highest crime rate.

Although there are no major cases, petty theft continues unabated.

However, most cases are minor, so the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team manages without too much difficulty.

But recently, a case occurred that left Wang Gang scratching his head.

Last week, when the government upgraded a small park, they unearthed a skeleton underground.

A week has passed and the Tianshan District still doesn’t have a clue about the case; the identity of the skeleton remains vacant.

One could say the situation is quite hopeless.

In a desperate move, the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team submitted a report to the sub-division, hoping the Haizhou City Criminal Investigation Team would take over the case.

Within less than half a day of submitting the report, the city bureau responded, assigning the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team to lead the investigation while the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team would assist.

This thrilled Wang Gang immensely.

Everyone now knows that Captain of the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team is Lu Chuan.

And Lu Chuan has a reputation as a case-solving detective in the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau.

Despite only being on the force for three years, he’s solved more major cases than many veteran detectives have in their entire careers.

Simultaneously, Lu Chuan is also a key member of the provincial serious crime team.

He has two first-class merits to his name.

To date, no unsolved cases have emerged from those handled by Lu Chuan—a 100% case-solving rate.

Now with Lu Chuan heading this case and Wang Gang assisting, it’s simply perfect.

So, early this morning, instead of going to his own Criminal Investigation Team, Wang Gang headed straight to the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team’s entrance.

"Captain Wang, you might as well wait inside; work hasn’t started yet. When Captain Lu arrives, we’ll let him know,"

said Sun Biao, the team leader of the Third Middle School who was on duty last night and knew Wang Gang.

"I won’t go inside; I’ll wait here. There’s a major issue I need to discuss with Captain Lu today."

"I need to see him as soon as possible to report; yesterday Director Song arranged for Captain Lu to lead our case, and we are here to assist."

"Which case is it?"

Everyone knows there’s a case at the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team, and Sun Biao has heard about it.

He just didn’t expect that after a week with no progress, the case would be handed over to the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team.

"What else could it be? There’s no clue at all to find the identity of the skeleton yet."

"Captain Lu is here!"

While speaking, Sun Biao saw Lu Chuan’s car approaching.

Wang Gang rushed forward.

After getting out of the car, Lu Chuan naturally recognized Wang Gang.

"Captain Wang, what brings you here?"

"Hello Captain Lu, I had to come, this case... we can’t solve it."

"Captain Wang, don’t stand outside; let’s go to the office and discuss in detail."

"Sure, sure, let’s go."

Lately, this case has been driving Wang Gang crazy.

Now that the higher-ups have assigned Lu Chuan to take over the case, the pressure on him has considerably lessened.

In the office, Lu Chuan poured tea for Wang Gang.

"Captain Wang, can we talk about the case?"

"Sure, let’s talk."

Wang Gang stood up and took the teacup: "The case happened about a week ago..."

Next, Wang Gang carefully explained the ins and outs of the case.

Since the beginning of this year, a project to improve small parks has started in the Tianshan District.

"A week ago, during the management of the small park at Qianjin Street, the construction team unearthed a set of skeletal remains while leveling a slope."

Wang Gang gestured: "It’s very strange; the skeleton was sealed in a large vacuum bag."

"A vacuum bag?" Lu Chuan asked, somewhat puzzled.

Having seen so many cases, this was the first of its kind.

"Yes, a vacuum bag. When we arrived at the scene, the vacuum bag was intact; although excavated by chance, the vacuum bag hadn’t degraded."

"I had someone check, and they said it was a specially made vacuum bag that wouldn’t degrade even buried underground for fifty years."

Although Wang Gang has found several clues over the past week, none of them can determine.

Pointing to the perpetrator and confirming the deceased’s identity.

"Of course, strictly speaking, it’s not just skeletal remains; a dried body would be more accurate."

Wang Gang gestured with his hands: "The toughest part is confirming the identity of the body, with no leads at all."

"Isn’t it in the missing persons list?"

Lu Chuan poured another cup of water for Wang Gang and asked.

Wang Gang shook his head, his facial expression akin to constipation: "We’ve compared it already; in our city, none of the missing people from the past thirty years match."

"Where’s the body?"

No matter how detailed Wang Gang might be, Lu Chuan still needs to see for himself.

"It’s stored at our team, since it’s a dried body, it’s not at the funeral home."

Unlike the Haizhou City Criminal Investigation Team, local Criminal Investigation Teams don’t have designated cold storage for bodies.

Usually, when a murder occurs in any district, the body is stored at the funeral home after the autopsy.

Wang Gang took a sip of water and continued: "The crime scene is still sealed; the day we excavated the body, the small park’s construction halted and hasn’t resumed, but we’ll have a look later."

Lu Chuan nodded; the groundwork by Wang Gang’s team remains solid.

This case has already been transferred to the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team from the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team, so detailed personnel shouldn’t be mainly from the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team.

Lu Chuan called Sun Biao, Wang Zhaokai to take several forensic detectives along.

The Qianjin Street small park is not large, only about a meter, with some trees on a small mound in the middle, surrounded by seats and greenery.

The body was excavated at the center of the mound.

Currently, the entire park has been cordoned off and draped with police tape.

However, the Tianshan District Criminal Investigation Team hasn’t stationed anyone to guard it; it’s unnecessary as few would come since a body was found.

"Captain Lu, it’s over there!"

Wang Gang pointed to a large pit on the mound and continued: "At the time, we expanded the excavation area just in case there were other bodies."