The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

”As the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation, I feel quite apologetic for not being able to provide this kind of support.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Biao grinned and, with a somewhat teasing tone, responded, ”Director Lu, if you truly feel apologetic, why not bring out that bottle of 1573 you’ve been hoarding once this case is closed, and we can have a good drink to celebrate, how about that?”

”No problem, absolutely no problem!”

Director Lu laughed heartily, ”That bottle of wine is one I stored when I was young, it’s been about ten years now, and I haven’t been willing to open it.”

”Once this case ends successfully, we will finish it off and have a good drink!”

Then, he turned to Zhang Biao and decisively instructed, ”Captain Zhang, once the laboratory is ready, immediately arrange for personnel to compare the gene map faxed over with Li Tao’s blood sample.”

”As long as the results match, we’ll act immediately and aim to solve the case in one move.”

”Understood!”

Zhang Biao didn’t hesitate and, upon responding, strode out of the office directly towards the laboratory.

In the lab, four technical police officers were already gathered by the fax machine.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on the fax machine, waiting for the crucial map from the Guangling City Forensic Identification Center.

After ten minutes, the fax machine suddenly emitted the incoming signal sound, and then, the paper slowly emerged.

One officer immediately stepped forward to take down the still warm map, while another had already retrieved Li Tao’s blood sample gene data.

The comparison work proceeded swiftly, leaving only the light clicks of a mouse and keyboard in the lab.

However, as data columns rolled on the screen, the expressions of a few people gradually shifted—from focused to surprised, then to certain.

”Perfect match!”

The young officer responsible for the comparison couldn’t help but shout softly.

”All genetic loci are consistent, without any misalignment.”

Another leaned down to look closely at the screen, confidently added.

At this time, Zhang Biao stepped to the computer, repeatedly questioning, ”Are you sure? Really a perfect match?”

”Confirmed, Captain Zhang.”

”You see, even though the blood sample collected at the scene was mixed, Li Tao’s genetic markers can be distinctly identified after separation.”

”Especially these loci, the values are conspicuously lower than the victim’s blood peak, indicating that although his blood was a minor component, it was indeed present—data analysis fully confirms that Li Tao’s blood was present at the scene.”

Zhang Biao closely watched the screen, repeatedly verifying those key data lines.

After a moment, he took a deep breath, straightened up and said, ”Good! I’ll report to Director Hou and Director Lu immediately.”

”Everyone’s hard work is appreciated, maintain the state, and prepare for the next steps.”

Hearing this, Zhang Biao clapped his hands, ”This aligns perfectly with Mr. Jiang’s previous conjecture—it’s not just a simple blood stain, but a composite sample of extremely small quantities from multiple sources!”

At this moment, an older laboratory technician spoke, ”Captain Zhang, honestly, for such minute mixed blood stains, if we were to examine them with our current laboratory’s equipment, we probably wouldn’t detect the other blood components mixed in.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao frowned, promptly inquiring, ”What’s the issue?”

”Since it’s a mixed blood stain, theoretically, different DNAs should be separable, so why can’t we detect them?”

The technician put down the reagent bottle in hand and patiently explained, ”Mainly because of equipment precision issues.”

”Our current analyzer’s sensitivity is limited; for such trace-level mixed samples, it can only identify the dominant victim’s blood, while other blood, accounting for an extremely low proportion—even just a few sporadic cells—would almost get masked by the background signal under current conditions, making them infeasible to capture and isolate effectively.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao couldn’t help but sweat a little.

If this sample were actually routinely sent to their own lab, the crucial second person’s bloodstain might have been overlooked.

Once this clue was missed, the case could potentially hit a dead end and remain unresolved for a long time.

Thinking of this, his respect and gratitude towards Jiang An grew stronger: if not for Jiang An’s wealth of experience and extensive network in the industry, timely sending the samples to an external collaborative institution with high-end detection capabilities, this critical clue hidden within the minute bloodstain might have sunk without a trace.

He slowly exhaled, and with a firm tone said to the technician, ”Thank you.”

”This incident also reminds us that our technological equipment must not fall behind.”

”Next year, we must apply for a budget to introduce analysis instruments of equivalent precision.”

”Otherwise, more detours will be taken during the investigation, and both time and resource costs will significantly increase.”

The technician’s eyes brightened, instantly becoming a little excited, ”Really? That would be great!”

”With more advanced equipment support, not only would our lab’s work pressure considerably decrease, but result accuracy would also greatly improve.”

Following these words, Zhang Biao quickly exited.

Five minutes later, he entered through the door and began speaking, ”Gentlemen, the evaluation results are out—a perfect match, without any deviation.”

”It can now be 100% confirmed that the bloodstain left at the scene is Li Tao’s.”

Director Lu, upon hearing this, immediately stood up from his seat, expression solemn, ”There’s no time to delay, let’s go see Li Tao right now.”

”Even if he stubbornly denies it, once this evidence is presented to him, his parents can’t possibly be unaware.”

At this moment, instead of going directly to find Li Tao,

Based on prior analysis, Li Tao might have no recollection of his involvement in the case, blindly confronting him could backfire.

So they chose to take the comparative maps and reach out to Li Mountain first.

At this time, Li Mountain was slumped on the chair in the interrogation room, his complexion ashen, eyes deeply sunken.

Seeing the officers come in, he lifted his head, hoarsely asking, ”Officer, when can I get out of here?”

Zhang Biao stepped forward, his tone stern, ”Get out? I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”

With that, he handed the appraisal maps in his hand to Li Mountain.

Li Mountain blinked, somewhat dazedly looking at those papers, ”What... what is this?”

”This is your son Li Tao’s DNA sample, matched against the DNA from the bloodstain at the scene.”

Zhang Biao stated word by word, ”Perfectly matched.”

”My son? Li Tao... he’s not here...” Li Mountain murmured, his gaze somewhat evasive.

”Your son is in the next room,” Zhang Biao stepped closer, lowering his voice, ”You two, right now, are only separated by a wall.”

Li Mountain suddenly turned his head towards the adjacent wall, his face instantly pale, then became agitated, ”Why have you arrested him?! He’s innocent! He has nothing to do with this case, nothing, nothing!”

”Nothing to do?”

Zhang Biao sternly questioned, ”Then how did his blood end up at the scene?”

”If he’s unrelated, why are you confessing in his place?”

”Because you know he is the real culprit, and you’re shielding him!”

”No, it’s not like that!”

Li Mountain shook his head desperately, almost bouncing up from the chair, ”He doesn’t know anything! He’s unrelated to this, unrelated!”

At that moment, Jiang An stepped forward, observing Li Mountain attentively while lifting the scene photos, pointing at Li Tao’s left hand with its withered, deformed ring and middle fingers: ”The forensic pathologist has determined that these two fingers were recently injured.”

”We speculate this injury occurred during this case.”

”Li Tao may have been in an unconscious state during a mental episode, not even remembering what he did—a separate personality committed the crime while the primary personality remained unaware.”

”No, it’s not a personality issue...” Li Mountain mumbled, his lips trembling, repeating his words.

”Huh!”

Director Lu, suppressing his emotions, ”Whether or not it’s a case of personality disorder is not for you and I to declare, that requires forensic psychiatric evaluation.”

”But if your son indeed committed the offense in a state of mental illness, legally it can be treated per the regulations concerning psychiatric patients—as long as you reveal all the facts, clearly and plainly!”

Upon hearing the words ”law” and ”psychiatric patients,” Li Mountain seemed to have all his strength drained away, his body swayed, collapsing back heavily onto the chair.

He stared blankly at the officers in front, without saying another word for a long time.