As night fell, the hustle and bustle of the city gradually gave way to a profound silence. Streetlights cast long shadows, as though hiding countless untold stories. At this moment, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing were investigating the mysterious letter case. Just as they thought they were beginning to make headway, a new and ominous piece of news shattered the calm.
"The witness is dead." Lin Shen's voice came urgently over the phone. "He was found dead at his home tonight."
This witness was a key figure in their investigation into the mysterious letter. He had once been the assistant to a middle-aged businessman and possessed crucial evidence linking him to a criminal organization. Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing had placed high hopes on him, planning to use his testimony to unravel the truth behind the mysterious letter. But now, just when they needed him the most, he had been murdered.
"What was the cause of death?" Lu Chenzhou asked quickly, a sense of foreboding rising in his chest.
"We don't know yet. The body is still being examined," Lin Shen responded briefly, then added, "But what's worth noting is that the method of murder resembles that of an unsolved case."
Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. An unsolved case—this could mean the work of a serial killer. She immediately recalled several past cases where victims had been murdered late at night with a unique method that left no direct evidence behind. The most striking detail was that the victims' bodies had been arranged in specific poses, seemingly to convey a hidden message.
"We need to go to the scene," Lu Chenzhou said firmly. "We have to confirm the situation as quickly as possible."
Minutes later, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing arrived at the witness's house. Police had already cordoned off the area, and several officers were standing guard. Lin Shen was at the door and quickly led them inside.
"The body is on the second floor," Lin Shen said as he guided them into the house. He appeared to have already gathered the preliminary details. "The bloodstains at the scene are quite evident, but the murder weapon hasn't been found. What we can confirm is that the wound on the victim's chest is very similar to those in the previous case."
Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing followed Lin Shen upstairs, where the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant, and the atmosphere was heavy with death. The victim was lying on the living room floor, surrounded by scattered documents and debris. The body was positioned strangely, with the arms slightly bent as if trying to embrace something, yet upon closer inspection, it was clear that his hands weren't gripping anything.
Su Wanqing crouched down and examined the body carefully. The wound on the chest was not large, but it was fatal. There was no significant bleeding around the wound; instead, there were strange dried traces, as if the killer had done something to the wound.
"This is similar to the position of the victim in the previous case," Su Wanqing murmured, a hint of alertness in her eyes. "The killer deliberately created a disguise, trying to make us believe this is just a regular murder."
"But regardless, this is still a murder," Lu Chenzhou added. He moved closer to the body, pondered for a moment, and then continued, "This isn't a simple theft motive—it feels more like a provocation."
They continued searching the scene but found no other valuable clues. That was until Su Wanqing noticed a piece of paper on the floor. The edges were slightly damp, suggesting it had been placed there for some time. She carefully picked it up, and saw a few lines written on it:
"You're getting closer to the truth, but you'll never catch me."
Su Wanqing's heart raced as she tightly gripped the paper and turned to Lu Chenzhou. "It's him, the serial killer."
Lu Chenzhou furrowed his brows. "It seems we've been overlooking this enemy. He's not just committing crimes; he's using these cases to provoke us."
Lin Shen also came over, looked at the paper, and said solemnly, "If this is the work of a serial killer, we need to quickly figure out his modus operandi. Every case holds a piece of his thinking, and we can't let him lead us by the nose any longer."
Lu Chenzhou stared at the paper, his expression grim. "He's been watching us, knowing every move we make. We need to find a way to fight back and not let him continue controlling the narrative."
As the night deepened, the tension in the air grew palpable. Su Wanqing and Lu Chenzhou remained on high alert as they continued to analyze the case, searching for any possible clues. Just then, Lu Chenzhou's phone rang.
"We've found a new lead five kilometers away," Lin Shen's voice came urgently through the phone. "We just received a tip—someone saw a suspicious car in the area. There seems to be blood inside, and it could be connected to the case."
"No more waiting. Let's go now," Lu Chenzhou immediately hung up the phone and instructed Su Wanqing to follow him.
They quickly drove to the location. As time passed, every member of the police force was working diligently for this manhunt. The target wasn't just capturing the killer; it was also uncovering the truth behind the mysterious letter.
The car stopped at the reported location, a dimly lit street devoid of people. Police had traced the suspicious vehicle's movements through street surveillance footage. The car had slowly driven through the area before disappearing into the night.
Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing, along with their team, searched the vicinity for any signs. Near an abandoned warehouse, they finally found the suspicious vehicle. Bloodstains and broken items inside the car seemed to point toward the killer's next move.
"We need to be careful; this time, the killer won't be so easy to catch," Lu Chenzhou said with a hint of wariness in his eyes. "He must have realized our actions, and now we need to be even more cautious."
In the dead of night, the manhunt continued, and the case became even more elusive. In this race against time, Lu Chenzhou and Su Wanqing not only had to unravel the mystery of the letter but also face the challenge of a serial killer. Under the cover of darkness, every move the killer made carried a strong sense of provocation. Whether they could catch the enemy hidden in the shadows remained uncertain.
This pursuit was not just about capturing the killer—it was a test of their limits. The truth behind the case seemed to be closing in on them...