harleyscars Chapter 36 Brooch
Chapter 36 Brooch
Luo Qiu felt he had been greedy; he had actually tried to profit from a case related to the concert.
By combining the evidence gathered by both parties, they might discover more extraordinary items. Similarly, a joint investigation could bring together more detectives to help search for clues, potentially leading to the discovery of the bodies of the missing persons nearby.
He had always believed that the missing persons had died nearby.
However, Luo Qiu also warned himself that it would be best to find the body nearby, but if no clues could be found, he must not touch those extraordinary items.
……
Clyde submitted the application for the joint project, and it was approved within half a day.
At this time, Smith also took Miss Moran back to the hotel and made several extra copies of the photo.
In the afternoon, a total of thirty patrol officers were mobilized.
Luo Qiu and Clyde met again at the entrance of the racetrack. They divided up the tasks, and Luo Qiu also obtained the photos of the two young men that Clyde was investigating.
They were two very energetic young men with the currently popular "pompadour" hairstyle. Their hair was combed back and looked like it had been waxed, making it appear shiny.
Besides, the background of the photo is quite striking—a vast, boundless ocean. Perhaps this is why Clyde chose to search southward.
After exchanging intelligence, the two sides parted ways, with Luo Qiu leading his men northward to search.
North of the racecourse lies a vast area to search, including a subway station, three pubs, four hotels, a dozen streets and alleys, and countless garbage bins and sewers.
If the young people were simply robbed, then they are more likely to find clues in the streets and alleys; if they went to other places on a whim, then bars and hotels are the key targets for investigation.
However, Luo Qiu himself did not search these places.
After everyone dispersed, he led Smith straight towards the Darlington River.
Luo Qiu's reasoning was simple: if the young people last night were all extraordinary, their disappearance must have been due to a battle between extraordinary beings. Therefore, based on the modus operandi of the forces behind Fog City that he had observed before, the location where they were murdered should also be somewhere unnoticed.
Those streets and alleys barely met the criteria, but the occasional dense woods along the Darlington River were clearly more suspicious.
However, Smith couldn't understand Luo Qiu's choice.
"Senior, I don't understand. Is there some deeper meaning to searching along the Darlington River?"
What do you think of the Darlington River?
Walking along the riverbank, carefully observing the green water, Luo Qiu didn't directly answer Smith's question, but instead posed a counter-question.
"It's...it's alright. I don't pay much attention to these things. The scenery here is quite nice. I heard it's beautiful when the lights are on at night. Also...Miss Moran likes it here too."
"oh."
Luo Qiu glanced back at Smith.
"So that's what you think. Sure enough, outsiders mostly think the same way."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, thinking the Darlington River is beautiful is just your outsider imagination. Locals know that it's just a big river, nothing special. Besides, the water here smells faintly, and living nearby is a headache just dealing with all that moldy stuff every day."
"But there are so many cafes and hotels around here..."
"They're all for outsiders."
"Besides, there are regular art exhibitions here, also for outsiders. Those gentlemen from Chongqing all live in the mountains... Now you understand why I came here to investigate, right?"
"What?" Smith still looked puzzled.
"Didn't you notice that all the people we're investigating are from out of town? Mr. Winslow, and the two young men Clyde is investigating, are all from out of town. They might have some unique perspectives on the Darlington River, just like you."
Luo Qiu gave a curt explanation, then cut to the chase and immediately ordered Smith:
"From now on, keep a close eye on the Darlington River. If they've been here and unfortunately fallen in, there might be footprints or signs of their struggle on the bank."
"Yes, senior."
Smith was no longer confused.
After listening to Luo Qiu's explanation, he felt that his guess was reasonable, but he had a vague feeling that something was wrong. But when he looked up at his surroundings again and was attracted by the scenery of the Darlington River, he put all those thoughts aside.
The Darlington River flows south. In the afternoon sun, the water glistens with tiny golden rays, like a crumpled piece of silk slowly spreading into the distance.
Along the shore are newly sprouted oak trees, a path paved with gravel, clusters of growing marigolds, and cafes and art galleries nestled among the trees and flowers.
Upon seeing this scenery for the first time, despite Luo Qiu's disparaging remarks, he was still captivated by it. When looking at the river, he strolled even more leisurely.
……
On the other side, after Luo Qiu finished speaking with Smith, he activated Clarity.
My vision sharpened in an instant.
As planned, he began to focus his attention on the dense forest.
Withered branches, fallen leaves, tangled vines, and occasional exposed soil.
The Clarity spell allowed him to see many details: a beetle crawling under the tree roots, a leaf riddled with insect holes, and a withered vine hanging from the tree trunk.
But there were no traces of anyone walking on it, no broken branches, and no trampled grass.
After walking a few dozen meters further, the river made a bend here. At the bend, there was a denser forest, with sycamore and oak trees growing intertwined, blocking the view of the surrounding area.
Upon arriving here, Luo Qiu observed even more intently.
Then, he actually discovered something.
Hidden deep behind the bushes, a corner of a garment peeked out; it was gray, made of nice fabric, and probably a suit.
Luo Qiu's heart skipped a beat.
But after taking a few more steps and seeing more details, he was disappointed.
That piece of clothing did indeed belong to a suit, but there, a young couple was hiding and sleeping.
"Senior! This way!"
Before Luo Qiu could even notice, Smith's voice suddenly came from behind, filled with barely suppressed excitement.
At this moment, Smith was crouching on the outside of the walkway, very close to the river, his body low to the ground.
Luo Qiu walked over quickly and saw Smith using a pencil to part a clump of dense weeds, revealing a small patch of grass stems that had been flattened.
They didn't fall naturally; rather, there were marks from being stepped on or crushed by something. The fallen bodies all faced the same direction, towards the river.
Luo Qiu breathed softly again. With his clear vision, he could clearly see something crystalline and shimmering less than half a meter away from the fallen grass.
I stepped closer, parted the grass, and what was inside was revealed.
A brooch, half-buried among the soil and withered leaves.
It's made of silver and inlaid with a blue gemstone; the shimmering light just now was due to the gemstone.
Upon seeing this, Smith looked up, his eyes lighting up:
"Senior, this can't be...?"