Chapter 44: Target

Du Long took a taxi to the South Railway Station. Across the street from the station, the Jinma Hotel, a three-star establishment, was neither too high-end nor too low, consistent with Du Long's expectations.

Du Long was about to call Huang Jiehao to see where he was when he suddenly saw the passenger window of a dusty minivan in the hotel's parking area roll down, and Huang Jiehao's face appeared, waving at Du Long.

Du Long quickly walked over, and the side door of the minivan slid open. Du Long immediately got in.

In the car, besides Huang Jiehao, there were Liu Yong'an, who was driving, Meng Hao, who was responsible for communications and monitoring the camera footage, and Shen Bingqing, the younger brother of Deputy Team Leader Shen Yujie, whom Du Long had also met. They were all in civilian clothes. Meng Hao and Liu Yong'an greeted Du Long, while Shen Bingqing just nodded.

Du Long smiled and greeted them, then said to Huang Jiehao, "Captain Huang, how's the situation?"

Huang Jiehao replied, "We've been keeping an eye on him since last night, and so far, he hasn't shown any signs of movement. He's been online all the time. The beautiful lady from the Cyber Surveillance Department is monitoring all his data from the server room in the hotel."

Meng Hao said proudly, "I had to work hard to get her to come. The Cyber Surveillance Department originally planned to send a fat guy, hehe. We also worked together to install a few cameras in his room when he went out for breakfast. Except for his chat content, every move he makes is under our surveillance."

Du Long curiously glanced at the surveillance video and saw a middle-aged man sitting cross-legged on the bed, playing with a laptop. The laptop on his knees was a light-colored HP 13-inch ultrabook.

Huang Jiehao handed Du Long a stack of documents and said, "Take a look at this guy's information. Is there anything wrong with it?"

Du Long took the documents and read them carefully. He noticed Shen Bingqing stretching his neck from the back seat to look. Du Long realized that Huang Jiehao hadn't shown these documents to Shen Bingqing. Du Long felt a bit smug: I'm valued for my abilities, while you, a pretty boy who got in through connections, should step aside.

Du Long leaned forward, deliberately covering most of the documents, making Shen Bingqing very frustrated. While annoying Shen Bingqing, Du Long didn't forget his task. He read through the documents carefully and then said confidently, "It's him, no doubt about it."

Huang Jiehao deliberately asked, "Why? It could just be a coincidence. This guy's identity and income are quite different from our previous assessment."

Du Long replied, "There aren't that many coincidences in the world. The first victim was killed on the day he registered at the hotel, and the hotel records show he wasn't there during that time. The time recorded on his key card indicates he was gone for four hours, which is enough time to commit a murder and dispose of the body. His behavior during his stay at the hotel matches our assessment. He even had all his meals delivered to his room, except for today's breakfast... Did you arrange for him to be called away? The time he left the hotel the day before yesterday matches the time of the second murder. The brand, color, and shape of the laptop he has are very similar to the one taken from the first victim..."

Du Long cleared his throat and continued, "The fact that his identity and income don't match our previous assessment actually reinforces my belief that he is the killer."

Huang Jiehao raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? Why? Explain it to us."

Du Long said, "This guy has been unemployed for two years and has been idle. He came to Yuming City without looking for a job or visiting friends or relatives, and he's staying at a three-star hotel. These things are already very suspicious. If my assessment is correct, he must be someone who aspires to a middle-to-upper-class lifestyle but is unrealistic and unwilling to work hard. Perhaps a failed relationship... especially an online relationship... has turned all his dreams into hatred. Maybe he can't find the original person, so he has shifted his hatred to other similar female netizens. This is just my opinion, and I welcome your corrections."

Huang Jiehao didn't speak, but he looked at Meng Hao, Liu Yong'an, and Shen Bingqing and smiled, "What do you think?"

Meng Hao and Liu Yong'an were thinking when Shen Bingqing said, "I haven't seen the documents, but I think what Du Long said earlier makes a lot of sense. This guy, Ye Guangtian, is definitely the killer. However, Du Long's final speculations are questionable. I think these speculations lack evidence and are too speculative. We should wait until we catch the criminal to analyze his motives."

Liu Yong'an said, "I agree with Shen Bingqing. We currently lack evidence to support Du Long's speculations, but the killer is unlikely to be anyone else."

Meng Hao, who was more familiar with Du Long, chuckled and said, "I think Du Long's analysis is very reasonable. The killer is undoubtedly Ye Guangtian, no doubt about it. As for the reason for Ye Guangtian's killings, according to the data provided by the beautiful lady, Yue Bingfeng, this guy's chat records with the second victim show that he had just experienced a failed relationship, and his tone was very sad. His request to meet the net friend at home was eventually successful, so I think Du Long's analysis is very reasonable."

Huang Jiehao smiled and said, "Everyone has made good points. The killer is likely this guy. Since Du Long's insights and discoveries have been leading the breakthroughs in this case, his analysis of the killer's psychological changes is reasonable. Regardless of why the killer is doing this, our job is to catch him. Once we get him to the interrogation room, we can get to the bottom of it."

Du Long returned the documents to Huang Jiehao and smiled, "I've already said I'm here to learn. Captain Huang insisted I give my opinion, so I just talked nonsense. Captain Huang, when will we be able to arrest him?"

Huang Jiehao said, "We currently don't have direct evidence pointing to the target, so we can't tip him off. We need to catch him in the act when he makes his next move."

Du Long frowned slightly and said, "In that case... won't the killer's third target be in danger?"

Huang Jiehao said, "As long as we make proper arrangements, there won't be much danger. I and Old Chen have already made the arrangements. When the killer makes his move, we'll try to delay him. Once the beautiful lady, Yue Bingfeng, determines the location of the killer's next target, we'll rush there first to persuade the target and arrange for two police officers to hide in her home. Once the killer reveals himself, we'll pounce and catch him. The killer uses his hands to strangle, not a knife, so the danger to the target should be minimal."

Du Long nodded. Since everything was arranged, he would just follow and learn.

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