Chapter 438: Love Turns to Hate

"Come, line up." Captain Han waved his hand, signaling the abbot and the lay Buddhists to stand in a row, and had a police officer lift a video camera.

Several people moved reluctantly, and at Jiang Yuan's request, lifted their feet.

Jiang Yuan didn't look at them one by one, but scanned them with one glance, then came to the three long-term resident lay Buddhists, put down a piece of paper, and said, "Step on it."

"Step on it if you want, but if you want to frame me, you have to produce evidence." Lay Buddhist Gu Mingxia was fearless.

This is relatively rare among criminal suspects. Many inexperienced perpetrators, even if they have planned well in advance, will tremble involuntarily at this moment because of the soaring adrenaline.

This kind of experience is actually something many people have. For example, when playing hide-and-seek as a child, when you are hidden very well, your heart will beat faster; or when playing a game, facing your first pentakill, your palms will sweat uncontrollably; or when receiving flowers from a handsome boy, even if you have planned this moment since childhood, or even rehearsed it, you will still have a blank mind.

Most unexpected situations, if they are to be handled well, require experience.

Jiang Yuan reconfirmed the footprints, looked up, carefully observed Gu Mingxia's expression, and said, "You don't think changing a pair of shoes will be useful, do you? If that were the case, what would be the point of footprint identification?"

Actually, Western footprint identification is like that. Usually, they only have shoe print identification and barefoot identification; there is no footprint identification. But that is limited by the court system. In other words, it's not a scientific problem, but a systemic one.

Lay Buddhist Gu Mingxia was clearly an amateur, but after hearing Jiang Yuan's words, she just panicked for a moment, then said calmly, "Say whatever you want, you have to produce evidence."

"Find a pair of size 41 men's Nike shoes with a big checkmark on the sole. They might be jogging shoes or something like that." Jiang Yuan described this to Captain Han.

The latter's order was issued immediately, and the main search location was naturally Gu Mingxia's room.

Gu Mingxia immediately expressed opposition, and several lay Buddhists began to shout about search warrants and the like.

Captain Han said calmly, "Article 136 of our country's Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that in case of emergency, a search can be conducted without a separate search warrant. Among them, emergencies include those who may conceal, destroy, or transfer criminal evidence, or may conceal other criminal suspects... Whether there are only the current 8 people in the temple is something we cannot be sure of and must determine."

Gu Mingxia didn't know how to refute for a moment. She turned around and said to Jiang Yuan, "You said it was a size 41 men's Nike shoe, so it's clearly not my shoe..."

"You are being too clever for your own good." Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "There are quite a few footprints accumulated on the small path. Everyone walks around every day, coming and going, leaving footprints. It's actually very difficult to judge who appeared at that time. However, a size 41 Nike shoe, and a small foot wearing a big shoe—that's too obvious."

Anyone who has read a little bit of books knows that whether it's a small foot wearing a big shoe or a big foot wearing a small shoe, in the eyes of a footprint identification person above LV0.5, it can be seen at a glance. Even Western footprint experts can distinguish it at a glance.

In general, those who do this belong to inexperienced and ignorant primary criminals, which fits Gu Mingxia's identity.

Of course, after looking at the feet, Jiang Yuan was 100% sure.

At least the one wearing the men's Nike shoes must be Gu Mingxia.

Gu Mingxia's eyes rolled around, probably thinking about whether to admit it and further refute or quibble.

This is the dilemma of ordinary people facing interrogation.

On one hand, Gu Mingxia couldn't be 100% sure whether Jiang Yuan really saw it or was bluffing her. Although it was 80% likely he saw it, as the person involved, she still held a glimmer of hope.

On the other hand, Gu Mingxia could admit that she was the one wearing the size 41 men's Nike shoes and passing by the window, which wasn't illegal. However, admitting it just like that would clearly increase her suspicion and might even fall into the police's trap.

Gu Mingxia deliberated for a long time but couldn't decide. She had already thrown the shoes down the mountain, so logically, there shouldn't be any evidence.

She didn't understand that Jiang Yuan's footprint identification had already locked her in.

Now, only clearer evidence was needed.

