Diary of a Criminal Investigator

Chapter 726: Tracking the Fugitive

Ten days ago, which was just under a week after Lu Chuan took office in the High-tech Zone Criminal Investigation Team.A heinous family massacre occurred in Penghu County.

A family of three was brutally murdered at home.

Among them were two newlyweds, and the other was the groom’s mother.

Although Lu Chuan hadn’t been to the scene, he had read the internal police case report.

The killer’s methods were extremely brutal.

The male victim was found tied to a chair, with multiple bruises and stab wounds, as well as broken bones.

He clearly suffered multiple tortures before being killed.

The female victim was found in a bedroom on the bed.

There were clear signs of assault.

The cause of death was asphyxiation.

And according to the autopsy report, the female victim was strangled to death while being assaulted.

Moreover, the perpetrator did not stop the assault even after the victim’s death.

Additionally, in the living room, in front of the chair where the male victim was tied, there were also clear signs of assault on the female victim.

The male victim’s mother was killed in the kitchen.

She had a knife wound to the neck, with a ruptured carotid artery, leading to death by blood loss.

The nature of this case was so heinous that it immediately caught the attention of the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau.

The Haizhou City Criminal Investigation Team intervened directly in the case.

And soon made a breakthrough.

A surveillance camera at a supermarket near the crime scene captured a side profile of a suspected criminal.

Based on this, an internal wanted notice was issued.

Lu Chuan had carefully examined the wanted photo a week ago.

The suspect had thick hair and wore gold-rimmed glasses; although only a side profile was visible, he gave off a strong scholarly aura.

Just now, after the bald man finished ordering his food, the young man who came in with him happened to sit diagonally across from Lu Chuan.

He revealed half of his face.

That half face immediately reminded Lu Chuan of the half-face wanted photo.

After they sat down, the bald man poured tea and spoke.

"Brother, let me tell you, this Fourth Wang’s Pig Slaughterhouse is the most famous pig slaughterhouse in Haizhou City."

"You should try it; it’s absolutely amazing..."

The young man turned his head and while talking to the bald man, caught a glimpse of Lu Chuan’s table.

Working in the Criminal Investigation Team, Lu Chuan often needed to work outside, so he rarely wore a police uniform recently and was dressed in plain clothes.

Liu Guodong and Old Bai were also in plain clothes, but Yang Lin and Yang Sen didn’t have time to change before they came out, so they were still in police uniforms.

The young man and Lu Chuan exchanged glances, and both quickly looked away.

"Brother, I’m going to the bathroom."

"Alright, it’s over by the kitchen, go ahead."

After saying this, the young man got up and left.

Lu Chuan frowned slightly.

He had now basically confirmed that this person was the wanted criminal from the Penghu County family massacre.

However, he didn’t plan to arrest him here just now.

The restaurant was crowded and noisy, with many women and children around.

Acting here, if an accident occurred, there would be no time for regrets.

So, Lu Chuan wanted to wait for the suspect to leave before taking action.

This would also give him time to call for backup.

"I’ll go to the bathroom too."

But that glance earlier made Lu Chuan suspect that the suspect had become suspicious.

Although Liu Guodong and the others hadn’t noticed this person,

the suspect must have been wary after seeing Yang Lin and Yang Sen in police uniforms.

So when Lu Chuan saw the suspect stand up, he got up too.

This criminal was extremely cunning.

Committing such a serious crime in Penghu County, and even under such a massive pursuit, he had managed to swagger into Haizhou City.

Either he was a fool, or he had some serious skills.

And Lu Chuan believed it was definitely the latter.

Otherwise, he couldn’t have escaped from Penghu County.

The dining hall of Fourth Wang’s Pig Slaughterhouse was quite large.

It held twelve tables, eight of which were occupied.

Lu Chuan and his colleagues were seated near the window close to the entrance.

The bald man and the young man were sitting at a table next to theirs, also near the entrance.

To get to the restroom from there, one needed to walk further inside.

This would mean passing six other occupied tables.

They were about four or five meters apart, one after the other.

Lu Chuan was primarily concerned that the suspect might escape through the back door.

So, he discreetly followed.

But it was at this moment that the unexpected happened.

The young man suddenly turned around, grabbed a little girl from a nearby table, and swiftly drew a shiny knife from his pocket with his right hand.

"Don’t come any closer!"

"If you come any closer, I’ll kill her!"

The incident happened so quickly that although Lu Chuan sensed the suspect’s movement, it was too late to stop it.

The little girl the suspect had just taken hostage was right next to him.

The suspect turned and acted in a heartbeat.

Damn it!

Lu Chuan cursed silently, but at this moment, there was no other option.

"Who are you?! Let go of my daughter!"

At this moment, the others at the table reacted and started yelling.

"Everyone stay the hell back!"

"Anyone moves, and I’ll kill her!"

"Make that cop get lost!"

At this point, Liu Guodong and the others noticed the situation and rushed over.

"Lu Chuan, what’s going on?"

"The Penghu County massacre, it was him!"

The Penghu County massacre?

Isn’t that the case the team is focusing all its efforts on?

For the past few days, Qin Yong and Zhang Hui have been stationed in Penghu County just to catch this person.

Unexpectedly, he had fled to Haizhou City.

Liu Guodong, always experienced, had noticed both the young man and the bald man when they walked in.

Quickly returning, he pinned the still-bewildered bald man.

Taking one hostage is bad enough; if both take a hostage, it’s game over.

"Brother! What’s going on?"

The bald man was bewildered.

He was just treating his cousin to a meal, trying to impress him.

How did it end up like this?

"Everyone stay still, clear the room! That man is a wanted murderer!"

"Old Bai, evacuate the crowd!"

During the standoff, the young man already brought the girl to a corner.

The bright knife was now pressed against the girl’s neck.

The girl, probably twelve or thirteen, was already crying in fear.

"Easy, she’s having trouble breathing!"

Lu Chuan had already drawn his gun, barking a command.

"Hehe! So what, you dare shoot? If I go down, she goes down with me!"

The young man widened his eyes, ready for mutual destruction.

"My daughter! My daughter!"

The girl’s parents were pulled aside by Old Bai and others.

At this moment, no outsiders should be at the scene.

"Let’s talk, holding a girl hostage won’t help you."

"How about this, take me instead, I’ll trade places with her!"

"You?!"

"You think I’m stupid? Is it easier to control an adult cop or a little girl?"

The man, emotionally charged, yet thinking clearly.

He outright rejected Lu Chuan’s suggestion!