Chapter 138: Chapter 137 Because of Love_1
Momo Xia shook her head.
"It’s not a matter of restoration, the driver is wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a hat, with both sides of their face covered by hair, so it’s completely indistinguishable. The vehicle’s plate is also fake. I just did a search, and the number plate doesn’t match the car model at all."
Zhou Ning became interested and hurriedly followed Momo Xia to another computer. A screenshot appeared on the screen. The emblem of the black SUV was indiscernible, but the driver’s face in the screenshot was very clear.
True to what Momo Xia said, the person was wearing sunglasses, and they had shoulder-length curly hair. With such thorough concealment, it was a deliberate disguise. Looking closer, Zhou Ning checked his phone for the traffic police’s accident report and couldn’t find any information about this car.
"No wonder it wasn’t discovered. This car isn’t mentioned in the accident report. Mr. Qu, quickly search the area around the accident site. The plate number might not match, but if we can find a car that fits the model and color, it’ll work."
Mr. Zhao leaned in and took a glance.
"This is a 2010 Honda CR-V. You’ve done a quality enhancement, right? It looks black, but I think it’s not black."
Momo Xia moved closer, nodding continuously.
"I did enhance the quality. This has always been a problem in our phase two analysis. Once the image is restored, colors tend to shift, which albeit slight, can affect identification. Wait a moment, and I’ll pull up the original surveillance footage for you."
As Momo Xia typed, the entire computer screen changed, revealing surveillance footage. She adjusted to a specific time point and began playing it. Indeed, the color of the car appeared slightly lighter than before, but to Zhou Ning, it still seemed to be a nondescript blackish-gray color.
Mr. Zhao raised his hand, and Momo Xia paused the footage. From this angle, they could see the Honda CR-V’s license plate. Following Mr. Zhao’s gestures, Momo Xia zoomed in on the image. Mr. Zhao pointed to the first letter of the plate and the positions of numbers 2, 3, and 5, saying:
"The reflection on the first letter is off, and so are positions 2, 3, and 5. These numbers have been altered using magnetic stickers. Many long-distance drivers, or those who expect to receive many fines, use this trick to maliciously alter their plates. Though traffic police severely punish these offenses, people still manufacture these counterfeit plates.
I think it’s not hard to guess. In the Qindao Area, after the prefix ’Lu,’ one of the starting letters is either ’B’ or ’U.’ Now it shows ’U,’ so by elimination, it must be ’B.’ As for the three numbers, we can conduct a fuzzy search.
For example: now in positions 1 and 4, there are ’J’ and ’9,’ respectively. So, we can search using ’Lu B J**9*’ and look among these vehicles for a dark gray 2010 Honda CR-V. I think that’ll make the search much easier, won’t it?"
Momo Xia was taken aback for a moment, then Mr. Qu leaned in with his hand raised.
"This car came from Jiangshan South Road and headed southwest for about five hundred meters. Near Jimi Cliff, it turned north, and after that, we lost track of the vehicle. I checked, and north of Jimi Cliff there’s a construction site, with several residential developments under construction. Heading further north, there are no cameras."
Mr. Zhao took a look at the map and shook his head repeatedly, drawing Zhou Ning’s attention.
"What have you noticed?"
"It’s pretty clear, the driver knows the area very well. They knew to turn into the construction site. Then they could pass through the village on the north side. After removing their disguise, they could leave and we would no longer be able to monitor them. They must either come here often or have lived in the area."
Zhou Ning patted Mr. Qu on the shoulder.
"No rush, let’s search according to what Mr. Zhao said. I think that will narrow down the field."
As they were talking, Xu Dayuan pushed the door open and came in.
Seeing everyone gathered around the computer, he too leaned over. Liu Yongxin summarized the situation concisely. Xu Dayuan’s face lit up with joy. After all, this was beyond the forensic doctor’s scope of work, and for Zhou Ning and the others to assist with the search was to help him.
"Zhou Xiaozhou, thank you for your efforts. How many similar plate numbers have you found? I’ll have someone check each one."
Mr. Qu used another computer for the search, and soon information for five vehicles appeared—all 2010 Honda CR-Vs with plate numbers falling within the range of ’Lu B J**9*.’ Xu Dayuan gestured, and Mr. Qu had already sent this information to Xu Dayuan’s phone.
Just as the message was forwarded, Mr. Zhao exclaimed.
Although the boy was prone to melodrama, he was reliable at work. Zhou Ning looked over as well, and it turned out that there were not five, but six cars listed in the search; the one that was missed appeared on the next page. The owner’s name, Yu Meili, was particularly eye-catching.
"Yu Meili again? Is this a coincidence?"
Zhou Ning shook his head. He, too, was unable to explain.
"She came to the technical department just yesterday, but it seems she hasn’t appeared today."
"I had Mr. Zeng bring in all these people back to the station. Everyone can dispute the facts, but I want to be thorough. They need to prove where they were from five in the morning until the time of the accident. Which camera can confirm it?" Xu Dayuan said with a frown as he shook his head, then grabbed his phone and dialed a number.
