The crackdown on organized crime began with the arrest of the mother-in-law.

Chapter 894 Vehicle Tracking Successful, Leads Cut Off

Leaving the reception room, Li Ming immediately convened a meeting with the officers. "Comrades, the victim's identity has been confirmed, and the primary crime scene has been found. Next, we must use the clues provided by Su Qing to thoroughly investigate the suspicious man. Focus on men who drive black sedans, have scars on their hands, and smell of tobacco. At the same time, analyze the fragments of paper found at the crime scene to see if we can discover any new clues." Li Ming's gaze was firm, and his voice was loud and clear.

That afternoon, the investigation into the tires also yielded some leads. Li Ming stood in front of the projector, pointing to photos of tire tracks on the screen, and said, “Comrades, the victim’s identity has been confirmed, but the murderer is still at large. We must start from every clue and leave no stone unturned. Today, we will focus on discussing the progress of the investigation into the tire tracks found in the mine.” He switched to a slide showing photos of three trucks. “After careful analysis by our technicians, we have confirmed the vehicle type to which the tires belong, and based on surveillance footage from other roads seven days ago, we have identified three similar trucks. Now, we have located these three drivers, and I will now report in detail on our investigation.”

Officer Zhao spoke first: "I was in charge of investigating driver Lao Wang, who was a freight hauler. I went to his freight company and had a detailed conversation with him." Zhao opened his notebook and began to recount: "I asked him if he had been near the abandoned mine in Nanwan Town seven days ago. Lao Wang was a little nervous at first, but quickly calmed down. He said he had indeed been there that day, but only urinated there. I then asked him if he had noticed anything unusual. Lao Wang patted his chest and assured me that he really hadn't seen anything, just stopped to relieve himself. To verify his statement, I checked his freight records and found that he did indeed have a shipment to deliver to a nearby factory that day. I also interviewed his colleagues and factory workers, who could all corroborate Lao Wang's itinerary. Moreover, through investigating Lao Wang's social connections, I found that he had no connection with the deceased Zhang Yueyue and had no motive for the crime."

Li Ming nodded and asked, "When Lao Wang was answering the questions, did he make any suspicious expressions or movements?" Xiao Zhao thought for a moment and said, "At first, his eyes were darting around, but after explaining his itinerary, he became more composed. I don't think he was lying."

Next, Officer Xiao Qian reported on the investigation of the second driver: "The driver I investigated is named Lao Li. He said he went to visit relatives seven days ago. I went to his relatives' house, and they confirmed this. Lao Li said he drove past the abandoned mine pit, just passing by without stopping. I checked his dashcam footage. Although the recorder is a bit old and the image isn't very clear, it roughly shows his driving route, and there's no indication that he lingered near the mine pit for an extended period. Moreover, Lao Li's relatives also stated that Lao Li has always been an honest and law-abiding person with no bad habits. Based on the information we have so far, he should be unrelated to the case."

Li Ming then asked, "Did Lao Li's relatives mention anything unusual about his recent behavior?" Xiao Qian shook his head: "No, they said Lao Li is the same as usual, and his life is very regular."

Finally, Officer Sun reported on the investigation of the third driver: "The driver I investigated was named Lao Sun. He said he was simply passing through. I asked him about his itinerary that day, and he recounted it in detail, even producing some shopping receipts as evidence. He said he went to another town to run errands that day and passed through Nanwan Town on his way back. I checked his route, and it did match what he said. Moreover, Lao Sun's neighbors and friends all said that Lao Sun was usually a kind person and had never made enemies with anyone. After investigation, he also had no connection with the deceased and had no motive for committing the crime."

After listening to the three officers' report, Li Ming leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. After a while, he said, "Although these three drivers don't seem to be involved in the case at the moment, we can't let our guard down. We need to expand the scope of the investigation to see if there are any other vehicles that match the tire track characteristics. At the same time, we need to re-examine the clues at the crime scene; we might have overlooked something."

The morning after Lin Yueyue's identity was confirmed, sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, illuminating her cluttered rented room. Li Ming, leading a team of experienced criminal investigators, once again entered this primary crime scene, which held crucial clues. A somber and oppressive atmosphere permeated the room, as if time had frozen, silently recounting the tragedy that had unfolded.

"Everyone, pay attention! Don't overlook any corner. Even the slightest trace could be the key to solving the case." Li Ming's deep, powerful voice echoed in the room. The technicians quickly dispersed and immersed themselves in the intense investigation.

A young technician, Zhang, carefully wiped every possible fingerprint on the surface of the device. His gaze was focused and determined, leaving no corner unchecked, from doorknobs to table edges and drawer handles, every movement precise and meticulous. However, after a thorough search, he shook his head helplessly: "Captain Li, we still haven't found any valuable fingerprints. The killer cleaned up too thoroughly."

Li Ming frowned slightly, remaining silent as he continued to observe the room. Another technician, Xiao Wang, was lying on the floor, meticulously examining it, trying to find even a single footprint. He moved inch by inch, his eyes fixed on the ground, not missing a single tiny trace. But ultimately, he too stood up in disappointment: "Captain Li, there are no obvious footprints on the floor. The murderer must have been wearing special shoe covers, or thoroughly cleaned the floor after committing the crime."

Despite the repeated setbacks, Li Ming did not lose heart. He knew that the more difficult the case, the more calm and patient he needed. He went to the bedside in the bedroom, carefully examining the messy bedding and the spot where he had found hair. Suddenly, he noticed a very subtle crease in the sheet, different from the surrounding creases. He crouched down, examined it closely, and gently picked up some fabric from the crease with tweezers, trying to find some clues. However, apart from some ordinary fibers, he found nothing of value.

"Captain Li, we didn't find anything unusual in the kitchen either. All the tableware was neatly arranged, with no signs of struggle or fighting. The trash cans were empty, so the murderer must have taken the trash with them," reported a technician in charge of the kitchen investigation.