SFTD -Chapter 188 A Severed Thumb (Part 18)

All the officers hurried toward the source of the scream, while crowds of students began gathering around.

Chu Menghan was unbelievably fast. Even in high heels, she outran most men, sprinting straight up the steps of the main teaching building while holding up her badge and shouting loudly,

“Police! Everyone step back!”

Wang Man and the others arrived right behind her, quickly organizing officers to maintain order. Zhou Hai wasn’t nearly as fast, but even from a distance he could already see scattered chunks of flesh, bones, and cardboard boxes strewn across the steps and the platform in front of the building.

He looked up toward the rooftop and seemed to catch sight of a figure flashing past.

“Deputy Captain Wang, get the school security guards here immediately. Seal every entrance and exit of the teaching building—nobody goes in or out. Gather all students outside at the east parking lot. Chu Menghan, we’re going upstairs. He’s on the rooftop!”

As Zhou Hai shouted his orders, Wang Man immediately mobilized everyone.

One group secured the scene while another rushed toward the building entrances to lock them down.

The security guards were fairly responsible and quickly pointed out the building’s four exits to Wang Man, assigning people to guide the officers there.

Though Xu Biao was slower, he still chased after Zhou Hai and Chu Menghan up the stairs. Xiao Zeng dragged the security captain along at full speed since he was familiar with the building layout.

The building had five floors. By the time they reached the rooftop, a lookout-tower-like half-story structure appeared before them.

At the entrance to the rooftop platform was a door. The massive iron bolt was still inserted, though badly rusted, clearly showing it was rarely opened. However, the padlock hanging above it had already been sawed apart and lay on the ground.

Panting heavily, Xu Biao stepped forward and picked up the broken lock pieces.

The security captain tried to move closer, but Xiao Zeng pulled him back behind them. Meanwhile, Chu Menghan had already led the charge forward.

“Stay here and wait. We’ll check things out. If any students come up, don’t let them pass.”

The security captain’s expression stiffened. He nodded forcefully and grabbed the iron bolt with one hand.

“Understood. I’ll guard this place. This is the only entrance to the rooftop platform.”

Zhou Hai glanced at him.

“Is there an external ladder somewhere people can climb down from?”

The captain froze.

“Oh no… there is one at the northwest corner, but it’s over three meters off the ground!”

Before he could react further, Zhou Hai had already dialed Wang Man’s number.

“Captain Wang, send several officers to the northwest corner of the main teaching building. There’s an external ladder there someone could use to climb down.”

“Understood!”

Only then did Zhou Hai and Xu Biao step onto the rooftop platform.

They rushed to the southern side and looked downward, quickly locating the area where the dismembered remains had been thrown below.

A water-stained cardboard box lay discarded on the ground, already torn to pieces.

Xu Biao immediately examined the cardboard for traces of adhesive tape, but unfortunately the box was brand new and had never been taped shut.

Beside it was a length of glass-fiber rope, likely used to tie the box together.

It seemed the killer had been extremely cautious, knowing that adhesive tape could leave fingerprints behind.

Zhou Hai pushed aside the officers blocking the way.

“Let Xu Biao take a look and see whether any traces were left behind.”

As he spoke, he pulled Chu Menghan aside.

“The rooftop is completely exposed. Nobody could hide here now. The real question is: where did the killer escape to?”

Chu Menghan naturally understood and quickly headed toward the northwest corner.

At that moment, Zhou Hai’s phone rang.

It was Wang Man.

A bad feeling settled in Zhou Hai’s chest as he answered.

“Hello?”

“Forensic Doctor Zhou, near the northwest corner wall and the bushes, we found a pair of blue latex gloves, a blue coat, and a black baseball cap. These things seem to have been deliberately scattered in different directions, so we can’t determine which way he went. Should I start checking the surveillance footage now?”

Chu Menghan climbed onto the tall barrier wall and got a clear view of the situation below. She jumped back down and snatched the phone away.

“With so little time passed, he can’t have gotten far. Check the surveillance immediately! Pull everyone from the entrances and search carefully. Even if we have to turn the entire school upside down, we’re finding him!”

Zhou Hai grabbed her wrist.

“Why are you getting so impatient? Just because there are things below doesn’t mean the killer definitely escaped from there. What if it’s all a deliberate distraction meant to mislead the police?

And if he really climbed down from there, then how do you explain the bolt on the stairwell door?

Have you checked all the building surveillance footage yet? Especially the elevator cameras?

And what about that yellow handcart?

Have you investigated any of that?

From the moment we heard the noise to the time we got here and sealed the building entrances, less than two minutes passed.

What kind of speed would someone need to escape this building in that amount of time?

So the killer is definitely still here. We just haven’t identified him because we don’t know his characteristics yet, allowing him to hide among the crowd.”

Zhou Hai’s voice was loud.

That burst of shouting instantly stopped Chu Menghan in her tracks.

The officers behind them all wore shocked expressions, deeply impressed by Zhou Hai’s courage.

After all, they knew exactly what kind of temper Chu Menghan had.

Almost instinctively, everyone took a step backward.

Yet instead of exploding in anger as expected, Chu Menghan simply nodded at Zhou Hai.

“You’re right. I got too impatient. Alright, everyone split into two groups. One group takes one floor. Don’t miss the bathrooms or storage rooms. Count everyone in every classroom. We’re doing a full-scale search.”

Xu Biao walked over carrying a bag. Seeing the urgency on his face, Zhou Hai guessed he must have found something.

“What did you discover?”

Xu Biao patted his camera.

“I found half a footprint. But I also found this.”

Zhou Hai took the bag and looked inside.

It contained some silver-glinting mud with a faint fishy odor.

His eyes narrowed instantly.

“This was stepped in at a seafood market?”

Xu Biao nodded.

“Correct. It’s sludge stuck in the grooves of the killer’s shoe sole. Judging from the pattern, the shoes were probably athletic shoes.”

Chu Menghan’s face darkened.

“You mean we’re supposed to inspect every student’s shoe soles? How are we supposed to tell the difference?”

Thinking about the blue coat and gloves downstairs, Zhou Hai chose not to dampen Xu Biao’s enthusiasm.

“Start screening everyone. Filter according to the height and weight range we provided, then inspect all shoe soles as well. Contact the school and get each homeroom teacher to identify their students personally. At the same time, verify identities one by one using ID cards. It’s tedious, but this way we’re less likely to miss anything.”

Chu Menghan bit her lip.

“Do we need to check the girls too?”

Xu Biao’s voice jumped an octave higher.

“Of course we do! Girls nowadays can transform themselves with makeup like they’re changing faces. Who’s to say they aren’t cosplay enthusiasts?”

Suppressing the urge to punch him, Chu Menghan shot Xu Biao a glare.

“Please continue. Let’s hurry and start checking.”

Xu Biao shrugged with a grin and hurried after Chu Menghan.

At the same time, Chu Menghan called Liu Da to request reinforcements.

Liu Da told her to stay calm and hold the situation steady. He was bringing Xiao Hu and officers from another division immediately.

He had already coordinated with the school administration. The campus front and back gates were now completely sealed off.

Seeing Chu Menghan regain her composure, Zhou Hai finally relaxed slightly.

He dialed Wang Man’s number again.

“Deputy Captain Wang, send the gloves, cap, and blue coat found downstairs up here for me. Also, bring my investigation kit too. We came up too quickly earlier and I forgot to bring it.”

“Forensic Doctor Zhou, please wait a moment. We’ll bring everything up immediately.”