Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 406: False Advertising

Lu Chuan and Liu Guodong were conducting a second investigation at the crime scene, while Ren Qiang was confirming the driver’s identity.

The traffic police department immediately confirmed the owner of the gray car.

"Su Xiaogang, Old Ren, here’s some basic information about him."

The police officer responsible for checking information handed over the identity details of the gray car’s driver to Ren Qiang.

The person is named Su Xiaogang, a 27-year-old male from Haizhou City.

"Have we found out where the car is now?"

"We just found the car, it’s now at the Palman Fitness Clubhouse."

"Palman Fitness Clubhouse? Is it the one at Tiantan Square?"

"Yes, that’s the one. As required, we checked the car’s trajectory from Jungar Hotel yesterday. Here’s the route map."

The route map showed that after leaving Jungar Hotel, the car headed straight to Nebula Hotel.

"Both Nebula Hotel and Palman Fitness Clubhouse are near Tiantan Square. The car has stayed in its current position ever since without any movement."

It hasn’t moved at all?

Not possible.

Ren Qiang was puzzled. If Su Xiaogang was the murderer, he should have gone to the lumber factory at night.

But Palman Fitness Clubhouse is here at Tiantan Square, and that place is more than ten kilometers away from the East Suburb lumber factory.

Could he have switched cars?

"Does he own any other cars?"

"From our platform check, he only has this one car in his name, no others."

"Alright, Old Zhou, thanks a lot. I’ll be busy with the case here, so I’ll leave first. I’ll treat you to a meal next time."

Old Zhou and Ren Qiang graduated from the police academy in the same class. One became a criminal policeman, the other a traffic policeman. It’s been most of a lifetime, and they know each other well.

"No need for formalities with me. You go ahead, I’m busy here too. I’ll contact you later."

After leaving, Ren Qiang headed straight for the Palman Fitness Clubhouse.

Meanwhile, he called Zhang Chao to check on Su Xiaogang’s situation.

Ten minutes later, just as Ren Qiang parked at Tiantan Square, Zhang Hui sent over the basic information.

"Master, I’ve checked. Su Xiaogang doesn’t work at Palman Fitness Clubhouse. Instead, he’s a front desk manager at a KTV."

"KTV?"

"Yes, I’m about to reach Tiantan Square. I’ll discuss it with you in more detail once we meet."

At eleven o’clock at night, Zhang Hui and Ren Qiang entered Palman Fitness Clubhouse.

"Sir, welcome to Palman Fitness Clubhouse. You two look unfamiliar, is this your first time here..."

Before she finished speaking, Zhang Hui stepped forward, leaned on the counter, and displayed his credentials: "We’re from the city Criminal Investigation Team, here to ask you some questions."

The tall and clean girl behind the counter, dressed in yoga attire and with a high ponytail, looked like a fitness goddess, but at this moment she was slightly startled and her expression changed.

"Ah... um... officer, hello."

"I want to ask you about someone, do you know Su Xiaogang?"

The girl nodded like a pecking chicken: "I know, know him. He’s a premium member here and has been working out here for over two years. He’s very familiar with everyone here."

"Is he inside right now?"

Even though it was already past eleven, the gym was packed with people. Zhang Hui had just glanced inside from outside and saw dozens of people exercising.

"He is, he usually works out until around midnight. He should still be here now."

"Does he work out this late every day?"

Before coming, Zhang Hui had already gathered information about Su Xiaogang: 27 years old, 1.81 meters tall, regularly works out, and is as strong as an ox.

Although this body type was one centimeter shorter than Lu Chuan’s estimate of 1.82 to 1.84 meters, Zhang Hui thought it was not a significant issue.

Given his passion for fitness and weightlifting, from the perspective of physical strength, he matched the result of Lu Chuan’s Footprint Identification and Analysis.

"He... he..."

Noticing the girl’s hesitation, Zhang Hui keenly picked up on something unusual: "Is your last name Xia?"

Her name badge read Xia Yingying.

The girl nodded obediently.

"We are from the Criminal Investigation Team. Don’t worry, everything you say will be kept confidential. Currently, Su Xiaogang is suspected of criminal activities, and I hope you can tell us everything you know truthfully."

"This... well..."

Xia Yingying bit her lip, thought for a moment, looked around to ensure no one was nearby: "Come this way."

Zhang Hui and Liu Guodong followed her into a small meeting room next to the counter.

"There’s no surveillance here. There was surveillance over by the counter. My dad said if the boss finds out, I’d get fired."

The boss? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Go ahead, rest assured we, as police, will ensure your safety."

"Well, it’s just that... not only our fitness clubhouse is like this, but others are similar too."

Other clubhouses?

What’s the connection?

"Go on."

"Su Xiaogang isn’t really a premium member here, nor does he really work out or pay."

"I heard that Su Xiaogang is a manager at a KTV, so he knows a lot of girls, as well as wealthy men."

"He comes to the gym to connect those fitness influencers with contacts."

"What influencers?"

"Gym influencers, pretending to work out but actually involved in other activities."

With her explanation, Zhang Hui and Ren Qiang understood.

That’s what Xia Yingying was mysteriously referring to.

"Why wouldn’t he introduce people at the KTV itself and instead come to your clubhouse?"

"It’s different. I heard prices at the KTV are lower, while women at the fitness clubhouse are viewed as decent, so the prices are higher."

"And in the gym, women wear less, showing off their figures, which makes things easier."

Zhang Hui nodded in agreement. Xia Yingying herself was wearing yoga pants, looking sexy and athletic, an ideal motivation for fitness.

"Doesn’t the boss know about what Su Xiaogang is doing here? Isn’t he going to do anything?"

Xia Yingying pouted: "What should he care about? Though Su Xiaogang attends for free, the women he brings in spend money and get memberships, generating revenue."

"Plus, those men who come also sign up for memberships. They’re presented as fitness-loving women from decent families, but they’re actually just people from the karaoke scene."

Zhang Hui thought to himself, isn’t this just a front?

"Should we bust them?"

Ren Qiang shook his head: "Xia, can you check if there’s a member named Zhang Xiaofeng here?"

"Oh, come with me, I need to check it on the computer."

Three minutes later: "Yes, he’s one of our premium members, introduced by Su Xiaogang."

This was standard practice, as those introduced by Su Xiaogang were considered his clients.

"Should we bust them now?"

"Bust them!"