Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 343: Rebar Hook

Lu Chuan believed that the reason for the crime was possibly committed by a local person or someone who had lived in the area for some time, was simple: the disposal site chosen by the perpetrator.

Although Lu Chuan had not been to the scene, photos in the file showed that the section of the sewage river where the killer disposed of the body was not open-air. The section where the body was disposed of was an underground river, some distance away from the open-air section.

If it weren’t for a dog owned by a cleaner that bit through the box containing the body and pulled out a piece, this case might not have been discovered at the time.

Thinking about it, Lu Chuan had nothing much to do, so he took out the photos to study again.

However, after looking for a long time, Lu Chuan shook his head. Without fingerprints, it was really hard to handle.

In these kinds of cases, even if the perpetrator is found, it’s not easy to convict, because the police did not find any trace left by the perpetrator at the scene.

It’s not that the perpetrator didn’t leave any trace at the scene, but rather that the police at the time didn’t find it.

For instance, trace evidence. If trace evidence collection had been conducted at the time, some residue might have been found.

Of course, the Liangzhou police indeed put in a lot of effort back then, using forensic tools to the fullest.

Crime scene investigation even brought in expert help from outside, but unfortunately, the environment in the sewage river was poor, and many traces had already disappeared.

The file contained many details, including the sewage well near the body disposal site, and the investigation even collected traces from the iron ladder leading into the well.

The investigation was thorough, with a sweep conducted within a three-kilometer radius of the body, but nothing was found.

The last approach was a blitz review of local vagrants, petty criminals, or individuals with a criminal record or adverse history.

Still, there were no clues.

Lu Chuan continued to scrutinize the photos.

If the perpetrator was from out of town, finding the entrance to Liangzhou’s sewage river would be an issue.

Yet if it were a local, how did he manage to dispose of the body so discreetly, without anyone noticing?

While contemplating, Lu Chuan was drawn to an inconspicuous mark on the photo.

Part of the body in the photo, likely the left biceps, seemed to have a particular impression, though it wasn’t very clear.

"Master, come take a look at this."

While chatting, Liu Guodong turned his head: "Still studying it?"

"This case was quite famous back then, many experts have seen it, including provincial experts, pity."

Lu Chuan nodded. Dismemberment cases are significant anywhere, so it’s normal for provincial experts to have researched it.

Liu Guodong picked up the photo from Lu Chuan’s hand: "Any discoveries?"

Lu Chuan pointed to the impression on the body: "I feel there’s an impression here."

"An impression?"

Liu Guodong raised the photo to the light, after a moment: "There does seem to be one, but the body was inside a suitcase, so it was likely formed by compression inside."

Speaking of the suitcase, back then, the Liangzhou City Public Security Bureau nearly turned the whole luggage market upside down searching for a matching suitcase.

In the end, they did find one, but the item was stored in a warehouse, part of an old stock that hadn’t been sold.

This indirectly proved that the perpetrator was from out of town.

Lu Chuan thought for a moment: "Hmm, that’s possible."

"Alright then, regarding this case, Captain Qin’s brother-in-law heard you were good, so have a look, take a break, and change your mindset. The High-tech Zone sent over two fingerprints, help take a look at those."

"Okay, I’ll look into it now." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Putting down the file, Lu Chuan started on his own work.

Soon, a pleasant day passed smoothly.

Lu Chuan picked up Shen Yan for a movie date.

Today they watched Wall-E, where two silent metal figures illustrated what love is.

"Tomorrow we’re going to the City Bureau for forensic training, so I might be back late in the evening."

Before getting out of the car, Forensic Doctor Shen mentioned tomorrow’s schedule: "You can head back on your own in the evening; you don’t need to wait for me."

"No, that’s not right. There’s nothing much going on lately. I’ll pick you up at the City Bureau tomorrow."

"Alright, see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Leaving Forensic Doctor Shen’s district, Lu Chuan hummed a tune, leisurely driving back to Chenguang District.

"Chuan, wait a minute, the sewer at the gate is blocked, it will be clear soon."

At the gate, the entry and exit were blocked by Lu Yao, and two workers were opening the manhole cover.

Lu Chuan got out of the car and glanced: "No problem, Third Brother. Just having a chat with you."

"Haha, Chuan, wait two minutes, they will open the manhole cover, someone will go down, cover it back, and you can go through."

With that, he handed Lu Chuan a cigarette, motioning the workers to hurry up with the manhole cover.

"Hurry it up, there’s a car waiting."

Lu Chuan took the cigarette, about to light it, when he suddenly noticed the two workers opening the manhole cover from the corner of his eye.

The sewage manhole cover was heavy, flatly embedded in the ground, and couldn’t be opened by hand. The worker used a special iron hook, inserted it into the manhole cover hole, pulled hard, creating a gap.

In less than two minutes, the two workers, with headlamps on, went down, and the cover was closed by the person outside.

"Chuan, it’s done. You can go through now."

"Alright, Third Brother, keep at it, I’ll first head back..."

Hmm?

An iron hook?!

Lu Chuan’s car, which had just started, screeched to a halt.

"What’s up, Chuan? It’s okay now, you can go through."

Lu Chuan couldn’t think about going through now. He hurried out of the car, went to the worker who just covered the manhole, and pointed to the hook in his hand: "Third Brother, what’s this thing?"

"Just a steel hook, used for opening the manhole cover."

Opening the manhole cover?

"Do you always use this type of tool to open manhole covers?"

Lu Chuan looked at the worker: "Is it specific to our area, or does everyone use this?"

The worker was confused by why Lu Chuan was asking this, but still grabbed the hook: "Everyone uses this to open manhole covers, it’s the same nationwide."

"Same nationwide..."

Lu Chuan murmured to himself: "Let me see."

The other person handed the hook to Lu Chuan: "These things are available for purchase, or made ourselves; ours is self-welded, sturdy and durable."

Lu Chuan nodded, picked up the steel hook, and closely examined the end of the T-hook.

The shape closely resembled the impression he had seen on the body in the dismemberment case file that morning.

Liu Guodong had explained that this impression could have been left by the suitcase containing the body.

At the time, Lu Chuan thought this was possible and didn’t delve further.

However, now it seemed this impression might very well have been left by this type of T-hook.

Considering the body disposal site being a sewage river, could the perpetrator be a local sewer maintenance worker?

Or, at the very least someone who possesses such a steel hook?

"Do any other industries use this kind of steel hook?"

The maintenance worker pondered: "Not usually, this thing is specifically for opening manhole covers, for other things... it wouldn’t be needed."