Chapter 6: Clues Brought by Ash

The photo shows the ashtray on the coffee table, right next to the corpse's left hand, containing two small remnants of ash.

But there was only ash; there were no cigarette butts.

Lu Chuan had already read the autopsy report. The tips of the deceased Zhang Wen’s right index and middle fingers were charred yellow with obvious nicotine stains, clearly indicating a history of smoking.

For a smoker, having ash in the ashtray on the coffee table is the most normal thing in the world.

The problem is, if there is ash, why are there no cigarette butts?

Lu Chuan’s expression turned pleasantly surprised. He continued flipping through the photos, and a moment later, a photo of the trash can at the deceased’s doorway appeared on the screen.

A cigarette butt was clearly visible at the bottom of the trash can!

Zooming in on the photo, the brand logo on the butt had been burned away, and the end where the filter connects to the tobacco was charred.

Lu Chuan smoked himself and knew very well that this happened when a smoker didn't stub out the cigarette, allowing it to burn down naturally.

Was this cigarette butt left by the deceased, Zhang Wen?

Lu Chuan frowned and flipped to the next photo. This time, after only a few photos, a cigarette pack appeared on the screen.

Lu Chuan had numbered and photographed every item on the coffee table.

It was a pack of Hongmei cigarettes, with a lighter placed next to it. This should have been the brand Zhang Wen usually smoked.

These cigarettes weren't expensive; when Lu Chuan was in college, his classmates often bought them, and he had smoked them too.

That was why he was familiar with them.

And it was precisely because he was familiar with them that he spotted the problem.

The filter of a Hongmei cigarette is different from a standard filter; it is speckled with light yellow spots.

However, the filter of the cigarette butt in the trash can did not have those light yellow spots.

In other words, that burned-out, brandless cigarette butt was, in all likelihood, not smoked by Zhang Wen.

If it wasn't smoked by Zhang Wen, who left it there?

A flash of excitement crossed Lu Chuan’s eyes. Could it have been left by the killer?

Turning to look at the sleeping Liu Guodong, Lu Chuan decided to wake him up. That cigarette butt hadn't been collected as evidence, so they needed to go back to the scene for a re-examination.

But there were rules for re-examination; one person could not enter a scene alone. Re-examination work required at least two people, and a third party was also required to witness it.

Of course, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. In the vast majority of cases, an auxiliary police officer would serve as the third-party witness.

It was like a middle-aged man who, even if his prostate was rebelling and he couldn't perform, could still at least use his fingers.

Liu Guodong, who was woken up in a daze, was startled by the green light shining in Lu Chuan’s eyes.

"A lead?"

Lu Chuan nodded excitedly, his hair standing up like a messy bird's nest: "Zhang Wen smoked Hongmei, but the butt in the trash can isn't from a Hongmei cigarette. I feel like there’s something wrong."

Hearing Lu Chuan’s explanation, Liu Guodong straightened his back instantly. He had worked all day, and while his physical stamina was lagging, it didn't mean his mind wasn't still in the game.

"Let's go, to the scene!"

"Should we report to Captain Qin first?"

"No need. Let's go to the scene and bring the item back first. Once we collect the DNA information from it, we'll have solid evidence before we say anything!"

Ginger is indeed spicier when it's old; he didn't do things he wasn't sure about.

When Liu Guodong and Lu Chuan left, they didn't disturb anyone. The No. 1 conference room was still noisy, and Qin Yong’s angry roar could be heard throughout the detachment building.

Of course, no one was paying attention to the crime scene investigation at this moment; their tasks were basically finished.

The reason Liu Guodong hadn't gone home was, on one hand, that he felt bad about leaving Lu Chuan here alone.

On the other hand, the case hadn't been solved yet. If he just left, it would be a sign of disrespect and provocation toward Captain Qin Yong.

An old hand like him wouldn't do such a thing.

Looking at the spirited, green-eyed Lu Chuan, Liu Guodong felt as if he had returned to twenty years ago when he had just started his job.

"It’s so good to be young..."

One hour later.

Beside the DNA analyzer, Liu Guodong stared intently at Lu Chuan’s hands as he operated the instrument: "How is it?"

*Hoo!*

Lu Chuan took the comparison report and let out a long breath: "The DNA information on the cigarette butt has been confirmed not to be Zhang Wen’s."

Damn!

Liu Guodong excitedly took the report and slapped Lu Chuan hard on the shoulder: "Well done!"

"You kid, you’ve made a contribution... huh?"

Liu Guodong’s excited expression gradually froze, then turned into disbelief: "This DNA match rate..."

Lu Chuan shook his head: "That’s right, the DNA information on the butt is indeed not Zhang Wen’s, but there is a parent-child relationship..."

"The cigarette butt was left by his son."

*Shit!*

5:20 AM.

Twenty-six hours had passed since Zhang Wen’s death. In the No. 1 conference room, there were still no breakthroughs in the case.

As the captain of the criminal investigation detachment, Qin Yong had worked his way up from a frontline detective and had handled no fewer than twenty homicide cases.

Although the vast majority of those cases had been solved, no one could guarantee that every homicide case they encountered could be cracked.

And as of now, no valuable leads had been found in the Zhang Wen murder case.

Generally speaking, there is a "golden seventy-two hours" in solving homicide cases, meaning the hope of solving a case is greatest within three days after it occurs.

It’s not that the case can’t be solved after this time, but it requires much more energy and time.

"Everyone, conduct a comprehensive sweep of the area around Zhang Wen’s home. Don't miss a single household; conduct thorough interviews and investigations."

"The scope of the surveillance review must also be expanded. Review all surveillance footage from intersections and shops within one kilometer of Zhang Wen’s home!"

In the absence of any leads, the "human sea" tactic is the best weapon for detectives to solve cases.

This is also one of the reasons for the "golden seventy-two hours"—the human sea tactic fighting for three days is the limit for most people.

*Bang!*

The door to the No. 1 conference room was pushed open violently, and everyone’s eyes focused on the entrance.

Everyone wanted to see who would dare to enter the No. 1 conference room at this time.

Qin Yong’s attention was also drawn over, and when he saw it was Liu Guodong from the crime scene investigation office, his gloomy expression eased slightly.

Liu Guodong was a veteran who had joined the police at the same time as Qin Yong. Although he didn't hold much of an official rank now, he led the crime scene investigation team and could be considered a technical backbone of the detachment.

Qin Yong checked the time; it was almost 6:00 AM: "Old Liu, why haven't you gone back to rest? You were busy investigating all day yesterday, you guys..."

Liu Guodong shook his head, cutting Qin Yong off directly: "Captain Qin, we have a lead!"

A lead!

Qin Yong sprang from his seat, his tired eyes flashing with sharp, fierce light: "Did the crime scene investigation find something?"

Liu Guodong nodded heavily and handed the DNA comparison report from Zhang Wen and the cigarette butt in the trash can to Qin Yong: "The cigarette butt at Zhang Wen’s doorway wasn't the deceased’s, but his son’s!"

His son’s?

A surge of ecstasy flashed through Qin Yong’s heart!

Zhang Wen’s son, Zhang Minlu, did not usually live with Zhang Wen.

Yesterday morning, Zhang Minlu had gone to pick up Zhang Wen for a physical examination and only reported the case after discovering Zhang Wen was dead.

Since the two didn't live together, how could there be a cigarette butt smoked by Zhang Minlu in Zhang Wen’s home?

Could it be that this guy smoked while reporting the case after seeing his father dead?

"Old Liu, if the case is solved, your crime scene investigation team gets the first credit!"

"Team One and Team Two, follow me immediately to Zhang Minlu’s house!"