Pristine Darkness

Chapter 77

Jian Yao proves her mettle in a confrontation with the Butterfly Killer, although it causes Bo Jinyan no small amount of worry. Has the case really been solved so easily? This must be the quickest resolution to any of the cases our Scooby Gang has handled so far! (Is that suspicious? Hmmmm.)

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Translator: shl

Editor/ Proofreader: Summer

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At the same time, the police forces launched a surprise raid on the apartment next door in Jiamei Mingyuan, Chen Jin's home.

However, Chen Jin was not at home.

Bo Jinyan stood in the middle of the living room, listening to An Yan describe the entire apartment. An Yan's description was very crude, totally without Jian Yao's finesse and meticulous powers of observation, and his voice was also unpleasing. However, to Bo Jinyan, it was better than nothing.

A lot of planning and research had gone into the decor of the apartment, which was in the minimalist Scandinavian style. The furniture and home appliances were all of high quality. The books in the study were all specialised tomes on finance and economics, or data and information. Another room contained a treadmill and body-building equipment, giving proof of the occupant's industrious and self-disciplined life. In the wardrobe, freshly washed western-style coats, shirts, trousers, and underpants, were all neatly folded and arranged.

In the bedroom, a butterfly-patterned abstract painting hung by the side of the bed. The strokes were very messy and the colours were garish, and the painting was unsigned.

In the locked bedroom cupboard, the police found ropes, paint and blood-stained black clothes. There was also a cellphone with pictures of the scenes of Nie Shijun and the vagrant's deaths. There were only about ten pictures of Nie Shijun, but, probably because there had been ample time, there were more than a hundred pictures of the vagrant, shot from different angles.

With respect to this, Bo Jinyan said unhurriedly to An Yan, "Have you come to your attention that it was as if I was standing right in front of him, painting his portrait*? As if I was seeing him with my own eyes?"

*T/N Bo Jinyan is referring to the accuracy of the criminal profile he previously drew up for the killer, as evidenced by the decor etc of the apartment.

An Yan said, ". . . . Indeed."

Bo Jinyan smiled faintly.

An Yan also smiled faintly. This man had always been so puffed-up, and after Jian Yao's arrival, this conceited aspect of his personality had become more and more evident. It was so unlike what he had been in this past year, where he had occasionally strained to affect a profound and reserved aura. An Yan felt that the current situation was wonderful, really wonderful.

When the criminal investigators saw everything, they felt both exhilarated and chilled. Upon receiving the news from the front-line forces, Shao Yong asked his superiors to issue an order for the immediate city-wide manhunt for Chen Jin.

Because everything had transpired so suddenly, Shi Peng had been with the police forces as they ran hither and thither. He had heard some rough snippets of conversation and seen some clues, which led to his becoming shocked and silent. Never in a million years could he have imagined that his friend would be the prime suspect in a serial murder case. Now, his heart and mind were in tumult as he grappled with a plethora of thoughts and information and consequently, increasingly grew quiet.

As Chen Jin had not yet been found, Fang Qing felt a deep sense of unease as his subconscious kept prompting him that something important had been overlooked. However, because the current situation was chaotic, with so much to tend to, he just could not think of what it was.