Chapter 793: The Woman in the Headscarf
The fingerprint match results came out quickly.
Unfortunately, there was no fingerprint information of the target individual in the database.
"No?"
Zhang Hui originally thought that with Lu Chuan’s fingerprint identification, they could directly identify the murderer and close the case.
But unexpectedly, there were no fingerprints in the system!
"I think we should proceed in two steps. The first is to collect fingerprints from everyone in the hospital and then conduct a match."
We cannot rule out the possibility that the thief is an internal staff member of the hospital.
Because the person knows too much about the birth certificate management process of the health department.
They also have a good understanding of the hospital’s building structure.
Even knowing that all rooms have connected ventilation ducts.
This doesn’t seem like an outside job; it’s more like an inside job.
So, Lu Chuan will collect fingerprints from all employees and patients in the entire hospital.
"The second step is to screen all individuals entering and leaving the hospital around the time of the crime."
"The fingerprints collected from the ventilation ducts appear quite slender, suggesting they might have been left by a female."
"So, my opinion is to focus on the women entering and leaving the hospital."
Although Zhang Hui was somewhat reluctant, there was clearly no better method now.
If no one in the hospital matches the fingerprints from the ventilation pipes, then a broader search will be necessary.
This might not be a matter of one or two days.
That day, Zhang Hui consulted Qin Yong, who also agreed with Lu Chuan’s suggestion.
Conducting fingerprint collection in the hospital is relatively simple.
They will go through department by department, not missing any individuals.
This includes doctors, nurses, cleaners, logistic staff, and everyone who works in the hospital.
In addition, the patients also need to have their fingerprints collected.
Although it’s possible the perpetrator was hospitalized last week and has been discharged by now.
But it’s also possible they haven’t left yet.
Therefore, operating under the principle of leaving no stone unturned, everyone had their fingerprints collected.
Apart from the first action group, the criminal investigation team also sent many people from the second and third action groups to assist.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hui also started to closely examine all surveillance from the day of the incident, especially the two cameras that could capture footage after someone leaves the women’s restroom.
Even though, due to angle limitations, the hallway cameras couldn’t capture the entrance to the restroom.
However, once the suspect left the restroom, they could only leave via the two corridors on the left or right.
The crime was committed after the doctors had left work.
And on the day of the incident, the police had retrieved the hallway surveillance, and there was no one entering or exiting during the night.
This indicates the suspect hid in the women’s restroom before the hospital opened for work, committed the crime, and didn’t leave directly afterward.
Instead, they waited until the next morning, when more staff arrived at the hospital, and took advantage of the commotion to exit the restroom, blend in, and escape monitoring, leaving the hospital.
So, Zhang Hui’s focus was on screening the daytime personnel information from the day of the incident and the following morning.
Actually, this screening task is not difficult, but the volume of work is high.
The principle is also simple; aside from the suspect hiding in the restroom, others entering the corridor should have continuous surveillance beyond these two cameras.
So, simply identifying anyone lacking continuous surveillance footage could help pinpoint the suspect.
Zhang Hui arranged for ten people to mark out individuals from the surveillance and then eliminate them one by one.
The fingerprint collection was completed in less than half a day.
Aside from those on business trips or on vacation, everyone’s fingerprints were entered into the system.
"How’s it going?"
The fingerprint system input is relatively slow and requires a process, but Lu Chuan’s side could compare them quickly.
It’s either a match or not, and the database of several hundred people is scanned through in a blink.
Unfortunately, none of the hospital staff matched the fingerprints.
"It seems we can’t rely on fingerprints for now; we must depend on your side of the surveillance analysis."
Lu Chuan shrugged, as he was out of options.
Zhang Hui sighed.
"After work starts, the hospital gets very crowded, and I’ve deployed ten people; it seems more manpower is needed."
The entire first action group joined in.
A night passed, and nothing was found.
The foot traffic at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital is enormous, especially for people applying for birth certificates, and once work starts, it’s packed.
So the task of separating the video footage is challenging due to the sheer crowds.
"Everyone, note that the suspect, once out of the restroom, surely didn’t come to apply for a birth certificate, so they likely wouldn’t stand in line."
Zhang Hui sipped on instant noodles while directing the search focus.
"Although the slender fingerprints suggest they might be female, everyone should particularly pay attention to women."
This point is corroborated by the fact that the suspect chose to act in the women’s restroom, indirectly suggesting the person might be female.
"Keep an eye out for women appearing suddenly in the footage, not joining any line, and walking straight across. Report immediately if you spot anyone like that!"
"Brother Hui!"
Just as Zhang Hui finished speaking, a young guy who joined last year raised his hand.
"This woman with a headscarf, I think it’s her!"
Zhang Hui rushed over. In the surveillance footage, there was a petite woman with a headscarf, but due to the angle, her face wasn’t clear.
"Play a segment, let me see."
The young guy tapped the play button. The woman walked into the corridor from the hallway’s end.
As Zhang Hui mentioned, she did not line up but squeezed through the crowd and disappeared at the end of the corridor.
"She came from the direction of the women’s restroom, not necessarily out of the restroom, but could have entered from the corridor corner."
"But I checked the other hallway’s surveillance for the same period and didn’t find her appearing in the other corridor."
The young guy immediately pulled up another video.
The recorded footage time was slightly earlier than the woman appearing in the corridor.
However, the woman in the headscarf never appeared.
"Roll back the time a bit further!"
Zhang Hui grew excited.
Damn, finally found her!
The young guy adjusted the time ten minutes back and scanned the footage.
The two concentrated, and others, noticing the discovery, gathered around.
Many figures appeared in those ten minutes, but the woman was never seen.
Got it!
"Got you!"
Zhang Hui excitedly punched the air: "Well done!"
"You’ll get credits if the case is solved!"
The young guy was also excited: "Brother Hui, can I get a full-time position then?"
"The intern wage is too low..."
With the suspect identified, the rest became easier.
Following her movements from the care unit’s corridor, Zhang Hui tracked her surveillance trail.
Finally, at a corner, as the suspect glanced up, her face met the camera, leaving behind frontal information!