Ye Xuan looked around, then spread his arms and clenched his fists, as if holding a knife in his hands at that moment, before gesturing toward Lin Chengfeng.
Next, Ye Xuan followed the direction of the imaginary knife blade and turned to see a scratch mark left on the wall.
He raised his hand to touch it and replied, “Such a narrow space restricts movement a bit. This scratch was likely made by the murderer while killing the victim. To instantly sever the victim’s head and leave such a deep mark on the wall, the murderer must have extraordinary arm strength—probably someone who exercises regularly or does heavy labor.”
Then Ye Xuan walked out of the alley corner, scanned the surroundings, and finally fixed his gaze on the deepest part of the alley.
Because he saw two crows playing on the wall at the far end of the alley.
Ye Xuan frowned and immediately strode toward the depths of the alley.
Seeing this, Lin Chengfeng quickly followed.
When the crows saw Ye Xuan and Lin Chengfeng approaching, they immediately spread their wings and flew away.
Ye Xuan looked up, raised his hand to compare his height with the wall, and then asked, “This wall is about five or six meters high. Officer Lin, do you think someone could jump up there?”
Lin Chengfeng looked up and responded, “Jumping up is impossible, but if someone is agile enough, they could use the uneven parts of the wall…” He suddenly realized something and turned to look at Ye Xuan, his eyes filled with shock!
“You mean the murderer was hiding up there?”
Ye Xuan didn’t respond but smiled at Lin Chengfeng and said, “Officer Lin, why don’t you give it a try?”
Lin Chengfeng nodded seriously, then took two steps back, gathered his strength, and charged forward. He stepped onto the stone wall and, in a few quick moves, leaped onto the top of the wall.
Then Lin Chengfeng looked down and noticed some bloodstains on the wall. He soon discovered that there was a ledge outside the wall, and on the ledge lay a handbag stained dark red with blood. Even the ledge was covered in blood!
Lin Chengfeng immediately called out to Ye Xuan, “Ye Xuan, I found the bag.”
Ye Xuan smiled slightly and said, “What an unexpected surprise.”
“This ledge completely blocks the view from below, no wonder we couldn’t see it during our inspection.”
Lin Chengfeng put on gloves, bent down, picked up the handbag, and threw it down in front of Ye Xuan.
“There are claw marks and peck marks on it, probably made by the crows.”
Then Ye Xuan leaned in for a closer look. When he smelled the odor emanating from the handbag, his stomach churned, and a wave of foul stench hit him.
“Cough, wow, this smell is overpowering!”
Lin Chengfeng jumped down and handed Ye Xuan a pair of gloves and a mask.
Ye Xuan took them and put them on, suppressing his nausea as he opened the handbag.
As he unzipped it, a dry, bloody smell rushed straight into his face.
“Ugh!”
Ye Xuan stumbled backward several steps and crouched on the ground, vomiting.
Seeing this, Lin Chengfeng shook his head helplessly, then crouched down, opened the bag, and began rummaging through it.
“Makeup, birth control pills, condoms, and… but everything is stained with blood, and no phone was found.”
Ye Xuan stood up and took a deep breath of fresh air.
“The bag is covered in bloodstains, and the victim’s head was indeed stored inside it. Officer Lin, take the bag back for testing.”
Lin Chengfeng nodded and called toward the alley entrance, “Guanglei!”
At the alley entrance, Xu Guanglei and Li Xiaoran heard the call and immediately rushed over.
“Captain Lin!”
Lin Chengfeng pointed at the handbag on the ground and said, “The victim’s bag has been found. Take it back for testing.”
Xu Guanglei and Li Xiaoran widened their eyes in surprise upon hearing this.
“Yes, sir!”
Xu Guanglei responded promptly, then put on gloves and took the handbag away.
At that moment, Lin Chengfeng’s phone suddenly rang.
Lin Chengfeng picked it up, glanced at the screen, and immediately answered the call.
“Hello.”
“Alright, I understand. We’ll head back right away.”
After hanging up, Lin Chengfeng turned to Ye Xuan and said, “Ye Xuan, Zong Fei has brought the suspect back to the police station.”
Ye Xuan nodded and replied, “Good, let’s head back now.”
Lin Chengfeng glanced around and asked, “Aren’t we going to look around anymore?”
Ye Xuan shook his head and said, “There’s no need. Since the bag has been found, it means the perpetrator indeed didn’t leave the scene that night and even witnessed us investigating the area.”
“Moreover, the perpetrator is clever and has strong nerves. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave evidence at the scene.”
Lin Chengfeng asked doubtfully, “Didn’t he leave the bag behind?”
Ye Xuan sighed helplessly and said, “Officer Lin, the perpetrator took the phone with him. How could we possibly find clues from just a bag?”
“That’s true.” Lin Chengfeng nodded, agreeing with Ye Xuan’s reasoning.
The two got into the car and headed straight for the Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Zhao Zongfei was already waiting at the entrance. As soon as he saw them return, he stepped forward.
“Captain Lin, Ye Xuan.”
Lin Chengfeng nodded and asked, “Has the suspect been interrogated?”
Zhao Zongfei shook his head and replied, “He’s a minor who just entered society. He was terrified when we showed up at his door and refused to say anything. In the end, we had to bring him to the station by force. His parents have already been notified.”
Lin Chengfeng and Ye Xuan exchanged a glance before Lin Chengfeng asked, “Where is he?”
“In the interrogation room.”
Lin Chengfeng nodded, then walked into the observation room with Ye Xuan.
Looking at the young man with dyed hair in the interrogation room, Lin Chengfeng asked doubtfully, “Ye Xuan, is it him?”
Ye Xuan took a closer look, recalling the youthful, provocative face from that day, and nodded. “Yes, it’s him.”
Lin Chengfeng nodded, then walked into the interrogation room with Zhao Zongfei.
Hearing the commotion, the young man trembled all over, his eyes filled with fear as he stared at Lin Chengfeng and Zhao Zongfei.
Lin Chengfeng flipped through the documents and asked, “Yan Nan?”
Yan Nan nodded fearfully but remained silent.
Lin Chengfeng continued, “Did you steal an electric scooter the night before last?”
Yan Nan bit his lower lip, his fingers nervously rubbing his knees.
Seeing this, Zhao Zongfei said sternly, “We need you to explain why you were on Beishan Road the night before last, including everything you saw and heard. Don’t leave out a single detail.”
“Even though you’re a minor, you’re already over sixteen years old. According to the law, you could go to prison. We hope you cooperate fully!”
Upon hearing the word “prison,” Yan Nan shuddered and hurriedly said, “Okay! Okay! Okay! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I don’t want to go to prison!”
Zhao Zongfei nodded and asked, “Why were you on Beishan Road the night before last?”
“Went out for a drive with a friend.”
Zhao Zongfei and Lin Chengfeng exchanged a glance before asking, “Where’s your friend?”
“I…”
Zhao Zongfei slammed the table heavily and said sternly, “Yan Nan, tell the truth! This matter is of great importance—it’s no longer just about you stealing a car!”
Yan Nan was startled, his eyes reddening.
“I found that car by the roadside. I saw no one around it, and the keys were even left inside, so I got the idea to steal it…”
“I told my friend about this idea, but he was too scared to go along with it. So I told him to leave first, and I went to steal it myself. You already know what happened after that.”