After a while, Liu Liu Jinghui came over to take a look, asked two questions, and said, "Send a search team. Although there are places like incense burners in the temple that can burn magazines, the shoes definitely can't be burned clean."

"Okay. I'll organize a search team." Captain Han didn't have any nonsense. Organizing a search team would certainly increase expenses, but for a homicide case, this level of cost was still not worth mentioning.

Liu Liu Jinghui drew a topographic map temporarily, gave it to Captain Han, and said, "Search around the room where Gu Mingxia lives first. She shouldn't have any anti-reconnaissance experience, and the disposal of items should be relatively hasty."

The police came up the mountain suddenly, and she definitely didn't have any advance preparation.

Captain Han immediately adjusted the density of the search team and hung several large lights around the hillside where the lay Buddhists lived.

The small temple was built on a small hill, neither having the steepness of famous mountains and rivers, nor having flowing water. The perpetrator abandoned items, basically not far away.

In less than half an hour, a pair of gray Nike shoes was discovered.

The most interesting thing was that a cut-up magazine was stuffed inside the Nike shoes.

Having obtained the evidence, Captain Han was very relaxed. He pulled Gu Mingxia alone into a temporary interrogation room and asked, "How about it? If you still don't admit it, we'll do DNA. Don't blame me for not reminding you. 'Leniency for confession, severity for resistance' is not a joke. If you continue to confront us like this, no one will be able to save you in the end."

Captain Han was quite proud. Although this case couldn't do without Jiang Yuan's participation, overall, the main work was done by him and his team members. Especially protecting the scene and searching the scene, and further discovering evidence—these were all considered his credit. In other words, this cold homicide case could be considered his credit by 80%, at least 70%, and at the very least 60%. No matter how you count it, it's 50%.

Gu Mingxia stared blankly, and after a long while, said, "I did it to remind you!"

"Remind us of what?" Captain Han asked.

"Remind you of what?" Captain Han asked.

"Zhang Fen is a lay Buddhist who lives in the temple with you long-term, right?" Captain Han asked.

"Right."

Captain Han's eyelids twitched. During the day, she was still watching three old babies hugging each other and taking photos affectionately, and now she's starting to expose them?

Captain Han asked, "Why do you say she killed someone?"

"It must be her who killed him. She let love turn to hate." Gu Mingxia said with certainty.

Captain Han frowned, "Who is the victim, in your opinion?"

"Old Qian Zeng Guoqing!" Gu Mingxia said.

"Old Qian Zeng Guoqing? How old, where is he from?"

"60 years old. From Yue Province."

"And then, why do you think Zhang Fen would let love turn to hate and kill him?"

"Because the one he truly loves is me!" Gu Mingxia straightened her waist and said with grief and indignation, "We didn't make it public in order not to hurt her. But, but... it must be Zhang Fen. She once said, 'If I can't get it, I'll destroy it.' She also said that her ex-husband had his company destroyed by her..."

Several police officers in the room looked at each other awkwardly. Although everyone had seen many disgusting things, in recent years, such awkward love stories were rarely heard.

Captain Han in the interrogation room thought more, turned his head and asked, "How tall and how heavy is this Old Qian Zeng Guoqing you mentioned?"

"1.75 meters, maybe even taller. He weighs about 130 or 140 jin. He keeps his figure very well; he exercises often..." Gu Mingxia looked a bit shy: "He is also the kind of gentleman who often wears a three-piece suit and carries a walking stick..."

Captain Han asked a few more questions, then looked at Jiang Yuan standing behind.

This was a temporary interrogation. If it hadn't asked for an unexpected answer, it should have ended in a few sentences.

Jiang Yuan and Liu Liu Jinghui were also standing in the room listening, their expressions equally solemn.

Captain Han asked Jiang Yuan with his eyes: Is what she said correct?

Jiang Yuan nodded solemnly. From the standard of forensic anthropology alone, the victim's age and height were correct, and the bones in positions like the knees and shoulders indeed showed wear and tear from exercise. ===== CHAPTER 439 =====

Jiang Yuan nodded solemnly. From the standard of forensic anthropology alone, the victim's age and height both match up, and the bones in areas like the knees and shoulders indeed show wear and tear from physical exertion.