Chapter 49: The Hammer Fiend Case (Part 18)

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The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn and heavy.

The projector's beam struck the wall, casting a blurry image—a surveillance screenshot from a KTV private box.

In the image, a man's profile appeared exceptionally indistinct under the dim lighting, revealing only a high-bridged nose and a slightly upturned chin.

"This is the only image of the suspect we managed to extract from the KTV surveillance footage," Lei Chen stood before the projection, his voice deep and forceful. "Although the image is blurry, we can confirm that the suspect was indeed present at this KTV on the night of the crime."

He paused, sweeping his gaze across every colleague present, and continued, "However, because this KTV is an unlicensed establishment, our colleagues from the security team had been keeping an eye on it for some time. The surveillance cameras inside are pitifully sparse, and apart from this, we haven't been able to capture the suspect's figure anywhere else."

Han Junshan nodded and said, "Regardless of everything, this is the first time since the 'October 18 Case' began that we are getting a glimpse of our opponent's true face. Even if it's just a profile, its significance cannot be overstated."

"First, this photograph confirms that our previous description of the suspect's physical characteristics is fundamentally correct," Han Junshan looked toward the crowd. "Especially his short stature—that crucial feature has now been completely verified."

"Second, the clue of him appearing at a KTV also reflects that this fellow is indeed utterly brazen and lawless, daring to carouse right under our noses. The provocation is extreme!" He paused briefly. "Comrades, we must cultivate a sense of crisis!"

"If we continue to let him run amok like this, what will the ordinary people think of us? Will they point fingers at our spines and curse us as good-for-nothings?"

Han Junshan's words were resonant and deafening.

Everyone present harbored a fierce determination, vowing to wash away their previous humiliation.

At that moment, Lei Chen spoke up again, "Director Han, but we have encountered a problem."

"What problem?" Han Junshan asked.

Lei Chen replied, "There has been an issue with the victim's identification. When she initially gave her account of the assault, she misheard the suspect's voice as belonging to Zhang Qiang, a villager from her home village. However, after DNA comparison and the verification of an alibi, that accusation has been ruled out."

A murmur rippled through the conference room.

Han Junshan raised a hand to signal for quiet, saying, "Under extreme terror and emotional instability, the victim mistook Zhang Qiang for the suspect. Such circumstances are not uncommon in similar cases, and this reminds us that we must handle investigations with absolute caution and never wrong an innocent person."

Lei Chen switched the projection; the screen now displayed the victim's transcript and the crime scene investigation report.

"According to the victim's description, the suspect is approximately 160 centimeters tall, of lean build, and speaks with a local accent. Combined with the blurry profile from the KTV surveillance, we preliminarily assess that the suspect is likely a local and is relatively familiar with the surrounding environment."

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He closed the folder in his hand, his tone resolute: "In the next phase, we will expand the scope of our investigation, focusing on the customers and staff who were at the KTV that night, especially those who had contact with the victim. At the same time, the technical department will continue to enhance the clarity of the surveillance footage in an effort to unearth more clues."

"Does anyone else have anything to add?" Han Junshan looked toward the rest of the room.

Li Rui swallowed hard, slowly stood up, and said, "He might be seeking revenge!"

"Revenge?" Han Junshan looked at Li Rui in bewilderment, asking, "Revenge against whom?"

"The police!" Li Rui stated bluntly.

"Revenge against us?" Lei Chen asked incredulously, "Isn't he being far too arrogant?"

"Think about it. When we rushed to Liren KTV, the suspect had just left. This fellow is extremely cautious and alert; he must have sensed some form of danger, which is why he fled. Anyone else, having escaped disaster by the skin of their teeth, would hide and lie low for a while, but he didn't. Instead, he chose to commit a crime right in the teeth of the storm, and he struck at the very first opportunity. If this isn't revenge, what is?" Li Rui argued.

His words caused everyone present to draw a sharp breath.

"This is no longer just provocation," Han Junshan stood up. "This is completely disregarding us as police officers! Flesh and blood can bear it, but how can professional honor?"

Li Rui continued, "And the reason he didn't kill the victim in this case is most likely because..."

Everyone waited for his answer.

"Because she resembles someone he knows," Li Rui said.

Li Rui offered no further explanation. "His brutal vengeance against women is entirely connected to this person."

"Xiao Qi, is there any way we can use the facial features of this victim to find someone with a similar appearance?" Han Junshan asked.

Qi Wei nodded. "It is possible, but because the number of faces identified this way would be massive, and their relationships chaotic, it... might not be of much help to our case."

"For now, the conditions are indeed not ripe," Han Junshan remarked.

At that moment, Li Rui continued, "The reason the suspect didn't kill, besides the fact that it was dark and he believed the victimized woman wouldn't recognize him, is another reason."

"What reason?"

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"He believes that since he didn't kill this time, the police won't pay too much attention, which has provided him with the opportunity to continue offending," Li Rui said. "It is very likely that he hasn't fled far, but is still lingering around Gulou Town, waiting for an opportunity to strike."

Han Junshan nodded slightly. "This analysis holds some merit. All branch offices and police stations must conduct a thorough search; we must not let him escape the boundaries of Deng City!"

After the meeting concluded, Li Rui stood by the window, gazing at the darkening sky in the distance, his brow deeply furrowed.

He knew that the breakthrough for this case lay within that blurry profile, and the victim's misidentification had only made the case more complex. He took a deep breath, turned, and walked toward his office, preparing to sort through the clues overnight.

As the night deepened, the lights of the police station remained bright. The truth of the case perhaps lay hidden behind that indistinct profile, waiting to be unmasked.

...

On November 5th, just as the Ancient City Temple Fair came to a close, the Gulou Town Grand Market made a grand appearance. This was a local folk custom, with various towns celebrating at this time every year.

The wind was biting cold, yet it could not extinguish the enthusiasm of the people.

An inconspicuous figure squatted in a corner of the market, sweat trickling down his neck into his greasy collar. Within barely half an hour, he had reaped a rich harvest.

First, he spent a little over seven yuan at a street stall to buy a four-pound octagonal hammer, its handle measuring roughly thirteen or fourteen inches. He gripped the handle, weighed it in his hand, and blurted out involuntarily, "Alright, this feels quite handy."

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized he had given himself away and felt a chill run through his heart. Slowly raising his head to look at the hammer vendor, he saw the man solely focused on business and paying no attention to what he had said. Only then did he feel relieved, hurriedly placing the hammer into a plastic bag, paying for it, and leaving the stall.

At another stall, he spent four yuan on a pair of scissors, and subsequently purchased gloves and a flashlight at a general merchandise store. In a neighboring village, he stole an old man's jacket.

Following that, he rode the stolen bicycle, hanging a haphazard assortment of inexpensive trinkets like balloons and nail clippers from the handlebars, and wandered around the vicinity pretending to be a peddler.

In the afternoon, he spotted his target in Bainanzhuang. At the southeast corner of the village stood an independent courtyard with its gate facing south. Inside lived a couple in their seventies, accompanied by a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl. That innocent and lovely little girl instantly captured his attention.

To minimize his travel distance that night, he slept on a patch of farmland not far from Bainanzhuang, using the stolen old man's jacket and his newly purchased tools as a pillow.

Perhaps exhausted from the journey, he slept profoundly that night. When he finally opened his eyes, it was already past 3:00 AM.

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