The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

At this moment, when he stated this conclusion in a calm and assertive tone, Director Lu, Director Hou, and Zhang Biao present did not immediately express dissent nor easily express agreement, but fell into a brief contemplation individually.

After a moment, Director Hou was the first to break the silence, saying: "Since that’s the case, we’ll retrieve the detailed footprint identification report later and study it carefully once more; this clue is extremely crucial and shouldn’t be treated hastily."

Just as Director Hou finished speaking, Zhang Biao took action. He picked up his phone and quickly dialed the number for Technical Department: "Retrieve all footprint materials related to the double homicide case and send them to the interrogation room at once; we need to verify them on-site."

From the other end of the line came the clear and swift response of a police officer from the Technical Department: "Understood, Captain Zhang, I’ll prepare them immediately and send them over right away."

Within less than 2 minutes, a young officer with a pile of neatly organized documents briskly walked into the interrogation room.

The materials in his hands were just printed footprint distribution analysis charts, which clearly marked the characteristics of various footprints extracted on-site, their trajectory, and their correspondence to the layout of the crime scene.

Zhang Biao took the footprint analysis report, his fingertips slightly pinching the edge of the paper, bowed his head, and carefully scrutinized it.

Moments later, he raised his head and said: "Just from the photographs... the footprint shapes are regular, with even strides, at first glance there seems to be no obvious anomalies."

Saying this, he handed the board with taped photographs of the footprints to Jiang An beside him.

Jiang An reached out to take it, but did not immediately respond.

His gaze lingered on the board for a moment, then he lightly pointed at a spot with his fingertip: "Everyone, look here— from the doorway to the central scene, the footprints were stained intermittently with splatter-like bloodstains as they progressed, which matches the mover’s path."

He paused slightly, tilted the board slightly to let the light illuminate the details more clearly.

"But the key lies in gait features: Note the pressure points and turning marks on these few footprints, distinctly different from our usual walking gait."

As he spoke, he turned slightly to look at Zhang Biao standing beside him: "Zhang, could you please demonstrate— just walk forward a few steps like you usually do."

Zhang Biao stepped forward, walked naturally for about five meters, then stopped.

Jiang An then pointed to the floor: "Director Lu, Director Hou, please observe the footprints left by Zhang: The pressure marks of the forefoot and heel are even, the direction of the toes aligns with the direction of movement, this is typical normal gait."

Then he raised the board again, his fingertip landing on the front of the footprints in the site photo, "But these on-site— especially the third to sixth footprints— show a pronounced inward inclination in the toe area, and uneven weight distribution between forefoot and heel."

"This inward pronated gait characteristic starkly differs from Li Mountain’s walking habit."

Then, Jiang An raised his eyes toward the interrogation room: "A more intuitive method is to conduct a real-time comparison."

"We can observe Li Mountain’s walking posture indoors."

Subsequently, the four pushed open the interrogation room door.

Li Mountain looked up upon hearing, a trace of astonishment flitting across his face.

His gaze swept across the faces of the four, suddenly curled his lip: "All come in... is this to sentence me to death?"

The abruptness of this sentence, even with a touch of inexplicable urgency, simultaneously stunned the four who had just entered— the case was still in the investigation stage, yet he seemed to have already predetermined his own conclusion.

Director Lu’s face suddenly became solemn, his voice lowered, "Your life and death aren’t determined by us personally, nor by your own assumption, the law will deliver a fair judgment."

He stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Li Mountain, "Now, please stand up and walk a circle in the room."

Li Mountain was taken aback, then seemed to have heard something absurd and laughed out loud: "Walking? By walking a few steps, you can tell if it was me who killed the person?"

He shook his head, "This made it like a TV drama... fine, I’ll walk. You tell me how to walk, and I will walk that way."

Saying this, he slowly stood up from the interrogation chair, the sound of handcuffs scraping against the floor created a crisp metallic sound.

However, on Li Mountain’s face, there wasn’t the slightest fear, but instead an unusually relaxed expression, even with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

In the interrogation room, only the sound of his rhythmic footsteps remained, four pairs of eyes closely following each of his footprints falling to the ground.

Sure enough, his walking steps were slightly outward turned.

Director Lu suddenly raised his hand, resolutely interrupted, "Alright, that’s enough."

Li Mountain stopped upon hearing this, very cooperatively turned around, and sat back on the interrogation chair.

Director Lu leaned forward slightly, his gaze solemnly fixed on Li Mountain as he spoke, "I don’t know who you are protecting or covering for, but I hope you can confess everything."

"You must understand, relying on your sole assumption cannot allow the real perpetrator to escape punishment."

"Our criminal investigation relies on evidence chains and factual logic; it won’t stop pursuing the truth due to someone voluntarily taking the blame."

Li Mountain listened and suddenly laughed.

"You are merely looking for the murderer, aren’t you? I admit it, I killed the person."

"I’ve had this disease for a long time, and previously... harmed quite a few people too, perhaps a deep sin."

"I just want to die soon, reincarnate soon, in the next life have a healthy body— is this wrong too?"

Just as his words ended, Director Hou interjected: "Seeking relief itself isn’t wrong, it can even be seen as a form of self-redemption."

"But my concern is that the true demon remains at large, and you, are just a scapegoat."

Director Hou’s words plunged the interrogation room into silence once again.

After 10 seconds, the four left the interrogation room one after another, the door closing gently behind them.

Director Lu took out a box of cigarettes from his pant pocket, drew a few, and handed them to Director Hou, Jiang An, and Zhang Biao separately.

Jiang An never touches cigarettes, courteously waved his hand: "Thanks, I don’t smoke."

Director Lu didn’t insist, retrieved the cigarettes, put one in his mouth, and lit one for Director Hou and Zhang Biao.

The three leaned against the wall, silently smoking.

The smoke curled up in the dim light, gradually dispersing, spreading a bitter scent in the air.

After a long time, Director Hou slowly spoke: "Now, it can basically be confirmed— he isn’t the murderer."

At this moment, Zhang Biao was the most excited.

He clapped his hands, his voice exceptionally clear: "If he isn’t the real suspect, then who could the suspect be?"

"What’s even more puzzling is, since he isn’t the culprit, why is he going to such lengths to protect others? What’s really hidden behind this?"

Jiang An slowly opened his mouth: "Indeed, if he isn’t the suspect, yet insists on shielding others, from the perspective of behavioral psychology, this usually signifies he’s taking the blame for someone."

"And there’s only one reason compelling someone to sacrificially bear the blame— the person he’s protecting is of utmost importance to him, significant enough for him to relinquish everything, including his own innocence and freedom."

Jiang An paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across everyone present, continued: "Therefore, I believe the next investigation should focus on Li Mountain’s social relations and family background, especially his family members and intimate interpersonal networks."

"We need to delve deeper into whom he is actually protecting."

Zhang Biao frowned upon hearing this, his tone carrying confusion: "But didn’t we ask before? He’s divorced, separated from his ex-wife many years ago, and he himself said he has no children."

"He said he doesn’t, should we trust it completely?"

At this moment, Director Lu’s calm voice sounded, "Investigation shouldn’t halt at surface declarations."

"Next, we must thoroughly check all of Li Mountain’s kinships, especially the specifics of his ex-wife, and whether there are children— whether born in wedlock or not, we need to verify each."

"Just like Mr. Jiang analyzed just now, if someone can decisively take all guilt, even without fear of death, then the one he’s fervently guarding must be someone vitally important in his life."

"This clue is very likely the key for us to break through the case."

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