Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Seven Fingerprints

It was still the same process of image layering and mathematical transformation.

The fingerprints collected by Lu Chuan this time were mostly smudged and blurred, so the processing method was quite similar.

However, compared to just now, the computer’s calculation speed was somewhat lagging this time.

Running both the fingerprint matching system and the PS image processing software at the same time made the computer somewhat overburdened.

In less than a minute, the roar of the cooling fan started to echo.

Lu Chuan didn’t mind; this was the normal working condition of the computer.

Otherwise, what would be the purpose of the cooling fan?

The sound proved that the work was being done properly.

The humming roar continued as Lu Chuan’s analysis went on.

Ding!

The uniquely pleasant sound of a successful match from the fingerprint system was quite melodious.

“Teacher Lu… the match was successful…”

The notification sound startled Hu Xiaoyue, who had been watching from behind, but it didn’t wake Lu Chuan, who was processing the fingerprints.

Hu Xiaoyue couldn’t help but remind him.

Only then did Lu Chuan turn back in a daze: “You are…”

“Hello, Teacher Lu, my name is Hu Xiaoyue, and I’m a detective from the Crime Scene Investigation office of the Binzhou City Criminal Investigation Team.”

Hu Xiaoyue was elegantly confident, and when she smiled, two small dimples appeared. She gently raised both hands, indicating the teacup in her hand.

“I just poured you some tea… but seeing you busy with the fingerprints, I didn’t dare to disturb you.”

“Oh,” Lu Chuan genuinely hadn’t noticed this policewoman: “Sorry, Officer Hu, I was busy and didn’t notice you.”

“Also, you don’t need to call me teacher. Just call me Lu or Lu Chuan.”

After greeting, Lu Chuan had no desire to continue chatting.

At this moment, processing of the second fingerprint had reached a critical point, just a bit away from completion.

Hu Xiaoyue gently nodded: “I just heard the system notification sound. It should mean you successfully matched the fingerprint.”

After reminding Lu Chuan, Hu Xiaoyue turned and left; the tea in the cup had cooled and needed to be replaced.

“Thank you.”

After thanking her, Lu Chuan turned back to the computer and continued with the final preprocessing operation on the second fingerprint.

The keyboard clattered intermittently, accompanied by the roar of the computer fan, creating a slightly orchestral feel.

All members of the task force were busy.

This was a coordinated grand operation.

Criminal investigation, economic investigation, technical police units, and dozens of others were working together in a coordinated effort.

However, having more people doesn’t necessarily mean effectiveness, just as the truth is often held by a few.

Most of the time, those involved in solving the case considered it merely work.

The discovery of critical clues sometimes requires a bit of luck, but most of the time it requires persistence.

Half-past midnight.

Ding!

The system rang its melodious notification sound for the seventh time, marking the seventh successful fingerprint match.

Out of thirteen fingerprints, Lu Chuan had successfully matched seven!

The report freshly out of the printer was still warm, and the information of four individuals was displayed before Lu Chuan.

Of the thirteen fingerprints, two belonged to Chen Gang.

Clearly, he had left quite a few traces in the basement.

Besides him, the information of three other individuals was matched, proving they had been to this basement before.

However, six fingerprints remained unmatched.

“These six fingerprints’ subjects are not in the fingerprint database.”

Lu Chuan was confident in his fingerprint preprocessing, as the thirteen fingerprints were similarly blurred.

The fingerprints obtained after preprocessing were also similar; it didn’t make sense for seven to match and six not to.

The only possibility was that the owners of these six fingerprints hadn’t had their fingerprint information entered into the database.

However, even so, the seven fingerprints locking onto four people was already sufficient.

The DNA analysis results had not yet come out, but Wang Hao and others were not busy, as most of the samples extracted from the basement’s brick seams, sewers, and sinks had completed preprocessing.

Now they just awaited the results from the instruments.

In the conference room.

Lu Chuan handed the seven fingerprint identification analysis reports to Li Donglin.

At that moment, Li Donglin’s eyes shone like a wolf’s: “Good!”

“Very good!”

Li Donglin had seen the fingerprints brought back by Lu Chuan.

To be honest, he didn’t hold much hope for Lu Chuan.

Fingerprints blurred to the point where the lines were indistinguishable, even if he personally conducted the analysis at his peak, he couldn’t guarantee success.

When Qin Yong of the Haizhou City Criminal Investigation Team recommended him, Li Donglin had concerns, thinking he was some high official’s child.

If he hadn’t seen some of Lu Chuan’s data and known about his outstanding performance in several major cases, Li Donglin wouldn’t have readily agreed to let Lu Chuan join the task force.

Now, that decision seemed very wise.

Lu Chuan had an impressive mastery of fingerprint identification.

It appeared that during the next fingerprint battle organized by the provincial department, Lu Chuan would certainly shine.

“Immediately check the information of these three people!”

Among the four people Lu Chuan had successfully matched, one was Chen Gang.

Now he was already shackled in the interrogation room.

Although this guy still refused to say anything, with Wang Manli’s accusation and the fingerprint evidence, even with zero confession, it was enough for a conviction.

“Director Li, Wang Hao and the others are still conducting DNA analysis, and results should be available soon.”

“I will conduct an inspection of Chen Gang’s BMW car first thing tomorrow morning.”

Li Donglin nodded: “Chen Gang likely used that BMW to transport Gao Sheng from Haizhou City to Binzhou City.”

“There should be traces left in the car.”

Lu Chuan nodded, agreeing with that assessment.

This would further confirm Chen Gang’s criminal activities.

Additionally, Lu Chuan needed to take samples of the vehicle’s tire marks.

These need to be compared with the tire tracks collected by Lu Chuan last week on the mountain road in Xinjian Village. Once confirmed as the same, it would complete the evidence loop for Wang Manli’s account.

“Fine, rest well tonight, and conduct the crime scene investigation tomorrow at dawn.”

Li Donglin, with a technical background, was familiar with crime scene investigation and trace inspection work.

He understood the immense workload Lu Chuan had that day.

A basement over a hundred square meters, thoroughly wiped, was exhausting enough.

Not to mention conducting a footprint analysis and identifying thirteen challenging fingerprints.

Lu Chuan was young and physically fit; if it were him, he might not have endured.

After all, the mental demand of fingerprint identification analysis was something Li Donglin knew all too well.

An uneventful night; after a good sleep at the guesthouse, Lu Chuan was full of energy the next morning.

Chen Gang’s BMW car had been towed from the villa to the Criminal Investigation Team and was now in the backyard.

After breakfast, Lu Chuan carried his crime scene investigation kit to the yard, ready to inspect the imported BMW car.

The first task was to extract the tire marks of the vehicle.

With the camera out, Lu Chuan began to take photos.

At the mountain scene, out of the positional, general, central, and detail photography methods in crime scene photography, Lu Chuan chose central and detail photography.

This time was no exception.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep