CHAPTER 304: CHAPTER 193: SEARCHING FOR THE MAN IN BLACK!

He plopped down on the reclining chair and said, "You know what! The team leader’s chair is definitely more comfortable than the ones at the city bureau."

Zhang Yean glanced over and said, "Their chairs are designed for ergonomic comfort during a noon nap."

"Of course, it’s comfortable for you!"

After wobbling twice, Wan asked, "Brother, what are we doing next? Are we really just going to sit here and rest?"

Jiang An looked at him, "The work is found, not handed to you."

"We can take a look at the surveillance footage together."

Wan stood up slowly and clapped his hands.

"Brother, your awareness is high! There’s always work to be found wherever you look."

"I just casually asked, and you already had an answer."

Jiang An smiled, "Haha, rather than saying there’s always work, it’s better to say there’s always a case in sight."

Then, Jiang An went to the computer displaying the surveillance footage and sat down.

Wan and Zhang Yean pulled over two chairs and sat beside him.

Zhang Yean, looking curious, "Brother, these videos have already been watched."

Before Jiang An could answer, Wan chimed in, "Reviewing old material to learn anew! That’s an ancient saying from Dragon Country."

Zhang Yean gave him a sidelong glance, "I think that’s Confucius’s saying from Dragon Country!"

"Haha! It’s all the same!"

At this moment, Jiang An had already opened the video surveillance folder.

He glanced at the names of the surveillance files and opened one in order.

Quickly!

The display showed the surveillance records on the commercial street.

Even though it was his second viewing, Jiang An was still fully focused and engrossed.

But the two sitting beside him seemed a bit distracted.

The surveillance footage continued advancing, showing a black-clad figure skulking around.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang An suddenly pressed the pause button.

With a "snap", Zhang Yean and Wan instantly woke up.

The two stared at the halted footage, glanced at each other, both looking bewildered.

"What’s happening?"

"Is there a problem?"

Wan asked.

Zhang Yean scrutinized the footage, seeing the black-clad figure moving away from the camera, growing blurrier.

After observing for a while, Jiang An said, "Brother, sister, do you think this black-clad person went to the restroom?"

Zhang Yean leaned in for a closer look and vaguely saw the words "Public Restroom."

"Certainly!"

"What’s the deal?"

After thinking a bit, Jiang An said in a serious tone, "The direction this person took is problematic."

"Direction?"

"Direction?"

Wan and Zhang Yean’s faces showed even more confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Then, Jiang An pointed at the display screen.

"This public restroom has entrances on both sides, but the black-clad person disappeared on the right side."

"Men left, women right!"

Zhang Yean muttered to herself, suddenly widening her eyes in disbelief.

"Are you implying she’s a woman?"

Wan looked over and asked, "Could it be possible this place is special, with the women’s restroom on the left?"

Jiang An shook his head, "We can rule out that possibility."

"Look at the people coming out from the right side of the restroom, they are all women."

"So, I deduce that the black-clad figure is a woman."

Then Jiang An said, "Unfortunately, due to the surveillance angle being obstructed, we can only infer."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yean and Wan both nodded.

"Sure!"

"So, it seems the black-clad figure is indeed female."

"But why does she look like a man?"

Jiang An moved the mouse and dragged the progress bar, "Because this person appears to be very physically strong, which interfered with our initial judgment."

After a while, Wan said with admiration, "You’re amazing, my brother."

"I’ve always thought your eyes were great at examining corpses."

"Today, I realized your eyes are also great at observing the living."

Jiang An smiled, then picked up the phone and dialed Mr. Zhang’s number.

"Hello!"

The call connected, with a faint echo from the other end.

"Team leader, are you still in a meeting?"

"Yes! Let’s talk after the meeting!"

Jiang An anxiously said, "Team leader, this matter is crucial, I need to report it to you now."

"Go ahead."

Mr. Zhang spoke softly.

Then Jiang An spoke slowly and clearly, "That black-clad figure is female!"

"What?"

Zhang Feng asked in astonishment, his voice booming several decibels higher.

The leader giving a speech paused suddenly.

His face alternated between red and white, "Please everyone, pay attention to the meeting discipline."

"If anyone wishes to study my speech in-depth, unable to record it during the meeting, please contact the secretary afterward to obtain a copy."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng suddenly stood up, "Leader, I’m sorry, I just received a call and got a bit excited."

"I’ll step outside to take the call. Please continue!"

Then Zhang Feng grabbed his phone and exited through the rear door of the conference room.

On the call, Jiang An repeated, "Team leader, I think the black-clad figure is female."

"Female?"

"Do you have solid gender determination evidence?"

Jiang An answered seriously, "We spotted her entering the female restroom in the pedestrian street’s surveillance footage."

"Entering the female restroom?"

"Are you sure?"

Jiang An responded, "I’m sure!"

Instantly, team leader Zhang Feng froze, feeling his brain buzzing.

The suspect’s gender shifting from male to female was such a drastic change!

If Jiang An was just an unknown rookie officer, Zhang Feng wouldn’t believe it.

But Jiang An offered a ray of hope in cracking the case.

Mr. Zhang had no choice but to believe him.

After a brief contemplation, he said sternly, "If that’s the case, we must change our personnel investigation direction."

"However, this is good, at least the workload is significantly reduced."

After hanging up, team leader Zhang immediately dialed Mr. He’s mobile phone, informing him of the change in personnel investigation direction.

At this moment, in the Criminal Investigation Division office.

Jiang An stood up, crossed his arms, and paced back and forth.

"Brother, what are you pondering now?"

Zhang Yean brought over three cups of instant coffee from the tea room.

Jiang An took a cup and sipped it.

"I’m thinking about how the crime scene is far from downtown and lacks public transportation."

"So, how did the killer reach there?"

Zhang Yean speculated, "Could she have traveled by taxi?"

Jiang An shook his head, "No!"

"I’ve reviewed the case investigation materials, and they checked taxis and ride-sharing services within a six-hour window around the death time, but found no suspicious figures disembarking nearby."

Wan also stood up and said, "The place is over 20 kilometers from the nearest city."

"Could the killer have walked there?"

After thinking for a while, Jiang An replied, "Walking is unlikely."

"Taxi has been ruled out!"

At this moment, Zhang Yean asked again, "Could she have driven herself?"

Jiang An waved his hand, "I remember Mr. Zhang leading the special team to calculate time and distance for passing vehicles, finding no stops around the crime time."

"Not walking, not driving, how about riding a scooter?"

Wan took a sip of coffee and said casually.

Upon hearing this, Jiang An immediately turned his head.

"Brother, thank you for inspiring my thoughts."

"What you said is indeed possible!"

"Huh?"

Wan was incredulous, "I was just saying it casually."

Then Jiang An sat at the computer and pulled up the development area’s map.

Indeed!

Beside the motor vehicle lanes, there were numerous non-motorized pathways.

Then, excitedly, Jiang An said, "Brother, sister, let’s go retrieve some surveillance footage!"

"Surveillance footage?"

"What surveillance footage?"

Zhang Yean and Wan couldn’t immediately react.

Jiang An said solemnly, "The road surveillance from the pedestrian street to the university commercial area."

"Why?"

Jiang An answered, "To find the black-clad motorcyclist."