Diary of a Criminal Investigator

Chapter 720: Taohua Villa District

Wang Tao was hearing for the first time from his brother-in-law about the common knowledge regarding tattoos.To be honest, it somewhat shattered Wang Tao’s previous understanding.

Over these years, Wang Tao had been working in the Criminal Investigation Team, involved in numerous cases and had apprehended quite a few people.

Especially during those earlier years when the social security environment wasn’t good, a lot of gangsters and shady individuals had tattoos.

Back then, it seemed like not getting a dragon, a leopard inked wasn’t considered being part of the underworld.

Therefore, tattoos became associated with people who were up to no good.

Now, the situation has changed significantly.

People truly doing bad things rarely have tattoos.

Perhaps they are afraid of being too conspicuous.

Those who hang around with a bare chest at night wearing a dragon, a tiger, a leopard are becoming fewer.

Conversely, many white-collar workers and university students now have more tattoos.

Leaving Sancho’s tattoo parlor, Wang Tao and his colleague headed straight to the three tattoo shops mentioned by Sancho.

"This... we have done this kind of tattoo."

In response to the police inquiry, the tattoo artist in the shop spoke frankly.

"Because it’s quite expensive, tattooing a Black-Veined Gold-Spotted Butterfly costs twenty-eight thousand, so very few people get it."

"These are the membership records."

"There are only three people."

At the first tattoo shop, Wang Tao found three people who had the Black-Veined Gold-Spotted Butterfly tattoo.

However, judging by the age information, none matched with the victim’s situation.

"Let’s go to the next one."

But unfortunately, in the second tattoo shop, Wang Chao didn’t find anyone with a Black-Veined Gold-Spotted Butterfly tattoo.

"Brother Wang, the third place is the last one."

"Will there be any outcome?"

"How would we know?"

"Though the person died here, where the tattoo was inked isn’t known, if it wasn’t done in Haizhou City, then it’s still untraceable."

That was what Wang Tao was most worried about.

If the deceased’s tattoo wasn’t inked in Haizhou City, then further investigation on this clue would be very difficult.

Initially, Wang Tao didn’t give this clue much importance.

It’s just a tattoo, you could get one anywhere.

Just in Haizhou City alone, there were dozens of tattoo shops, getting one done randomly would make it impossible to track.

Moreover, no one knew how long ago the tattoo was done.

What if it was done in the past, and the shop is closed now?

If not for the information provided by Sancho, Wang Tao thought pursuing this investigation would be too difficult.

Maiqing Tattoo Studio.

Looking up at the signboard, this was the last of the three tattoo shops Sancho mentioned that could do the Black-Veined Gold-Spotted Butterfly tattoo.

"Hello, are you here for a tattoo?"

Unexpectedly, the tattoo artist in the studio was a clean, decent-looking girl with big glasses.

Looking at her, she seemed to be in her twenties.

"Are you... the tattoo artist?"

Wang Tao confirmed her identity.

"Yes, this is my tattoo shop."

The girl nodded: "Are you here for a tattoo?"

Wang Tao shook his head, took out his credentials: "We are from the High-tech District Criminal Investigation Team."

"We would like to ask for your cooperation in some work."

Gao Jing suddenly understood.

So they were police officers, no wonder they didn’t look like they were here for tattoos.

Although Gao Jing looked young, she was nearly 30 years old, and had been in the tattoo industry for seven or eight years.

In the tattoo circles of Haizhou City, Gao Jing’s shop was among the top few.

Many advanced tattoos were Gao Jing’s specialty.

Tattoo shops ranked among the top in Haizhou City each had their own characteristics.

For instance, Sancho’s tattoo shop specialized in bio-pigments.

The couple themselves were art teachers who resigned to do this, which was a kind of gimmick.

Gao Jing’s shop had a few special tattoos that only she could do in the entire city.

To the police, Gao Jing was not unfamiliar.

Every year, there were a few times they came for investigations.

"Sure, no problem."

Wang Tao’s colleague took out a photograph: "Do you recognize this tattoo?"

Gao Jing took the photo and examined it carefully: "This... is my work."

Hmm?

Wang Tao and his colleague were taken aback, and then they were overjoyed.

Oh damn!

Finally found it.

"Are you certain?"

Wang Tao continued to ask.

Gao Jing nodded: "I’m sure."

"Because people who get this Black-Veined Gold-Spotted Butterfly tattoo are very few, it’s particularly expensive, and every tattoo artist incorporates some of their own symbols in special tattoo designs, I can tell at a glance this is my work."

"Great, do you have any information about this person?"

"I don’t have it."

"Hmm?"

Wang Tao was puzzled.

The point of investigating the tattoo was to identify the deceased.

But you say you don’t have information on this person?

"Doesn’t your shop have some sort of membership system?"

Previous tattoo shops had membership systems, it wouldn’t make sense if this one didn’t.

"We do, but the person with this tattoo didn’t sign up for membership."

Gao Jing confidently replied: "This person was a door-to-door service request."

"Recommended by a friend."

"Door-to-door service? Do you remember the place?"

Gao Jing nodded: "I do."

"Although this tattoo was inked last year, the family was very wealthy."

"They lived in the Taohua Villa District, so I remember it distinctly."

Taohua Villa District?

Wang Tao knew this place, it was one of the more famous villa districts in Haizhou City.

Not far from the city center, it’s said the environment there is excellent, with many peach trees planted.

In spring, the peach blossoms cover the hills, looking splendid.

Back then, the overwhelming real estate ads were so intense that even a detective like Wang Tao noticed, which showed how aggressively they promoted it.

"Do you remember which building?"

"I can’t recall the exact one, but if I went, I would surely be able to find it."

After receiving this clue, Wang Tao immediately called the team leader Sun Biao.

"Found it?"

Sun Biao was currently in Lu Chuan’s office reporting work.

Unexpectedly, Wang Tao found such a significant clue.

"In that case, take that tattoo artist to Taohua Villas immediately, I’ll report to Captain Lu and head over as well."

Hanging up, Sun Biao quickly reported: "Captain Lu, the team members investigating the tattoo have found a clue."

"The tattoo artist went to the deceased’s house last year and did the tattoo, it’s in the Taohua Villa District."

"Do you want to go over and take a look?"

"Let’s go, let’s go together."

Identifying the deceased is the most important clue right now.

Lu Chuan wanted to go and take a look for sure.

Half an hour later.

Taohua Villa District.

When Lu Chuan and Sun Biao arrived, Wang Tao was already at the villa entrance waiting to receive them.

"Captain Lu, Captain Sun, the place has been found, villa number 17, a semi-detached villa, the property manager has been consulted."

"The name registered on the property is Chen Weiwei, she is the owner."

"Let’s go, have a look."

Villa 17 was a semi-detached villa, one building, two households.

"Is anyone living next door?"

"There are two retired teachers living there, but the property is registered under their son’s name."

"The adjacent villa is occupied by Chen Weiwei herself, according to the property management records."

At the villa gate, Lu Chuan didn’t push the door open but started a meticulous observation.