"Mr. Zeng, ask Yu Meili if she owns a black 2010 Honda CR-V."
Mr. Zhao hurried over, gesturing frantically and speaking urgently:
"No, it’s not black. It’s dark gray!"
Xu Dayuan had already turned on the speakerphone, and Mr. Zeng on the other end of the line repeated what Xu Dayuan said. Yu Meili seemed to think for a moment and then asked Mr. Zeng.
"Can I look at my phone? We have many cars and properties. With you asking like this, I really can’t remember."
"Look!"
After a brief pause, Yu Meili hurriedly said:
"I found it—there is one. Huh? I remember it was black, could I have remembered wrong? It’s dark gray? But after I bought that car, I never touched it again. It was previously lent to my cousin on my aunt’s side, and later left in the garage at Hongxiang Garden, never moved since."
"Mr. Xu, there is indeed a dark gray 2010 Honda CR-V under Yu Meili’s name, with the license plate B J0090."
Just as Xu Dayuan was about to speak, Zhou Ning pulled his hand, lowered his voice, and said:
"Xu Da could ask where Yu Meili let Sun Manqing’s ex-wife and the others live?"
Before Xu Dayuan could speak, Mr. Zeng had already asked the question. Such coordination made Zhou Ning somewhat embarrassed. Yu Meili on the other end of the line wasn’t surprised at all and straightaway answered.
"Hongxiang Garden. The houses there are small, but it’s close to Qin University Affiliated Middle School and the People’s Hospital. I have two houses there."
Xu Dayuan narrowed his eyes, reminded by Zhou Ning’s words, and immediately followed up:
"Were the car keys also left at Hongxiang Garden?"
Yu Meili made an affirming sound and then looked puzzled.
"Yeah, what do you mean? Sun Manqing’s ex-wife can’t drive, the old man’s body isn’t convenient, and Sun Yannian isn’t of age yet. Could it be that my car was stolen?"
Xu Dayuan spoke rapidly:
"Put me on speakerphone. I’m going to ask Yu Meili, do you have keys to Hongxiang Garden? Let’s go over and check, see if the car is there. During the accident, another car was also involved in a collision, which looks almost exactly like yours."
"Ah! I have the keys, and I also kept a set for the rooms. As for the garage, it’s a password lock, the code is ******."
Xu Dayuan hung up the call and turned directly towards Zhou Ning and Mr. Zhao.
"Are you guys okay? Come with me to take a look."
At that point, it would have been awkward to claim they were busy. Zhou Ning didn’t waste words and patted Mr. Zhao’s shoulder. Mr. Zhao hurriedly went to retrieve the investigation kit, and they all headed downstairs.
Zhou Ning got into Xu Dayuan’s car and asked:
"Xu Da, has the girlfriend of Zhang Guanglei been found yet?"
The car started moving, and Xu Dayuan nodded.
"Found her. Neighbors reported he had brought his girlfriend home before, saw her a few times, but she hasn’t been around recently. After investigating, the girlfriend’s situation is a bit special, but I took a glance at her family address just now and I, too, was a bit surprised."
Such a remark made Zhou Ning pause. Any surprise indicated that it must somehow be connected to what they were currently investigating.
"Special situation? Could it be that her home is also in Hongxiang Garden?"
Xu Dayuan nodded again.
"Yes, her home is in Hongxiang Garden. I was puzzled. Qindao is so big, yet why did the investigation of two people both relate to Hongxiang Garden? But this girlfriend of Zhang Guanglei’s, she’s older than him."
As he spoke, Xu Dayuan opened his phone, found some information, and showed it to Zhou Ning and Mr. Zhao.
The screen displayed a name, Wang Wenjing, Female, 40 years old, divorced, with a 16-year-old daughter in high school. Next to it was a photo of Wang Wenjing. Mr. Zhao appeared astonished and looked up at Xu Dayuan.
"Is Zhang Guanglei blind? Leaving the young and pretty Yu Meili alone and picking a woman five years his senior, and she even has a teenage daughter. What’s he aiming for? Does Wang Wenjing have money?"
Whack, Xu Dayuan slapped the back of Mr. Zhao’s head, glaring at him fiercely as he said:
"Aiming for what? When a man and a woman take a fancy to each other, do you still need to ask what for? Do you think it’s like making a business investment? Can’t it be just for love?"
Mr. Zhao pouted and muttered at a volume only he and Zhou Ning could hear.
"Heh, how much does love cost per pound? How many girls these days dream of crying in a BMW? How many guys are shouting about wanting to be kept by ’sugar mummies’? Although it’s just a joke, today’s values don’t see anything wrong with that.
It’s for love? Every day there’s a new trick to fear marriage; we don’t even need any special preparation, free news delivered every day. Why need any aspirations? I’m happier being honest and single."
Xu Dayuan glared at him and asked Mr. Zhao:
"What are you mumbling about?"
